Aretha Franklin News

Birdland Jazz Club and Birdland Theater have announced all jazz programming running July 17 through July 30.

Get ready for an unforgettable musical experience as former Pink Floyd background vocalist Machan Taylor joins forces with Gov't Mule on their 'Darkside of the Mule' tour. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of 'Darkside of the Moon,' this mesmerizing show promises to transport you to the world of Pink Floyd.

Birdland Jazz Club and Birdland Theater have announced jazz programming running July 10 through July 23.

The Hershey Symphony Orchestra's 55th season will entertain audiences with a variety of pops and classical music from Billy Joel to Bach in two iconic venues—Hershey Theatre and Founders Hall at Milton Hershey School. 

As they prepare for their Lincoln Center debut at “Summer for the City,” the Hot Toddies Jazz Band announced today the upcoming release of its debut full-length eponymous album. Hailed as New York City's leading hot jazz and swing band, the Hot Toddies recorded 11 fan-favorite, fun-loving tracks imbibing the high-and-not-so-dry spirits of the Prohibition Era.

Universal Theatrical Group (UTG), Universal Pictures’ live theater division, announced development of the musical IMITATION OF LIFE, based on the novel by Fannie Hurst and the Universal Pictures films, with book by Lynn Nottage, music and lyrics by John Legend, and directed by Liesl Tommy.

The 5th Annual AAFCA TV Honors distinguished achievement recipients were revealed by the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA). The “We See You” Award, given to performers who demonstrate versatility in their work, will go to Jennifer Hudson, host of Warner Bros. Unscripted Television’s “The Jennifer Hudson Show.”

Opening on Saturday 24 June, DIVA is the first exhibition of its kind to celebrate the extraordinary power and creativity of iconic performers who have made their voices heard from the 19th century to today.

This very special theatrical concert event celebrates the music and life journey of possibly the most influential female voice in the history of popular music – ARETHA FRANKLIN.

theSpaceUK is announcing the full 2023 programme with over 360 shows on sale at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The 2023 line-up features the return of Fringe favourites along with a packed programme of new writing and new companies. 

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) presents Divas Three, a dynamic music revue featuring four decades of hits by some of music's most influential women. With songs made famous by Aretha Franklin, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Carole King, and more, this original revue pays tribute to the artists whose musical impact has earned them the coveted title of “diva.”

Tituss Burgess has joined the voice cast of Apple's upcoming animated movie musical, Spellbound. The film, which features a score from Academy Award-winner Alan Menken, with lyrics by Glenn Slater. It's directed by Vicky Jenson (“Shrek”) and also features Rachel Zegler, Nathan Lane, Nicole Kidman, Jenifer Lewis, John Lithgow, and Javier Bardem.

Signature Theatre announces that Signature favorites Awa Sal Secka (Gun and Powder, Blackbeard) and Shayla S. Simmons (After Midnight, Dreamgirls) will perform in Soul Divas Reprise, inspired by the sold-out cabaret from 2019 dedicated to the music of acclaimed musical divas from Aretha to Whitney to Tina. The cabaret will be music directed by Mark G. Meadows, Signature's Director of Cabarets. Soul Divas Reprise runs June 27 – July 9 in Signature's ARK Theatre.

The Harlem Chamber Players will mark its 15th Anniversary and Black Music Month with a musical extravaganza Harlem Songfest II, celebrating Black opera singers and the music of Black composers, including women.

The eponymous James Hunter Six comes to City Winery Boston, bringing its distinct R&B vibe to town Sunday June 18th.

Tituss Burgess has joined the cast of the upcoming Disney+ original movie The Slumber Party. Burgess will join Paula Pell, Darby Camp, Emmy Liu-Wang, Valentina Herrera, Dallas Liu, Caroline Valencia and newcomers Alex Cooper Cohen and Ramon Rodriguez in the new film.

Esi Acquaah-Harrison is a dialect and vocal coach who has worked on Sex Education Netflix, Cirque du Soleil's Totem and is a former member of UK's London Community Gospel Choir. BroadwayWorld caught up with Esi to chat about the rewards and challenges of her work, her stellar career and her course, Singing for Beginners, at London's Guildhall School of Music & Drama.

In Good Grief: Songs of the Moon and The Unbroken Circle creator Tariq Darrell O’Meally explores how we become more than what we’ve lost. His answer: we must grieve a person as much as we have loved them and balance loss with praise and celebration. The world premiere is the culmination of the 2022–23 Local Dance Commissioning Project.

For the very first time, country trailblazer ERNEST and Appalachian country soul group 49 Winchester are joining forces, combining their individually distinguished sounds for the latest installment of Spotify's Spotify Singles. Both genre innovators in their own right, together the two hot-rising acts continue pushing themselves outside the box.

Seattle Theatre Group has announced its 2023/24 Performing Arts Series, a lineup of diverse and vibrant performers from around the country and world ranging from John Cameron Mitchell, the Tony Award-winning creator of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, the ultimate Golden Girls tribute show with Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue, to internationally renowned contemporary dance groups including the world premiere of a new piece by dani tirrell (Black Bois), a major commission by Seattle Theatre Group.