Billie Holiday News

Following development in New York City and Washington, D.C., including a sold-out run at the New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF), Trav'lin - The New 1930s Harlem Musical receives its Regional Premiere at Fort Worth's Jubilee Theatre, the original home of African-American theater in North Texas,beginning Friday, March 29, 2013. Opening Night is Friday, April 5, and the show runs through April 28, 2013.

Trav'lin - The New 1930s Harlem Musical, will receive its Regional Premiere production at Fort Worth's Jubilee Theatre in Spring 2013. The musical, which received a developmental production in 2010 as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF), runs tonight, March 29, 2013 through April 28, 2013.

Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts welcomes regional arts and cultural organizations participating in Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts 2013 (PIFA) returning to Philadelphia today, March 28 to April 27.

Billie Holiday and saxophonist Lester Young recorded such achingly beautiful music together it was impossible for many to believe that they were not lovers….or were they? This magical and moving play explores their enigmatic relationship through some of their own words and the stunning songs they chose to record together. We follow their journey through jazz from the moment they first met until their untimely deaths. Friends? Soul-mates? Lovers? The answer is in their music.

The 54 Below WBGO Jazz Series will feature weekly Tuesday evening shows by jazz artists curated by the famed veteran Jazz programmer, Todd Barkan. Just around the corner from Swing Street, these seasoned jazz performers come to Broadway's Nightclub to play and sing the night away in grand style. The series is sponsored by the WBGO, the country's premier jazz radio station, promising a truly classic only-in-New York experience.

Woodie King Jr's New Federal Theatre, in association with Castillo Theatre, will present Plenty of Time by John Shevin Foster at the Castillo Theatre (543 West 42nd Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues.). Performances begin April 4th with Opening Night set for Thursday, April 18th. Performances continue through May 5th only.

The Apollo Theater and Manhattan School of Music previously announced that actor Roger Guenveur Smith and singer-songwriter and musician Meshell Ndegeocello have been added to the cast of Ask Your Mama, a multimedia symphonic work based on Langston Hughes' epic poem.

Regina Carter and Nnenna Freelon will replace the previously announced Tony and Grammy winner Dee Dee Bridgewater in a 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.

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.'

Woodie King Jr's New Federal Theatre, in association with Castillo Theatre, will present Plenty of Time by John Shevin Foster at the Castillo Theatre (543 West 42nd Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues.). Performances begin April 4th with Opening Night set for Thursday, April 18th. Performances continue through May 5th only.

Tony and multiple Grammy Award-winner Dee Dee Bridgewater will star as one of the world's incomparable and legendary jazz artists --- Billie Holiday, in the celebrated musical 'Lady Day' opening Thursday, September 26th (6:30PM) 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 Productions the 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 12th (8PM).

Entertainer, vocalist and jazz aficionado Keith Dames pays homage to Billie Holiday at 'Happy Birthday, Lady Day' on Saturday, April 6th at The Metropolitan Room in Manhattan.

The Apollo Theater and Manhattan School of Music announced today that actor Roger Guenveur Smith and singer-songwriter and musician Meshell Ndegeocello have been added to the cast of Ask Your Mama, a multimedia symphonic work based on Langston Hughes' epic poem.

Catalina Bar & Grill will present "An Evening With Corky Hale" performing selections of the late American Jazz singer, Billie Holiday starring Holiday's pianist Corky Hale, with Special Guest, singer Kathy Sledge of Sister Sledge for One Night Only! The performance will be presented on Wednesday, April 17, 2013 at 8:30 p.m. at Catalina Bar & Grill; 6725 West Sunset Boulevard (just east of North Highland Avenue); Los Angeles, CA 90028. There is $20 Cover Charge. Valet Parking is available.

Strike up the (big) band for a one-of-a-kind concert experience as Pacific Symphony Pops celebrates the greatest team of collaborators in American music history: George and Ira Gershwin. 'The Gershwins: Here to Stay' is a unique multimedia event that illuminates the lives and music of the composer and his lyricist brother with home movies, original photos and rare audio and video footage.

Two-time Tony Nominee Christine Andreas, Tony Nominee Emily Skinner, Drama Desk Nominees Kerry O'Malley and Jeffry Denman, and two-time Nightlife Award Winner Scott Coulter starred in The Broadway Musicals of 1961 at Town Hall last night, March 11th. The critically-acclaimed new Broadway by the Year Chorus joined them in performing songs from Carnival, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Subways Are For Sleeping, Sail Away, Milk and Honey, and more! BroadwayWorld was there for the concert and you can check out photo coverage below!

The rise of celebrated singer and civil rights activist Mahalia Jackson is told in the world premiere of Roger Peace's THE MAHALIA JACKSON MUSICAL, now playing at The Segal Centre.

54 Below welcomes Marilyn Maye in the debut of her new show 'MAYE-DEN Voyage' for a two-week engagement, continuing this weekend and March 12-16, 2013. BroadwayWorld has a preview of her show in the photos below!

Celebrate National Women's History Month and the first annual March is Cabaret Month in New York City with Broadway and cabaret stars at Joe's Pub at The Public. Justin Vivian Bond will premiere Mx America for six nights, Tony Award Winner Tonya Pinkins and downtown legend Joey Arias will return for encore performances, veteran UK cabaret star Barb Jungr will cross the pond for a rare US appearance, Our Hit Parade favorite Erin Markey makes her solo debut and much more. Read on for more details for Broadway and Cabaret performances at Joe's Pub at The Public this March and April.

The Joyce Theater presents Ice Hot: A Nordic Dance Festival, featuring three of the world's hottest companies for a two-week engagement, from tonight, March 6-17: Tero Saarinen Company from Finland (March 6-9), and the Joyce debuts of Danish Dance Theatre from Denmark (March 11-13) and Norway's Carte Blanche (March 15-17).