Gregory Hines News

As a salute to the late Penny Marshall and her iconic character Laverne, the Garry Marshall Theatre opens its doors and invites all ages to share in a 12-hour "Laverne & Shirley" marathon on Sunday, January 27, 2019 from 10:00 am-10:00 pm.   Information can be found by visiting www.garrymarshalltheatre.org.   

Ballet Hispánico, the nation's premier Latino dance organization, presents Diálogos: Women of Color in the Arts today, January 10, 2019 at 6:30pm at the Arnhold Center, 167 West 89th Street, Studio 10. Admission is free and reservations can be made at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dialogos-women-of-color-in-the-arts-tickets-47854309528.

Ballet Hispánico, the nation's premier Latino dance organization, presents Diálogos: Women of Color in the Arts on Thursday, January 10, 2019 at 6:30pm at the Arnhold Center, 167 West 89th Street, Studio 10. Admission is free and reservations can be made at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dialogos-women-of-color-in-the-arts-tickets-47854309528.

Ballet Hispanico, the nation's premier Latino dance organization, presents Dialogos: Women of Color in the Arts on Thursday, January 10, 2019 at 6:30pm at the Arnhold Center, 167 West 89th Street, Studio 10.

She is as passionate offstage as she is on and her philosophy on life, art, and everything in between, makes Tonya Pinkins one of Broadway's fiercest artists. From her Broadway debut in Merrily We Roll Along, to appearances in Jelly's Last Jam (for which she won the Tony), The Wild Party, Play On, Caroline, Or Change, Radio Golf, and Holler If You Hear Me, plus her controversial associations with Mother Courage and Rasheeda Speaking, Tonya is one of the industry's most, no pun intended, courageous artists. 

In a unique collaboration created to advance the vitality and diversity of dance in New Jersey, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) and M&T Bank have announced a partnership naming M&T Bank as the title sponsor of the Arts Center's dance series, an inclusive lineup of 10 programs scheduled now through June 14, 2019.

The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage in Santa Monica presents Amy Keys, on Friday, December 7 at 8:00pm. Amy Keys is the fourth evening of blackbox @ the edye, which transforms The Edye into a club featuring up-and-coming jazz and blues artists.  The series is curated and hosted by The Reverend Shawn Amos; he and his house band perform at select shows during the season as well.   

Vancouver Tap Dance Society is pleased to announce that international performer, choreographer, educator and TED fellow, Andrew Nemr will become the society's new Artistic Director.

State Theatre New Jersey unveiled its 2018-2019 Dance Series, featuring six renowned dance companies and one tap dancing legend. State Theatre New Jersey's Dance Series kicks off on October 9. The season features:

New Jersey Performing Arts Center presents Broadway legend Maurice Hines, accompanied by The DIVA Jazz Orchestra. See Maurice Hines as he taps audiences through his incredible career in this jazzy, song-and-dance celebration that pays tribute to his brother, Gregory Hines, and other performers who inspired him, from Frank Sinatra to Lena Horne. There will be two performances of this must see show on February 16th 2019 at 3 p.m.& 7 p.m

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY is pleased to announce the Super Showcase performance of OWEN & MZEE: THE TRUE STORY OF A REMARKABLE FRIENDSHIP the #1 New York Times best-selling children's book about the friendship between a tortoise and an orphaned hippopotamus written by father and daughter team Craig and Isabella Hatkoff and Dr. Paula Kahumbu . The musical features book and lyrics by Michelle Elliott and music and lyrics by Danny Larsen. Stanley Mathis is the Director/ Choreographer and Costume Designer.

Legendary actor, director, singer & choreographer Maurice Hines is set to play The Triad (158 West 72nd Street) on Saturday 8/25 at 7pm. Hines is the brother of the late dancer Gregory Hines and best known for starring in Frances Ford Coppola's 'The Cotton Club', Broadway's 'Sophisticated Ladies,' 'Eubie' 'Jelly's Last Jam' & 'Uptown. He will be joined by The Diva Orchestra starring Sherrie Maracle; tickets are $25-$150 and can be purchased online at www.TriadNYC.com. Lee Summers and Peter Martin are producers.

