Elton John News

David Benken, whose talent is amazing, has a long list of credits as Technical Director on Broadway.

It's a new era for The Philly POPS and a chance for audiences to share in the excitement of this first season under the baton of new music director Michael Krajewski. The Philly POPS opens its 2013-14 season with the theme "Viva Philadelphia!" - a celebration of the City and of Philadelphia's Italian spirit as well as a demonstration of the maestro's special love for vocal music. It's a fitting theme, as the new maestro celebrates the City that will be another POPS home for this nationally recognized conductor. It's also fitting as this first series of The POPS 35th season falls on Columbus weekend, a time of special significance in a city with a rich Italian heritage. With performances on Friday, October 11 through Sunday October 13, POPS concerts will continue to be presented in a series of Friday evenings at 8 p.m., followed by Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. at Verizon Hall of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts on Avenue of the Arts in Philadelphia.

Fans of summer's top-rated TV show America's Got Talent will have an opportunity to experience their favorite Season 8 acts when the America's Got Talent Live Tour comes to the MGM Grand Garden Arena Wednesday, Oct. 23. Scheduled to appear in more than 30 cities nationwide, the tour will bring the acts that wowed America to Las Vegas, allowing fans to experience the very best talent from the TV show up-close-and-personal.

Accoridng to the Broadway Dreams Foundation, Broadway veteran Donnie Kehr, will join the cast of the upcoming JERSESY BOYS movie as 'Norm Waxman.'

Laurel Little Theatre announces the 53rd amazing season. From the pyramids of Egypt to the beaches of North Carolina, from a castle in Transylvania to a kingdom far, far away and from the old south of Atlanta to the musical mind of Dolly Parton, LLT will take audiences on a year-long trip 'AROUND THE WORLD.'

The first stop of LLT's season AROUND THE WORLD is to the pyramids of Egypt in the story of the love of a boy and a girl from opposing tribes. It was first told in Verdi's famous opera that made Laurel's own Leontyne Price famous when she played the Princess Aida. Her recent children's book of the story was Sir Elton John's basis of his pop musical that features his hit song 'Written In The Stars' that became a chart topper for Leanne Rimes.

The Madison Square Garden Company (Nasdaq:MSG), which acquired the Forum in Inglewood, California in June of 2012, today announced its plans for the iconic venue, including its commitment to invest $100 million, details of its ongoing revitalization, its highly-anticipated reopening in January 2014 and the company's naming of Chase as Presenting Partner.

Nikki Bohne (Bring It On, Legally Blonde), Brett Theile (Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark), Max Chernin (RATED RSO: MT-17, NYMF's Next Broadway Sensation), Cait Doyle (Hot Mess in Manhattan), and Cathryn Salamone (All of My Friends are Whores: Pace University Does Drew Fornarola) are the cast of Broadway and Off-Broadway actors who will take part in a one-night-only concert of songs by new musical theatre writer Addison O'Donnell August 17th in New York City.

With the International Al Jolson Society's 17th Annual Long Island Festival just three weeks away (On August 17, from 9am to 4:30pm, at Oceanside Knights of Columbus, 2985 Kenneth Place, Oceanside, NY 11572.), BroadwayWorld.com Cabaret Review/Columnist and passionate Al Jolson fan Stephen Hanks fantasizes about what it might be like to have a conversation with 'The World's Greatest Entertainer,' 53 years after he died. You ain't read nothin' yet.

The Deering Estate at Cutler's Cabaret Concert Series features intimate concerts inside the historic Stone House Ballroom. The concert today, July 27th will feature Wendy Pedersen and Jim Gasior and the concert on Saturday, August 31st will feature Ariel Pocock.

Unlike most groups that long to tour the U.S. and world, Forgotten Door is excited about staying in town, performing for residents, tourists, conventioneers, etc. Celebrating the upcoming release of their highly anticipated, appropriately titled debut album Unlocked, the eclectic band-whose lineup includes co-founder, vocalist and guitarist Lonnie Danley, lead vocalist Melody Ritz, lead and slide guitarist, and vocalist Michael Seal, bassist Karl Gottmann and drummer Kevin Brennan-is starting an unprecedented six month weekend residency in July in the Wolf Theatre at the Clarion Hotel & Casino (305 Convention Circle Drive, Las Vegas 89109).

NME reports that Sir Elton John will be the recipient of the first-ever Brits Icon Award, to be presented at an awards ceremony on September 2. The event will be broadcast on ITV at a later date.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Two shows called 'Whistle,' plus 'Superman,' 'Hedwig,' 'Seussical,' 'All Shook Up,' '9 To 5' and 'Teen Beach Movie,' a trip to England and the latest in summer concerts!

The Deering Estate at Cutler's Cabaret Concert Series features intimate concerts inside the historic Stone House Ballroom. The concert on Saturday, July 27th will feature Wendy Pedersen and Jim Gasior and the concert on Saturday, August 31st will feature Ariel Pocock.

Marty Thomas presents DIVA is a weekly show at Industry Bar in midtown Manhattan. Featuring a cast of Alexa Green (Wicked, Company), Kelly King (Babyface, Michael Bolton) and Marissa Rosen (My Big Gay Italian Wedding), it is hosted and produced by Marty Thomas (Xanadu, The Secret Garden and Wicked). DIVA celebrates fabulous female vocalists paying tribute to some of histories most over the top icons! The cast performs a brand new show every week with exciting new guests rotating. Monday, July 22, the divas are joined for by Broadway star N'KENGE!

Laurel Little Theatre announces the 53rd amazing season. From the pyramids of Egypt to the beaches of North Carolina, from a castle in Transylvania to a kingdom far, far away and from the old south of Atlanta to the musical mind of Dolly Parton, LLT will take audiences on a year-long trip 'AROUND THE WORLD.'

For the third year in a row, the MGM Grand Garden Arena is playing host to the iHeart Radio Music Festival here in Las Vegas. Hosted by Ryan Seacrest, the recently announced lineup has something for every music fan.

Multi Grammy winning singer/songwriter India.Arie has announced dates for her highly anticipated Soulbird Presents A SongVersation with India.Arie 2013 North American tour, set to kick off Saturday, September 21st in Seattle, WA. The multi-city trek will include a stop in Memphis, TN at the Orpheum Theatre on Sunday, October 27th. The tour comes in support of India's acclaimed fifth studio album SongVersation (Soulbird/ Motown Records) which released June 25th, received rave reviews, and marks her fifth #1 on the Billboard R&B Album Chart and fifth top 10 debut on the Billboard Top 200 Chart.

Today, 17 July 2013, 10 year old Elliott Hanna from Liverpool, will become the thirty-fourth and youngest boy ever to play Billy Elliot in the West End. Also joining the cast will be 10 year old Demi Lee from Middlesborough, as Billy's dance teacher's daughter Debbie. Now in its ninth year at the Victoria Palace Theatre, Billy Elliot the Musical was recently awarded its fifth Olivier Award - the BBC Radio 2 Audience Award voted for by the theatregoing public. Earlier this year Billy Elliot the Musical welcomed its 4 millionth patron to the Victoria Palace Theatre where the show has now extended booking to 21 June 2014.