Ella Fitzgerald News

MetroStage's current production of 'Ella: First Lady of Song' is full of wonderful music; however, as a show, it proves to be a rocky walk down memory lane.

Broadway performer, writer, and jazz vocalist, ANDREA FRIERSON journeys back to her beginnings as a young singer enamored of Ella Fitzgerald, against a backdrop of New York City during the 1960's. Part "memory play"/ part tribute to Ella, me & ella is both a singer's coming of age story as well as a musical valentine to the First Lady of Song. Directed by Paul Kreppel and Murphy Cross, winners of the Tony Award for JAY JOHNSON: THE TWO AND ONLY, and featuring Andrea Frierson who was a finalist in Star Search and has appeared on Broadway in THE LION KING, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, and others, me & ella takes the stage at Downstairs Cabaret at Winton Place, 3450 Winton Place, Brighton-Henrietta, beginning February 6. This limited engagement will continue through the month of February, in celebration of Black History Month. More than two dozen jazz favorites are woven into this heartwarming story, including 'The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea,' 'I'm Beginning to See the Light,' 'A Tisket, A Tasket,' 'Lady Be Good,' 'How High The Moon,' 'I've Got the World on a String,' and many more. The production features a jazz trio of Jeff Benatar on piano, Eric Davidson on bass, and Greg Gascon on percussion.

Multi-platinum-selling, two time Emmy and five-time Grammy Award nominee, Michael Feinstein will perform at the Van Wezel on February 6, 2014.

The Cabaret Showdown is a monthly game show that offers a unique mixture of live karaoke and Jeopardy. Contestants are asked to sing selections from various musical categories listed on the Official Game Board with no knowledge of what the song will be until right before they sing. To level the playing field all songs are popular standards, each contestant is given a copy of the sheet music and accompanied by a live pianist. The winner receives a free booking at UNDER St. Marks for their very own showcase. Whether you are a contestant or in the audience you are guaranteed to have a blast!

With performances on 4 Grammy Award-winning albums, sold out concerts the world over, and sixteen recordings, Carmen Bradford is considered to be one of the greatest jazz vocalists alive today. On Sunday, March 9, this celebrated vocalist joins the Capital Jazz Orchestra as they pay tribute to “The First Lady of Song”, Ms. Ella Fitzgerald. For over sixty years, Ella set the standard for vocalists of all genres and has been influential to singers from Lena Horne, Frank Sinatra, and Mel Torme' to Michael Buble', Natalie Cole, and Harry Connick, Jr. Don't miss this incredible evening as the legacy of Ella Fitzgerald is honored by one of today's greatest jazz singers.

Amas Musical Theatre, New York City's award-winning pioneer in diversity and multi-ethnic casting in the performing arts since 1968, will celebrate its 45th Anniversary at a gala benefit on Monday, March 31st, 2014 at the Baruch Performing Arts Center (East 25th Street between Lexington and 3rd Avenues). Honorary Chair for the event is veteran Broadway virtuoso Maurice Hines.

Bucks County Playhouse (BCP) has announced the launch of a 2014 winter concert series, kicking off with the World Premiere of JUSTIN GUARINI LOVESICK, a new show from Justin Guarini and directed by Gordon Greenberg.

In one of its most ambitious projects to date, Chicago Opera Theater (COT) will collaborate with the Chicago Jazz Orchestra (CJO) to present the Chicago premiere of Duke Ellington's only opera "Queenie Pie," running February 15 - March 5 at the Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph Street. Tickets ($35 - $125) are now on sale.

