Billie Holiday News

For its much-anticipated 12th annual season, the Downtown Urban Theater Festival (DUTF) will again take residency at HERE's Mainstage in New York City, April 2nd through 19th, 2014, with three weeks of new groundbreaking theatre.

On Monday, February 24 at 8pm, Town Hall will kick-off the 14th season of its Broadway by the Year Series with THE BROADWAY MUSICALS OF 1915-1939 which will feature Tony Award-winners Tonya Pinkins and Beth Leavel, as well as Tony Award-nominees Carolee Carmello, Stephanie J. Block, Karen Akers, and Emily Skinner, Drama Desk Award-nominees Aaron Lazar, Julia Murney and Kerry O'Malley, Grammy Award-winner Lari White, and Noah Racey (Curtains), Camille Saviola (Nine), concert and recording artist Howard Fishman and Nightlife Award-winner Carole J. Bufford. Individual tickets ($57 and $47) are on sale at www.TicketMaster.com or by phone at 800-982-2787; series subscriptions ($180-$220) are available at www.TheTownHall.org. Bank of America is proud to support Broadway by the Year with additional support provided by The Edythe Kenner Foundation.

Continuing its successful run at the historic Jubilee! Theater at Bally's Las Vegas, VERONIC Voices announces 27 new show dates beginning April 24, 2014, now on sale. Veronic DiCaire, the vocal impressionist who has taken Las Vegas by storm with her spot on ability to recreate the voices of music's most iconic female singers, continues to perform until Jan.18 and will return to Las Vegas with new show content this spring. Tickets for 27 of the newly-announced 2014 performances are on sale at veronicvoices.com.

What does it mean when we say someone is cool? Cool carries a social charge of rebellious self-expression, charisma, edge and mystery. “American Cool” will feature 100 photographs of icons who have contributed an original artistic vision to American culture and are symbolic figures of their time. The exhibition will be open at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery Feb. 7 through Sept. 7.

Next month as a part of their Black History Month celebration, The Town Hall (123 West 43rd Street) along with the World Music Institute will offer a special concert from Grammy Award-winning African music star Angelique Kidjo on February 15 at 8pm (co-presented by the World Music Institute). This concert marks the New York stop of her new album release tour. The album, Eve, is being released later this month on 1/28.

2014 sees some new names and some returns to The Crazy Coqs. January starts with the London debut of the sizzling cabaret performer Carole J .Bufford and her show Body and Soul (tonight, January 7 - 11) followed by the popular Broadway star Brent Barrett and his show Night Songs (January 14 -18) and then actress and singer Linda Purl with her show Midnight Caravan: Celebrating the Great Ladies of the Glamorous Nightclub Era of the 40s & 50s (January 21 - 25).

Joe's Pub at The Public has announced its slate of performances for this week, Jan. 6-12, including BEST OF CRAIGSLIST, SCREAM ALONG WITH BILLY, JEFF SLATE, EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH SHOW, CHAMPAGNE JERRY, TRIBECASTAN, SUN RA VISITATION SERIES, THE HOT SARDINES, MEKLIT HADERO/LEIF VOLLEBEKK, FREDERICKS BROWN, FEDERICO AUBELE/KEREN ANN/DOM LA NENA, RED BARAAT/METAL TONGUES/PATTEN, REVEREND BILLY, BRENDA RUSSELL, and JOEY ARIAS.

Singer, songwriter, ukulele player, pianist, mimic, comedienne and actor Nellie McKay joins forces with two-time Grammy award-winning Turtle Island Quartet for a jazzy jaunt back in time. The program, 'A Flower is a Lovesome Thing,' fills The Eccles Center with the tunes of Billie Holiday, Billy Strayhorn, Doris Day and the Weimar cabaret of the 1920s (plus some present-day originals). Show starts at 7:30 p.m.

The highly successful Arts & Ideas program at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco (JCCSF) continues into 2014 with an array of fascinating thinkers, writers and entertainers.

Singer, songwriter, ukulele player, pianist, mimic, comedienne and actor Nellie McKay joins forces with two-time Grammy award-winning Turtle Island Quartet for a jazzy jaunt back in time. The program, "A Flower is a Lovesome Thing," fills The Eccles Center with the tunes of Billie Holiday, Billy Strayhorn, Doris Day and the Weimar cabaret of the 1920s (plus some present-day originals). Show starts at 7:30 p.m.

Woodie King Jr's New Federal Theatre continues its 44th season with Dr. Du Bois and Miss Ovington starring Kathleen Chalfant and Timothy Simonson. Gabrielle L. Kurlander directs. Performances begin January 16h, with opening night scheduled for January 30th.

One of the most innovative and powerful forces in the performing arts world today, director Peter Sellars returns to the Canadian Opera Company with an already acclaimed new COC production of Handel's Hercules, based on Sophocles' timeless tragedy. Sellars propels the Greek myth of Hercules into the modern day, directing the same star-studded cast that premiered this production to unanimous praise at Lyric Opera of Chicago in 2011: American bass-baritone Eric Owens as Hercules (COC debut); British mezzo-soprano Alice Coote as Hercules' wife Dejanira; American countertenor David Daniels as Hercules' trusted aide, Lichas; American tenor Richard Croft as Hercules' son, Hyllus; and British soprano Lucy Crowe as the princess Iole (COC debut). Internationally renowned Baroque specialist Harry Bicket leads the COC Orchestra and Chorus through Handel's glorious music. The ancient Greek tragedian Sophocles was also a war general who knew first-hand the devastating psychological traumas facing returning veterans. With Hercules Sellars creates a healing work in which the untold horrors of war and the unspoken complications of reunion find their voice.

Chicago Children's Theatre has announced casting for its world premiere of Mr. Chickee's Funny Money, an all-new, rhythm and blues family musical playing January 18 - March 2, 2014 at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn, Chicago. Press opening is Friday, January 24 at 7 p.m.

Jay is an enormous fan of Broadway and all its denizens and has done many Broadway Cast Albums, but he has also worked with every great star of our time in every category of music.

Regina Carter and Nnenna Freelon will replace the previously announced Tony and Grammy winner Dee Dee Bridgewater in today's December 14, 2013 concert celebrating the 90th birthdays of Dinah Washington and Sarah Vaughan. The Royal Conservatory congratulates Ms. Bridgewater on her role in the upcoming off-Broadway production of Lady Day, in which she will portray legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday. The production begins September 12, which is the reason Ms. Bridgewater had to cancel her Conservatory appearance in December.

VERONIC Voices will continue to call the historic Jubilee! Theater at Bally's Las Vegas home through 2014. Veronic DiCaire, the vocal impressionist who has taken Las Vegas by storm with her spot on ability to recreate the voices of music's most iconic female singers, will return in the spring of 2014, following tour dates in Canada. Tickets for newly-announced 2014 performances will go on sale in January.

Hotel Nikko and Michael Feinstein will welcome renowned San Francisco Bay Area jazz vocalist, Paula West, to Feinstein's at the Nikko for a four-week engagement - February 13 - March 9, 2014.

Haitian-Canadian Melissa Laveaux is a self-assured artist that combines folk, indie pop and her signature percussive finger-style blues guitar for a style that is both sophisticated and sweet on her new EP Memory Is A Strange Bell, which is out now.

Haitian-Canadian Mélissa Laveaux is a self-assured artist that combines folk, indie pop and her signature percussive finger-style blues guitar for a style that is both sophisticated and sweet on her new EP Memory Is A Strange Bell, which is out now.