Etta James News

The Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical A Night with Janis Joplin rocks Saroyan Theatre today, October 25th at 7:30 PM. The Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical, A Night with Janis Joplin is a musical journey celebrating Janis Joplin and the genesis of her musical genius through encounters with her seminal musical influences - Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Odetta, Nina Simone and Bessie Smith. After each encounter, we hear an explosive Joplin song incorporating those who inspired her into what became her legendary rock & roll style.

Next week, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com/Feinsteins or call (646) 476-3551.

The Sydney Opera House today announced that two more songstresses will join the cast of Hear Me Roar, a sensational new music event that presents some of the greatest songs written by women performed by some of Australia's leading female artists. Tania Doko, one half of Bachelor Girl, and Sarah McLeod, lead singer of Australian rock band The Superjesus, will bring their unique voices to the Concert Hall on 13 and 14 December.

Lincoln Center Theater/LCT3 has announced that it will host a number of special events in conjunction with its production of PLOT POINTS IN OUR SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT, a new play by Miranda Rose Hall, directed by Margot Bordelon, currently in previews at the Claire Tow Theater.   The events, each curated with Ianne Fields Stewart and hosted at the Claire Tow Theater (150 West 65 Street), will include 3 LGBTQ+ Singles Nights on Sunday, October 28th; Sunday, November 4th; and Sunday, November 11th; and 3 Post-Show Conversations on Thursday, November 1st; Thursday, November 8th; and Monday, November 12th. All events held post-show are free to ticket-holders for that evening's performance.

Sultry smoke and white-hot fire escape the lips of Austin singer/songwriter Kelly Hafner on her debut release, If it's Love. It's an ambitious work for an independent artist releasing her first full-length album. If it's Love will be distributed by The Orchard, and released by Smokey Jazz Records. Kelly recently debuted her upcoming single release, 'If It's Love' on Fox 5 TV Good Day Austin, and you can check it out here.

Park Square Theatre announces the area premiere production of Marie & Rosetta by George Brandt, to be directed by Wendy Knox, who directed the early workshops of the play at the Minneapolis-based Playwrights' Center. Soulful and spirited, this play with music tells the story of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, a 2018 inductee into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame who has become a Facebook sensation with tens of thousands of shares of the vintage video of her playing electric guitar on the street cropping up in feeds for the past several years. Tharpe brought fierce guitar playing and swing to gospel music and went on to influence rock musicians from Elvis to Jimi Hendrix and Ray Charles.

BroadwayHD today announced that it will capture the electrifying musical A Night with Janis Joplin live during one of its final performances on October 4 at La Mirada Theatre for The Performing Arts in Los Angeles. The company's groundbreaking live-capture of the performance will coincide with the anniversary of the rock icon's untimely death 48 years ago and debut in January 2019 to usher in the 50th anniversary celebration for Woodstock and her epic performance at the legendary concert. A Night with Janis Joplin stars Mary Bridget Davies, Broadway's original 'Janis' in her Tony Award nominated performance.

Smuin launches its 25th anniversary season with Dance Series 01, a fall program that expands the boundaries of contemporary ballet, pays tribute to Smuin's founder, and celebrates the company's quarter century mark. Acclaimed dancemaker Trey McIntyre returns to Smuin with Blue Until June, a thrilling tribute to Etta James. Continuing Smuin's long-time dedication to fostering new talent within the company is a trio of groundbreaking works first developed in Smuin's Choreography Showcase: Merely Players by Smuin dancer Nicole Haskins, Echo (formerly titled Reflection) by Smuin dancer Ben Needham-Wood, and Sinfonietta by former Smuin dancer Rex Wheeler. Dance Series 01 will also include two works by founder Michael Smuin: Schubert Scherzo, an effervescent dance set to Schubert's sprightly C-Major Symphony, and Eternal Idol, a romantic pas de deux inspired by Auguste Rodin sculptures. Dance Series 01 will be presented September 21-22 at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek and September 28-October 6 at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. For subscriptions and further information the public may call (415) 912-1899. Single tickets ($25-$81) are available by calling the individual venues or by visiting www.smuinballet.org. (This program will also be presented in February 2019 in Mountain View and Carmel.)

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT (celebrating its 25thSilver Anniversary at the theatre) in association with T&D Productions, LLC are thrilled to present Mary Bridget Davies, Broadway's original "Janis" starring in her Tony nominated performance A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, with choreography by Patricia Wilcox, musical direction by Brent Crayon, and created, written & directed by Randy Johnson. A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN will preview on Friday, September 14, 2018 (with a press opening on Saturday, September 15 at 8pm) and runs through Sunday, October 7, 2018 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.  

