Bessie Smith News

If you love looking back at Ella, Lady Day, Sassy and The Queen then consider how much you will love looking forward with Norm, Natalie, Latrice and La Tanya. This time history pays it forward.

Juanita Hall was an American musical theatre and film actress. 1950, Hall became the first Black actor to win a Tony Award, for her portrayal of Bloody Mary in the original Broadway production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific.  

Today The Garden of Unearthly Delights announces its full 2021 program after a sneak peak in December of last year. Highlights form the reimagined COVID-safe wonderland include a socially distanced yet fabulously fun drag brunch party, a reclined Hot Dub experience and a comedy gala with a very cheeky nod to a missing SA car race.

Monday December 28th, just ahead of the Georgia Run-Off elections, singer-songwriter Crystal Monee Hall releases a poignant video of her gospel inspired, activating arrangement of “A Beautiful Noise” originally written by multi-Grammy winning Alicia Keys and Brandi Carlile.

Today (December 14) in live streaming: James Monroe Iglehart sings with Seth Rudetsky, Kelli O'Hara joins the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and so much more!

Broadway might be dark, but that doesn't mean that theatre isn't happening everywhere! Below, check out where you can get your daily fix of Broadway this weekend, December 5-6, 2020.

BroadwayWorld put together a list of all the live action musicals you can stream on Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, BroadwayHD, and Disney Plus. Are you looking for something to get your mind off… all of this? So are we. Because everyone needs some escape,

Hudson Guild Theatre Company's world premiere of Tasha Partee's A Five Mile Radius will receive a special Encore Presentation on the Hudson Guild YouTube channel starting this Friday October 30th at 7:30PM with continuous streaming through Sunday November 1st ending at 5PM. The virtual production has been imaginatively filmed using zoom technique. Jim Furlong and Devin Klos direct a twelve actor cast in this timely play which caps off Hudson Guild Theatre Company's 25th Anniversary Season.

Don McLean pays homage to American music with his new covers album, Still Playin’ Favorites, released today through Time Life.

The Boch Center's new television music series, The Ghost Light Series, continues Friday, October 9th at 7:30 PM on NECN with singer and songwriter, Kemp Harris filmed live on-stage at the Wang Theatre.

Following the success of Bobbie's Summer and Fall Series, Berkshire Theatre Group has announced the extension of Bobbie's Fall Series to include two more weekends in October. A fall inspired menu by KJ Nosh will be available for advance purchase and on site. Cider and donuts from Hilltop Orchards will be also available for purchase on site.

Hudson Guild Theatre Company presents the world premiere of Tasha Partee's A Five Mile Radius; a virtual productionwith performances on October 23rd, 24th and 25th. Jim Furlong and Devin Klos direct a twelve actor cast. The play will be imaginatively filmed using zoom technique.

HBO's BETWEEN THE WORLD AND ME will debut SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT, with Mahershala Ali, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Angela Davis, Tip 'T.I.' Harris, Mimi Jones, Ledisi, Greg Alverez Reid, Nate Smith and Olivia Washington rounding out the previously announced cast

For most theatre lovers across the nation, the prospect of seeing live entertainment in the near future seemed uncertain. 

The Sharon Playhouse, in it's continued mission to offer live entertainment throughout the Covid 19 summer will inaugurate a new Socially Distanced Patio Cabaret Dinner Series featuring concerts by the finest Broadway has to offer. Broadway comes to Sharon!

In the spirit of cautious optimism that theater will be permitted to resume early next year, International City Theatre has decided to announce a 2021 season.

San Francisco's premier Black theatre company Lorraine Hansberry Theatre has announced the appointment of Bay Area theatre titan Margo Hall as its new Artistic Director.

Berkshire Theatre Group has announced another event for the community, Bobbie's Summer Series, where on select weekends in August, Berkshire County's talented musicians and dancers will provide diverse entertainment for adults and children alike.

Happy Gay Pride! BWW Reviewer Peter Nason chooses the 101 greatest LGBTQ songs and anthems from 1920-2020. See if your favorite songs or artists made the grade!