Ella Fitzgerald News

To celebrate the strength and vitality of the Brazilian film industry, Museum of the Moving Image will present a new ongoing series, O Brazil: Contemprary Brazilian Cinema. Featuring works by established directors and emerging filmmakers, this showcase will present a bird's eye view of a thriving film scene. The first installment, from November 22 through December 20, 2014, will include three films: My Mother Is a Character (Minha mãe é uma peça), starring the popular theater and TV comedian Paulo Gustavo in Brazil's biggest box-office hit of 2013; Casa Grande, Fellipe Barbosa 's coming-of-age drama that has been a hit at several international film festivals; and The Music According to Antonio Carlos Jobim (A música segundo Tom Jobim), a musical tribute to the artist who popularized bossa nova, by Cinema Novo pioneer Nelson Pereira dos Santos.

?Tickets for the 2014-2015 Winter/Spring Season at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts are on sale now. The all-star lineup boasts award-winning musicians, speakers, special attractions, family programming and returning favorites.

Feinstein's at the Nikko is proud to announce the upcoming lineup for December 2014. Performers include Tony Award nominee Tovah Feldshuh, Tony Award winner John Lloyd Young, "American Idol's" Kimberley Locke, Tony Award nominee -- and San Francisco legend -- Sharon McNight, "America's Got Talent's" Shawn Ryan, Dave Damiani & the No Vacancy Orchestra with special guest Renee Olstead & Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr., San Francisco's favorite Russian redhead Katya-Smirnoff-Skyy, crooner Russ Lorenson, Bay Area jazz singer Yvonne Flores and more!

To celebrate the strength and vitality of the Brazilian film industry, Museum of the Moving Image will present a new ongoing series, O Brazil: Contemprary Brazilian Cinema. Featuring works by established directors and emerging filmmakers, this showcase will present a bird's eye view of a thriving film scene. The first installment, from November 22 through December 20, 2014, will include three films: My Mother Is a Character (Minha mãe é uma peça), starring the popular theater and TV comedian Paulo Gustavo in Brazil's biggest box-office hit of 2013; Casa Grande, Fellipe Barbosa 's coming-of-age drama that has been a hit at several international film festivals; and The Music According to Antonio Carlos Jobim (A música segundo Tom Jobim), a musical tribute to the artist who popularized bossa nova, by Cinema Novo pioneer Nelson Pereira dos Santos.

?Tickets for the 2014-2015 Winter/Spring Season at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts are on sale now. The all-star lineup boasts award-winning musicians, speakers, special attractions, family programming and returning favorites.

DECADES OF DIVAS makes its world premiere ahead of a national tour Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014 at the Count Basie Theatre, 99 Monmouth St., Red Bank, NJ. Show time is 8 p.m. Tickets $59, $39, $29 and $19 on sale NOW at www.countbasietheatre.org or through the box office at (732) 842-9000.

Today we are talking to the gifted composer and lyricist behind the earth-shattering score for Broadway's biggest recent hit, HEDWIG & THE ANGRY INCH, the versatile and passionate Stephen Trask. Shedding considerable light on the development of the idiosyncratic rock musical, Trask discusses his influences and the organic way in which the outre show developed from humble beginnings at downtown bar Squeezebox in the mid-1990s, to Off-Broadway hit at the turn of the new century all the way to the rapturously received feature film adaptation, and, now, the 2014 Broadway production. Trask also details his affection for Tony Award-winning lead actor Neil Patrick Harris and looks ahead to the new leading man donning the titular wig, Andrew Rannells. Additionally, Trask also shares news on the forthcoming sequel to HEDWIG currently being developed with John Cameron Mitchell and teases some of what we can expect from the hotly anticipated theatrical experience. Furthermore, Trask reflects on his own upbringing and musical influences and how that informed the composition of the score for HEDWIG, as well as his own favorite performers. Plus, Trask reflects on his fruitful career as a movie scorer in Hollywood and comments on his upcoming musical endeavors, including two original stage musicals - JUST THE BLACK KEYS, a real-life inspired original musical potentially involving Peter Askin and Michael Mayer, as well 15 MINUTES, a Studio 54-centric period piece written with Rick Elice - as well as much, much more.

