Bessie Smith News

The first show of Mosaic Theater's third season, The Devil's Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith, has been officially extended through October 1.

Fear the Walking Dead star and Philadelphia native Colman Domingo partners with nationally-acclaimed theatre-maker Patricia McGregor to co-author Lights Out: Nat 'King' Cole, a surprising and unsettling exploration of race and the American Dream. McGregor will also direct.

The Mosaic Theater Company ignites its third season with a sure hit, a proven crowd-pleaser about the Empress of Blues.

If you're looking to get a definitive Janis Joplin biography/musical (in the vein of the Carole King musical BEAUTIFUL), then you may be disappointed with A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, the short-lived 2013 Broadway musical. More akin to a tribute concert rather than actual musical theater, a new regional production of the show continues at the Laguna Playhouse through September 10. But wait… don't dismiss the show quite so fast. Despite a lack of a real narrative, the production boasts some incredible, standing ovation-worthy musical performances, particularly from Kelly McIntyre who plays the title role and her four 'muses' played by the ultra-talented foursome of Sharon Catherine Brown, Tawny Dolley, Carol Hatchett, and Amma Osei. These ladies alone are reason enough to go see this production!

Laguna Playhouse is thrilled to announce the second show in the Laguna Playhouse 2017-2018 and 97th season with the Tony nominated rock and roll musical, A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, in Association with the Estate of Janis Joplin and Jeffrey Jampol of JAM, Inc., with musical direction by Todd Olson and written and directed by Randy Johnson.

If you were captivated by the film Hidden Figures and its story of the women known as 'human computers' who saved John Glenn's NASA space mission, get ready for Lauren Gunderson's play SILENT SKY, opening this month at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center.

59E59 Theaters (Val Day, Artistic Director; Brian Beirne, Managing Director) is thrilled to host the New York City premiere of SMALL WORLD, written by Frederick Stroppel and directed by Joe Brancato. Produced by Penguin Rep, SMALL WORLD begins performances on Wednesday, September 13 for a limited engagement through Saturday, October 7.  Press opening is Sunday, September 17 at 7:15 PM.  The performance schedule is Tuesday - Thursday at 7:15 PM; Friday at 8:15 PM; Saturday at 2:15 PM & 8:15 PM; and Sunday at 3:15 PM & 7:15 PM. Performances are at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues). Tickets are $25 - $35 ($24.50 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or visit www.59e59.org. 

Roar! The Music of the 1920s and Beyond. This sassy songbird sings audiences through the end of summer in the John C. Court Cabaret from August 22 through September 24. Tickets may be purchased online at FloridaStudioTheatre.org, by phone at (941) 366-9000, or by visiting the Box Office.

Mosaic Theater Company of DC, the 2017 Helen Hayes Award-winning theatre for Outstanding Emerging Company, will begin its 2017-2018 season with the Off-Broadway hit The Devil's Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith. Written by Angelo Parra and performed by the indomitable Miche Braden (who also directed and arranged the music) and directed by Joe Brancato, this boisterous show featuring thirteen songs tells the story of Bessie Smith's final performance after she and her band are turned away from a whites-only theatre in 1937 Memphis. Previews begin August 24 with a press opening of Monday, August 28, and the show runs through September 24, with a potential extension week through October 1.

Primal Forces Returns with a New Season of Provocative Plays. Keith Garsson Brings Dark and Edgy Works to Empire Stage and Andrews Living Arts.  Primal Forces (www.primalforces.com), the theatrical production company focusing on dark and edgy subject matter returns to Fort Lauderdale this fall with a brand-new season focusing on, what else? Sex! The 2017-2018 season will consist of three new plays, including the world-premiere of Speed Queen written by international cabaret star, Phoebe Legere.

Laguna Playhouse is thrilled to announce the second show in the Laguna Playhouse 2017-2018 and 97th season with the Tony nominated rock and roll musical, A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, in Association with the Estate of Janis Joplin and Jeffrey Jampol of JAM, Inc., with musical direction by Todd Olson and written and directed by Randy Johnson.

Mosaic Theater Company of DC, the 2017 Helen Hayes Award-winning theatre for Outstanding Emerging Company, proudly announces an expansion of its senior artistic leadership team with the addition of Victoria Murray Baatin as Associate Artistic Director.  The Mosaic Board has also recently elected Bill Tompkins as its Chair. Outgoing Board Chair Deborah Carliner, who has served Mosaic since its Inaugural Season, will continue to serve on the Board of Directors.

Tony and two-time Grammy Award winner Jennifer Holliday will bring Jennifer Holliday: In a Mellow Tone to San Francisco's Marines' Memorial Theatre (609 Sutter St.) for one performance only - Today, July 21 at 8 p.m.

Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, writer Lanie Robertson's insightful and moving look at jazz legend Billie Holiday and her life and career, continues its run at Brentwood's Towne Centre Theatre. Directed by Dave Ragland and starring Jennifer Whitcomb-Oliva in her stunning onstage transformation to become Lady Day, it's one of the highlights of an especially impressive Nashville theater season filled with strong performances and shows both challenging and introspective.

Jennifer Whitcomb-Oliva's miraculous transformation into music legend Billie Holiday may well be the performance of 2017, theater-wise, in a city where we revere and venerate our favorite vocalists. But in Music City, where live theater is often perceived as a mere afterthought by the entertainment establishment, oftentimes performances such as hers may be given short shrift, overlooked by the so-called powers-that-be whose tastes tend toward the middle of the road, pop-infused, sound-like-everyone else, cookie cutter variety of singers.

American Conservatory Theater's (A.C.T.) critically acclaimed production of A Night with Janis Joplin ends its six-week run this Sunday, July 16 following two extensions and resounding critical and audience response. The performance schedule for the final week is as follows: Wednesday, July 12 at 8 p.m.; Thursday, July 13 at 8 p.m.; Friday, July 14 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, July 15 at 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; Sunday, July 16 at 2 p.m. & 7 p.m. Good seats for all remaining performances are available by calling the A.C.T. Box Office at 415.749.2228 or visiting www.act-sf.org.

Bringing great shows from around the world, across the country and throughout the region, the Harris Center for the Arts' new 2017-18 season is on sale now.

Acclaimed band Tank and The Bangas confirm additional headlining North American tour dates in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, D.C. as well as festival appearances at Austin City Limits, Pickathon, Hullabaloo Festival and more. See below for complete tour details.

One of the country's most vibrant eras in music, in general and especially for women, was the 1960s, filled to the brim with girl groups like The Chantels and The Supremes, folk pioneers like Joan Baez, and songwriters so influential that, decades later, that musical written about them keeps filling its Broadway house to capacity for close to four years (Carole King, of course). In the midst of political and public unrest, in a male-dominated world and industry, these women made space and carved out their own spots in music history. Who better to spotlight these singers and songwriters than Carole J. Bufford, who has carved out her own spot within the New York cabaret scene as an enthusiastic and rich interpreter of the Jazz Age songbook, and returned to the circuit with something a little different: YOU DON'T OWN ME: THE FEARLESS FEMALES OF THE 1960S, a celebration of the 'bold and daring women [who] planted their flags and ensured their voices were heard.' And as it turns out, it's not only Bufford's most fearless show, but also one of her best.

The late, great playwright Edward Albee is curating his legacy posthumously via "dead hand control."