Billie Holiday News

This fall, The Town Hall, New York City's landmark concert venue (123 West 43rd Street), launches the new season with their celebration of Broadway's best. The Town Hall presents its acclaimed Broadway Cabaret Festival which runs October 16 - 18, 2009. The three-concert series that takes place over one weekend is written and hosted for The Town Hall by Scott Siegel. The festival showcases the talents of award-winning Broadway veterans and new stars in a celebration of the Great White Way.

San Franciscos award-winning AfroSolo Theatre Company presents the 16th annual AfroSolo Arts Festival, celebrating African American artists giving voice to the Black experience. Paying homage to and exploring the rich legacy of African Americans and people of African descent, Festival events (August 1-October 15) featuring live music, visual art, and new works for the stage will take place in San Francisco at Yerba Buena Gardens, the Main San Francisco Public Library, the African American Art and Culture Complex, and the Ella Hill Hutch Community Center. Most events, unless otherwise noted, are free and open to the public. For more information, the public may visit afrosolo.org or call 415-771-AFRO (2376).

San Franciscos award-winning AfroSolo Theatre Company presents the 16th annual AfroSolo Arts Festival, celebrating African American artists giving voice to the Black experience. Paying homage to and exploring the rich legacy of African Americans and people of African descent, Festival events (August 1-October 15) featuring live music, visual art, and new works for the stage will take place in San Francisco at Yerba Buena Gardens, the Main San Francisco Public Library, the African American Art and Culture Complex, and the Ella Hill Hutch Community Center. Most events, unless otherwise noted, are free and open to the public. For more information, the public may visit afrosolo.org or call 415-771-AFRO (2376).

REDCAT (the Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater) proudly presents the West Coast premiere of Arias with a Twist, a bigger-than-life cabinet of curiosities created by Joey Arias (Zumanity's 'Mistress of Seduction') and legendary puppeteer Basil Twist. Arias with a Twist opens Wednesday, November 18, 2009 at REDCAT and runs for a limited four-week run through Sunday, December 13, 2009.

The Town Hall, Broadway's landmark concert venue, presents the fifth annual Broadway Cabaret Festival, October 16th- 18th. This three-concert series, created, written an hosted by Scott Siegel, takes place over one weekend and includes A Tribute to David Merrick, staring Corbin Bleu of High School Musical, on Friday October 16th at 8pm, All of Me staring Linda Eder on Saturday October 17th at 8pm and Broadway Originals on Sunday October 18th at 3pm.

Dael Orlandersmith takes Chicago audiences on an electrifying journey through the spirit and soul of Harlem in her explosive solo piece Stoop Stories at Goodman Theatre. Hailed a 'triumph' (Washington City Paper) in its world premiere at Washington, D.C.'s Studio Theatre this past spring, Stoop Stories comes to Chicago directed by Obie Award-winner Jo Bonney.

From October 6th - October 16th, MAC Award winner Marilyn Maye will perform her new show 'More Mercer,' a celebration of songwriter Johnny Mercer, at the Metropolitan Room. She will be accompanied by pianist Tedd Firth, drummer Jim Elkof, and bassist Tom Hubbard.

The Sheldon presents Dee Dee Bridgewater, 'Lady Day: A Tribute to Billie Holiday,' Saturday, October 3, 2009 at 8 p.m. in the perfect acoustics of the Sheldon Concert Hall.

The incomparable Chita Rivera releases a new solo studio album entitled And Now I Swing on October 13, 2009 from the newly-launched Yellow Sound Label. From classic theater songs to jazz standards, all tracks featured on this new album have received new arrangements recorded by New York's finest musicians, reimagining some of Chita's favorite tunes.

The Sheldon Art Galleries presents Backpack Blues: Art by Students of Central Visual and Performing Arts High School, September 25, 2009 - February 6, 2010 in the AT&T Gallery of Children's Art.

From October 6th - October 16th, MAC Award winner Marilyn Maye will perform her new show 'More Mercer,' a celebration of songwriter Johnny Mercer, at the Metropolitan Room. She will be accompanied by pianist Tedd Firth, drummer Jim Elkof, and bassist Tom Hubbard.

On Monday September 21, 2009, the IT Awards (New York Innovative Theatre Awards), the organization dedicated to celebrating Off-Off-Broadway, and host Julie Halston, announced the 2009 recipients at the Fifth Annual IT Awards Ceremony at New World Stages. Those unable to attend joined the OOB theatre community's biggest night of the year online, and also followed theatre critic Aaron Riccio's (Theater Talk's New Theater Corps, That Sounds Cool) live-blogging at www.nyitawards.com/live.

The American Museum of Jewish History in Philadelphia will honor Barbara Streisand, Irvin Berlin, Leonard Bernstein and Steven Spielberg among 18 inductees into its 'Only in America' Hall of Fame, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The Town Hall, Broadway?s landmark concert venue, presents the fifth annual Broadway Cabaret Festival, October 16th ? 18th. This three-concert series, created, written and hosted by Scott Siegel, takes place over one weekend and includes A Tribute to David Merrick on Friday, October 16th at 8PM, Linda Eder: All of Me on Saturday, October 17th at 8PM and Broadway Originals on Sunday, October 18th at 3PM. The festival showcases the talents of award-winning Broadway veterans and rising stars in a celebration of the Great White Way.

Pillsbury House Theatre presents Non English Speaking Spoken Here: The Late Nite Series on September 12, October 10, and November 14. The September Late Nite kicks it off hard with performances by José James, Kenna Sarge, D'Lo, The St. Paul Soapboxing Slam Team, and DJO. It's going to be a full night of jazzy music, intense dance, new theatre, slammin' poetry, and fresh beats. Food is served at 8pm and performances begin at 9pm.

Dael Orlandersmith takes Chicago audiences on an electrifying journey through the spirit and soul of Harlem in her explosive solo piece Stoop Stories at Goodman Theatre. Hailed a 'triumph' (Washington City Paper) in its world premiere at Washington, D.C.'s Studio Theatre this past spring, Stoop Stories comes to Chicago directed by Obie Award-winner Jo Bonney.

Sandra Wright, Vermont's premiere blues singer, comes to Middlebury's Town Hall Theater on Friday, September 11 at 8 pm.

The incomparable Chita Rivera releases a new solo studio album entitled And Now I Swing on October 13, 2009 from the newly-launched Yellow Sound Label. From classic theater songs to jazz standards, all tracks featured on this new album have received new arrangements recorded by New York's finest musicians, reimagining some of Chita's favorite tunes.

The NYC400 is the first-ever list of New York City's ultimate movers and shakers since the City's founding?from politics, the arts, business, sports, science, and entertainment.

The BROADWAY ORIGINALS concert, which is set to be part of the three-day Broadway Cabaret Festival next month at Town Hall, will feature a tribute to William Finn's Tony-winning Falsettos. BROADWAY ORIGINALS will mark the finale of the Cabaret Festival weekend.