Actress, singer, author, and activist Eartha Kitt might be best known as the singer behind "Santa Baby" and "C'est si bon," or as the third Catwoman on the sixties Batman TV series. However, a government-led blacklisting in the late sixties halted her career for an entire decade. The infamous blacklisting forms the basis for Down To Eartha, a one-woman show which will begin its 10-show run at the Gene Frankel Theater (24 Bond Street) in August.
Continuing his cycle of plays about legendary African American entertainers, playwright Vincent Victoria and his company Vincent Victoria Presents, will be dramatizing the life of Lena Horne with the play 'Just Lena' June 28th-July 7th at Midtown Art Center.
The Hollywood Museum made history this week by unveiling three exhibits simultaneously, including THE BATMAN 80TH ANNIVERSARY, THE CATWOMEN, THE BIONIC WOMAN AND & THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN EXHIBITS.
From croaker sack to Chinchilla, Orson Welles called Eartha Kitt 'the most exciting woman in the world'. But in 1968 she was blacklisted for 'making the 1st Lady cry.' 'I Want To Be Evil' chronicles Eartha's destitute childhood, her affair with the Revlon heir, her kinship with Sammy Davis Jr. and her volatile relationship with Hollywood.
More than 300 area high school students will perform on the main stage of the Music Hall at Fair Park on Thursday, May 9 as part of the 2019 Dallas Summer Musicals High School Musical Theatre Awards (HSMTA). Winners will be named in 18 categories that recognize artistic and educational achievements of North Texas students and their high school programs.
The International Festival of Arts & Ideas today announced complete details for Festival 2019, which opens on June 8 and continues for two weeks through June 22 in New Haven, Connecticut.
Hailed as a "lovingly tongue-in-cheek homage" (San Francisco Chronicle), Feinstein's at the Nikko is thrilled to welcome the return of Liberace & Liza: A Tribute-starring David Saffert and Jillian Snow Harris as the two legendary performers-on Wednesday, June 26 at 7 p.m. and Thursday, June 27 at 8 p.m.
Actor, producer, director Yancey Arias had his first experience in entertainment at the age of twelve when his grandmother threw him on stage to sing a song for a neighborhood talent show at Henry Street Settlement in downtown Manhattan. Yancey was discovered by Professor James Green at Saint John's Prep High School in Astoria, Queens, New York. Green then introduced Yancey to Stage Door Manor in Loch Sheldrake, New York, where he studied theater under Jack Romano every summer, and in winter with fellow actors Vincent Laresca, Christian J. Meoli, and Josh Charles.
Two-time Tony Award-winning Goodspeed Musicals has brought together an extraordinary group of artists to helm the five exciting productions planned this season: an All-American classic, a heart-warming musical tale, an electric dance-filled tuner, an extraordinary true story, and an inspirational journey that's sure to inspire. Single tickets for all five shows set for Goodspeed's 2019 season go on public sale this Sunday, February 17 at 10:00 a.m..
Lights Out: Nat 'King' Cole/book by Colman Domingo & Patricia McGregor/music supervision:John McDaniel/directed by Patricia McGregor/Geffen/Gil Cates Theater/through March 17
A much anticipated musical in Los Angeles has been Lights Out: Nat 'King' Cole, which has received previous tryouts back east. Penned by Colman Domingo and Patricia McGregor, who also directs the piece, the show is supposedly based on real facts from Cole's life and includes most of his standard hits arranged by John McDaniel. Currently onstage at the Gil CatesTheater of the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood, Lights Out is spectacular entertainment, especially from Dule Hill as Cole and Daniel J. Watts as Sammy Davis Jr. but its book is in need of some major retooling.
