Duke Ellington News

The highly acclaimed New York-based Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, one of the world's most popular global modern dance companies, returns to South Africa in September after 17 years with 13 performances in Johannesburg at the Teatro at Montecasino from Thursday, 3 September to Sunday, 13 September 2015 and 7 shows in Cape Town at Artscape, from 16 to 20 September 2015. Tickets are on sale at Computicket.

August storms in to Phoenix with a blast of incredible jazz, as local and visiting artists fill the calendar at The Nash. BIRDSEED brings an all - Charlie Parker concert, the new funky band MR. PEOPLE hit the stage for First Friday, and PAPA DEFRANCESCO shows audiences where son Joey got his chops from.

With his unmistakable tenor voice, legendary songwriting skills and bass guitar chops to boot, Chicago frontman and solo star Peter Cetera defines an entire era of American rock music.

Pasadena Pops Conductor Michael Feinstein puts down the conducting baton and picks up the microphone for one night only to sing a full concert devoted to the legacy of Frank Sinatra.

American Dance Machine for the 21st Century (ADM21), for those who love the dance in Broadway musicals, will return to New York City's Joyce Theater (175 Eighth Avenue) after their sold out run last year, it was announced today by founder and producing artistic director Nikki Feirt Atkins.  Performances begin Tuesday, December 22nd and run through Sunday, January 3rd.  Tickets start at $10.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its lineup for August 10 - August 16, featuring Ben Allison Group, Barbara Carroll, Ken Peplowski Quartet, and more!

Theatre Under The Stars' (TUTS) Humphreys School of Musical Theatre (HSMT) proudly presents the inspiring, all-teen production of Rent September 18 & 19 at The Hobby Center.  Winner of the TONY Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Rent has become a pop cultural phenomenon with songs that rock and a story that resonates with audiences of all ages. 

BroadwayWorld presents a first look at highlights of ZACH Theatre's Sophisticated Ladies, the Duke Ellington musical review starring Broadway's original Dreamgirl, Jennifer Holliday. ZACH Theatre Associate Artistic Director ABE REYBOLD will direct the musical in the Topfer Theatre on the Karen Kuykendall stage July 15, 2015 - August 23, 2015. A full onstage orchestra backs superb jazz vocalists, extraordinary tap dancers, dazzling deco costumes, and unforgettable torch singers who bring classics like 'Mood Indigo,' Take the A Train,' 'It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)' to vivid life in this grand Tony Award-winning Broadway musical. Check out a first look at the cast in action below!

Artists enrich Carnegie Hall's history every time they step out on stage, but the Hall's lore also comes from behind the scenes and from its audiences. Since Carnegie Hall opened on May 5, 1891, it has played host to millions of visitors looking to share an exceptional performing arts experience. Now, as it approaches its 125th anniversary during the 2015-2016 season, Carnegie Hall is looking to its audience and fans around the world to uncover those unique and personal stories that make the Hall what it is today.

Just in!  BroadwayWorld presents a first look at ZACH Theatre's Sophisticated Ladies, the Duke Ellington musical review starring Broadway's original Dreamgirl, Jennifer Holliday.

ZACH Theatre presents Sophisticated Ladies, the Duke Ellington musical review starring Broadway's original Dreamgirl, Jennifer Holliday. ZACH Theatre Associate Artistic Director ABE REYBOLD will direct the musical in the Topfer Theatre on the Karen Kuykendall stage July 15, 2015 - August 23, 2015. A full onstage orchestra backs superb jazz vocalists, extraordinary tap dancers, dazzling deco costumes, and unforgettable torch singers who bring classics like 'Mood Indigo,' Take the A Train,' 'It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)' to vivid life in this grand Tony Award-winning Broadway musical. Check out the video below of Jennifer Holliday discussing Duke Ellington's music!

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its schedule for August 3-9, including Steve Kuhn Trio, Laura Osnes, Dave Stryker Organ Quartet CD Release Celebration, and more!

The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, along with Beaver Productions, is proud to welcome acclaimed jazz singer Melody Gardot on Friday, October 9 at the Merriam Theater.  Tickets go on-sale Friday, July 24 at 10 a.m. and can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, or online at www.kimmelcenter.org, or at the Kimmel Center box office at Broad & Spruce Streets (open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.).  Gardot is considered a jazz chanteuse who hails from the Greater Philadelphia area where she used to perform free concerts at the Kimmel Center before her career skyrocketed.             

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Raffael Pacitti in 'Body & Soul' tonight, July 22, 2015 at 9:30pm. Following his recent appearances at Etcetera Etcetera's Piano Room and the Metropolitan Room, Raffael debuts at 54 Below with Body & Soul, a Cabaret exploring the crazy lengths we'll go to to find physical contentment and spiritual bliss!

ZACH Theatre presents Sophisticated Ladies, the Duke Ellington musical review starring Broadway's original Dreamgirl, Jennifer Holliday. ZACH Theatre Associate Artistic Director ABE REYBOLD will direct the musical in the Topfer Theatre on the Karen Kuykendall stage July 15, 2015 - August 23, 2015. A full onstage orchestra backs superb jazz vocalists, extraordinary tap dancers, dazzling deco costumes, and unforgettable torch singers who bring classics like 'Mood Indigo,' Take the A Train,' 'It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)' to vivid life in this grand Tony Award-winning Broadway musical. Check out a sneak peek at the promotional images below!

This week at 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com or call (646) 476-3551.

America's Oldest Continuing Summer Chamber Music Festival, Music Mountain, continues its 86th anniversary season on July 19th (3pm) with Enso String Quartet and Soyeon Kate Lee, piano performing Moravec, Schumann, and Dohnanyi.

Stuart Moulton's Austin (Texas) Cabaret Theatre (may it thrive and prosper) turned 15 in tandem with his own 50th birthday. In celebration on Wednesday night, the Theatre's Artistic Director (also a performer himself) invited alumni and hopefuls to strut their stuff on the stage of 54 Below. The result was a wildly mixed bag of a show--featuring a few great vocalists and infectiously enthusiastic wannabes--which ran so exhaustively long that Moultan was able to change his clothes twice.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its schedule for July 27 - August 2, featuring John Pizzarelli Sings Paul McCartney, Steve Ross, Bill O'Connell & The Latin Jazz All-Stars, and more!

A jazzy new musical revue tribute to the man Sinatra called 'the greatest singer in the world,' Tony Bennett. Go wild over the four decades of music that Bennett recorded, from his early top-40 hits, jazz recordings with Basie, Stan Getz, and Bill Evans, to his torch songs, film scores, all the way to his now infamous MTV unplugged, which introduced him to a whole new generation of listeners.