Elton John News

Socrates in the City presented a very special onstage interview with legendary TV personality, Dick Cavett, December 3rd at W83 Space in Manhattan. The interview, conducted by bestselling author and founder of Socrates in the City, Eric Metaxas, focused on Cavett's new book Brief Encounters: Conversations, Magic Moments and Assorted Hijinks.

In celebration of Disney Theatrical Productions' 20 years on Broadway, the ABC Television Network will air 'Backstage with Disney on Broadway: Celebrating 20 Years,' SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14 at 7:00 p.m., ET. The special will be hosted by Broadway veteran Jesse Tyler Ferguson, star of ABC's 'Modern Family,' and feature musical performances from Sir Elton John, Sam Palladio and Clare Bowen (ABC's 'Nashville'), Darren Criss, Ashley Brown ('Mary Poppins') and Adam Jacobs ('Aladdin'). Multi-talented entertainers and Broadway performers Toni Braxton, Whoopi Goldberg and Rosie O'Donnell are part of the roster of all-star talent sharing memories and anecdotes from the past two decades of Disney on Broadway.

After four years reviewing cabaret shows, more than two for BroadwayWorld, our lead New York cabaret critic Stephen Hanks will be giving up reviewing shows to be the BWW Cabaret section's Editor and lead feature writer. Here's how he became a cabaret reviewer, why he's giving it up, and who he's brought on board to make up BWW's new cabaret reviewing team.

Elton John. Carole King. Joni Mitchell. Carly Simon. Paul Simon. Stevie Wonder. They were six superstar singer/songwriters in a constellation of such stars during the early 1970s, who could be considered the composers of the 'New Great American Songbook. On Saturday, December 13 at 7 pm, as part of its annual 12-day 'Winter Rhythms' Festival, Urban Stages will present a star-studded variety show celebrating these great talents of the Golden Age of the Pop Singer/Songwriter.

Music legend Elton John will perform his anthem "I'm Still Standing" in a special live appearance from his concert at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2015."

Once again 2014 was a year to revel in the diversity and accomplishments of the theatrical scene in Maine. The summer and winter seasons yielded a nice balance between adventurous programming and classics. Here is my personal list for 2014, grouped by theatre company and show. 1. MAINE STATE MUSIC THEATRE once again receives my vote for the finest company in the region. Their 2014 season offered four dazzling main stage productions, including the remarkable revival of Chamberlain: A Civil War Romance, a daring and moving music theatre piece, beautifully realized by director-choreographer Marc Robin together with stars James Patterson and Kathy Voytko.

Clad in all black and wearing a Dia de los Muertos mask, the pianist takes his seat. The cellist follows. From the back of the theater, the Grim Reaper wearing his black cape, white mask, and carrying his trademark scythe, seems to float through the audience, reminiscent of the way a priest enters a cathedral to celebrate a mass. Accompanied by Elton John's requiem-like instrumental, 'Funeral For a Friend' (from the 1973 album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road), the beginning of Thomas Honeck's show at the Duplex, Dancing with Death, starts as a macabre ritual.

Disney Theatrical Productions and Broadway in Cincinnati announced today that tickets for the long-awaited return engagement of Disney's THE LION KING will go on sale to the public on Friday, December 5 at 9AM. Cincinnati's most eagerly awaited return will once again leap onto the Aronoff Center stage on March 31 for a limited engagement of 4 weeks through Sunday, April 26. The show's 8-week premiere engagement in 2003 played a sold-out run at the Aronoff Center.

Darren Criss joins the celebration of Disney Theatrical Productions' 20 years on Broadway, the ABC Television Network will air "Backstage with Disney on Broadway: Celebrating 20 Years," SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14 at 7:00 p.m., ET. As previously announced, the special will be hosted by Broadway veteran Jesse Tyler Ferguson, star of ABC's Modern Family, and feature musical performances from Sir Elton John, Sam Palladio and Clare Bowen (ABC's "Nashville"), Ashley Brown ("Mary Poppins") and Adam Jacobs ("Aladdin"). Multi-talented entertainers and Broadways performers Toni Braxton, Whoopi Goldberg and Rosie O'Donnell join the roster of all-star talent sharing memories and anecdotes from the past two decades of Disney on Broadway.

Special guest performer Olivia Polci, 21, the granddaughter of music star Frankie Valli and the daughter of Gerry Polci (a member of THE HIT MEN), will make her solo performance debut with music group THE HIT MEN at their December 11, 2014 concert at 8pm at The Bergen PAC in NJ (tickets are $45-$75 and can be purchased at www.Ticketmaster.com). THE HIT MEN also have a holiday concert in NYC on 12/13 at 8pm the Tribeca PAC (199 Chambers Street). Tickets are $35-$45 and can be purchased online at tickets.tribecapac.org or by phone at 212-220-1460.

Members of the Los Angeles theater community are invited to a staged reading of Sing Me Home January 26 at 8 pm (cocktails at 7 pm). This brand new, contemporary musical, with book by Amber Romina Cassell and music and lyrics by singer-songwriter Kristy Hanson features fourteen original songs in the pop-rock genre, with influences ranging from rhythm and blues to country.

Tonight (Wednesday) at 7 PM, Socrates in the City will present a very special onstage interview with legendary TV personality and star of Broadway's INTO THE WOODS and THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, Dick Cavett, at W83, 150 West 83rd Street (between Columbus & Amsterdam Ave.) The interview, conducted by bestselling author and founder of Socrates in the City, Eric Metaxas, will focus on Cavett's new book BRIEF ENCOUNTERS: CONVERSATIONS, MAGIC MOMENTS AND ASSORTED HIJINKS.

Mariah Carey, Prince Royce, Darius Rucker and the Rockettes will join the star-studded holiday special, 'Christmas in Rockefeller Center,' airing live from Rockefeller Center® in New York City tonight, Dec. 3 (8-9 p.m. ET). Carey will open the holiday program with a very special performance of her #1 smash hit 'All I Want For Christmas is You.'

Serrano NY, LLC is thrilled to present the World Premiere of SERRANO THE MUSICAL, book and lyrics by Madeline Sunshine, music by Robert Tepper, musical direction by Jeff Rizzo (Sunset Blvd. The Wizard of Oz), choreography by Tony nominee Peggy Hickey (A Gentlemen's Guide to Love and Murder) and directed by Tony nominee Joel Zwick (Dance With Me, 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding').

Singing sensation Sam Smith opened up to ELLEN about his decision to go public with the fact that he's gay at a pivotal moment in his career. Later, Smith performs his new single, 'I'm Not The Only One'.

Check out the new holiday tune titled 'Joel, the Lump of Coal' below!

Veteran music and television producer Ken Ehrlich will executive produce and write the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards, it was announced today by The Recording Academy.

Director Robert O'Hara's first professional musical production is a huge success.

Acclaimed and much loved celebrity and society photographer Annie Watt, a familiar face in the New York social and commercial art scenes will unveil her first solo exhibition at the Galerie Dumonteil, at 475 Park Avenue in New York City, from December 10th 2014 to January 10th 2015.

Pride Films and Plays announces that Sam Button-Harrison* and Dan Gold join Libby Lane* as the cast of The Book of Merman, a new musical comedy by Jeff Award-winning playwright Leo Schwartz. The show opens on January 17, 2015 at Mary's Attic, 5400 North Clark Street.