Brooks News

Every decade has a quintessential musical associated with it: Guys and Dolls for the 30s, Jersey Boys for the 50s. For the 1960's, A Bronx Tale is that musical.

Mill Mountain Theatre has begun rehearsals for their upcoming holiday show, The Sound of Music,a?? running December 4th - 22nd on the Trinkle MainStage. The cast is led by Roanoke's own Emma Gwin (Maria), Broadway's Timothy Booth* (Captain Georg von Trapp), and Mary Grace Gordon* (Mother Abbess). Two casts of talented local youth play the VonTrapp children on alternating performances.

For the first time in over 40 years, The Public Theater's Free Shakespeare In The Park will be broadcast on PBS' Great Performances, furthering our mission to make Shakespeare accessible to all.

George Street Playhouse continues their 2019/2020 season with 'My Life on a Diet,' a one-woman show co-written Renée Taylor and Joseph Bologna, starring Renée Taylor and directed by Joseph Bologna. Broadwayworld.com thoroughly enjoyed chatting with Renée Taylor about the show at GSP, and more.

Philip Roger Roy and Playhouse Productions, Inc. announce a limited engagement of the off Broadway hit Old Jews Telling Jokes at the Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe in Phoenix. The national touring production will open on Christmas Day, Wed., Dec. 25 at 7 pm and continue through Sun., January 19, 2020.

Steven John Simon, rising country artist released his debut EP 'Story To Tell' for pre-order on November 15th. Steven John Simon's debut EP rounds out his first full year as a new country artist. The Debut EP will be released on December 13th 2019.  The EP 'Story To Tell' is composed of five tracks including his first release Tongue Tied written by Brenda Kornblum which debuted at #68 on iTunes.  Next on the EP play list is Eyes Closed written by Bryce Mauldin and Casey Carpenter followed by Life Is Good written by John Spears. The Title Track Story to Tell written by Rob Carona was pitched to Heart Songs Records by Carona. This song had a lot of personal meaning to me so finding the right artist to 'tell the story' was important. Steven Simon's true country vocal and his authentic delivery was so great to hear.' - Rob Carona, Songwriter

Recording Academy® President/CEO Deborah Dugan alongside Academy Chair of the Board of Trustees and renowned record producer Harvey Mason Jr., as well as GRAMMY Awards® host Alicia Keys and past two-time GRAMMY® nominee Bebe Rexha, today revealed nominees for the 62nd GRAMMY Awards in select categories. This year's nominees reflect a melting pot of artistic innovation that defined the year in music, showcasing the unparalleled craftsmanship of established artists and the industry-shifting impact of rising music creators. Leading nominees Lizzo (8), Billie Eilish (6) and Lil Nas X (6) not only topped the charts but ignited a cultural conversation around their genre-bending hits. As the only peer-selected music award, the GRAMMY Awards are voted on by the Recoding Academy's membership body of music makers, who represent all genres and creative disciplines, including recording artists, songwriters, producers, mixers and engineers.

The West End production of Dear Evan Hansen, opened this week at the Noël Coward Theatre.

In this episode of West of Broadway, Lara Scott talks with the Diva Donna herself, DAN'YELLE WILLIAMSON Currently starring in the national tour of Summer, The Donna Summer Musical. Now playing at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre until November 24th. Tickets available at HollywoodPantages.com.

Emmy Award-winning actress and writer Renée Taylor a?" known to millions as Fran Fine's food obsessed mother, Sylvia, on a?oeThe Nannya?? a?" is bringing her acclaimed comedy smash MY LIFE ON A DIET to George Street Playhouse beginning tonight (Tuesday) at 8 pm. Opening Night is set for this Friday, November 22nd. Called a?oefascinating, lighthearted and spicya?? by The New York Times, MY LIFE ON A DIET, an autobiographical comedy written by Ms. Taylor and her late husband Joseph Bologna, had an enormously successful run last season Off-Broadway under the direction of Mr. Bologna.

Talented Dionne Figgins can't rescue a biography musical about Lola Falana at Joe's Pub nightclub cabaret.

Waitress will welcome Joel Montague (Falsettos, School of Rock and Funny Girl) to the company of the hit West End musical as Ogie with his first performance taking place on 2 December. He takes on the role from Joe Sugg who has performed the role of Ogie since 9 September.

Tony-nominated actress, Danielle Brooks, has joined the ranks of Moms everywhere!

Luke Combs' What You See Is What You Get debuts this week at #1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart as well as Billboard's Top Country Albums chart with 172,000 equivalent units sold. It is also a global #1 album, topping charts in Canada, Australia and the U.K. Out now via River House Artists/Columbia Nashville, the record enjoyed the largest streaming week ever for a country album with 74 million on-demand streams. It also achieved the biggest first week of album streams ever for a country artist on Apple Music within the first two days of release and was the first country album ever to hit #1 on the platform's U.S. overall albums chart, while also setting a new global record for first-week streams for a country album at Spotify and the Amazon Music record for more first-week streams than any other country album debut.

The Walnut Street Theatre continues its 2019-20 Independence Studio on 3 season with O. Henry's classic tale, THE GIFTS OF THE MAGI. Directed by Jesse Bernstein, the production begins previews on November 12, opens November 21, and continues through December 22.

“The Kelly Clarkson Show,” the #1 new daytime show, has been renewed through the 2020-21 season by NBCUniversal.

Geffen Playhouse presents the world premiere adaptation of Key Largo, directed by Tony Award winner Doug Hughes (Doubt, Farragut North) and featuring Academy Award nominee Andy Garcia (Mama Mia! Here We Go Again, The Godfather: Part III) as Johnny Rocco. The Geffen Playhouse production is adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher and Andy Garcia, based on the play by Maxwell Anderson and the screenplay by Richard Brooks & John Huston. Original music is composed by 10-time GRAMMY Award winner and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Arturo Sandoval.

Jazz has come back to Hell's Kitchen - Concert Wednesday November 27th at 8:30pm. Weekly jazz concerts showcasing the best musicians in NYC. SpoonFed NYC, located in the heart of the theatre district, has recently become the home for New York City Jazz Guitarist Chris Crocco. He leads his modern jazz ensemble called FLUID on Wednesday nights.

The 2019 gold medallist of the National Youth Music Competition (NYMC), Jordan Brooks, 16, visits Hermanus on Sunday 24 November 2019, giving a recital at the Civic Centre as the guest of Overstrand Arts Kunste (OAK). It starts at 15:30.