It is December 17, 1957 in the NBC Studio in Burbank where Cole's final 30 minute TV variety show is about to be presented live with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra and Randy Van Horn Singers. Fifteen minutes to air time, Cole is in a deep state of depression over this being the final show. Why? He has millions of fans. Southern states have refused to continue paying for advertising on the show. Cole is a Negro, pure asnd simple. In spite of his fame, it's Lights Out for him. Guest star Peggy Lee has not shown up and friend Sammy Davis Jr. comes in to replace her with his amazing style of frantic comed
Tony Award winner John Lloyd Young returns to Cafe Carlyle with an all-new show, February 19 to March 2. At this residency, he will perform an expertly curated set of rock and pop classics. From the raw emotionality of Roy Orbison the retro cool of 007, Young will bring the iconic room alive with a timelessness, mystery and warmth that hearkens back while heralding into the future and Broadway World's own Richard Ridge caught up with Young a few days before his opening.
Director Patricia McGregor returns to the Geffen Playhouse after her successful directorial stint of Dominique Morriseau's SKELETON CREW last year. This time, Patricia directs the west coast premiere of LIGHTS OUT: NAT 'KING' COLE (now, already in previews), co-written by herself and Coleman Domingo. Patricia took some time after a long day of rehearsals to chat with me over the phone.
In one of the most mesmerizing performances in recent memory, Jade Wheeler answers the question with a stunning interpretation of Eartha Kitt, both as an artist and as a person. With a foundation of creative direction by Cailin Doran, outstanding piano accompaniment by music director Seulah Noh, and synergistic design elements, Wheeler does the rest with the power of her voice, her magnetic gaze, and her expressive movements.
The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage in Santa Monica presents the return of The Reverend Shawn Amos for A Night in Harlem today, February 1 at 8:00pm. In celebration of African American History Month, blackbox curator, Amos, returns to the stage for an evening of songs and storytelling - presenting songs from his album, Harlem, for the first time in ten years. The American roots song cycle tells the story of 1920s black Americans' migration from the south to Harlem. Amos' album was inspired by the artists, songs and legacy of the Harlem Renaissance.
LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT (celebrating its 25th Silver Anniversary at the theatre) are thrilled to present the award-winning and revolutionary 1776 THE MUSICAL, with musical direction by Jeff Rizzo and directed & staged by Glenn Casale. 1776 THE MUSICAL will preview on Friday, January 11, 2019 (with a press opening on Saturday, January 12 at 8pm) and runs through Sunday, February 3, 2019 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.
The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage in Santa Monica presents the return of The Reverend Shawn Amos for A Night in Harlem on Friday, February 1 at 8:00pm. In celebration of African American History Month, blackbox curator, Amos, returns to the stage for an evening of songs and storytelling - presenting songs from his album, Harlem, for the first time in ten years. The American roots song cycle tells the story of 1920s black Americans' migration from the south to Harlem. Amos' album was inspired by the artists, songs and legacy of the Harlem Renaissance.
The State Theatre will host a special Valentine's edition of Stage on Stage featuring Charlie Romo on Friday, February 8th. The State Theatre main stage will be transformed into a "club" atmosphere, with the performers and the audience both on stage. A cash bar will also be available on stage. The Valentine Stage on Stage is presented by RMG Insurance and includes Special guest Colette Boudreaux accompanied by Charity Wicks.
Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) announces Miracolo by Jarlath Barsanti-Jacobs and Emilio Solla as part of the 2019 TRU Voices New Musicals Reading Series on Monday evening January 14, 2019 at 7pm at the Actors Temple, 339 West 47th Street, New York, NY. The reading is produced by Harold Heno in association with R.K. Greene, and will be directed by Fred Mann III. It is free but reservations are required: please email name and number of tickets requested to TRUVoicesSeries@gmail.com, or use the bright red ticketing box at https://truonline.org/events/miracolo/.
Today's guests are Ethel Merman, Julie Andrews, Eartha Kitt, Angela Lansbury, and Carol Channing... well, not really, but you would think we had them all in one place at the same time because our guest this week is the fabulous impressionist, and host of Sirius XM's On Broadway, the sensational Christine Pedi!
