Billy Joe News

Composer Jason Robert Brown has built quite a catalog of his own songs, having written the music to such Broadway shows as Parade, Honeymoon in Vegas, The Bridges of Madison County, and many more, but now he is branching out into the works of the Piano Man himself. Brown recently released his own covers of songs from Billy Joel's 'The Stranger' album- check them out below! He writes on his official website:

BroadwayWorld Toronto has learned that American actor Alan Mingo Jr. will play Lola in the Toronto production of KINKY BOOTS. Mingo Jr. joins Graham Scott Fleming as Charlie Price, a casting which BroadwayWorld previously reported. The Toronto production is set to begin performances at The Royal Alexandra Theatre on June 16, 2015.

Looking for some coverage on upcoming show: Jarrod Spector: A Little Help From My Friends, at Emelin Theatre in Mamaroneck, NY, tonight, Apr 17 @ 8PM.

Legacy Recordings is proud to announce the June 2 release of Django and Jimmie, the new studio album collaboration from Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard, two of the founding fathers of American outlaw country music.

While the frat boys parked their boozy asses in the bar car (aka the couch) for the long road to the NCAA's Final Four over the past few weeks, NYC's village cabaret club The Duplex offered an alternative "March Madness": Cabaret shows about being crazy. As a devotee of time on a different sort of couch, I was drawn in to three separate performances--from Michael Shea, Stacie Koby, and Amber Petty--seeking some music therapy to get me through the tail end of a long winter.

We just finished our first week of rehearsals full of head banging, middle fingers, bruised and sore bodies from dancing our asses off and singing at the top of our lungs - you guys are in for it with this show! It's going to be in your face, loud, angry, poignant, beautiful, inspiring and I believe, incredibly hopeful.

Looking for some coverage on upcoming show: Jarrod Spector: A Little Help From My Friends, at Emelin Theatre in Mamaroneck, NY, Fri, Apr 17 @ 8PM.

James Best, known for his role as bumbling Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane in the long-running TV series DUKES OF HAZZARD, passed away last night at the age of 88, according to the Charlotte Observer.

One of the most idiosyncratic and undeniably gifted composers and lyricists to emerge this century, Michael Mott has taken the theatre world by storm with his absolutely spectacular collection of compositions titled WHERE THE SKY ENDS: THE SONGS OF MICHAEL MOTT and now Mott discusses the finer points of his newest concert event occurring at 54 Below this week featuring an all-star cast, THAT WAS THEN, THIS IS HOW, as well as highlights some of the new material being presented in the exciting evening. In addition to some spectacular selections from WHERE THE SKY ENDS, Mott and company will also be premiering several fresh songs from Mott's new musicals currently in development, including the 70s-era mafia-themed musical comedy MOB WIFE and the epic and imaginatively conceived new mythical musical FAUSTUS. Besides the songs from new musicals, Mott will also be showcasing a few new pop compositions that he has recently completed including 'Minefield Of Love' which had its debut last month in the 54 Below show ITHACA COLLEGE AT 54 BELOW. Plus, Mott shares details of a new song specifically commissioned for young rising musical theatre star Emma Howard of MATILDA fame, 'Fly High', as well as what he boasts may be his most challenging and impressive showstopper to date, which is set to be performed by musical theatre superstar Jeremy Jordan, 'Rise Or Fall' from FAUSTUS. All of that and much, much more in this expansive continuing conversation with one of Broadway's brightest creative forces.

BWW Interviews: Adam Pascal : The TUTS Headliner Discusses His New Album, RENT, And Cookies!

I sat down with Colin Hanlon, currently performing in the world premiere of The 12 with Denver Center Theatre Company.

Today we are highlighting the many contemporary scores poised to arrive on Broadway in the near future.

Hannah Gill, started her music career just over a year ago and has already received rave reviews, MTV/VH1 airtime and has most recently won the MTVU's Freshmen competition, Friday March 27th

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) will present rock heavyweights KISS with the prestigious ASCAP Founders Award at its 32nd annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards

ABC and dick clark productions have announced that the "2015 Billboard Music Awards" is set to return to ABC and will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on SUNDAY, MAY 17 at 8p.m., ET.

Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash returns to the Adventure Theater from tonight, March 27 through June 9, 2015. 'The show was a huge hit for us in 2013,' said director Bryce McDonald, 'and since it closed we've had many people ask us to bring it back.' Producing Director Jim Crabtree concurred, adding, 'It's a wonderful production, full of heart, joy and great music. And we're fortunate to again have Kellye Cash in the show. As Johnny's niece, her perspective and her recollections of him make our production truly special.'

Celebrating the release of SING YOU TO SLEEP, Anika Larsen made her solo concert debut at Birdland on Monday, March 23. Joined by her BEAUTIFUL castmates Jessie Mueller and Jarrod Spector and her XANADU castmate Kenita Miller, Larsen's set featured songs from her album and thematically appropriate solos that featured her guests' talents too. Thus, the evening was the perfect night cap to an otherwise manic Monday.

Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash returns to the Adventure Theater from March 27 through June 9, 2015. "The show was a huge hit for us in 2013," said director Bryce McDonald, "and since it closed we've had many people ask us to bring it back." Producing Director Jim Crabtree concurred, adding, "It's a wonderful production, full of heart, joy and great music. And we're fortunate to again have Kellye Cash in the show. As Johnny's niece, her perspective and her recollections of him make our production truly special."

On March 3rd, the Nashville-via-West Texas songwriter Ryan Culwell released Flatlands, his first album in more than 8 years, on Lightning Rod Records (Jason Isbell, Billy Joe Shaver, Amanda Shires). Culwell will be performing at Uptown Arts Bar on April 28 (with Amy Speace) in Kansas City, Mo. Tickets: Songkick.

There are eight million stories in the Naked City-and a song to go with each of them. For decades, songwriters - from Porter, Rodgers & Hart and Ellington to Bernstein and Billy Joel have been fueled by this city's places, promises and roller coaster existence. With Lyrics & Lyricists production of New York: Songs of the City, artistic director Deborah Grace Winer had the ultimate show for New Yorkers-or anyone who's ever wanted to be one. Vocalists Klea Blackhurst, Darius de Haas, La Tanya Hall, Leslie Kritzer, Jeffrey Schecter, and pianist/vocalist Billy Stritch-brought the sounds of the city to life on March 21, 22 and 23.