On Stage at Kingsborough announces its presentation of a unique, exclusive Brooklyn engagement of 'Timeless: Three Generations of the Great, American Songbook' tonight, October 18, 2014 at 8:00 p.m. at On Stage At Kingsborough, 2001 Oriental Boulevard, Brooklyn, New York. This performance opens the 2014-2015 Cabaret Series.

Celebrating a milestone 125th Anniversary, the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University kicks off its inaugural “Made in Chicago” performance series highlighting the city's best homegrown music and dance artists and ensembles. Launching in November, the robust series will present three Windy City mainstays including “On Stage With... Susan Werner” (November 8); the perennially popular Orbert Davis' Chicago Jazz Philharmonic with “CJP @ Ten” (November 14); and the award-winning Thodos Dance Chicago (November 29).

The most provocative risk taker of today's jazz divas, René heats things up in her tribute to the divine Eartha Kitt. The show features both well-known and obscure gems from the saucy Kitt repertoire including 'C'est Si Bon,' 'Come On To My House,' 'Peel Me A Grape,' and more.

There is something so cool about good jazz music. It conjures up images of men in suits, drinking top-shelf scotch in dimly-lit clubs, lounging in rich, elegant gold and maroon furnishings. When I think of jazz musicians, I think of people with a certain level of sophistication; people who appreciate the finer things in life; people who are, honestly, a little intimidating.

Singer Jane Monheit will appear October 19 at the Saban Theatre, Beverly Hills singing the jazz of Judy Garland. Her latest CD - there are 9 - is called the heart of the matter (cover pictured above). Since high school, she has been dazzling audiences world-wide with her beautiful multi-ranged voice. For a young singer to concentrate on jazz and the classics is in itself quite extraordinary in this day and age. Monheit graduated with a BA from the Manhattan School of Music winning many prizes and is a two-time Grammy nominee. She is married to drummer Rick Montalbano Jr. and has one little boy.

Tonight, October 9 at 8:00 PM, Martinis Above Fourth Table + Stage and Sher Krieger Events are presenting Karen Giorgio in '5 Times A Lady: Bette, Barbra, Judy, Ella, Billie - Their Songs, Their Stories.'

Karen Sander, Artistic & Executive Director, World Music Institute and The Apollo Theater, in partnership with World Music Institute, presents AFRICA NOW!, South Africa, showcasing today's South African music scene, today, October 9-12, 2014.

I'm happy to confess that this piece was a total, happy accident.

Cafe Carlyle will welcome back acclaimed husband-and-wife duo John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey for a four-week engagement, October 28 - November 22. They'll make their annual fall pilgrimage to The Carlyle with an all-new show entitled Grown Up Songs. Grown Up Songs features sophisticated selections for the most sophisticated venue in New York City with music by Stephen Sondheim, Johnny Mercer, Paul McCartney, Alan Jay Lerner, Adam Guettel, Billy Joel and more.

Celebrating its enduring longevity, Polydor/Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) will release The Velvet Underground – 45th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition, on November 24, 2014.

On Stage at Kingsborough announces its presentation of a unique, exclusive Brooklyn engagement of 'Timeless: Three Generations of the Great, American Songbook" on Saturday, October 18, 2014 at 8:00 p.m. at On Stage At Kingsborough, 2001 Oriental Boulevard, Brooklyn, New York. This performance opens the 2014-2015 Cabaret Series.

One of the world's best Big Band Jazz Orchestras teams up with two of the UK's most talented vocalists to present the spectacular concert: 'Sinatra, Sequins & Swing'.

On Thursday, October 9 at 8:00 PM, Martinis Above Fourth Table + Stage and Sher Krieger Events are presenting Karen Giorgio in '5 Times A Lady: Bette, Barbra, Judy, Ella, Billie - Their Songs, Their Stories.'