Dawn Hampton News

A live-streamed fund-raising concert set for Sunday, March 14, will be raising urgently needed money for Times Square and New York big band venue SWING46 in hopes of helping it pull through the devastating lockdowns of the past year.

EXUBERANCE, a noun meaning the quality of being full of energy, excitement, and cheerfulness. If you've seen Mark Nadler on stage, you know he is the quintessential living and breathing definition of this word.

Midsummer Night Swing, Lincoln Center's premier summer dance party, today announced its 2017 season, running June 27 to July 15. Now in its 29th year, the series presents 15 evenings of social dance under the stars, featuring a lineup of artists who reflect the various music styles New York City has to offer. 

Hanson Award winner IRA LEE COLLINGS returns to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC to celebrate Gay Pride Month with his new show LIFE IS A SONG - SO WHY NOT SING IT! on June 2nd, 12th and 26th at 7 PM.

Singer Ira Lee Collings returns to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC today, February 24th at 7 PM with an encore presentation of Simply, Ira Lee (A Gay Geezer Celebration Through the Looking Glass..warts and all).

Singer Ira Lee Collings returns to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC on Friday, February 24th at 7 PM with an encore presentation of Simply, Ira Lee (A Gay Geezer Celebration Through the Looking Glass..warts and all).

Singer IRA LEE COLLINGS returns to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC on Monday, October 10th and 17th at 7 PM to continue celebrating his 80th birthday with his show Simply, Ira Lee (A Gay Geezer Celebration Through the Looking Glass..warts and all).

New York's premier summer dance party, Midsummer Night Swing, returns for its 28th season, tonight, June 21, through July 9.

 Midsummer Night Swing celebrates the dance bands and soloists who fill the dance floor. Happening in a specially designed, open-air ballroom in Damrosch Park (West 62nd Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues) Tuesdays through Saturdays, June 21-July 9, Midsummer Night Swing kicks off with the Catherine Russell Septet. The Grammy Award-winning vocalist will pull from her vast repertoire of swing standards for the opening night concert.

Singer IRA LEE COLLINGS returns to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC to celebrate his 80th birthday with his new show Simply, Ira Lee (A Gay Geezer Celebration Through the Looking Glass..warts and all) on Wednesday, June 15th and Monday, June 20th at 7 PM. He will be joined by Musical Director John M. Cook on piano.

New York's premier summer dance party, Midsummer Night Swing, returns for its 28th season, June 21-July 9. T

Born in a very small town in Indiana, the youngest of 8 children, Ira Lee began singing on the radio with his sister when they were kids. After studying at Chicago's Goodman Theatre, he moved to New York where he appeared off-Broadway and in regional theatre, and even opened for the great Dawn Hampton in the '60s. After many years of performing, he took a 25-year hiatus from show business, re-appearing a few years ago with several successful cabaret appearances in NYC. Now 79, Ira Lee shares his life-time of experience with humor and joy.

On Friday, November 1 at 8:00 p.m. in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage, The New York Pops under the direction of Music DirectorSteven Reineke is joined by Tony Award nominee Montego Glover and clarinetist Dave Bennett for Sing Sing Swing, an all-swing music program that harkens back to the era when big bands ruled the dance floor. The program also pays tribute to the 75th anniversary of Benny Goodman's storied debut at Carnegie Hall with his jazz orchestra. The concert, which took place on January 16, 1938, helped to elevate the status of swing music in the US and beyond, and included some of the brightest jazz luminaries of the day, including Count Basie and members of the Duke Ellington orchestra. The recording of Goodman's performance at Carnegie Hall remains one of the best-selling jazz albums of all time.

Lincoln Center's Midsummer Night Swing - This summer marks the 25th Anniversary season of Midsummer Night Swing. Midsummer Night Swing takes place Tuesdays through Saturdays, today, June 25-July 13, on the elevated dance floor in Damrosch Park on West 62nd Street, between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues.

Tickets go on sale for Lincoln Center's Midsummer Night Swing starting Wednesday, May 22. Individual tickets are $17, which includes a dance lesson with a professional instructor followed by two sets of dancing under the stars to a live orchestra. This summer marks the 25th Anniversary season of Midsummer Night Swing, and to celebrate, tickets will be sold at a special '2 for $25' price on May 22 only. There are also Midsummer Night Passes priced at $84 for six admissions, and $170 for the full season. Four-admission passes are available for $60.

York Theatre Company presents the musical I'm a Stranger Here Myself, written and performed by Mark Nadler with Franca Vercellonion accordion, Jessica Wright on violin and directed by David Schweizer. It opened last night and you can check out photo coverage below!

The public is invited to join with members of Young Patrons of Lincoln Center (YPLC) to sharpen their dancing skills, for free, at the David Rubenstein Atrium on the evenings of June 6th, 13th, and 20th, for "Dancing 101s."

Tickets go on sale today for Lincoln Center's 24th season of Midsummer Night Swing taking place Tuesdays through Saturdays, June 26-July 14. Swing's 15 dazzling nights of dancing, and one free daytime lesson for children, take place at the bandshell and elevated dance floor in Damrosch Park, on West 62nd Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues. Midsummer Night Swing offers an array of dance music styles including salsa, swing, tango, rock 'n' roll, and bhangra. Because of the national holiday there will be no Swing on July 4th, so a special Monday night will be added on July 2nd.