Bill Hughes News

 Birdland is 63, The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra is 80, and  Frank Sinatra is 100.  Gianni Valenti, Birdland owner announced the orchestra and the swinging engine of the Basie Band blasted off with "Come Fly With Me" at the "Jazz Corner of the World" last night. Regardless of how good the fidelity is on your Beats Headphones and McIntosh Amplifier, it doesn't come close to the sound being heard on 44th Street. The original charts might have some wear and tear from page turning by Basie musicians over the years, but the music was clear, precise, and  exciting as when the band made their home at Birdland in the 1950's. Scotty Barnhart is now the Director of The Count Basie Orchestra which has won 18 Grammy Awards and 20 Downbeat and Jazz Times polls. He follows in a long line of Jazz greats that have led the orchestra since Basie's passing in 1984. Thad Jones, Frank Foster, Brover Mitchell, Bill Hughes, and Dennis Mackrel have been prior directors.  Scotty pointed out that the band might have been formed in 1935, but they are very current and are on Facebook, and have a great website. Carmen Bradford, a Basie choice supplied the vocals. 

Today, a living legend in the global spirits industry gets his due, as the whiskey brand he's nurtured for an astonishing 60 years releases Wild Turkey Diamond Anniversary, a commemorative Bourbon in his honor. Celebrating six decades of service with the famous Lawrenceburg, Kentucky distillery this year, Wild Turkey's Jimmy Russell is now considered the longest-tenured, active Master Distiller in the world.

Tonight, July 11, the curtain will rise on TheatreWorks New Milford's East Coast premiere of Adam Peck's drama, BONNIE & CLYDE. The show opens at 8:00 p.m. for a four-week run. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

Tonight, July 11, the curtain will rise on TheatreWorks New Milford's East Coast premiere of Adam Peck's drama, BONNIE & CLYDE. The show opens at 8:00 p.m. for a four-week run.

On July 11, the curtain will rise on TheatreWorks New Milford's East Coast premiere of Adam Peck's drama, BONNIE & CLYDE. The show opens at 8:00 p.m. for a four-week run. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

On July 11, the curtain will rise on TheatreWorks New Milford's East Coast premiere of Adam Peck's drama, BONNIE & CLYDE. The show opens at 8:00 p.m. for a four-week run.

Tonight, May 30, The Sherman Playhouse will open its limited engagement run of MARLENE, Pam Gems' stunning theatrical depiction of screen legend and artiste Marlene Dietrich (Katherine Almquist of Sharon, CT). The curtain goes up at 8:00 p.m. on a two-week run.

On Friday, May 30, The Sherman Playhouse will open its limited engagement run of MARLENE, Pam Gems' stunning theatrical depiction of screen legend and artiste Marlene Dietrich (Katherine Almquist of Sharon, CT). The curtain goes up at 8:00 p.m. on a two-week run.

The Sherman Playhouse has announced the limited engagement of MARLENE, Pam Gems' stunning theatrical portrait of screen legend and entertainer Marlene Dietrich.

Yoshi's San Francisco announces updated calendar for club and restaurant through January 5, plus new shows through March 2014.

Yoshi's San Francisco announces updated calendar for club and restaurant through January 5, plus new shows through March 2014.

The Count Basie Orchestra and All That Music Productions, LLC, is pleased to announce the appointment of Scotty Barnhart as the new Director of The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra. He follows Thad Jones, Frank Foster, Grover Mitchell, Bill Hughes, and Dennis Mackrel in leading one of the greatest and most important jazz orchestras in history. Founded in 1935 by pianist William James Basie (1904-1984), the orchestra still tours the world today and is presently ending a two-week tour in Japan. The orchestra has released hundreds of recordings, won every respected jazz poll in the world at least once, has appeared in movies, television shows and commercials, Presidential Inaugurals, and has won 18 Grammy Awards, the most for any jazz orchestra. Many of its former members are some of the most important soloists, vocalists, composers, and arrangers in jazz history. That list includes Lester Young, Billie Holiday, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Jo Jones, Frank Foster, Frank Wess, Thad Jones, Joe Williams, Sonny Payne, Snooky Young, Al Grey, John Clayton, Dennis Mackrel and others.

On Saturday March 16, 2013 The Irish Tenors performed at The State Theatre in New Brunswick, NJ (www.statetheatrenj.org) and Broadwayworld.com was there for the show.

Finbar Wright, Anthony Kearns, and Ronan Tynan have been touring together as The Irish Tenors since 1998, with sold-out shows at Radio City Music Hall, Sydney Opera House, Carnegie Hall, The Hollywood Bowl, and major concert halls throughout the world. Their faces and voices are familiar to PBS audiences through several specials, including the "Ellis Island" recordings that sold a million CDs and DVDs.

Table 8 Productions presents William Shakespeare's thriller HAMLET. The run begins Friday, September 7, 2012, at The Onyx Theatre in Commercial Center and plays weekends through September. The production is directed by Troy Heard, with an original score composed by Sandy Stein and fight choreography by Sean Critchfield. Get a first look at the cast in the photos below!

'Hallelujah Broadway' showcases the emotional power of some of The Great White Way's most uplifting and powerful songs that have inspired millions of theatergoers. The show is a musical extravaganza performed with a 32-piece orchestra that will gladden hearts and give audiences something to cheer about.

HALLELUJAH BROADWAY, the PBS special that celebrates the inspirational songs of Broadway, is back on television with a special opportunity at two new concert dates. Tune in to Lakeshore PTV in the Merrillville, IN/Chicago area and WCET in Cincinnati for details about great seats and an exclusive PBS meet and greet with stars Anthony Kearns, Rodrick Dixon, and Alfreda Burke.

Hallelujah Broadway, the musical extravaganza from Bill Hughes, the producer of The Irish Tenors, is based on the simple premise that powerful songs can bring an audience to their feet, gladden their hearts and give them something to really feel good about. On Monday, October 4, the concert was seen only on WLIW21 here in the New York metropolitan-area in an intimate concert at City Winery, exclusive to WLIW21 donors and industry insiders. Check out some highlights from the show below!

Hallelujah Broadway, the musical extravaganza from Bill Hughes, the producer of The Irish Tenors, is based on the simple premise that powerful songs can bring an audience to their feet, gladden their hearts and give them something to really feel good about. How often have people come out of a Broadway Musical and felt they had just had a religious experience? On Monday, October 4, the concert was seen only on WLIW21 here in the New York metropolitan-area in an intimate concert at City Winery, exclusive to WLIW21 donors and industry insiders. BroadwayWorld was on hand and brings you photo coverage below.