Billie Holiday News

From the time of his Jazz Epiphany - upon hearing "jazz guitar pioneer Charlie Christian, and the classic recordings of Billie Holiday and Lester Young" - at the age of 15, outstanding guitarist/vocalist Perry Beekman has committed himself to the classic traditions of jazz, particularly by means of the Great American Songbook.

Adelaide Cabaret Festival Artistic Director Kate Ceberano has upped the ante at this year's Festival with not one, not two, not even three leading ladies making their Adelaide Cabaret Festival debut but four divas will reign supreme, including both the good and bad witches of Broadway smash hit Wicked, Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel as well as Cassandra Wilson and Molly Ringwald.

The National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), Mumbai, India's premiere arts and culture institution, presents the 2013 edition of NCPA Legends: Celebrating Legendary Women Jazz Vocalists on Saturday 15th June 2013 at the Tata Theatre; 7 pm.

The Town Hall is proud to announce the season finale of Broadway by the Year featuring The Broadway Musicals of 1988, includingThe Phantom of the Opera, Chess, Legs Diamond, Romance Romance, Carrie, and More! Scott Siegel, the creator, writer, and host of Broadway by the Year has selected a half dozen performers to star in the concert, including Howard McGillin, who holds the record for playing 'The Phantom' longer than any other actor in Broadway history. He will be joined by one of his Christines, Jennifer Hope Wills. Drama Desk Nominees Farah Alvin (The Marvelous Wonderettes) and Kevin Earley (Death Takes a Holiday) return toBroadway by the Year. Lisa Brescia, who starred on Broadway in Twyla Tharp's The Times They Are A-Changin', as Elphaba in Wicked, and as Donna in Mamma Mia! makes her Broadway by the Year debut and favorite Scott Coulter will direct and star in the concert. The cast will be joined by the Broadway by the Year Chorus.

Artistic Pride Productions announces its Main Stage Cabaret performance of The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not me) at Don't Tell Mama tonight, June 3, 2013. The sixth cabaret in this series is the last one for the season and will feature singers and actors exploring the association between the artists and the vices that sometimes can fuel their art.

Art of Time Ensemble closes their 2012/13 season on a high note, welcoming world renowned jazz singer Madeleine Peyroux to the Enwave Theatre stage tonight, May 31 and June 1.

After the six million dollar sale of part I, Profiles in History, run by Joe Maddalena, is proud to announce the auction of The Property of a Distinguished American Private Collector Part II today, May 30th. This collection of letters and manuscripts is one of the greatest collections ever amassed. In the first sale a letter by Vincent van Gogh sold for $336,000 and a Thomas Jefferson letter sold for $300,000, Part II promises to be even bigger.

The Town Hall is proud to announce the season finale of Broadway by the Year featuring The Broadway Musicals of 1988, includingThe Phantom of the Opera, Chess, Legs Diamond, Romance Romance, Carrie, and More! Scott Siegel, the creator, writer, and host of Broadway by the Year has selected a half dozen performers to star in the concert, including Howard McGillin, who holds the record for playing 'The Phantom' longer than any other actor in Broadway history. He will be joined by one of his Christines, Jennifer Hope Wills. Drama Desk Nominees Farah Alvin (The Marvelous Wonderettes) and Kevin Earley (Death Takes a Holiday) return toBroadway by the Year. Lisa Brescia, who starred on Broadway in Twyla Tharp's The Times They Are A-Changin', as Elphaba in Wicked, and as Donna in Mamma Mia! makes her Broadway by the Year debut and favorite Scott Coulter will direct and star in the concert. The cast will be joined by the Broadway by the Year Chorus.

Porchlight Music Theatre presents Pal Joey, book by John O'Hara, music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart, April 20 - May 26, at Stage 773, 1225 West Belmont Ave. Directed by Porchlight Music Theatre's Artistic Director, Michael Weber with music direction by Porchlight Artistic Associate Doug Peck (reuniting with Weber for the first time since their collaboration on Porchlight's triumphant production of Assassins) and choreography by Porchlight Artistic Associate Brenda Didier, Pal Joey stars Adrian Aguliar, 'Joey Evans,' Susie McMonagle, 'Vera Simpson,' Laura Savage, 'Linda English,' Matt Orlando, 'Ludlow Lowell' and Sharriese Hamilton, 'Gladys Bumps.'

