Ben Simon News

?When the rock opera "Jesus Christ Superstar" hit the Broadway stage in 1971, it was an electrifying leap into a new kind of musical. The power of the music and the story that it tells still resonate some four decades later. Andrew Lloyd Webber's and Tim Rice's Tony-Award winning show will be presented by Playful Theatre Productions at Mercer County Community College's (MCCC) Kelsey Theatre in November. Performance dates are Todays, Nov. 7 and 14 at 8 p.m.; Saturdays, Nov. 8 and 15 at 8 p.m.; and Sundays, Nov. 9 and 16 at 2 p.m. Kelsey Theatre is conveniently located on the college's West Windsor campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road. A reception with the cast and crew follows the opening night performance on Nov. 7.

?When the rock opera "Jesus Christ Superstar" hit the Broadway stage in 1971, it was an electrifying leap into a new kind of musical. The power of the music and the story that it tells still resonate some four decades later. Andrew Lloyd Webber's and Tim Rice's Tony-Award winning show will be presented by Playful Theatre Productions at Mercer County Community College's (MCCC) Kelsey Theatre in November. Performance dates are Fridays, Nov. 7 and 14 at 8 p.m.; Saturdays, Nov. 8 and 15 at 8 p.m.; and Sundays, Nov. 9 and 16 at 2 p.m. Kelsey Theatre is conveniently located on the college's West Windsor campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road. A reception with the cast and crew follows the opening night performance on Nov. 7.

The 50-year-old Oakland Youth Orchestra will celebrate its golden anniversary with a benefit gala concert, dinner and auction Sunday, May 4, beginning at 5 pm at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension, 4700 Lincoln Avenue in Oakland. The evening, which will raise funds for the Youth Orchestra's award-winning and far-reaching education and outreach programs, will feature a concert by its extremely talented young musicians cocktails and dinner and live and silent auctions. The Youth Orchestra will perform a reprise of the premiere of Nathaniel Stookey's Go, which was featured on its February program, Rimsky-Korsakov's Capriccio Espagnole, Rossini's William Tell Overture and other works to be announced, conducted by Music Director Michael Morgan. Tickets are $125 and may be purchased at www.oyo.org .

VH1's Do Something Awards (#DSAwards) is back and ready to show the world that the youth of today do more than text and tweet. DoSomething.org, the country's largest not-for-profit for young people and change, and VH1 has announced that this year's Do Something Awards will air live from The Avalon in Hollywood tonight, July 31, 2013 at 8 p.m. ET.

A delightfully imaginative middle-schooler learns that it's not just what's on the outside that matters but what's on the inside as well in 'Dear Dumb Diary,' a two-hour Hallmark Channel Original Movie World Premiere Friday, September 6 (8 p.m. ET/PT, 7C). Based on Scholastic's popular Dear Dumb Diary children's book series by Jim Benton, the movie stars Tony(R), CMT Music and American Country Music Award nominee Laura Bell Bundy ('Hart Of Dixie, 'Guiding Light'), James Waterston ('Dead Poets Society'), Emily Alyn Lind ('Revenge,' 'Won't Back Down,' 'All My Children'), Mary-Charles Jones ('Identity Thief,' 'Hannah Montana') along with Sterling Griffith ('Easy Rider: The Ride Back') and David Mazouz ('Touch').

VH1's Do Something Awards (#DSAwards) is back and ready to show the world that the youth of today do more than text and tweet. DoSomething.org, the country's largest not-for-profit for young people and change, and VH1 has announced that this year's Do Something Awards will air live from The Avalon in Hollywood on Wednesday, July 31, 2013 at 8 p.m. ET. People reports that Sophia Bush (One Tree Hill) will be hosting the ceremony. Bush most recently appeared in the TV series Partners. Her other credits include Hatfields & McCoys, Nip/Tuck and more.

The Center Players of Bayonne have assembled Tribe members that are gearing up and preparing a theatrical presentation of HAIR: The Rock Musical at the JCC of Bayonne. Lyrics are by James Rado & Gerome Ragni, Music by Galt MacDermot. The production is Directed and Choreographed by Alex Perez (De La Guarda, Ultimate Drag Off, Oz) and Musical Direction by Luisa Sauter. The performance will be presented in full including the wonderful hits of the 1960's rock era including 'Let the Sunshine In', 'Aquarius', 'Easy to be Hard', 'Donna' and the title song 'Hair'.

Brooklyn's The Lisps have recorded three full-length albums and undertaken several national tours since their formation in 2005.

Brooklyn's The Lisps have recorded three full-length albums and undertaken several national tours since their formation in 2005.

American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) begins performances of the world premiere production FUTURITY: A MUSICAL BY THE LISPS, with music and lyrics by Cesar Alvarez with The Lisps; book by Molly Rice and Cesar Alvarez; directed by Sarah Benson.Performances run from Friday, March 16 through Sunday, April 15, 2012 at the A.R.T.'s second space, OBERON, at 2 Arrow Street, Cambridge.

Oberon hosts world premiere of ambitious Civil War musical that combines history, science fiction, technology, and imagination, but its reach exceeds its grasp. The book is muddled, but the music stands on its own.

American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) begins performances of the world premiere production FUTURITY: A MUSICAL BY THE LISPS, with music and lyrics by Cesar Alvarez with The Lisps; book by Molly Rice and Cesar Alvarez; directed by Sarah Benson.Performances run from Friday, March 16 through Sunday, April 15, 2012 at the A.R.T.'s second space, OBERON, at 2 Arrow Street, Cambridge.

American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) begins performances of the world premiere production FUTURITY: A MUSICAL BY THE LISPS, with music and lyrics by Cesar Alvarez with The Lisps; book by Molly Rice and Cesar Alvarez; directed by Sarah Benson.Performances run from Friday, March 16 through Sunday, April 15, 2012 at the A.R.T.'s second space, OBERON, at 2 Arrow Street, Cambridge.

The Lisps (Cesar Alvarez, Sammy Tunis, Eric Farber, Lorenzo Wolff) will perform songs from their upcoming concept album FUTURITY, featuring the music written for their new musical of the same name, at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater on December 16th at 9:30 pm.

JOE'S PUB at The Public Theater, reopened October 4th, 2011 from a top to bottom renovation, debuted in October 1998 and quickly became one of New York City's most celebrated and in-demand showcase venues for live music and performance. With its genre-blind booking and vast diversity of interests, the stage at Joe's Pub gives voice to a world of varied and stellar artists.

The Lisps (Cesar Alvarez, Sammy Tunis, Eric Farber, Lorenzo Wolff) will perform songs from their upcoming concept album FUTURITY, featuring the music written for their new musical of the same name, at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater on December 16th at 9:30 pm.

Last night, April 11, Carly Simon was honored at the 8th Annual Our Time Gala. On hand to honor the star were Paul Rudd, Kelli O'Hara, Ben Taylor and more.

Unity Center for Practical Spirituality is proud to present an upcoming musical extravaganza: 'Hear Our Song,' to be held at the Norwalk City Hall, Concert Hall at 125 East Avenue, Norwalk, on Friday April 8, 2011 at 8 pm.

Unity Center for Practical Spirituality is proud to present an upcoming musical extravaganza: 'Hear Our Song,' to be held at the Norwalk City Hall, Concert Hall at 125 East Avenue, Norwalk, on Friday April 8, 2011 at 8 pm.

Unity Center for Practical Spirituality is proud to present an upcoming musical extravaganza: 'Hear Our Song,' to be held at the Norwalk City Hall, Concert Hall at 125 East Avenue, Norwalk, on Friday April 8, 2011 at 8 pm.