Ella Fitzgerald News

JULY AT THE METROPOLITAN ROOM. Come join us every Friday and Saturday from 11PM-2AM for our nightly piano lounge. No cover, no minimum!

Jazz aficionados know him by name, but almost anyone exposed to music is familiar with his playing. His is the purring sax solo on Henry Mancini's famous 'Pink Panther' movie theme song. Plas is the featured soloist heard on countless albums, including those of such artists as Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole, Barbra Streisand, Quincy Jones, Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, Linda Ronstadt and Sarah Vaughan. Plas' recent recordings include his own albums 'Hot, Blue and Saxy' and 'Evening Delight'. Plas Johnson combines some of the best elements of jazz and blues and is admired and emulated by sax players worldwide.

Mary Cleere Haran brings here new show, 'Mary Cleere Haran Sings Doris Day' to The Rrazz Room, Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason, SF, July 14-19. Tickets are $30-$45 and can be purchased at www.therrazzroom.com or directly through www.ticketweb.com or 866 468 3399. Shows are at 8 PM Tuesday thru Saturday and at 7 PM on Sunday.

Shaynee Rainbolt, winner of 2009 MAC Award for Best Jazz Recording and winner of the 2008 MAC Award for Best Original Song, will bring her new show of Russell Garcia original songs and arrangements to Yoshi's, 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland, CA, on Wednesday, July 22 at 8:00 pm. Tickets are $14 and can be purchased by calling (510) 238 9200 or at www.yoshis.com.

Pittsburgh Public Theater is a vibrant professional theater company whose home is the O'Reilly Theater, in the heart of Downtown's Cultural District. The Public is led by Producing Artistic Director Ted Pappas, who brings together the finest designers, actors and directors to produce original works for the stage that invigorate as they entertain. The Public specializes in a vital mix of world premieres, musicals of exceptional merit, classics, and contemporary plays of the highest quality.

Tickets for the Guthrie's presentation of Ella, the exhilarating musical about the First Lady of Song, go on sale to the general public on Sunday, June 14 at 11 a.m. Tina Fabrique stars in the title role of this summer theatrical event, weaving myth, memory and music to tell the uplifting and poignant story of one of the greatest jazz and pop vocalists of the 20th century.

After a successful opening weekend for the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, with the Variety Gala on Friday night and the incredible performance of Broadway headliner Bernadette Peters, audiences were left wanting more.

Tickets for the Guthrie's presentation of Ella, the exhilarating musical about the First Lady of Song, go on sale to the general public on Sunday, June 14 at 11 a.m. Tina Fabrique stars in the title role of this summer theatrical event, weaving myth, memory and music to tell the uplifting and poignant story of one of the greatest jazz and pop vocalists of the 20th century.

Arena Stage in association with Tony Cacciotti and David Steiner presents Looped starring four-time Emmy Award winner Valerie Harper (Rhoda, The Mary Tyler Moore Show) at the Lincoln Theatre.

The music lineup at Lincoln Center Festival 09 includes US debuts by Algerian music icon Idir and Moroccan Chaabi singer Najat Aatabou; a double bill with Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara, and Issa Bagayogo; and a tribute to celebrated New Orleans songwriter Wardell Quezergue, featuring a roster of noted musical artists from that city's annual Ponderosa Stomp music festival.

The Butterfly Club announces its Club news and calendar for the month of June.

Arena Stage in association with Tony Cacciotti and David Steiner presents Looped starring four-time Emmy Award winner Valerie Harper (Rhoda, The Mary Tyler Moore Show) at the Lincoln Theatre.

Jazz aficionados know him by name, but almost anyone exposed to music is familiar with his playing. His is the purring sax solo on Henry Mancini's famous 'Pink Panther' movie theme song. Plas is the featured soloist heard on countless albums, including those of such artists as Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole, Barbra Streisand, Quincy Jones, Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, Linda Ronstadt and Sarah Vaughan. Plas' recent recordings include his own albums 'Hot, Blue and Saxy' and 'Evening Delight'. Plas Johnson combines some of the best elements of jazz and blues and is admired and emulated by sax players worldwide.

The producers of THE COLOR PURPLE are proud to announce that American Idol Season 3 winner Fantasia Barrino will reprise her starring role of Celie for the Chicago Engagement. Returning to its debut home of Chicago, THE COLOR PURPLE will make its home at The Arie Crown Theater for two weeks, September 2 -13, 2009. Tickets

Jenna gives a rundown of where she's been and who she's seen in the world of cabaret in the past week. The past week's events include Rob Langeder at the Metropolitan Room and The Algonquin Salon at the historic Algonquin Hotel!

Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Marvin Hamlisch will lead the New York Philharmonic in New York Moments, a concert featuring iconic musical moments from Broadway and film, with stars from the stage and screen (in alphabetical order): Ashley Brown, who originated the title role in Mary Poppins on Broadway; Maria Friedman, who played Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd and Marian in The Woman in White in London; Joel Grey, whose numerous starring roles have included the famous M.C. in Cabaret, on Broadway and in the film; Jennifer Holliday, one of the original Dreamgirls; Liza Minnelli, last seen on Broadway in Liza's at The Palace; Kelli O'Hara and Paulo Szot, stars of the current Lincoln Center Theater production of South Pacific; and 15-year-old up-and-coming singer, Nikki Yanofsky. The concert will take place Monday, April 20, 2009, at 7:30 p.m. All except Mr. Hamlisch and Ms. O'Hara are making their New York Philharmonic debuts.

Jenna gives a rundown of where she's been and who she's seen in the world of cabaret in the past week. The past week's shows include Jason Robert Brown at Birdland, Terese Genecco at the Iridium, and MetroJam at the Metropolitan Room!

Producer John Breglio and the Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc. announced today that tickets for the smash hit musical Dreamgirls at the Apollo Theater go on sale Friday, April 17 at 10am. The national tour of Dreamgirls will premiere at the legendary Apollo Theater (253 West 125 Street) for a four-week limited engagement November 7 through December 5. Performances are Tuesday though Saturday at 8pm with matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2pm and Sunday at 3pm. Ticket prices range from $35 to $106 and will be available at the Apollo Theater box office, all Ticketmaster locations and Ticketmaster.com/apollotheater. Group orders for 10 or more may be placed by calling 212-302-0995. For more information, please visit the official Dreamgirls website at www.DreamgirlsOnStage.com.

Songwriter Paul Williams was elected President and Chairman of the Board of ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) today by the ASCAP Board of Directors at its meeting in Nashville, TN.

It is with great pleasure that The West Bank Café announces upcoming performances to be presented in The Laurie Beechman Theatre. The West Bank Café is located at 407 West 42nd. St., at Ninth Avenue. For reservations, please call 212.695.6909.