Billy Joel News

The Kennedy Center presents Come Fly Away in the Eisenhower Theater from April 18-29, 2012. Conceived, choreographed, and directed by Tony Award® winner and Kennedy Center Honoree Twyla Tharp (Movin' Out) and by special arrangement with the Frank Sinatra Family and Frank Sinatra Enterprises, Come Fly Away blends the legendary vocals of Frank Sinatra with a live on-stage big band and 14 of the world's finest dancers. The show's score combines classic and newly discovered vocal performances from the Sinatra archives, along with Sinatra's signature arrangements by Nelson Riddle, Billy May and Quincy Jones, among others, and brand new charts, for this fresh innovative musical. Press night will take place on Wednesday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m.

The Town Hall will present Lea Salonga: The Journey Continues. The Tony and Olivier Award-winning actress and recording artist will perform in concert on Friday, May 4, 2012 at 8pm. Tickets, priced at $55, $50 and $45, are now available via Ticketmaster.com (800-982-2787).

"Darwin the Dinosaur: A Glow in the Dark Adventure" is equal parts puppetry, dance and light show. Its creators, Ian Carney and Corbin Popp, met as dancers in Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp's "Movin' Out" on Broadway, and soon the "Darwin" vision evolved, making use of electroluminescent wire, blackout settings and their own skill as hand and body puppeteers.

The Piano Men, a musical celebration of that features the hits of Billy Joel and Elton John will be at The State Theatre on Saturday, April 21 at 8 PM.

Access Hollywood recently interviewed CHICAGO Roxie Hart actor and former supermodel Christie Brinkley. Brinkley discussed her ex-husband, Billy Joel, and how spending time together at their Christmas get-togethers singing Broadway tunes prompted her own eventual move to Broadway. Watch her interview below!

New Line Theatre, 'the Bad Boy of Musical Theatre,' will close its 21st season May31-June 23, 2012, with HIGH FIDELITY, the funny, rowdy, emotional rock musical that garnered positive reviews in New Line's 2008 production, the first production of the show after its Broadway run.

Olney Theatre Center today announced two special cabaret performances by DC- Area favorites Felicia Curry, George Dvorsky, JJ Kaczynski, Tracy Lynn Olivera and Chris Youstra called Ebony, Ivory and Ink. The cabaret will feature some of the most beloved musical classics and is scheduled to take to Olney Theatre Center's Mainstage on Friday, May 4 and Saturday May 5, 2012.

VH1 has announced the newest artist lineup of its critically-acclaimed original music franchise, VH1 STORYTELLERS. This season will continue to deliver the intimate stories and live performances from some of the most popular and influential music artists of our time.

Long time Hollywood Casting Director, Wendy Kurtzman, is stepping out from behind the camera to pursue what she loves most: singing. This spring, Kurtzman will release a debut CD, "Just for a Thrill". Ms. Kurtzman will celebrate with a pre-release performance at The Metropolitan Room on April 25th at 9:30pm.

Going into the third week of ABC's DANCING WITH THE STARS after the elimination of tennis pro Martina Navratilova, the remaining contestants were given a unique assignment: rather than choose between one form of dance or another, they and their partners were opened up to any style. The catch: to center it around a personal EVENT, in order to open themselves up to the audience and viewers at home. Previously, it was known to create memorable routines that revealed the competitors as individuals, people - rather than celebrities and pseudo-celebrities vying for a nationally televised prize. The judges, were once again, overly gracious with their compliments, the critiques dulled.

Geva Theatre Center's Artistic Director Mark Cuddy and Executive Director Tom Parrish today announced the much anticipated 2012-2013 season of seven Wilson Mainstage productions and six Fielding Nextstage presentations that make up the organization's 40th Anniversary Season of producing professional theatre for audiences in the Greater Rochester region.

Thankfully, Idol chose not to go with a specific artist's songbook this week - one can only take so much of a weird sort of karaoke night where the jukebox is stuck on one artist - and instead had the contestants perform songs from their own idols (solo and as part of three trios), resulting in some variety at long last. Find out more below, and don't forget to check out photos from this episode on page two!

"Stand By Me," the song written by Leiber & Stoller and Ben E. King will receive the Towering Song Award at the 2012 Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) Gala Event to be held at the Marriott Marquee Hotel in New York City on Thursday, June 14, 2012, Songwriters Hall of Fame Chairman, Jimmy Webb, announced today. Mike Stoller will accept the award along with Ben E. King, who will also be honored with the Towering Performance Award for his performance on the Leiber & Stoller produced recording of "Stand By Me."

The Coterie presents Dominic Barnes & Curt Mega live in concert March 23 and 24th. Known best as part of the male vocal group The Warblers from FOX's megahit TV show GLEE, Barnes and Mega will offer an interactive, cabaret-style evening with many special guests including Kimberly Whalen and Lauren Claire Chavez. An Evening with Curt & Dom will take place March 23 and 24th in The Coterie's home at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa.

With the race to the title closer than ever, on Wednesday night the ten remaining contestants tried to set themselves apart as they sang from the incredible songbook of Billy Joel.

AMERICAN IDOL's Season 11 Top 10 compilation album, featuring music from the Billy Joel songbook, is now available at the iTunes Store. Individual songs are also available for sale.

After her critically-acclaimed debut as Roxie Hart on Broadway and in London's West End, Christie Brinkley will make her Broadway tour debut this spring as she reprises her killer role in the six-time Tony Award-winning musical smash hit CHICAGO. Also joining the cast is star of 'Seinfeld' and 'Family Feud', John O'Hurley as Billy Flynn. This killer show will play at the San Diego Civic Theatre May 8-13, 2012. Tickets are available now!

Tonight the remaining ten AMERICAN IDOL hopefuls tackled the songs of Billy Joel. From Tommy Hilfiger coaching the contestants on their style to Diddy guest coaching on vocals, it was an exciting night for the singers.

The Kennedy Center presents Come Fly Away in the Eisenhower Theater from April 18-29, 2012. Conceived, choreographed, and directed by Tony Award® winner and Kennedy Center Honoree Twyla Tharp (Movin' Out) and by special arrangement with the Frank Sinatra Family and Frank Sinatra Enterprises, Come Fly Away blends the legendary vocals of Frank Sinatra with a live on-stage big band and 14 of the world's finest dancers. The show's score combines classic and newly discovered vocal performances from the Sinatra archives, along with Sinatra's signature arrangements by Nelson Riddle, Billy May and Quincy Jones, among others, and brand new charts, for this fresh innovative musical. Press night will take place on Wednesday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m.

Opera Exposures will present its first 2012 spiritual music recital on Sunday, April 22, at 3 PM at Saint Mark's Church, Second Avenue and 10th Street in Manhattan. Sopranos Natalie Bergeron, Krysty Swann and Cheryl Warfield will join tenor George Cornelius and Baritone Anthony Turner. Jonathan Kelly will be at the piano. The recital will be followed by a Reception and Dance with the cast. Tickets are $50 and $40 and include Reception and Dance Party with a live DJ immediately following the recital. Tickets may be purchased in advance by calling 917/402-8144 or visiting the Opera Exposures official website at www.operaexposures.org. They may also be purchased at the door.