One of the most innovative music performers to ever set foot on the stage, Big Jay McNeely, passed away on Sunday morning at Riverside University Health System Center after battling prostate cancer and a hip injury. The Cleopatra Records family extends its heartfelt condolences to the McNeely family and encourages all to remember Big Jay for both his incredible music as well as his boisterous personality and warm heart. Cleopatra Records president Brian Perera issued this statement about Big Jay McNeely this morning:

Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul will show solidarity with and say thank you to hard-working teachers across North America with a landmark headline tour introducing TeachRock, the Rock and Roll Forever Foundation's free, multimedia, K-12 interdisciplinary curriculum which meets prevailing standards in English Language Arts, Social Studies/History, the Fine and Performing Arts, and also includes STEAM and advisory material. The 'Soulfire Teacher Solidarity Tour 2018' begins October 18 at The Kirby Center in Wilkes Barre, PA and then continues into December. All shows on sale now. For complete details and tickets, please visit www.littlesteven.com/on-tour.

Like a comet that burns far too brightly to last, Janis Joplin exploded onto the music scene in 1967 and, almost overnight, became the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll. Davies carries on and mimics the unmistakable raspy voice filled with raw emotion and tinged with Southern Comfort to a tee, her stage presence making it easy to see what made Joplin a must-see headliner from Monterey to Woodstock and beyond even to this day, so many years after her too-soon passing at the age of 27. After listening to Davies' sharing of Janis' life, it is easy to think the rock legend died from not only from drugs and alcohol but from her lonely co-dependent longing for a man to share her life, equaling her love of the spotlight and adoration received from a live audience, which she could never find. Davies' renditions of Joplin favorites, including “Summertime,” “Piece of My Heart,” “Cry Baby,” and “Me and Bobby McGee” among others, ignite the stage and audiences alike with a passion no man in her life could ever match.

La Mirada Theatre For The Performing Arts presents Mary Bridget Davies, Broadway's original "Janis" starring in her Tony nominated performance A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, with choreography by Patricia Wilcox, musical direction by Brent Crayon, and created, written & directed by Randy Johnson. A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN will preview on Friday, September 14, 2018 (with a press opening on Saturday, September 15 at 8pm) and runs through Sunday, October 7, 2018 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.

California Shakespeare Theater announced today the cast of the return engagement of its record-breaking hit play black odyssey, playing September 25 through October 7, 2018 at the Bruns Amphitheater.

1st Annual California Jazz & Blues Museum Hall of Fame Inductee Ceremony Fundraiser and Barbara Morrison's Birthday Celebration Concert, a fundraiser for the Museum to develop their digital arts program, to introduce basic coding, Android development, organizational structures, basic computer competencies and create an interactive section in the Museum which will give visitors an open source digital portal to the vast historical collection of Jazz & Blues available at the Museum and throughout Los Angeles.  The museum's goal is to raise $25,000.00.  The purpose of the Inductee Ceremony is to recognize local, national and international Jazz & Blues legends for their contributions to the music industry.

The Sydney Opera House today announced a sensational new music event that will bring together some of the greatest songs ever written by women, performed by some of Australia's leading female artists. Taking its inspiration from Helen Reddy's legendary lyric, this brand new show is a musical tribute to female empowerment and plays for two nights only in the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall on 13 and 14 December 2018. Tickets go on sale at 9am Tuesday 11 September 2018.

Anyone who has heard Janis Joplin knows her immediately - the give-all intensity, the great songs, and that rawly emotive voice. A Night With Janis Joplin presents an imagined concert, held a week before her untimely death, with the legendary performer joined by some of her most significant influences - from Aretha Franklin to Nina Simone to Bessie Smith to Odetta. "Exhilarating…Remarkable…A joyful ruckus" (Washington Post).

Ada Vox isn't messing around. She put judge Katy Perry, and America, on notice: she is in this life to win it! A San Antonio based drag queen who sang her heart out on ABC's 'American Idol,' Ada became a Semi-finalist, something that would have been unheard of several years ago. Her appearance marks a first for the show, and people still talk about her performance of The Animals 'House of the Rising Sun' here! as one of the stand-out auditions of the season. Listen on Spotify here!

The smash-hit show, At Last - The Etta James Story, is set return to the UK next Autumn starring the sensational Vika Bull. Having wowed British audiences in 2017 as part of an ecstatically received short tour, Vika and the phenomenal Essential R&B Band start a 23 date visit, kicking off in High Wycombe on Friday September 21st 2018. Please see full tour dates below.