Aretha Franklin News

New England Conservatory President Andrea Kalyn and the Board of Trustees announced multiple Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter James Taylor as the commencement speaker and honorary degree recipient at the Conservatory's 151st annual commencement exercises, which will be held in-person on Sunday, May 22, 2022 at 2:00 p.m.

The Palace Theater has announced the 2022-2023 Webster Bank Broadway Series. Filled with award-winning shows and songs, these five shows are bursting with memorable songs, dances, and characters.

The 2022 BBC Proms celebrates a homecoming of large-scale orchestral repertoire to the Royal Albert Hall. This year's festival will feature a programme of a scale not heard at the Proms since 2019: the symphonic music of our past responding vividly to the moment, from Verdi's Requiem on the First Night of the Proms, to Mahler's Second Symphony with the London Symphony Orchestra and Sir Simon Rattle, to Beethoven's Ninth Symphony performed by the Chineke! Orchestra and Chineke! Voices under Kevin John Edusei.

On Friday, April 22, 2022, I had the pleasure of seeing another phenomenal production at the Downtown Cabaret Theatre in Bridgeport, CT.   I have been looking forward to SPIRIT OF THE SIXTIES since I first heard of it, and even more when I found out that it has the same stellar cast as their previous Decades in Concert production, The Sounds of the Seventies.  Robert Peterpaul, Mikayla Petrilla, Everton Ricketts, and Saige Bryan yet again showcase their collective first-rate talents as individuals and as a cohesive group, singing and dancing under the excellent direction and choreography of Jennifer Kaye, and accompanied by pre-recorded instrumentation.   Phill Hill’s clever writing shines through on this amazing selection of about fifty songs from a decade that many would regard as the greatest decade of music in music history!   It is clear that the cast is having as wonderful a time performing on stage as the audience is watching them perform!

The Downtown Cabaret Theatre ipresents their all-new musical Decades in Concert: Spirit of the 60s. The production opens Friday, April 22nd and runs through May 15th at Connecticut's most historic Cabaret Theatre. The Downtown Cabaret in partnership with Family Entertainment Live presents this second installment of their  original Decades in Concert series, Spirit of the Sixties. 

Artists appearing at Birdland Jazz Club include Jane Monheit, Meg Okura Pan Asian Jazz Ensemble, Bill Charlap Trio and Solo and Andy Farber Big Band. 

Trinity Repertory Company finishes its 2021-22 Season with Fairview by Jackie Sibblies Drury. Directed by Brown University/Trinity Repertory Company alum Christopher Windom, this show runs May 19 – June 19 with a press opening night on Wednesday, May 25 at 7:30 pm.

In the Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami (MOCA)'s continued efforts to include diverse voices and perspectives, the museum is offering a robust series of education and public programming to celebrate both Haitian Heritage Month and Asian Pacific American Heritage Month throughout the month of May. 

BWW writer and podcaster @danielnolen visited Radio City for Lorde's sold-out show and wrote all about it!

The album features Cynthia Erivo, Shoshana Bean, Morgan James, Ledisi, Bridget Everett, Orfeh, and Debbie Gravitte. Listen to the first two volumes now!

The award-winning singer, songwriter, musician, producer, innovator and Eurythmics co-founder will be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame this June, and is a current Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominee for the Eurythmics. With the 26-track Ebony McQueen, Stewart showcases his ever-present creative ambitions with no signs of slowing down.

The fourth season will explore the formative years, pioneering accomplishments, duelling philosophies and key personal relationships of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. While King advanced racial equality through nonviolent protest, Malcolm X argued forcefully for Black empowerment, identity and self-determination.

Denver Center for the Performing Arts Cabaret announces two shows for the summer lineup at The Garner Galleria Theatre; Rockin' and Rollin' with Miss Rhythm: The Story of R&B Legend Ruth Brown plays two weekends only June 3&4 and June 10&11, and Dixie is back where it all started with Dixie's Never Wear a Tube Top While Riding a Mechanical Bull (and 16 Other Things I learned while I Was Drinking Last Thursday) June 22 through July 17. Tickets are on sale now at denvercenter.org.

Producers Stephen Byrd and Alia Jones-Harvey announced that Academy Award Nominated and Latin Grammy Winner Carlinhos Brown and Academy Award Nominated and Grammy Award Winner Siedah Garrett have joined the all-star creative team of the new musical stage adaptation of Black Orpheus as composer and lyricist, respectively.

Don McLean's 2022 American Pie 50th Anniversary World Tour is coming to the UIS Performing Arts Center on Saturday, July 23, 2022. Tickets on sale Friday, April 22.

Irvine Barclay Theatre, known for its intimate setting providing unique experiences and personal interactions with top performers, has announced its 2022-23 season. One of the most popular performing arts venues in Orange County, Irvine Barclay Theatre will again feature renowned artists in its broadest range of genres ever.

Below, you'll find details on all jazz programming at Birdland Jazz Club and Birdland Theater running April 18 - May 1. Artists appearing at Birdland Jazz Club include Cyrille Aimée, Ashley Pezzotti with the Birdland Big Band, Jane Monheit and Meg Okura Pan Asian Jazz Ensemble.

Savvy songwriter and powerhouse vocalist Robin McKelle has announced her upcoming Boston performance at Scullers Jazz Club on April 23. This performance follows the release of the singer's new single, 'I Must Have That Man,' out now.

It features five stripped back versions of songs from her 2021 debut album, Note To Self, with themes of self-growth and reflection shining even more brightly through these raw, intimate and moving renditions. Kennedy also released the music video for the acoustic version of 'Control.' Plus, check out upcoming tour dates!

This month, the incredibly talented Tehillah Alphonso earned her first Grammy nomination in the category, “Best Arrangement, Instruments, and Vocals” for her arrangement of the song, “A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke.