Brian Stokes Mitchell News

EOnline.com is reporting that GLEE star and Broadway veteran Lea Michele will sing 'America the Beautiful' during this year's Super Bowl (February 6) pre-game festivities. Performing the national anthem will be Christina Aguilera and the Black Eyed Peas will perform during the half-time show.

Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook, which explores the best of the golden age of musical standards through to today's most dynamic songwriting, will bring to the stage some of today's most gifted interpreters of song. Week Two starts on January 26th with a tribute to arguably the greatest songwriting team in American Songbook history: the brothers George and Ira Gershwin. Conductor, arranger and pianist (as well as Artistic Director of the Gershwin centenary) Rob Fisher will lead Victoria Clark (Tony winner for Light in the Piazza) and Norm Lewis (Les Miserables, The Little Mermaid) in a night of gorgeous Gershwin. On January 27th singer/songwriter Shara Worden (from the group My Brightest Diamond) performs her unique blend of vocal music that has her pegged as a star to watch. Week Two closes out with gritty veteran John Doe singing 'real' country, with all its understated empathy and rough poetry. Pfizer is a proud sponsor of Lincoln Center's American Songbook 2011.

Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook, which explores the best of the golden age of musical standards through to the best in current songwriting, will bring to the stage some of today's most gifted interpreters of song.

The cast of Lincoln Center Theater's production of Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, the new musical based on the film by Pedro Almodóvar, with book by Jeffrey Lane, music and lyrics by David Yazbek and direction by Bartlett Sher, reunite today, January 19, to record the original cast recording of the musical, which ended its limited engagement run on Sunday, January 2 at the Belasco Theatre. The CD, to be released by Ghostlight Records in the spring of 2011 will be produced by David Yazbek and Dean Sharenow with Kurt Deutsch serving as Executive Producer.

Join Emcee Bruce Vilanch, Davis Gaines and former HELLO DOLLY!, DOLLY's Carole Cook, JoAnne Worley and evening's host Phyllis Diller and others as they come together to honor Broadway's original DOLLY with memories, humorous storytelling and, of course, several of her signature tunes. An unplugged evening that follows a simple format, as the Los Angeles theatrical community features three time TONY Award-winner CAROL CHANNING on center stage to celebrate her 90th birthday with one of their highly acclaimed concert series entitled MUSICAL MONDAYS - A series of Cabaret events in the lobby of the historic Pantages Theatre. Produced by John Bowab and Martin Wiviott, the intimate concerts has featured some of theatre's finest performers including Brian Stokes Mitchell, Melissa Manchester, Peter Gallagher, Valarie Pettiford, Alice Ripley, Emily Skinner, Sam Harris and Stephen Schwartz. Proceeds from this evenings benefit will go towards The Dr. Channing/ Kullijian Foundation for the Arts and The Actors Fund's comprehensive programs and services.

William Atherton, Matt Cavenaugh, Lisa O'Hare, Carol Lawrence, Millicent Martin and Jason Graae are the acclaimed film, Broadway and West End stars who will lead the cast of Reprise Theatre Company's second production of the 2010-2011 season, 'Gigi', playing February 15 to February 27, 2011 (press opening February 16, 2011) at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. The musical - with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe -- will be directed by veteran musical theatre director David Lee, with choreography by Peggy Hickey and musical direction by Steve Orich.

After three years, Alec Baldwin returns to Rockland County, rejoining Elliott Forrest in a lively evening of conversation. They will discuss Mr. Baldwin's life and award winning career. Nyack High School students will participate in a special Q&A about the craft of acting and a life in show business.

The Nightlife Awards -- a unique awards show with no acceptance speeches (just pure entertainment provided by the winners and special guest stars) has been hailed by The New York Times as 'The equivalent of The Tony Awards for New York Nightlife.'

Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook, which explores the best of the golden age of musical standards through to the best in current songwriting, will bring to the stage some of today's most gifted interpreters of song. Week Three is a Grammy Awards fest, as three of the four acts are current and past nominees. On February 2nd one can experience life in the Piedmont hills of the Carolinas via the vibrant sound of the Carolina Chocolate Drops. This three-piece string band plays old-time roots music with virtuoso playing of the banjo, fiddle, guitar, harmonica, jug and more. Next up is the crown princess of bossa nova, Bebel Gilberto. Gilberto has taken classic bossa nova rhythms and mixed them with modern pop - for a sound that is up for a Grammy this year. On February 4th perennial Grammy nominee Joan Osborne will perform an emotionally-charged work she has written with Jack Petruzzelli: Love and Hate - A Song Cycle. On February 5th, actress/singer Anika Noni Rose, a Tony winner for Caroline, Or Change, will make her eagerly-anticipated solo concert debut.

Composer, conductor, arranger and all-around music man Lance Horne is a very busy musician these days: this week's GENIUS OF AUTISM benefit and the upcoming American Songbook Series of shows in New York; the Planet Hollywood Las Vegas spectacular playing twice-nightly to sold-out crowds called VEGAS: THE MUSICAL, about to re-open with a slew of new material; a series of London concerts followed by a European tour; conducting at the Sydney Opera House; and a brand new album - FIRST THINGS LAST - released this week. All of this without even mentioning the hotly anticipated new productions he has coming up! Keep your eyes peeled for ARTS & CRAFTS, his new musical created with Jake Shears and starring Sandra Bernhard and Justin Bond, as well as the new Diane Paulus production of the fresh Steven Sater translation of PROMETHEUS BOUND starring Gavin Creel. The future looks bright for a talent like Lance's and in this revealing conversation we touch on all of this and much, much more.

THE BOOK OF MORMON, the new Broadway musical from the creators of "South Park" and the co-creator of Avenue Q, began rehearsals today in New York.

The cast of Lincoln Center Theater's production of Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, the new musical based on the film by Pedro Almodovar, with book by Jeffrey Lane, music and lyrics by David Yazbek and direction by Bartlett Sher, will reunite later this month to record the original cast recording of the musical, which ended its limited engagement run on Sunday, January 2 at the Belasco Theatre.

The cast of Lincoln Center Theater's production of Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, the new musical based on the film by Pedro Almodóvar, with book by Jeffrey Lane, music and lyrics by David Yazbek and direction by Bartlett Sher, will reunite later this month to record the original cast recording of the musical, which ended its limited engagement run on Sunday, January 2 at the Belasco Theatre. The CD, to be released by Ghostlight Records in the spring will be produced by David Yazbek and Dean Sharenow with Kurt Deutsch serving as Executive Producer.

Lincoln Center Theater's production of the new musical WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, based on the film by Pedro Almodóvar, with a book by Jeffrey Lane, music and lyrics by David Yazbek and direction by Bartlett Sher opened on November 4 at The Belasco Theatre on Broadway 111 West 44 Street and Broadway Beat was there to talk to the cast!

BroadwayWorld offers highlights of the several productions which will complete their Broadway runs in January.

Broadway and West End Star Amra-Faye Wright made her New York Cabaret Debut December 29th at the Metropolitan Room. Her show 'Sittin' on Top of the World' was an elegant evening of wry tales, engaging wit and sophisticated glamour. It traced Amra-Faye Wright's unlikely journey from African farm girl to Broadway leading lady-illustrated with stylish interpretations of The Great American Songbook, popular show-tunes and renditions from her native South Africa and other lands.

The multiple Emmy-Award winning Bruce Vilanch has been announced as the host of the 9th Annual Nightlife Awards at The Town Hall. The unique All-Performance Awards show that honors the most outstanding performers in The categories of Cabaret, Comedy and Jazz in the clubs of New York, will take place on January 31, 2011. Presenters for the event have not yet been announced.

Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of André Bishop, Artistic Director, and Bernard Gersten, Executive Producer) has announced that its production of WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, the new musical based on the film by Pedro Almodóvar with book by Jeffrey Lane, music and lyrics by David Yazbek and direction by Bartlett Sher, will end its run this Sunday, January 2 at the Belasco Theatre (111 West 44 Street). The musical, which was originally scheduled to run through Sunday, January 23, will have played 30 previews and 69 performances.

This month, celebrated Broadway and West End star Amra-Faye Wright (Velma Kelly in Chicago) will make her long-awaited New York City concert debut with "Sittin' on Top of the World," an all-new evening of songs and stories, for five performances only at the Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street, between 5th and 6th Aves).

BroadwayWorld TV was bigger than ever in 2010, covering the world of theatre from GLEE to the Hollywood Bowl to Broadway to London and Beyond! Take a look back at some of 2010's most watched videos!