Florence Ballard News

Let’s stipulate that book writer and lyricist Tom Eyen and composer Henry Krieger were not Sondheim. What they gave us in Dreamgirls was serviceable, not brilliant, the result of a long development process largely aimed at repairing holes in the melodrama. The result: the company that puts on the show has a heavy lift indeed. But I have to say that ArtsCentric proves to have very strong arms.

Every generation seems to have their Florence Ballard - ultra talented singers who get tossed aside because they don't fit a look or a concept of what a record label wants in its catalog.

THE FOUR TOPS deliver an intimate evening of timeless hits that will have the entire audience dancing in their seats. Always a hit in concert, The Four Tops have toured incessantly over the decades, a towering testament to the enduring legacy of the MOTOWN Sound they helped shape and define. The Tops are inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, with 24 top 40 Pop hits to their credit, including a?oeBaby, I Need Your Loving.a?? Their songs, soulful and bittersweet, were successes on the pop charts, the R & B charts and in the United Kingdom. a?oeI Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch),a?? a No. 1 R & B and pop smash in 1965, is one of Motown's longest-running chart toppers; it was quickly followed by another longtime favorite, a?oeIt's the Same Old Song.a?? Their commercial peak was highlighted by a romantic trilogy: the No. 1 a?oeReach Out I'll Be There,a?? a?oeStanding in the Shadows of Love,a?? and a?oeBernadette.a?? Other Tops hits include a?oeAsk the Lonely,a?? a?oeShake Me, Wake Me (When it's Over),a?? a?oeSomething About You,a?? a?oeAin't No Woman (Like the One I've Got),a?? a?oeStill Waters Run Deep,a?? a?oeWhen She was My Girl,a?? and a?oeWalk Away Renee.a?? The Four Tops bring a high energy show packed with the smooth moves, sweet harmonies and powerful vocals that made them one of Motown's most successful supergroups of all time. Their live show is not to be missed!

Vincent Victoria Presents' first play of 2020 will be the World Premiere of the play Dreamgirl Deferred. The new production is a fictional dramatization of the last days of real life singer Florence Ballard, who was the founding member of the iconic singing group The Supremes. The show runs February 21-March 1 at the Midtown Art Center 3414 La Branch.

The Supremes' 'Merry Christmas' album was the first one off the shelf every year, which in my house, growing up, marked the official beginning of the holiday season. We would trim the tree to this record and others to come. This is my absolute favorite and why I have sung that song now for years. In this video, they perform the song on The Ed Sullivan Show, with the ORIGINAL Supremes: Diana Ross, Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson. It aired on CBS on Dec. 4, 1966, and was unforgettable ... and indicative of the kind of preparation that was paid attention to by Motown, in presenting all of their acts.

Because Christmas is mandatory on entertainment stages all month, it's no surprise that a cabaret at Signature Theatre is again devoted to the Yuletide songbook. But in a clever and very welcome variation, they've approached the holiday through the classic interpretations of one of America's favorite labels.

Houston playwright/director/producer Vincent Victoria's play'Mr Booker T. at the Door' isamong the plays chosen to be read at this year's National Black Theater Festival from July 28th - August 3rd in Winston-Salem North Carolina.

Blue Note Hawaii, the state's premier venue for the world's most celebrated artists, kicks off a new Blue Note Classics Series with three legendary performers - Motown vocalists Martha Reeves and Mary Wilson, and Latin fusion singer/guitarist Jose Feliciano. A limited pre-sale will begin on April 3rd at 10:00 a.m. and tickets go on sale to the general public on April 5th at 10:00 a.m. More information at bluenotehawaii.com.

'Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of The Temptations' opened March 21, at Broadway's legendary Imperial Theatre. However, many fans of the Temptations music may not know the group's long and complicated history. 

JM Productions proudly announces a brand new "Broadway Concert Series" starring Alexa Green from "Wicked" and Sydney Morton from "Motown" on August 4th at 8:00 pm at United First Parish Church (also known as The Church of Presidents), Quincy, MA. These two well-known performers will be joined by 25 teenage singers from Quincy's "Rising Stars" program who will sing alongside these talented entertainers. The children are from multiple communities on the North and South Shore.

Third Man Records, in partnership with Universal Music, is excited to announce their 4-LP release of The Supremes' Supreme Rarities: Motown Lost & Found, which will include 45 songs never-before-released on vinyl. Originally released on 2xCD in in 2008, the Supremes 'Supreme Rarities' from the Motown Lost & Found Series collects from the depths of the label archives to showcase the rarities, the outtakes and the incomparable live recordings from this inimitable group of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees. Supreme Rarities will be available directly from Third Man Records and finer record outlets everywhere on April 6, 2018, with pre-orders available today at https://thirdmanstore.com/supreme-rarities-motown-lost-and-found-4x-box-set.

TV One is celebrating Black History Month with a full slate of programming offerings that embody the theme, 'Represent the Dream.' The network also debuts a new short form video campaign featuring three-time Grammy Award and Academy Award winning artist, actor and social justice activist Common, which runs throughout the month of February. In the videos, Common discusses a variety of topics related to Black history and issues affecting the African American community: racism and how we can become a better nation; activism, the power of using 'our voice' and movements like Black Lives Matter; self-awareness, his heroes and what representing the dream means today, 55 years after Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic 'I Have a Dream' speech.

Mary Wilson, founding member of the iconic group The Supremes, will make her Feinstein's at the Nikko debut on Friday, February 16 (8 p.m.) and Saturday, February 17 (8 p.m.). In this intimate evening, Ms. Wilson will perform a mix of classic Supremes hit and favorites from the Great American Songbook, as well as share stories from her legendary career. Tickets for Mary Wilson range in price from $48.75 $85 and are available now by calling 866-663-1063 or visitingwww.ticketfly.com.

Feinstein's at the Nikko announced today the exciting lineup of artists who will perform on-stage during the first quarter of 2018. Tickets for all performances are on-sale now and available by calling 866.663.1063 or visiting www.ticketfly.com.

It's a night with Rock Royalty when Motown Legend Mary Wilson of The Supremes performs at The Ridgefield Playhouse on Friday, October 20 at 8pm as part of the Pepsi Rock Series.

Supremes founding member Mary Wilson the only singer to stay in the group for its entire run - is bringing a night of Motown classics to The Ridgefield Playhouse on Friday, October 20 at 8pm as part of the Pepsi Rock Series Powered by Xfinity! Get ready for a night of hits including The Supremes' No. 1 hits Where Did Our Love Go, Baby Love, Come See About Me, Stop In the Love and many more! In addition to being a singer, Mary Wilson is also a best-selling author, motivational speaker, businesswoman, former U.S. Cultural Ambassador, and humanitarian. Mary Wilson is the only constant member of The Supremes throughout the group's eighteen-year existence. Make it a great night out with dinner and a show! Visit The Village Tavern (378 Main Street, Ridgefield) and enjoy a complimentary glass of house wine or draft beer with the purchase of an entree with your ticket!

Two unmistakable voices that helped define an entire generation of music in America, Mary Wilson of The Supremes and Martha Reeves of The Vandellas, come together for an evening of Motown favorites at Pepperdine University's Smothers Theatre in Malibu on Saturday, October 7 at 8 p.m.

Berry Gordy's tribute to Berry Gordy manages to squeeze in the music the show should be about.

Motown the Musical has just released 500,000 new tickets for sale, taking bookings for the hit West End production into 2019 when the show will celebrate its third year in London and Motown will celebrate sixty years since the record company was founded. 

Berkeley Repertory Theatre today announced the West Coast premiere of An Octoroon written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and directed by Eric Ting will close out its season.