Hank Williams News

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 Jeff Awards, the Tony Awards (and our BWW Chicago Tony Award Viewing Party!), the return of two special events, 'West Side Story,' upcoming seasons of musicals, and my June 13th cabaret concert, plus more!

A stage tale of troubled families, a true-life story musical about gay servicemen in World War II and a rousing rock'n'roll revue took home top honors Monday, June 3, at Park West during the 40th Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards ceremony recognizing excellence in non-union Chicago theatre.

Platinum selling country star Hunter Hayes will headline the CMT on Tour: Hunter Hayes' Let's Be Crazy tour this Fall which kicks off October 10 in Knoxville, TN. With 24 shows in 21 cities

The Recording Academy announced today that recording artist and co-owner of MoonHouse Studio Christine Albert was elected Chair of the Board of Trustees

Artistic Pride Productions announces its Main Stage Cabaret performance of The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not me) at Don't Tell Mama tonight, June 3, 2013. The sixth cabaret in this series is the last one for the season and will feature singers and actors exploring the association between the artists and the vices that sometimes can fuel their art.

The Merry Go-Round Playhouse and Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival kicked off its season on May 29 with "Singin' in the Rain" at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse in Auburn, N.Y.

La Jolla Playhouse announces the cast and creative team for His Girl Friday, adapted by John Guare (Six Degrees of Separation, House of Blue Leaves) from the Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur play The Front Page and the Columbia Pictures film His Girl Friday. Directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley (Glengarry Glen Ross, Memphis), the production will kick off the 2013/2014 season, running May 28 - June 30 in the Playhouse's Mandell Weiss Theatre.

Terry Martin, WaterTower Theatre Producing Artistic Director, announced this evening the Company's 2013-2014 Main Stage season at a special VIP Sneak Preview held at the Addison Theatre Centre.

Million Dollar Quartet announces that this Saturday, May 26, 2013 marks the official date at which it becomes the longest-running musical production in Chicago's history. With 1,949 performances and 5 smash years in Chicago, the Tony Award-winning rock 'n' roll musical has surpassed both Wicked and Pumpboys and Dinettes, setting a new record for the longest running Broadway musical in Chicago.

Million Dollar Quartet announces that this Saturday, May 26, 2013 marks the official date at which it becomes the longest-running musical production in Chicago's history. With 1,949 performances and 5 smash years in Chicago, the Tony Award-winning rock 'n' roll musical has surpassed both Wicked and Pumpboys and Dinettes, setting a new record for the longest running Broadway musical in Chicago.

Artistic Pride Productions announces its Main Stage Cabaret performance of The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not me) at Don't Tell Mama on June 3, 2013. The sixth cabaret in this series is the last one for the season and will feature singers and actors exploring the association between the artists and the vices that sometimes can fuel their art.

Wayside Theatre's Artistic Director Warner Crocker has announced the cast and schedule for the first production of Wayside Theatre's 52nd Season, Church Basement Ladies. This musical is inspired by the books of Janet Letnes Martin and Suzann Nelson, including the best seller Growing Up Lutheran, and is written by Jim Stowell and Jessica Zuehlke, with Music and Lyrics by Drew Jansen.

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 Jeff nominations are out, 'Big Fish' is open, 'Anything Goes' and 'Mormon' perform, plus Jessie Mueller's 'Carousel,' BoHo's 'Spider Woman, new season announcements and those two new Spanish opera productions!

The Jeff Awards Committee today announced 120 nominations in 25 categories of Non-Equity Jeff Awards for productions that opened between April 1, 2012, and March 31, 2013. The Non-Equity Awards honor excellence in Chicago theatres not under a union contract. Jeff judges attended opening nights of 146 productions offered by 65 Non-Equity producing organizations. The judges recommended 54 of those shows, making them eligible for Non-Equity Jeff Award nominations. Thirty-three theatre companies received nominations.

Eight remaining couples hit the dance floor and pay tribute to singer, songwriter and legend Stevie Wonder, MONDAY, APRIL 22 (8:00-10:01 p.m., ET). Stevie Wonder takes over the ballroom as "Dancing with the Stars" devotes, for the first time, an entire evening to one artist. He will perform some of his classic songs, including "Sir Duke" and "My Cherie Amour," and the celebrities will dance to his greatest hits, including "I Just Called to Say I Love You," "For Once in My Life" and "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)." Special guest country superstar Hunter Hayes will perform with Stevie Wonder in a spectacular opening performance. The night will also showcase two team dances featuring the celebrities and their pro partners.

La Jolla Playhouse announces the cast and creative team for His Girl Friday, adapted by John Guare (Six Degrees of Separation, House of Blue Leaves) from the Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur play The Front Page and the Columbia Pictures film His Girl Friday. Directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley (Glengarry Glen Ross, Memphis), the production will kick off the 2013/2014 season, running May 28 - June 30 in the Playhouse's Mandell Weiss Theatre.

Hershey Theatre will welcome Tony Bennett, the 17 time Grammy Award-winning musician. He'll delight fans on Saturday, July 27 at 8:00 p.m.

As America prepares to commemorate the 80 th birthday of Willie Nelson on April 29 th, the country music icon will be celebrated as Artist of the Month for April, 2013 by Legacy Recordings, a division of SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT.

Acclaimed Nashville-based singer-songwriter Holly Williams will keep to The Highway in support of her third album, which continues to garner accolades and is out now on her own Georgiana Records imprint. With U.S. headlining dates throughout April, Williams is slated to play the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and Strawberry Music Festival in May and goes on to open for John Prine in June and John Hiatt in July. A full list of tour dates is below.

Today, the Academy of Country Music is announcing the winners of awards that will not be televised during the 48 th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, due to time constraints.