Diana Ross News

Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts announces a roster of upcoming shows confirmed, to date, for the 2017-2018 season.

Internationally acclaimed virtuoso pianist Hershey Felder (Broadway's George Gershwin Alone and Maestro Bernstein) will tickle the ivories as one of the most popular and prolific songwriters of the 20th century in Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin.

Electric Youth (EY) 2017, the international touring ensemble of talented singer-dancers trained at the Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA), presents a Bon Voyage concert at THE BLACK BOX in downtown Franklin on Saturday, June 24 at 7:30 p.m.

Brooklyn Community Services (BCS) will host its landmark 150th Anniversary Finale Gala on Monday, June 5th honoring visionaries that have made significant contributions to uplift Brooklyn residents with actress, chef and activist Debi Mazar as the emcee.  The theme is For the Love of Community and will be held from 6:00 - 9:00 pm at Brooklyn's stunning newly opened 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, located at 60 Furman Street.

FST's 2017 Summer Cabaret season begins with the newest Opera/Rock mash-up sensation, The Jersey Tenors. This production of four charismatic crooners opens in the John C. Court Cabaret on June 15, 2017. Subscriptions for all three Summer Cabaret shows are available for as little as $39. Subscriptions may be purchased online at www.floridastudiotheatre.org, by phone at (941) 366-9000, or by visiting the Box Office.

???????From Jazz Noir to Technicolor, jazz vocalist Sylvia Brooks, Tarzana resident, ?reveals a vivid array of new emotional hues on her about to be released third CD, The Arrangement, a beautifully intimate collaboration with the talents of brilliant Los Angeles arrangers. In celebration of the release, Brooks along with her arrangers will perform in concert at Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood on Wednesday, June 7 at 8:30 p.m.

The U.S. tour of Motown the Musical is lighting up the stage at Syracuse, New York's Landmark Theatre. The jukebox musical based on Berry Gordy's (book) autobiography To Be Loved: The Music, The Magic, The Memories of Motown features familiar music and lyrics from the legendary Motown catalog and focuses on the Motown greats like Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and many more. The cast under the direction of Charles Randolph-Wright has the energy, confidence, and amazing vocals to fully embody these legendary musicians.

The new musical, Hit Her with the Skates, by Christine Rea & Rick Briskin, directed by Michael Schiralli with musical direction by Brandon Ethridge and choreography by Gina Ventura, opened last weekend at Hamilton Stage (UCPAC, Rahway, NJ) from May 12 - 27, 2017. BroadwayWorld's Leigh Scheps talks with star, Amy Toporek, about her involvement with the show since inception plus what it's like performing on stage with Broadway's John Treacy Egan.

Justin Sayre is calling the final editions of THE MEETING* to order. For eight seasons, over seven-and-a-half years, he has led the International Order of Sodomites---the IOS for short---as the Chairman of the "centuries-old organization promoting the lives and legacies of the LGBTQIA community." The final two shows of the acclaimed comedy/variety show, set for Sunday, May 14 at 7:00 and 9:30 pm at Joe's Pub, have long sold out. Yet they'll be broadcast online via Joe's Pub Livestream, with Sayre also taking over the Joe's Pub Instagram account that same day. Before he flew over from Los Angeles for those final shows, we spoke with Justin over the phone about what THE MEETING* has meant to him over the years, why it's time to call it quits, and what's next.

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - the monthly gathering of the International Order of Sodomites, the centuries-old organization which sets the mythic Gay Agenda - will conclude its acclaimed eight year run this Sunday, May 14 with two performances at 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater.

Back in the day when I was a mere fledgling musical theater geek I was introduced to the show 'Dreamgirls'. You might say this was my gateway cast album that put me on the path toward the musical addict I am today as I practically wore out the CD. So you'll understand if I'm a little picky about this show. I mean, how could someone live up to the magic of Jennifer Holliday, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Loretta Devine? Since then I've seen a few productions that have all been OK but never got me there until now. And true, you can't ever really compare with the originals but the current production from Village Theatre does a mighty fine job.

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - the monthly gathering of the International Order of Sodomites, the centuries-old organization which sets the mythic Gay Agenda - will conclude its acclaimed eight year run this Sunday, May 14 with two performances at 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater.

From the swish of the golden dresses to the silver zoot suits to the huge smiles of the Dreamettes, DREAMGIRLS at Footlite Musicals sure brought it last Friday night. DREAMGIRLS is a musical documenting the blood, sweat, and tears of a struggling girls group rise to the top of the charts and the positive/negative effects of showbiz mixed with some brilliant vocals.

Chicago's new hit concert series BROADWAY AT W welcomes Guy Lockard as special guest host on Monday, May 8th in the exquisite W Chicago- City Center Living Room. Lockard will lend his hosting and vocal talents for the concert beginning at 7:30pm. Doors open at 7pm. W Chicago- City Center 172 W Adams St, Chicago, IL 60603.

The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts continues its star-packed 25th anniversary season with three summer sizzling, soul-stirring, headline-grabbing super shows next month:

The R&B calendar heats up at Joe's Pub! Highlights include Labelle founding member Sarah Dash on May 12; the soulfully-voiced and hard-rocking singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Celisse Henderson on May 31; Australian singer Cloves (Kaity Dunstan) on June 1; the Peterson Brothers, a modern blend of blues rock from 20-year-old Glenn and 17-year-old Alex Peterson, on June 2; a fundraiser for The Restorative Center with Stephanie McKay on June 15; soul powerhouse gina Breedlove on June 20; Alfa Anderson's album release party for her solo debut, From My Heart, on July 7; and, the relentlessly energetic JJ Thames & The Violet ReVOLT on August 8.

The Stars of Paramount Theatre's newly mounted and vibrant production of Jesus Christ Superstar have signed on to perform for Broadway at W at W Chicago- City Center.

Kicking off the summer in Phoenix is the high-power, all-female, all-fabulous musical revue, Beehive: the 60's Musical! The production pays tribute to the women who dominated the music industry in that era, from Lesley Gore, Tina Turner and Connie Francis to Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross. 

The Zarlengo Foundation proudly presents an evening of comedy with NBC's America's Got Talent judge HOWIE MANDEL, LIVE at Bellco Theatre on Saturday, September 9th at 8:00pm.  Comedian Dan Naturman, also seen on America's Got Talent, will be the Special Guest opening act. Tickets are $39.00 - $69.00 and go on sale Friday, May 5th at 10 AM online at axs.com or charge by phone at 888-9-AXS-TIX. 

Broadway at W returns to W Chicago - City Center fresh off the heels of its successful Chicago launch last month, where it featured the cast members of Hamilton.