Harold Arlen News

Treat your sweetie to an evening of heartwarming favorites as multi-talented singer and songwriter Ann Hampton Callaway joins Peter Nero and the Philly Pops for an evening of 'love'-ly standards entitled Singin' and Swingin' (February 2, 4-6, 2011). Peter and The POPS open the program with swinging and swooning orchestral favorites by Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Benny Goodman, along with a few symphonic surprises too good to spoil ahead of time! Before intermission, Ms. Callaway graces the stage joining the Maestro and his orchestra to perform three timeless standards-'Lover, Come Back to Me,' 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow,' and 'Pick Yourself Up.' The second half of the evening finds the sublime Ms. Callaway front and center with our very own Peter Nero leading The POPS from the keyboard. Sentimental favorites by America's greatest songwriters, including Cole Porter ('From This Moment On' and 'Let's Do It, Let's Fall in Love'); Rodgers and Hart ('With a Song in My Heart'); George and Ira Gershwin ('The Man I Love'); and Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer ('Blues in the Night') are featured alongside Ms. Callaway's own remarkable songs. As a special treat, Ms. Callaway shares her impressive improvisational skills each night as she takes words and phrases from the audience to create a one-of-a-kind song on the spot.

The greatest family musical of all time, THE WIZARD OF OZ, is touching down in San Diego as Broadway/San Diego ~ A Nederlander Presentation brings this national treasure to the San Diego Civic Theatre; February 15 - 20, 2011.

New York's Cafe Carlyle comes to life in San Francisco when Bay Area Cabaret presents the winners of New York's coveted Nightlife Award, jazz guitarist John Pizzarelli and his wife, Broadway star Jessica Molaskey (Tommy, Sunday in the Park with George).

Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook, which explores the best of the golden age of musical standards through to today's most dynamic songwriting, will bring to the stage some of today's most gifted interpreters of song. Week Two starts on January 26th with a tribute to arguably the greatest songwriting team in American Songbook history: the brothers George and Ira Gershwin. Conductor, arranger and pianist (as well as Artistic Director of the Gershwin centenary) Rob Fisher will lead Victoria Clark (Tony winner for Light in the Piazza) and Norm Lewis (Les Miserables, The Little Mermaid) in a night of gorgeous Gershwin. On January 27th singer/songwriter Shara Worden (from the group My Brightest Diamond) performs her unique blend of vocal music that has her pegged as a star to watch. Week Two closes out with gritty veteran John Doe singing 'real' country, with all its understated empathy and rough poetry. Pfizer is a proud sponsor of Lincoln Center's American Songbook 2011.

Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook, which explores the best of the golden age of musical standards through to the best in current songwriting, will bring to the stage some of today's most gifted interpreters of song.

New York's Cafe Carlyle comes to life in San Francisco when Bay Area Cabaret presents the winners of New York's coveted Nightlife Award, jazz guitarist John Pizzarelli and his wife, Broadway star Jessica Molaskey (Tommy, Sunday in the Park with George).

Ken Page, who won a Drama Desk Award for his role in the Tony-winning musical Ain't Misbehavin' and whose commanding presence and rich baritone voice have graced both stage and screen, performs a solo concert at Pepperdine University's Smothers Theatre in Malibu at 8 p.m. on Friday, January 21.

Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook, which explores the best of the golden age of musical standards through to the best in current songwriting, will bring to the stage some of today's most gifted interpreters of song. Week Three is a Grammy Awards fest, as three of the four acts are current and past nominees. On February 2nd one can experience life in the Piedmont hills of the Carolinas via the vibrant sound of the Carolina Chocolate Drops. This three-piece string band plays old-time roots music with virtuoso playing of the banjo, fiddle, guitar, harmonica, jug and more. Next up is the crown princess of bossa nova, Bebel Gilberto. Gilberto has taken classic bossa nova rhythms and mixed them with modern pop - for a sound that is up for a Grammy this year. On February 4th perennial Grammy nominee Joan Osborne will perform an emotionally-charged work she has written with Jack Petruzzelli: Love and Hate - A Song Cycle. On February 5th, actress/singer Anika Noni Rose, a Tony winner for Caroline, Or Change, will make her eagerly-anticipated solo concert debut.

On Sunday, January 9 @ Sterling's Upstairs @ Vitello's singer Jeanie Brandes made, by popular demand, a return engagement to sing selections from her newest CD Jeanie Brandes ... Kisses You Awake, a heavenly mix of beautiful songs from the Great American Songbook. Accompanied by dynamic musical director Shelley Markham and his musicians Tim Emmons on bass and M.B. Gordy on drums, Brandes with her blessed vocal instrument and loving personality held her intimate audience captive with radiance and warmth. That audience included acclaimed song stylist and friend Andrea Marcovicci and comic actress Cissy Conner, who recently performed @ Sterling's. Brandes' was a lovely, laid-back evening of song.

The RRazz room at Hotel Nikko is San Francisco's premiere nightclub, offering the finest in world-class Cabaret, Jazz, Comedy and Popular music entertainment.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's new The Wizard of Oz promises to be the biggest theatre event of the year, combining all the much-loved songs from the Oscar-winning movie score with new songs. Now, the full cast for the much anticipated show has been revealed. Joining the previously announced MICHAEL CRAWFORD (Professor Marvel/The Wizard of Oz), DANIELLE HOPE (Dorothy), EDWARD BAKER-DULY (Hickory/Tin Man), DAVID GANLY (Zeke/Cowardly Lion), PAUL KEATING (Hunk/Scarecrow), EMILY TIERNEY (Glinda), and HANNAH WADDINGHAM (Miss Gulch/Wicked Witch of the West) are: SOPHIE EVANS (Alternate Dorothy), STEPHEN SCOTT (Uncle Henry/Ensemble, first cover Professor Marvel/The Wizard of Oz), and HELEN WALSH (Aunt Em/Munchkin Barrister/Ensemble).

The Friend Center for the Arts at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco (JCCSF) proudly presents the new Gershwin Musical, ‘S Wonderful, for two performances only on Saturday January 29 at 8 pm, and Sunday, January 30 at 2 pm.

Upcoming concerts at the Rrazz room at Hotel Nikko San Francisco have been announced.

The RRazz room at Hotel Nikko is San Francisco's premiere nightclub, offering the finest in world-class Cabaret, Jazz, Comedy and Popular music entertainment.

David Gurland, the multi-award winning singer and recording artist, sadly passed away on January 1, 2011.

The Skylight Opera Theatre of Milwaukee, Wisconsin will open a new musical revue entitled Gershwin and Friends on December 31, 2010.

The greatest family musical of all time, THE WIZARD OF OZ, is touching down in Atlanta at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre Thursday, February 5 through Sunday, February 8.

Broadway favorites Marin Mazzie and Jason Danieley, are set to debut their new concert entitled, HE SAID/SHE SAID in 2011. The husband-wife team, who currently star in Broadway's NEXT TO NORMAL, begin performances at Axelrod Performing Arts Center on February 5 at 8 PM.

The RRazz room at Hotel Nikko is San Francisco's premiere nightclub, offering the finest in world-class Cabaret, Jazz, Comedy and Popular music entertainment.

Jim Caruso is proud to announce the return of TOM WOPAT to the Birdland stage on Monday, December 27 at 7pm. This concert is part of the Broadway at Birdland series, which highlights performers and composers from the Great White Way.