Billie Holiday News

Seven of Australia's Diva's come together for a very special one-off event at The Sydney Opera House to pay tribute to the late Billie Holiday, otherwise known as 'Lady Day'. The concert Ladies Sing the Blues, will feature Lady Cool, Amanda Easton, Liza Ohlback, Lucinda Peters, Lindsay Drummond, Joy Yates and Dahlia Dior. 

Audra McDonald, who starred in the role of 'Sarah' in the original Broadway production of RAGTIME, for which she earned her third Tony Award, turned to Twitter to express her sorrow over today's news. 

Audra McDonald lends her voice to a tiny tin airplane pilot named Bess, a historical toy created in the likeness of the famous African-American female pilot, Bessie Coleman

In recognition of its 80th anniversary, the award-winning Count Basie Orchestra performs at the Suncoast Showroom this weekend, beginning tonight, July 17 and continuing tomorrow, July 18.

Jasmine Saunise completes casting for the upcoming reading of Steven Carl McCasland's new play Memorare. The reading, which is open to the public, will take place at the Arthur Seelen Theatre (located at the Tony Award-winning Drama Bookshop) tonight, July 15th at 7:00pm. The reading is free to the public.

On Monday 13th July 2015 SimG Records is to release the Original London Cast Recording of A SPOONFUL OF SHERMAN - the critically acclaimed cabaret revue that celebrates 90 years and 3 generations of Sherman family songwriting.

It's an undeniable, outstanding, and extraordinary musical milestone, to be sure: 2015 marks the thirtieth anniversary of The Mabel Mercer Foundation! Not only has the organization survived the ongoing and vastly fluctuating public tastes in music, lyrics, and performers, it has proliferated and burgeoned in its three decades of commitment to the classic, "Great Popular Songbook" -- both past and present.

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation announced today that 41 organizations in its New York Theater Program will receive grants totaling $4.1 million. Ranging from $10,000 to $160,000, the grants will be used toward operating support over the next two years.

Ken Greves, performing music from his new CD, will appear at Cafe Noctambulo on Thursday, July 2nd at 8pm with Frank Ponzio (piano), Saadi Zain (bass) and Jacob Melchior (drums). 

MIGHTY REAL: A FABULOUS SYLVESTER MUSICAL, the hit musical celebration of the life and music of the original 1970s 'Queen of Disco,' Sylvester, will be featured on TV One's award-winning series 'Unsung.' 

No Name producer Eric Vetter wraps up the   Uptown Cabaret Second Monday'  monthly singers showcase  at Manhattan's Indian Road Cafe on Monday, July 13 with a featured performance by vocalist / actress  Amanda Baker.  

The Kimmel Center announces four new shows added to the stellar line-up of pop and jazz performances, as part of the 2015-16 season. Tickets are now available for performances ranging from rising star jazz chanteuse Cecile McLorin Salvant performing an intimate solo jazz recital (Oct. 17), 10 time Grammy Award-winning Latin jazz duo Arturo Sandoval & Poncho Sanchez making their debut (Nov. 8), the return of international touring sensation Canadian Brass with Jeffrey Brillhart (Oct. 17), and the Philadelphia premiere of Potted Potter -- the Unauthorized Harry Experience (Oct. 20-25) performing a stage adaptation of family-friendly wizardry. 

Carnegie Hall's 125th anniversary season is fast approaching, and we are looking forward to a variety of exciting new projects and exceptional programming. Listed below are jazz, pop, and world music highlights at Carnegie Hall for the 2015-2016 season.

The Music Institute of Chicago announces the 2015-16 season of its Faculty and Guest Artist Series, showcasing women in jazz, illustrious alumni, and the 10th anniversary of its Academy for training gifted pre-college musicians. All concerts take place at the historic Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Avenue in the heart of downtown Evanston.

Jasmine Saunise completes casting for the upcoming reading of Steven Carl McCasland's new play Memorare. The reading, which is open to the public, will take place at the Arthur Seelen Theatre (located at the Tony Award-winning Drama Bookshop) on Wednesday, July 15th at 7:00pm. The reading is free to the public. 

Axis Theatre will present the world premiere of The Vast Machine, a new play written and directed by Randy Sharp about the dilemmas facing the crew of a slave ship at sea in the Middle Passage. Performances will take place October 1-24 at Axis Theatre (1 Sheridan Square) in the West Village.

MIGHTY REAL: A FABULOUS SYLVESTER MUSICAL, the hit musical celebration of the life and music of the original 1970s "Queen of Disco," Sylvester, will be featured on TV One's award-winning series "Unsung." 

A limited New York audience will soon be able to attend the first reading of Steven Carl McCasland's new play MEMORARE. The reading, which is open to the public, will take place at the Arthur Seelen Theatre (located at the Tony Award-winning Drama Bookshop) on Wednesday, July 15th at 7:00pm. The reading is free to the public. 

The Ensemble Theatre in Houston, Texas, is offering Trav'lin - the 1930s Harlem Musical as its season finale, Artistic Director Eileen J. Morris has announced. Official opening is June 25, 2015 with performances from tonight,  June 20 through July 26. The new staging follows a sold-out run of the show at the 2010 New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) and a successful 2013 production at the Jubilee Theatre in Fort Worth, Texas.