Bessie Smith News

Opera Exposures, the not-for-profit organization dedicated to presenting concerts and recitals featuring seasoned professional musicians and young operatic artists in accessible venues at affordable prices, will celebrate National Opera Week by presenting a FREE recital on Sunday, October 28, at 3 PM at St. Marks Church, 131 East 10th Street at 2nd Avenue in Manhattan.

The RRazz Room, San Francisco's premier nightclub, will present a very special night with vocalist DENISE PERRIER tonight, October 2 as part of their "Legendary Bay Area Giants of Jazz" Concert Series. The show "Both Sides Now" will feature two sets, one accompanied by cello and violin with Musical Director Tammy Hall, the second to highlight Ms. Perrier's soulful side with funky hits of the 1970s and 80s. She will include selections from her latest CD The Second Time Around.

Preview performances of Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? begin this evening, Thursday, September 27, 2012, at the Booth Theatre (222 West 45th Street). Opening night is set for Saturday, October 13, 2012, exactly 50 years to the day of the play's original Broadway opening on Saturday, October 13, 1962.

The RRazz Room, San Francisco's premier nightclub, will present a very special night with vocalist DENISE PERRIER on Tuesday, October 2 as part of their "Legendary Bay Area Giants of Jazz" Concert Series. The show "Both Sides Now" will feature two sets, one accompanied by cello and violin with Musical Director Tammy Hall, the second to highlight Ms. Perrier's soulful side with funky hits of the 1970s and 80s. She will include selections from her latest CD The Second Time Around.

On the evidence of the book, and as echoed in the show, Alice Walker finds permanence and monogamy rarer than more fluid arrangements. I mentioned forgiveness, and it plays large here; the characters find, in various ways, that they must accept that their loved ones love them back only with divided hearts.

Today we are talking to a Tony Award-winning star known for her many impressive appearances on Broadway in JELLY'S LAST JAM, PLAY ON!, THE WILD PARTY and her tremendous title turn in the towering CAROLINE, OR CHANGE - the one and only Tonya Pinkins. Opening up about her career and many of her most memorable roles, Pinkins lets us in to her world and shares experiences of working with some of the most noted names in theatre - George C. Wolfe, Harold Prince, August Wilson, Stephen Sondheim, Lloyd Richards, Daniel Sullivan, David Esbjornson and many more among them - on everything from MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, her Broadway debut, to her many musical roles to August Wilson's THE PIANO LESSON and RADIO GOLF all the way to last season's Shakespeare In The Park double-header of THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR and MEASURE FOR MEASURE. Most importantly, Pinkins fills us in on all the details about her upcoming Ethel Waters tribute at 54 Below and what we can expect from one of musical theatre's most dynamic divas taking on the song catalog of an entertainment pioneer in this New York premiere of the in-development new musical solo spotlight showcase. Additionally, Pinkins shares some candid reminiscences about some of her most fondly remembered film and television roles - such as ABOVE THE RIM, BEAT STREET, ROMANCE & CIGARETTES, ENCHANTED and others - as well as offers her thoughts on the ever-changing world of soaps, having appeared in major roles on both AS THE WORLD TURNS and ALL MY CHILDREN. All of that, comments on her two upcoming feature films - HOME and NEWLYWEEDS - and much, much more!

Madeleine Peyroux takes the stage at Three Stages. Opening the concert is Rebecca Pidgeon. The evening takes place tonight, Aug 23, 2012.

Fresh off its acclaimed run at the Cleveland Play House, One Night with Janis Joplin will take D.C. audiences on a musical journey into the life and inspirations of one of rock 'n' roll's greatest legends. The production is led by Cleveland native Mary Bridget Davies, who performs with Joplin's original band Big Brother and the Holding Company, and also features Sabrina Elayne Carten as the Blues Singer who pays homage to the artists that influenced Joplin's incomparable blues-rock blend. Created, written and directed by Randy Johnson, the production is produced in partnership with Cleveland Play House in association with Todd Gershwin and Daniel Chilewich of Premiere Media, with support from The Estate of Janis Joplin and Jeff Jampol of JAM, Inc. One Night with Janis Joplin runs September 28 - November 4, 2012 in the Kreeger Theater. Get a first look at the show in the photos below!

Fresh off its acclaimed run at the Cleveland Play House, where The Plain Dealer called it "a feel-good, fist pumping, must-see concert," One Night with Janis Joplin will take D.C. audiences on a musical journey into the life and inspirations of one of rock 'n' roll's greatest legends.

The most exciting moment in ZACH's Theatre's history will happen this fall with the opening of the new Topfer Theatre. The once-in-a-lifetime first season will include a world premiere, an American musical with a full orchestra for the first time at ZACH, a beloved classic made new, an international concert guest star, and the biggest, snowiest holiday favorite of all time, all taking full advantage of the technological capabilities of the extraordinary new theatre.

There is a love-in going on at the Cleveland Play House's Allen Theatre between Janis Joplin and the audience. Janis Joplin? She's dead. She died in 1970 at the age of 27. You'd never know it from the happenings on the CPH stage. Mary Bridget Davies, who took over the role opening night, doesn't imitate Janis, she is Janis!

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY continues its Summer 2012 season with the return of MAC, Bistro, and Nightlife Award winning vocalist, Karen Oberlin from July 24 to 28. BroadwayWorld was there for the first concert and we bring you photos below!

Madeleine Peyroux takes the stage at Three Stages next month. Opening the concert is Rebecca Pidgeon. The evening takes place Aug 23, 2012.

In the Fall of 2010, multiple award-winning author/director PAUL LEVINE produced a workshop of BIG MAYBELLE: Soul of the Blues in association with the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts and Amas Musical Theatre.

Aiming to become a community anchor with the capacity to unite theater professionals, students and local residents of all ages, New Haarlem Arts Theatre, the professional theater company of City College of New York (CCNY), presents its first play for young audiences, 'Flying Fables,' adapted by Obie-winner Stephanie Berry, directed by John-Martin Green with choreography and staging by Bruce Hawkins, and original music by Patricia Ju from tonight, July 14 to July 27 at Aaron Davis Hall, 135th Street and Convent Avenue.

To accommodate emergency repairs in Theatre C of Aaron Davis Hall, New Haarlem Arts Theatre has relocated all performances of 'Flying Fables' (July 14 to 27), a new play for family audiences adapted by Stephanie Berry and directed by John-Martin Green, to CCNY's Compton/Goethals Studio Theatre, located at 140th Street and Amsterdam Avenue (3rd floor).

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY will continue its Summer 2012 season with the return of MAC, Bistro, and Nightlife Award winning vocalist, KAREN OBERLIN from July 24 to 28.

See what's playing in Cleveland and Akron for the month of July!

Aiming to become a community anchor with the capacity to unite theater professionals, students and local residents of all ages, New Haarlem Arts Theatre, the professional theater company of City College of New York (CCNY), will present its first play for young audiences, 'Flying Fables,' adapted by Obie-winner Stephanie Berry, directed by John-Martin Green with choreography and staging by Bruce Hawkins, and original music by Patricia Ju from July 14 to 27 at Aaron Davis Hall, 135th Street and Convent Avenue.

Yesterday, June 3, The 57th Annual Drama Desk Awards were held at The Town Hall, celebrating this year's big winners. The festivities were presided over by star of stage and screen Brooke Shields and Broadway favorite - and previous Drama Desk winner - Brian d'Arcy James. BroadwayWorld's own Richard Ridge was there, and we bring you red carpet interviews with the evening's attendees below. Click below to check out Part 2!