Bessie Smith News

Jeffrey Walker's top picks for summer theatre in Washington, DC and the metro area.

BLUES IN THE NIGHT uses the great blues and jazz songs of the 1920s and 30s to explore the lives of three women and a saloon singer in a 'cheap hotel' during the course of a long memory-filled evening. The 26 songs celebrate the blues melodies of Bessie Smith, Jimmy Cox, Duke Ellington, Alberta Hunter and songs by Harold Arlen, Benny Goodman, Andy Razaf, Johnny Mercer and others.

The all-star cast for ZACH Theatre's much-anticipated staging of ONE NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN was announced today. Kacee Clanton, the Los Angeles-based rock and blues singer-songwriter who previously played Janis Joplin in Love, Janis and has toured as lead vocalist with Big Brother & The Holding Company, will star in ONE NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN at ZACH, opening July 10.

Following a critically acclaimed run at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater this past fall, One Night with Janis Joplin returns for a summer run. Leading the production is Mary Bridget Davies. Davies is joined by Sabrina Elayne Carten as the Blues Singer. Created, written and directed by Randy Johnson, the production is produced in partnership with The Pasadena Playhouse and Milwaukee Repertory Theater, in association with Todd Gershwin and Daniel Chilewich of One Night Productions, The Estate of Janis Joplin and Jeff Jampol of JAM, Inc. One Night with Janis Joplin runs June 21-August 11, 2013 in the Kreeger Theater.

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director), Barry Grove (Executive Producer), and Mandy Greenfield (Artistic Producer) previously announced that THE EXPLORERS CLUB, the world premiere comedy by Tony nominee Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde), will be directed by Marc Bruni (Ordinary Days, Old Jews Telling Jokes) featuring Obie Award winner Steven Boyer and Tony Award winner Richard Easton.

Merrimack Repertory Theatre's (MRT's) Artistic Director Charles Towers has just announced an updated schedule for the 2013-2014 Season. Due to rights availability, MRT is pleased to announce next season will now include Lanford Wilson's classic American love story Talley's Folley. An updated schedule of the 2013-2014 Season is included below. Subscriptions to MRT's 2013-2014 Season are on sale now. Discounted season tickets are available in a full 7-play subscription or 3-6 play customizable packages and can be purchased online at MRT.org or at the box office by calling 978-654-4678.

After two prior sellout shows at The Cabaret, Deb Mullins is back again! Her new show, Bluesville features songs from the Delta to Broadway and Bessie Smith to Cassandra Wilson.

With a voice like whiskey and a laugh like pure joy, Janis Joplin took the music scene by storm. Simultaneously rough and vulnerable, Joplin was dubbed the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll, proving music wasn't just a man's world anymore. Now, in a new musical event featuring more than a dozen singers and band members, playwright-director Randy Johnson creates 'a compelling portrait of an artist' (Culturemob) through the words, inspiration and music of one of America's greatest rock 'n' roll originals. One Night With Janis Joplin is a full-on concert experience and musical journey into the life and inspirations of one of rock 'n' roll's greatest legends and it runs in The Rep's Quadracci Powerhouse from tonight, May 3 - June 2, 2013 and opens on Monday, May 6, 2013. Packed with classic songs ('Piece Of My Heart,' 'Summertime,' 'Mercedes Benz'), One Night With Janis Joplin also shines the spotlight on trailblazers who influenced Janis - like Bessie Smith, Etta James and Aretha Franklin.

With a voice like whiskey and a laugh like pure joy, Janis Joplin took the music scene by storm. Simultaneously rough and vulnerable, Joplin was dubbed the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll, proving music wasn't just a man's world anymore. Now, in a new musical event featuring more than a dozen singers and band members, playwright-director Randy Johnson creates 'a compelling portrait of an artist' (Culturemob) through the words, inspiration and music of one of America's greatest rock 'n' roll originals. One Night With Janis Joplin is a full-on concert experience and musical journey into the life and inspirations of one of rock 'n' roll's greatest legends and it runs in The Rep's Quadracci Powerhouse from May 3 - June 2, 2013 and opens on Monday, May 6, 2013. Packed with classic songs ('Piece Of My Heart,' 'Summertime,' 'Mercedes Benz'), One Night With Janis Joplin also shines the spotlight on trailblazers who influenced Janis - like Bessie Smith, Etta James and Aretha Franklin.