He's out there on stage, on a raised dance platform at The Hollywood Bowl, center, downstage, in a simple T-shirt and pants, into himself, making sounds like a woodpecker, a train; a horse trotting,... maybe there are fireworks going off? Maybe gunshots, or a rapid -fire AK-47, even. The sounds are all coming from the bottom of his feet! He is like lightning with tap shoes on. Like bursts of electrical currents that make all kinds of sounds. Snap, crackle, pop, step-step, shuffle, ball-change, flap, flap, then into a tirade of tap accents too fast to count out or give a name to. GREGORY PORTER: NAT KING COLE & ME If you like classy jazz and blues, lovingly remember Nat King Cole and his style, and hearing a beautiful live orchestra playing, Gregory Porter is your man. Vince Mendoza conducts the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra with finesse and aplomb, and Gregory sings one glorious tune after another, starting out with 'Mona Lisa.' It's a sit back, relax and just enjoy it all, rest of the evening. He has a deep, rich voice, sounding very much like the great Nat King Cole and the pipes to sustain those ending notes with ease.

The Triad (158 West 72nd Street) is hosting several special live events this month: the first is Speakeasy, an intimate conversation this Sunday, 8/12 at 6pm with multiple Grammy-winning music star Lenny Kravitz and Sean Ono Lennon. This special show is being taped by PBS, tickets are on sale now ($20 / www.TriadNYC.com).

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY is pleased to announce the Super Showcase performance of OWEN & MZEE: THE TRUE STORY OF A REMARKABLE FRIENDSHIP the #1 New York Times best-selling children's book about the friendship between a tortoise and an orphaned hippopotamus written by father and daughter team Craig and Isabella Hatkoff and Dr. Paula Kahumbu . The musical features book and lyrics by Michelle Elliott and music and lyrics by Danny Larsen. Stanley Mathis is the Director/ Choreographer and Costume Designer.

Disney's Classic Film and subsequent Broadway Musical are not easy to recreate and to do justice to as well, both to the animated film version and the original stage production. Five Star Theatricals has opened this past weekend at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza/Kavli Theatre with a most lavish, charming and authentic version! I had the opportunity to speak with the Choreographer, Cheryl Baxter, of this delightful musical, and learned what it takes to be able to tackle this type of exciting but daunting project. I was not at all surprised to learn that it takes a careers'-worth of experience and dedication to be at this level.

5-STAR THEATRICALS (formerly Cabrillo Music Theatre) is thrilled to announce that Broadway's original "Belle" SUSAN EGAN, will reprise her iconic performance once again (for one last time!) in its final show of its 2017-2018 season, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

LUMBERYARD Contemporary Performing Arts opens its inaugural summer 2018 season, which will fill venues surrounding the organization's highly anticipated new facility in Catskill, New York, with Scat!,a dance-driven musical from Urban Bush Women set in Hudson, NY's Club Helsinki (June 29-July 1). The season,which runs from June 29 - September 2, represents the fullest realization to date of LUMBERYARD's unique dual promise: to make transformative contributions both to the cultural landscape and economic health of Upstate New York and to the field of contemporary performance in New York City and the U.S. by bringing renowned and emerging artists across the performing arts landscape to Catskill for out-of-town premieres, often incubated through LUMBERYARD's signature technical residencies.

Registration is now open for Broadway Dance: Fosse Adult Master Class at Playhouse on Park. All performers (ages 16 and up!) who have a vested interest in the performing arts are encouraged to attend these classes to learn from the 'pros'. Stephanie Pope, who stars as Camilla in Playhouse on Park's current production of In The Heights, and seasoned Broadway Actor, will instruct this class onMonday, July 9 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.

A new venue has been announced for the invited staged reading of Steve Monarque's THAT'S LIFE, a full-length play with music, directed by Mel Johnson Jr.