Billie Holiday News

The ever youthful Linda Purl - star of stage, screen, and television - brought summer to a close with her show 'Big Band Romance' at Feinstein's/54 Below in midtown Manhattan.

Tony Award nominee Pascale Armand has joined the cast of the staged reading of David Heron's controversial legal drama Against His Will, to be held at The Billie Holiday Theatre on Monday September 17 at 7pm.

"There's nothing formal about this but this dress." Kennedy Davenport's aside, just several minutes into her August 23 performance of THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO KENNEDY DAVENPORT at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, couldn't have been truer. And, to put it in RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE speak, that informality represented both the top and the bottom of the performance--- though, rest assured, nobody was in danger of elimination.

Billy Crystal's new play 'Have a Nice Day' will hold a live reading at the Minetta Lane Theater next month, according to The New York Times.

Hershey Felder brings his wildly acclaimed one-man show, Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin to 59E59 Theaters. The production, featuring music and lyrics by the great American songwriter Irving Berlin, book by Hershey Felder and directed by longtime Felder collaborator Trevor Hay, will play from August 24 through October 28, 2018.

American Repertory Theater at Harvard University (A.R.T.) announces September and October 2018 programming at OBERON, its club space for cutting-edge performance and thriving incubator for local and emerging artists. Upcoming events include A.R.T.'s Live @ OBERON, Breakout (formerly OBERON Presents), and Afterglow @ OBERON series, as well as independently-produced events.

National Alliance for Musical Theatre announces the line-up of directors for their 30th Annual FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS, which takes place on Thursday, October 25 and Friday, October 26, 2018 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues). The Festival events will kick off on Monday, October 22 with Thank You, 30!, a gala event to celebrate the 30th Annual Festival.

RestorationART at Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation launches its 2018 - 2019 season with Def Poetry Jam Reunion, curated by Danny Simmons on Saturday, September 15, 2018 for two shows only at 3PM and 7PM at The Billie Holiday Theatre, 1368 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY 11216.

Renowned actress and singer Linda Purl, best known for 'Happy Days', 'Matlock' and 'The Office' will make her solo cabaret debut at Feinstein's 54 Below on September  4th and 5th with her sensational new show 'Big Band Romance' featuring the all- female Diva Jazz Orchestra.

Dael Orlandersmith, "an intense poet, writer and intellectual" (Chicago Tribune), brings her newest work, Lady in Denmark, to the Owen Theatre. Reuniting with director Chay Yew (Black n Blue Boys/Broken Men, 2012), Orlandersmith's world premiere production is a reflection on love and adversity starring stage and screen actress Linda Gehringer in a 90-minute solo performance. Helene (Gehringer) is a Danish American woman coping with the death of her husband who finds solace in the hauntingly beautiful music of their favorite singer, Billie Holiday. This is her journey through the couple's time together-from the smoky jazz clubs of post-war Copenhagen to the home they shared in present-day Chicago. Lady in Denmark is one of five world premieres this season, all originally developed as a part of the Goodman's New Stages Festival. The creative team includes Andrew Boyce (set), Christine Pascual (costumes), Lee Fiskness (lighting) and Mikhail Fiksel (original music and sound). Donald E. Claxon is the Production Stage Manager. Lady in Denmark appears October 19 - November 18, 2018 (opening night is October 29 at 7pm) in the Goodman's Owen Theatre (170 N. Dearborn); tickets ($15-45; subject to change) go on sale Friday, August 31, by telephone 312.443.3800 or online GoodmanTheatre.org/LadyInDenmark.

Voodoohoney Records has announced details for the third annual Strange Fruit Music Festival. The Festival will be presented from August 29th through September 2nd at various locations around the city of Milwaukee.

Exceptionally sophisticated and emotional vocalist, Maye Cavallaro has been singing classic songs since she discovered her Mother's "Sing Along with Mitch" records at age 6. By the age of nine she began borrowing from her brother's collection of vintage blues, at 10 she began studying piano, and by 12 was a huge fan of Carmen McRae, Billie Holiday, Esther Phillips and Miriam Makeba. Her eclectic and wide ranging musical tastes have continued to encompass jazz, modern pop and rock as well as classical and world music.

The American Songbook Association (ASA) is proud to present its first Annual Gala, The Joint Is Jumpin'!, a joyous celebration of contributions to the American Songbook by Black songwriters and notable singers. The ASA will also present its first annual Lifetime Achievement Award to singer Marilyn Maye. The award will be presented to Maye by her longtime friend, fashion designer, Bob Mackie. The event takes place at The Irene Diamond Stage at The Pershing Square Signature Center, 480 W. 42nd Street, New York City, on September 17, 2018 at 7:30 PM. Tickets, available by going to www.americansongbookassociation.org, are $150, $125 and $45.

The American Songbook Association (ASA) has announced its first Annual Gala, The Joint Is Jumpin'!, a joyous celebration of contributions to the American Songbook by Black songwriters and notable singers. The ASA will also present its first annual Lifetime Achievement Award to singer Marilyn Maye. The award will be presented to Maye by her longtime friend, fashion designer, Bob Mackie. The event takes place at The Irene Diamond Stage at The Pershing Square Signature Center, 480 W. 42nd Street, New York City, on September 17, 2018 at 7:30 PM. Tickets, available by going to www.americansongbookassociation.org, are $150, $125 and $45.

Voodoohoney Records has announced details for the third annual Strange Fruit Music Festival. The Festival will be presented from August 29th through September 2nd at various locations around the city of Milwaukee.

The Broad Stage presents the return of acclaimed singer, songwriter, and guitarist Madeleine Peyroux, touring in support of her latest album, Anthem, on Friday, September 21 at 7:30pm.  Peyroux's band includes Gregg Fine, electric guitar; Andy Ezrin, keyboards; Paul Frazier, electric bass; and Graham Hawthorne, drums.

International City Theatre has announced its 2019 season of five plays at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center, where ICT is the resident professional theater company. 

Axis Company today announces the remount of High Noon, their adaptation of the screenplay for the 1952 Western film, devised by an ensemble led by Artistic Director Randy Sharp. The play returns October 3-27, following an acclaimed first run in January of this year.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater's 65th Anniversary Season opens in the $1.75 million newly renovated Stackner Cabaret with Songs for Nobodies by Joanna Murray-Smith (American Song, Bombshells) starring Milwaukee Rep favorite Bethany Thomas (Ain't Misbehavin, Ragtime, Man of La Mancha) in a one-woman tour-de-force show about legendary divas Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, Edith Piaf, Billie Holiday and Maria Callas.