With a voice like whiskey and a laugh like pure joy, Janis Joplin took the music scene by storm. Simultaneously rough and vulnerable, Joplin was dubbed the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll, proving music wasn't just a man's world anymore. Now, in a new musical event featuring more than a dozen singers and band members, playwright-director Randy Johnson creates "a compelling portrait of an artist" (Culturemob) through the words, inspiration and music of one of America's greatest rock 'n' roll originals. One Night With Janis Joplin is a full-on concert experience and musical journey into the life and inspirations of one of rock 'n' roll's greatest legends and it runs in The Rep's Quadracci Powerhouse from May 3 - June 2, 2013 and opens on Monday, May 6, 2013. Packed with classic songs ("Piece Of My Heart," "Summertime," "Mercedes Benz"), One Night With Janis Joplin also shines the spotlight on trailblazers who influenced Janis - like Bessie Smith, Etta James and Aretha Franklin.

In less than four weeks into its engagement, ONE NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN has officially become the highest-grossing production in the history of The Pasadena Playhouse.

The Pasadena Playhouse in association with Todd Gershwin and Daniel Chilewich of One Night Productions, LLC, the Estate of Janis Joplin and Jeff Jampol of JAM, Inc. announced that in less than four weeks into its engagement, ONE NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN has officially become the highest-grossing production in the history of The Pasadena Playhouse, breaking a previous record held by Stormy Weather which played for eight weeks in January - March, 2009. The production enters its final two weeks of performances, playing through April 21, 2013.

The Pepperdine University Fine Arts Division Theatre Department presents the US premiere of Why Do You Stand There in the Rain?, Scottish playwright Peter Arnott's drama based on the Bonus Army March in Washington, DC, at 7:30 p.m. tonight, April 2, through Saturday, April 6, at the Malibu campus' Smothers Theatre.

Following development in New York City and Washington, D.C., including a sold-out run at the New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF), Trav'lin - The New 1930s Harlem Musical receives its Regional Premiere at Fort Worth's Jubilee Theatre, the original home of African-American theater in North Texas,beginning Friday, March 29, 2013. Opening Night is Friday, April 5, and the show runs through April 28, 2013.

Trav'lin - The New 1930s Harlem Musical, will receive its Regional Premiere production at Fort Worth's Jubilee Theatre in Spring 2013. The musical, which received a developmental production in 2010 as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF), runs tonight, March 29, 2013 through April 28, 2013.

The Cabaret at The Columbia Club announces its 2013 Summer/Fall lineup, featuring Ana Gasteyer, Eden Espinosa

Woodie King Jr's New Federal Theatre, in association with Castillo Theatre, will present Plenty of Time by John Shevin Foster at the Castillo Theatre (543 West 42nd Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues.). Performances begin April 4th with Opening Night set for Thursday, April 18th. Performances continue through May 5th only.

The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel welcomeed the elegant and sophisticated pianist/singer, Ms. Jo Thompson, for its new 'Second Act, A Late Night Series of Fun and Entertainment' at the Cafe Carlyle from March 21st-23rd, and continuing on March 28th and 30th. Ms. Thompson plays piano and vamps, purrs and romps her way through jazz and standards from the 1930s through the present, along with her own original material in her new program, 'Slender, Tender and Tall - An Evening With Ms. Jo Thompson'. She is joined by bassist, Calvin Hill, and drummer, Mike Campenni. BroadwayWorld was there for her first performance and brings you photos below!

ZACH- Austin's Theatre and Texas' longest running theatre, produced in partnership with Todd Gershwin and Daniel Chilewich of One Night Productions, LLC, the Estate of Janis Joplin, and Jeffrey Jampol of JAM, Inc., present the Texas premiere of ONE NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, created, written and directed by Randy Johnson.

The Pasadena Playhouse, in association with Todd Gershwin and Daniel Chilewich of One Night Productions, LLC, the Estate of Janis Joplin and Jeff Jampol of JAM, Inc., announced that ONE NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN enjoyed a record-breaking day of sales yesterday, March 19, 2013. Tickets for the limited engagement, which runs through April 21st, are going fast and select performances are nearing sold-out status.