Ella Fitzgerald News

Bay Area Cabaret's season finale will star one of Broadway's greatest vocal talents, Lillias White. Returning this spring from Nigeria, where she will reprise her Tony-nominated role in FELA!, White is the winner of Broadway's 'Triple Crown' (a Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, and an Outer Critics Circle Award) for her role in Cy Coleman's The Life.

American Stage Theatre Company's Susan R. Hough Cabaret and 'After Hours' series in the Raymond James Theatre continue with eight productions in February, 321, ROSE BILAL'S JAZZ LEGENDS REMEMBERED, LET'S MISBEHAVE, I AM A CUBAN SANDWICH, STRANGERS AND FOOLS and LAST OF THE NEANDERTHALS.

Legendary French pianist and composer Michel Legrand will return to the Blue Note for a series of concerts with his trio from March 29 - April 3. Legrand is best known for his film scores - Umbrellas of Cherbourg, The Thomas Crown Affair and the theme song from Yentl are among the highlights - but they tend to overshadow his extensive work as a jazz arranger/composer and pianist.

If you were in the early '60s milieu of 'Mad Men,' the groundbreaking AMC series about the glamorous and ego-driven Golden Age of advertising, what music would you listen to on the radio

What a surprise it was to see a photo of E. Faye Butler in the March 18, 2011 edition of the national publication 'The Week' in which she stars in the musical Working at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place in Chicago.

On her new album, ‘Round Midnight, Grammy-nominated vocalist and pianist Karrin Allyson weaves an elegant, understated dreamscape featuring 11 songs by some of the most storied writers in jazz, Broadway and pop music, from Duke Ellington to Stephen Sondheim to Paul Simon and more.

Jenna gives a rundown of where she's been and what's coming up in the world of cabaret (and sometimes beyond!) This week's column features Nicolas King at The Metropolitan Room, Carly Ozard at Don't Tell Mama, Ann Hampton Callaway at Dizzy's Club Coca Cola and Sarah Louise Young, also at Don't Tell Mama!

During April, May, and June the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events in partnership with the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture will present three cabaret events and four afternoons of high tea accompanied by unique entertainment at Maxim's: The Nancy Goldberg International Center.

New York's Cafe Carlyle comes to life in San Francisco when Bay Area Cabaret presents the winners of New York's coveted Nightlife Award, jazz guitarist John Pizzarelli and his wife, Broadway star Jessica Molaskey (Tommy, Sunday in the Park with George).

Grammy Award winning R&B vocalist Chrisette Michele will return to her roots in a homecoming performance at the Blue Note to pay tribute to three jazz icons she credits as her biggest influences: Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughan.

Back by overwhelming popular demand and as a kick off to its 25th Anniversary Season, Florida Stage presents the return of ELLA as its 2011 summer sensation. Though it has been seen in regional theatres such as Arena Stage, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Hartford Stage, Guthrie Theatre, and Actors Theatre of Louisville, ELLA was created at Florida Stage nearly 5 years ago and has since gone on to be produced in many theatres across the country.

Triple threat Lee Roy Reams will be performing a song from 42nd Street in this year's S.T.A.G.E. benefit entitled Original Cast 2 at the Luckman Theatre on Saturday April 2. He has been in the original cast of Lorelei and in more productions of Hello Dolly! and 42nd Street than he can remember. In our recent phone chat he reminisced about the shows and the people he's worked with, including late greats Ruby Keeler & Juliet Prowse and legendary Carol Channing and Jerry Herman.

Legendary French pianist and composer Michel Legrand will return to the Blue Note for a series of concerts with his trio from March 29 - April 3. Legrand is best known for his film scores - Umbrellas of Cherbourg, The Thomas Crown Affair and the theme song from Yentl are among the highlights - but they tend to overshadow his extensive work as a jazz arranger/composer and pianist.

On March 11th, 2011 the New York Pops pays tribute to the late Judy Garland in a special concert at Carnegie Hall. The show will play homage to her famous 1961 concert at the same location, and features Broadway stars Ashley Brown, Heather Headley and Karen Olivo (as well as special guest Lorna Luft) Conductor Steven Reineke talks with BWW about the show.

Chicago's Court Theatre has announced casting for Porgy and Bess which is set to run May 12 - June 19. The cast will include: Todd M. Kryger (Porgy), Alexis Rogers (Bess), Karla Beard (Serena), Bear Bellinger (Peter), Sean Blake (Sportin' Life), James Earl Jones II (Crown), Brian-Alwyn Newland (Robbins), Harriet Nzinga Plumpp (Clara), Kelvin Roston, Jr. (Jim), Bethany Thomas (Maria), Travis Turner (Mingo), Adrienne Walker (Annie), and Byron Glenn Willis (Jake).

Court Theatre Artistic Director Charles Newell and Executive Director Stephen J. Albert present the Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, directed by Artistic Director Charles Newell, with Artistic Consultant Ron OJ Parson and Musical Direction by Doug Peck.

If you were in the early '60s milieu of 'Mad Men,' the groundbreaking AMC series about the glamorous and ego-driven Golden Age of advertising, what music would you listen to on the radio

The Boston-based singer Shepley Metcalf who, last year, was the first American to record and perform a new trove of songs by the lyricist Fran Landesman, is bringing back her critically acclaimed Landesman tribute to the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, for an exclusive four-show engagement in March. 'Something Irresistible,' featuring songs by Landesman and the British jazz composer Simon Wallace, performs Wednesday March 2 at 7pm; Saturday March 5 at 9:30pm; Saturday March 19 at 7:30pm, and Sunday March 20 at 4pm.

ELLA, the exhilarating new musical about 'The First Lady of Song,' Ella Fitzgerald, is coming to TPAC's James K. Polk Theater, March 1-6.

The Tennessee Performing Arts Center opened a satellite box office in The Mall at Green Hills, Friday, February 25.