Hank Williams News

This week at Joe's Pub, Sept. 23-29, features ALBUM OF THE MONTH CLUB: RAY CHARLES BIRTHDAY BASH, SANDRA ST. VICTOR, GRANDMOTHERS OF INVENTION, THEO BLECKMANN: SONGS IN KEY OF D, JOSH ROUSE, REBELLUM CD RELEASE, JUSTIN VIVIAN BOND, KENYON PHILLIPS & THE LADIES IN WAITING, and STORIES I WANT TO TELL YOU IN PERSON.

With his soulful voice, trademark fedora and earthy, Southern manner, Michael Grimm charmed millions of viewers as a contestant on Season Five of NBC's popular America's Got Talent. Parlaying his substantial singer-songwriter appeal into a first-place finish, Michael took home the one-million-dollar prize and headlined the first-ever national America's Got Talent Tour. Now he's hitting the road with his Grimm's Fairytale Tour, which tells the rollercoaster story of his life in song. Opening for Grim is Austin's legendary Bill Carter.

Singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, whose career has spanned 50 years and produced numerous #1, Top 10 and Top 40 hits, including "If You Could Read My Mind," Carefree Highway" and "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," will be appearing at the Gallo Center for the Arts at 7:30 pm on Monday, September 30.

With his soulful voice, trademark fedora and earthy, Southern manner, Michael Grimm charmed millions of viewers as a contestant on Season Five of NBC's popular America's Got Talent. Parlaying his substantial singer-songwriter appeal into a first-place finish, Michael took home the one-million-dollar prize and headlined the first-ever national America's Got Talent Tour. Now he's hitting the road with his Grimm's Fairytale Tour, which tells the rollercoaster story of his life in song. Opening for Grim is Austin's legendary Bill Carter.

WaterTower Theatre Producing Artistic Director Terry Martin today announced the cast for Hank Williams: Lost Highway running October 11 - November 3, 2013 on the Main Stage at the Addison Theatre Centre. Joey Folsom stars as Hank Williams. The cast features several WaterTower Theatre favorites including Pam Dougherty as Mama Lilly, Stan Graner as Fred Rose (Pap), Mikaela Krantz as Audrey Williams, Joseph Holt as Leon (Loudmouth) and Sonny Franks as Jimmy (Burrhead). The cast also includes Major Attaway as Tee-Tot,Christia Mantzke as The Waitress, Dave Rankin as Hoss and Dennis Bailey as Shag. This production is sponsored by Frost Bank and WaterTower Theatre Board of Directors.

'It's an amazing world we live in today,' says Bob Everhart, President of the National Traditional Country Music Assn. 'It's thrilling to see some prehistoric creatures return to planet earth,' Everhart said in a recent radio interview, 'but more importantly to me is the struggle to keep our old-time rural music alive. Nebraska is one of the last states in America that makes an attempt at keeping their cultural heritage a part of the present. Early 'country' music was directly from the soil, from the real 'country' if you will. Country music we hear today is not really 'country' music, it's just a pale imitation of the real thing. Originally from 'rural' America, so-called country music today has fallen into the hands of whoever has the most money. Still, the roots from whence it came is very important, especially to Nebraskans. The 'rural' music of the Great Plains tells the tales of early life on the prairie, it tells stories of homesteading and pioneering. So, where are the stories about the groundbreaking activities of our ancestors? What happened to the songs of our early rural music makers?'

The White Plains Performing Arts Center (WPPAC) has announced an exciting Fall season of theatre, comedy and music. All performances are at the White Plains theatre, located on the third level of City Center off Mamaroneck Avenue in downtown White Plains.

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside of American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, announces the Ensemble's 28th season. The season begins with the Chicago professional premiere of Hank Williams: Lost Highway by award-winning playwrights Randal Myler and Mark Harelik, directed by Damon Kiely, today, September 5 - October 6; the 12th smash year of It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! , now at the 199-seat Greenhouse Theater Center, directed by Ensemble member Marty Higginbotham, November 22 - December 29; world premiere of 2012 Blue Ink Playwriting Award-winning script American Myth by Christina Gorman, directed by Steve Scott, February - March 2014; Chicago premiere of 2012 Smith Prize winner Grounded by George Brant, June 2014. American Blues also announces year-long development and public reading of Ensemble member's Nambi E. Kelley's adaptation of Richard Wright's Native Son which will receive a production in fall of 2014.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The release of the Equity wing Jeff Award nominations, 'Double Trouble' and 'Hank Williams' open, '50 Shades' and 'Frog And Toad' return, plus 'Heartbeat Of Home,' 'Sweet Smell Of Success,' a new musical theater magazine and more!