Grande Absente and Air France present the return of 'The Young Lions of Gypsy Jazz' at the DJANGO REINHARDT NY FESTIVAL, June 25 - 30 at Birdland.

Following a critically acclaimed run at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater this past fall, One Night with Janis Joplin returns for a summer run. Leading the production is Mary Bridget Davies. Davies is joined by Sabrina Elayne Carten as the Blues Singer. Created, written and directed by Randy Johnson, the production is produced in partnership with The Pasadena Playhouse and Milwaukee Repertory Theater, in association with Todd Gershwin and Daniel Chilewich of One Night Productions, The Estate of Janis Joplin and Jeff Jampol of JAM, Inc. One Night with Janis Joplin runs June 21-August 11, 2013 in the Kreeger Theater.

LA-based singer-songwriter Beth Hart, known for her raw and powerful blues-rock sound, wraps her expressive vocals around classic soul covers on “Seesaw”, the second album that grew out of her musical ties with the acclaimed blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa.

Artistic Pride Productions announces its Main Stage Cabaret performance, The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not me), at Don't Tell Mama on June 3, 2013. The sixth cabaret in this series is the last one for this season and will feature singers and actors exploring the association between artists and their vices.

LA-based singer-songwriter Beth Hart, known for her raw and powerful blues-rock sound, wraps her expressive vocals around classic soul covers on 'Seesaw', the second album that grew out of her musical ties with the acclaimed blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa. The album is released on Deluxe CD+DVD and Double Vinyl in the UK/Europe today 20th May by Provogue Records (followed by US release on Tuesday 21st May).

After the six million dollar sale of part I, Profiles in History, run by Joe Maddalena, is proud to announce the auction of The Property of a Distinguished American Private Collector Part II on May 30th. This collection of letters and manuscripts is one of the greatest collections ever amassed. In the first sale a letter by Vincent van Gogh sold for $336,000 and a Thomas Jefferson letter sold for $300,000, Part II promises to be even bigger.

Artistic Pride Productions announces its Main Stage Cabaret performance of The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not me) at Don't Tell Mama on June 3, 2013. The sixth cabaret in this series is the last one for the season and will feature singers and actors exploring the association between the artists and the vices that sometimes can fuel their art.

Multi-award-winning set designer Beowulf Boritt, along with noted costumes designer Patricia A. Hibbert, and acclaimed lighting designed by Ryan O'Gara will head the design team for the upcoming Billie Holiday musical "Lady Day" starring Tony and multiple Grammy Award-winner Dee Dee Bridgewater. With an opening set for Thursday, October 3rd(6:30PM) the production will take residence at Times Square's Little Shubert Theatre (422 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues). Written and directed by Stephen Stahl, the musical will make its New York debut having been produced at the Theatre de Boulogne-Billancourt and Theatre du Gymnase Marie Bell in Paris as well as The Donmar Warehouse and The Piccadilly Theatre in London, where it received critical praise and garnered an Olivier "Best Actress in a Musical" Award nomination for Ms. Bridgewater. Produced by Misty Road Productionsthe show's creative team also includes three-time Emmy Award winning composer & arranger Bill Jolly, who will serve as musical director. Preview performances are slated to begin Thursday, September 19th(8PM).

Northern California based Concert Promoter Rick Bartalini Presents announced today that the one and only Diana Ross will return to San Francisco's SHN Golden Gate Theatre August 6 & 7, 2013. Tickets go on-sale this Friday, May 10 at 10:00 A.M.

In only its second year, Sydney's only Cabaret Festival, hosted by Slide Lounge, is back with a stellar lineup of international cabaret starts, interstate icons and local legends!

Joe's Pub at the Public Theater has announced its lineup for May 6-12, featuring: Ripe Time Benefit, NYU Tisch, CMA Songwriters Series, Julia Haltigan, Stephane Wrembel, The Fat Man's Daughter, Rabbit & The Hare, Magos Herrera & Sofia Rei, The N'Harmonics, Terry Radigan and Blake Pfeil.