Bessie Smith News

Jazz at Lincoln Center's Dizzy's Club will continue its season of in-person performances in January and February 2022, presenting a diverse lineup that pays tribute to jazz greats, showcases rising stars on the scene, and welcomes award-winning artists whose work runs the gamut of jazz styles and traditions.

Award-winning Porchlight Music Theatre announces the cast for the “Best Musical” Tony Award-nominated Blues in the Night, conceived by Sheldon Epps+, with the music of Bessie Smith, Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen, Vernon Duke, Gordon Jenkins, Alberta Hunter and others, January 15, 2022 - February 27, 2022 at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts.

Set in 1948 in a Chicago hotel that has seen better days, the interwoven stories of BLUES IN THE NIGHT evoke the misery and humor of life, love and the dogged determination to do more than just survive. The drama reveals itself through glorious songs by Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer, Alberta Hunter, Harold Arlen, Jimmy Cox, Ida Cox and more.

Ebony Repertory Theatre in Association with International City Theatre is presenting the Tony and Olivier Award-nominated musical BLUES IN THE NIGHT, conceived by Sheldon Epps, directed by ERT Producing Artistic Director Wren T. Brown, choreographed by Keith Young, and music directed by William Foster McDaniel.

As live performances return to venues throughout Southern California, Irvine Barclay Theatre welcomes a new season featuring an array of renowned performers, from iconic dancers to Grammy-winning artists, the beloved holiday classic The Nutcracker, and Emmy nominee and social commentator Fran Lebowitz, among others.

The Great American Songbook Foundation's new interactive gallery exhibit compares and contrasts the popular music and pop culture of the 1920s and the 2020s.

“Singing has always been the best part of living for me,” Billie Holiday tells the audience in North Carolina Theatre’s new production of LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR AND GRILL. Angela Robinson plays singer Billie Holiday and Nygel Robsinon plays her pianist Jimmy Powers at NCT, under the direction of Jarvis Green.

Ebony Repertory Theatre announces full cast and creative team for BLUES IN THE NIGHT, the Tony and Olivier Award-nominated musical conceived by Sheldon Epps. Presented by Ebony Rep, in association with International City Theatre, ERT's Founder and Producing Artistic Director Wren T. Brown (ERT's Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill) directs this powerful and soulful blues celebration.

Ebony Repertory Theatre has announced full cast and creative team for BLUES IN THE NIGHT, the Tony and Olivier Award-nominated musical conceived by Sheldon Epps.

Jazz vocalist Salvant dazzled Segerstrom Center audiences when she first appeared at the Center in 2014; Fortner has been called one of the top jazz pianists of his generation and is recognized for his virtuosic technique and captivating performances.

The soul of the blues wails out full and strong when Long Beach's International City Theatre, in association with L.A.'s Ebony Repertory Theatre, presents the Tony and Olivier award nominated, Sheldon Epps-conceived musical Blues in the Night.

A dependable haven for artists in isolation, Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) is now into its second year of non-stop weekly Community Gatherings this Friday, having offered to date over 60 conversations and unlimited camaraderie since April 17, 2020.

Williams is best known for playing Omar Little on the HBO drama series The Wire and Albert 'Chalky' White on the HBO series Boardwalk Empire. He is also known for his role as Jack Gee, husband of Bessie Smith, in the HBO telefilm biopic Bessie.

Writers Theatre Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma and Interim Artistic Director Bobby Kennedy have announced the company’s 2021/22 four-play season and are excited to welcome patrons back in-person in December 2021.

As live performances return to venues throughout Southern California, Irvine Barclay Theatre has announced nearly 20 shows that it has added to its season, which kicks off on September 19 with the country chart-topping trio The Gatlin Brothers.

As its opening production of their 50th season, Black Theatre Troupe presents the smash hit, SISTAS THE MUSICAL to the Helen K. Mason Performing Arts Center. SISTAS was originally scheduled to open 18 months ago in March of 2020, but was postponed shortly before opening night due to the pandemic.

Porchlight Music Theatre has announced its return to live performance with its 27th season that includes the 2021 – 2022 Mainstage, Porchlight Revisits and New Faces Sing Broadway seasons. 

Ain’t Misbehavin’: The Fats Waller Musical Show, is a different juke box show from Candlelight’s previous production of BEEHIVE. From the rock n’ roll of 60’s we time travel back 30- years to the American jazz pianist Waller. His innovations in the Harlem stride style laid the groundwork for modern jazz piano. In 1922, at the tender age of 18, he produced his first piano roll, “Got To Cool My Doggies Now.” (I had to mention that only because the title cracked me up).

​​​​​​​After a year-long hiatus with the pandemic hitting just before Black Theatre Troupe's 50th Anniversary Season, the renowned company has announced it will resume its annual schedule of performances with its 2021-22 Season.

Irvine Barclay Theatre will kick off a new season on September 9 with an array of renowned artists including country chart-topping trio The Gatlin Brothers; multi-Grammy-winning jazz artist Pat Metheny; internationally-acclaimed song stylist Michael Feinstein; and author and social commentator Fran Lebowitz.