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, are proud to announce the first production in American Blues Theater's 'Legends and Legacies' season, Hank Williams: Lost Highway, by Randal Myler and Mark Harelik, directed by Damon Kiely, music director Malcolm Ruhl and starring Matt Brumlow as 'Hank Williams,' August 30 - October 6, at the Greenhouse Theater Center's Downstage Mainstage Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. BroadwayWorld has a first look below!

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, are proud to announce the first production in American Blues Theater's "Legends and Legacies" season, Hank Williams: Lost Highway, by Randal Myler and Mark Harelik, directed by Damon Kiely, music director Malcolm Ruhl and starring Matt Brumlow as "Hank Williams," August 30 - October 6, at the Greenhouse Theater Center's Downstage Mainstage Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. BroadwayWorld has a first look below!

WaterTower Theatre Producing Artistic Director Terry Martin today announced the directors for the Company's 2013-2014 Main Stage season at the Addison Theatre Centre. Directing the season opener, Hank Williams: Lost Highway (October 11-November 3, 2013) will be Michael Serrecchia. The Game's Afoot (or Holmes for the Holidays) (December 13- January 5, 2014) will be directed by Robin Armstrong. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (January 24-February 16, 2014) will be directed by Emily Scott Banks. Spunk (April 11-May 4, 2014) will be directed by Akin Babatunde.Good People (June 6-29, 2014) will be directed by Rene Moreno and Dogfight (July 25-August 17, 2014) will be directed by Terry Martin.

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, are proud to announce the first production in American Blues Theater's 'Legends and Legacies' season, Hank Williams: Lost Highway, by Randal Myler and Mark Harelik, directed by Damon Kiely, music director Malcolm Ruhl and starring Matt Brumlow as 'Hank Williams,' tonight, August 30 - October 6, at the Greenhouse Theater Center's Downstage Mainstage Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.

Country music star Josh Thompson will join NRA Country for an exclusive, free online concert on August 26 to benefit the National Environmental Education Foundation--http://neefusa.org.

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, are proud to announce the first production in American Blues Theater's 'Legends and Legacies' season, Hank Williams: Lost Highway, by Randal Myler and Mark Harelik, directed by Damon Kiely, music director Malcolm Ruhl and starring Matt Brumlow as 'Hank Williams,' August 30 - October 6, at the Greenhouse Theater Center's Downstage Mainstage Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. Tickets are $19 for previews, $29 Thursdays and Fridays and $39 Saturdays and Sundays and $49 for opening night. Previews are Friday, Aug. 30 and Saturday, Aug. 31 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 1 at 2:30 p.m. Press/opening night is Thursday, Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. The performance schedule is Thursday - Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. There are post-show Town Hall discussions following Sunday performances beginning September 8. Tickets are on sale now at 773.404.7336 or americanbluestheater.com.

Country music star Josh Thompson will join NRA Country for an exclusive, free online concert on August 26 to benefit the National Environmental Education Foundation--http://neefusa.org.

CMA and Grammy winner Neal McCoy has a brand of pop country, catchy honky tonk and feel-good love ballads that brought him fame beginning in the mid-1990's and which continues to shine to this very day. His rich, bouncy baritone, million-dollar smile and charming Irish-Filipino looks, keeps him a favorite on the live concert stage. He's known to be forever fresh and freewheeling in performance, virtually thriving on audience interaction.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Jungle Book' and 'Flashdance' depart, 'Pageant' and 'Ruthless!' appear, two musicals celebrating black music begin September 14 at BET and the Goodman, two Gary Griffin shows get their leading ladies, plus 'Hank Williams' and much more!

Taylor Dayne, nationally recognized singer, songwriter and actor, will appear as Grizabella in the Broadway favorite 'CATS,' opening at Merry-Go-Round Playhouse as part of the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival tonight, Aug. 21 in Auburn, N.Y.

CMA and Grammy winner Neal McCoy has a brand of pop country, catchy honky tonk and feel-good love ballads that brought him fame beginning in the mid-1990's and which continues to shine to this very day. His rich, bouncy baritone, million-dollar smile and charming Irish-Filipino looks, keeps him a favorite on the live concert stage. He's known to be forever fresh and freewheeling in performance, virtually thriving on audience interaction.