Carolyn Griffin has announced that MetroStage will be presenting the musical Ella Fitzgerald: First Lady of Song, conceived and directed by Maurice Hines, with book by Lee Summers, Jan. 23-Mar. 16, 2014. Ella Fitzgerald, her cousin and traveling companion Georgiana, and her manager and jazz impresario Norman Granz tell her story both backstage and onstage. From a homeless street dancer to winning amateur night at the Apollo Theatre at the age of 15, from headlining with Chick Webb and his Orchestra at the Savoy Ballroom to performing Live at the Cote D'Azur, from discovering she could "scat" to mastering a new art form called "bebop," this musical tells the fascinating journey of this legendary artist. Maurice Hines is the director. Mel Johnson Jr. is the associate director, and William Knowles is the music director, arranger, and orchestrator.

Sylvester Stallone is to make his West End theatre debut when An Evening with Sylvester Stallone, previously announced at Central Hall Westminster tonight, January 11, will now be staged at the world famous London Palladium.

The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra and Conductor John Morris Russell announce the Pops' 2013-14 season, the third under the direction of Mr. Russell. The season, presented by PNC, celebrates some of the long-admired classics of the Pops while embracing exciting new collaborations. From Broadway to rock, R&B to family concerts, Music Hall will be the home for fans of all musical genres in 2013-14. Highlights of the season include three debuts from stars Michael McDonald, George Takei and Boyz II Men, as well the return of Cincinnati favorites Ann Hampton Callaway and Megan Hilty, who wowed Pops audiences in 2009 and has since nurtured a career from stage to screen as star of the hit NBC TV series Smash.

Muny Executive Producer Mike Isaacson announced today the directors, choreographers and music directors for the Muny's 2014 Season, which opens on June 16 with Billy Elliot The Musical. "We're so happy these exciting artists are creating our 2014 season," said Isaacson. "This is a challenging season, one with incredible variety and power. We're fortunate that such extraordinary talents will be creating our 'Muny Magic.'"

Thirty two talented high school students — representing 30 cities and 12 states from across the country — who have been selected for positions in GRAMMY Camp® — Jazz Session.

Live performances lend themselves to the possibility of the unexpected happening, and Marilyn Maye & Houston Person, two of the very best in cabaret and jazz, promise an evening of the unexpected when they perform on the HARMAN Stage on Wednesday, January 22nd at 8 p.m. Maye and Person perform as the grand finale of the Broadway/Cabaret/Jazz Series: Perfect Pairs at The Palace sponsored by Courtyard by Marriott Stamford Downtown. Tickets may be purchased at www.SCAlive.org.

2014 sees some new names and some returns to The Crazy Coqs. January starts with the London debut of the sizzling cabaret performer Carole J .Bufford and her show Body and Soul (tonight, January 7 - 11) followed by the popular Broadway star Brent Barrett and his show Night Songs (January 14 -18) and then actress and singer Linda Purl with her show Midnight Caravan: Celebrating the Great Ladies of the Glamorous Nightclub Era of the 40s & 50s (January 21 - 25).

Following the record-breaking attendance of Festival 2013, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival announces the 2014 Festival schedule. Jacob's Pillow is a National Historic Landmark, home to America's longest-running dance festival, and a recipient of the National Medal of Arts. Noted dance writer Jennifer Dunning has called the Pillow "the dance center of the nation, possibly the world."

The highly successful Arts & Ideas program at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco (JCCSF) continues into 2014 with an array of fascinating thinkers, writers and entertainers.

Today we are taking a look at a sensational seasonal showstopper by one of Broadway's best songwriters, Frank Loesser, performed by a line-up of legendary greats sure to start your 2014 off on the right foot - and left!

Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress, singer, and recording artist Leslie Uggams (Roots, King Headley II, Hallelujah, Baby!) is ringing in the holidays with the release of a new single 'Wishing You a Happy New Year' written by renowned film, television, and concert composer-orchestrator Curtis McKonly. Available online at iTunes, Amazon.com, CD Baby and other major digital music outlets, this elegant new tune features the 41-piece Curtis McKonly Orchestra. Click below to watch a behind-the-scenes video of Uggams in the recording studio!

Jay is an enormous fan of Broadway and all its denizens and has done many Broadway Cast Albums, but he has also worked with every great star of our time in every category of music.