Billie Holiday News

Poetic Theater Productions has announced the world premiere production of PARADOX OF THE URBAN CLICHE, written by Craig 'muMs' Grant and directed by Reginald L. Douglas, part of POETIC LICENSE 2015: subconscious.

Joe's Pub at the Public has announced its nightly performances, January 14 - 25, 2015. Details below!

The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at the University of British Columbia (UBC) is proud to present an evening of jazz and cross-genre musical exploration in a spectacular double bill featuring drummer, composer, producer, and entrepreneur, Terri Lyne Carrington's Mosaic Project and vocalist and Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition winner Cécile McLorin Salvant on Sunday, February 15 at 7pm in the Chan Shun Concert Hall. The concert will be preceded by a pre-concert talk with Terri Lyne Carrington, moderated by CBC's Margaret Gallagher, at 6:15pm in the Royal Bank Cinema, during which Carrington will discuss her GRAMMY Award-winning The Mosaic Project.

Theater artist Taylor Mac makes his New York Live Arts debut with A 24-Decade History of Popular Music: 1900-1950s, presented by New York Live Arts as part of The Public Theater's Under the Radar Festival, today, January 13-25, 2015.

Oscar nominee Queen Latifah ('Chicago') stars as legendary blues singer Bessie Smith in the HBO Films drama BESSIE, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Dee Rees ('Pariah') from a screenplay by Rees and Christopher Cleveland & Bettina Gilois. With a story by Rees and Horton Foote, the film focuses on Smith's transformation from a struggling young singer into 'The Empress of the Blues,' one of the most successful recording artists of the 1920s and an enduring icon today.

Coming Forth By Day: A Celebration of Billie Holiday is?Grammy Award winner Cassandra Wilson's tribute to one of the greatest jazz singers that ever lived. Perhaps the greatest jazz singer living today, Cassandra Wilson will offer her special tribute concert to Billie Holiday, on the centennial of “Lady Day's” birth, at The Ridgefield Playhouse on Thursday, March 26, at 8 p.m.

Joe's Pub at the Public has announced its nightly performances over the next couple weeks, January 6 -18. Details below!

Bucks County Playhouse (BCP) welcomes GFour Productions, winners of 54 Drama Desk and 44 Tony Awards who have officially announced their cast of leading ladies for the production of the international hit show Menopause The Musical. Best described as a groundbreaking celebration of women who are on the brink of, in the middle of or have survived 'The Change', Menopause The Musical is sure to leave audiences inspired and laughing long after the show.

After a sold-out engagement last February, renowned San Francisco Bay Area jazz vocalist, Paula West, returns to Feinstein's at the Nikko for a six-week engagement - February 12 - March 22, 2015. Known for her rich, powerful contralto voice, West will present an all-new show featuring an eclectic range of songs - from memorable jazz standards to contemporary American classics by Bob Dylan, Talking Heads, Harry Nilsson and more! Accompanied by her four-piece band, West will take San Francisco audiences on a musical journey through the ages. Tickets for Paula West range in price from $35-$50 and are available now by calling 866.663.1063 or visiting www.ticketweb.com.

South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC, 1 SOPAC Way, South Orange, NJ) has announced its upcoming events for January 2015. Details below!

This January and February 54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54thStreet. For a detailed schedule of upcoming performances at 54 Below and to purchase tickets, visit www.54Below.com.

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer; Brian Beirne, Managing Director) is thrilled to host the US premiere of CAFE SOCIETY SWING, written by Alex Webb and directed by Simon Green. Produced by Richard Darbourne Ltd (producer of last season's Drama League nominated All That Fall) and The Copasetic Foundation, CAFE SOCIETY SWING begins performances on Tuesday, December 16 for a limited engagement through Sunday, January 4. Opening Night is Sunday, December 21 at 7 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday - Thursday at 7 PM; Friday at 8 PM; Saturday at 2 PM & 8 PM; Sunday at 3 PM & 7 PM. Please note the following Holiday schedule adjustments: There is no performance on Thursday, December 25; there is an added performance on Friday, December 26 at 2 PM; the performances on December 24 and December 31 are at 6 PM. Single tickets are $70 ($49 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or visit www.59e59.org.

Coming up next on Kitchen Theatre Company's 24th Main Stage Season is Dominique Morisseau's explosive, uncensored Sunset Baby. A secret cache of letters brings together a former Black Power leader, his estranged daughter, and her drug-dealing boyfriend in this story of family and activism, revolution and estrangement. Sunset Baby begins previews tonight, December 3rd, and opening night is December 6th. The play runs until December 21st.

Coming up next on Kitchen Theatre Company's 24th Main Stage Season is Dominique Morisseau's explosive, uncensored SUNSET BABY. A secret cache of letters brings together a former Black Power leader, his estranged daughter, and her drug-dealing boyfriend in this story of family and activism, revolution and estrangement. Sunset Baby begins previews on December 3rd, and opening night is December 6th. The play runs until December 21st .

Audra McDonald reveals that she has no plans to perform songs from her recent Broadway show Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill for which she won a record sixth Tony Award for her portrayal of Billie Holiday.

Following critically acclaimed workshop presentations, the plays of Steven Carl McCasland will return to NYC in a month-long festival celebrating the young playwright. Together with The Clarion Theatre, they'll present six plays beginning on May 6th, 2015, with a company of actors performing in repertory. All of the plays focus on historical figures, including Laurette Taylor, Billie Holiday, Tennessee Williams, Gertrude Stein, Lillian Hellman and more.

Coming up next on Kitchen Theatre Company's 24th Main Stage Season is Dominique Morisseau's explosive, uncensored Sunset Baby. A secret cache of letters brings together a former Black Power leader, his estranged daughter, and her drug-dealing boyfriend in this story of family and activism, revolution and estrangement. Sunset Baby begins previews on December 3rd, and opening night is December 6th. The play runs until December 21st.

The Hot Sardines reinvent 'hot jazz' for the 21st century at Pepperdine University's Smothers Theatre in Malibu on Thursday, January 15 at 8 p.m.

AnthonyKen LLC and Sheryl Lee Ralph/The Diva Foundation are pleased to announce that the critically acclaimed MIGHTY REAL: A FABULOUS SYLVESTER MUSICAL, the musical celebration of the life of the original 1970s "Queen of Disco" Sylvester, will return for a special one-night-only event in New York City at The Gramercy Theater (127 East 23rd Street) on Sunday, January 18th, 2015 at 8 PM. The musical will then take off for a limited engagement in Sylvester's beloved city, San Francisco, where it will play the Brava Theater Center (2781 24th Street) from Wednesday, February 11th - Sunday, March 1at, 2015 (Opening Night: February 14th, 2015). Plans for other engagements in cities across the country - and a return to New York City - will be announced in the New Year.