Jane Monheit News

The 25th annual Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition and 'Women, Music and Diplomacy' All-Star Gala Concert will be presented by the world-renowned Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, in partnership with Cadillac, this year's Presenting Sponsor, on September 22-23. Through the competition and its numerous educational programs, the Institute is committed to identifying and training the world's leading young jazz musicians who will preserve the traditions of jazz while expanding the music in new directions.

Bay Area Cabaret kicks off its 2012-2013 season with Motown legend Mary Wilson, back for her first show in the historic Venetian room since performing there with the "Supremes" more than two decades ago.

The South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) today announced key attendance statistics for its sixth season. SOPAC's 2011-2012 Season featured 65 performances which drew a cumulative total of 17,305 attendees (an increase of about 23.65 percent) including six total sellout shows.

Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts, a TimeOutNY/Kids "Best Camp for 2012" which has just completed its 45th season, will present a special off-season event, An Afternoon With Jane Monheit, performances by the internationally acclaimed jazz singer and Usdan alumna, on Saturday October 14. The Grammy-nominated vocalist will perform two 75-minute concerts with her band, at 2 PM and then a repeat performance at 4:30 PM at Usdan's intimate Maurice B. Hexter Recital Hall.

On Monday, October 15 at 7pm, Broadway at Birdland is proud to present multi-Grammy and Tony nominated composer Frank Wildhorn in his monthly concert series called "Frank & Friends." Joining Frank onstage will be award-winning jazz vocalist Jane Monheit and renowned Las Vegas/Cafe Carlyle headliner Clint Holmes.

Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts (www.usdan.com) will present its sixth annual Usdan Chess Challenge on Sunday September 23 at its specially designed Maurice B. Hexter Chess Center on Long Island. Open to grades K-12, the tournament is US Chess Federation-rated, and will be directed by Usdan Chess Instructors Brian Karen (a USCF and FIDE Expert) and Joel Salman (a USCF and FIDE Master).

Jim Caruso's Cast Party continues to pack 'em in at Birdland every Monday night at 9:30. This past week, August 20th, the 'extreme' open mic night was booked solid with spectacular talent. It was an evening filled with great music, fun folks, and so many laughs, all watched over by one of the ultimate New Yorkers, Mr. Tommy Tune. Check out photos from this week's show below!

Back by popular demand to the Broadway at Birdland concert series, William Blake performed an encore of his show "Echoes of Etta," a musical tribute to Etta James, on Monday, August 20th. There wasn't an extra chair to be had at Birdland-every single space was filled with a screaming, stomping fans. Check out photos of Blake onstage below!

Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts (www.usdan.com), the nationally acclaimed summer arts day camp, will present its sixth annual Usdan Chess Challenge on Sunday September 23 at its specially designed Maurice B. Hexter Chess Center on Long Island. Open to grades K-12, the tournament is US Chess Federation-rated, and will be directed by Usdan Chess Instructors Brian Karen (a USCF and FIDE Expert) and Joel Salman (a USCF and FIDE Master).

The SELECT ART SHOW is an opening of visual art exhibit with work by junior and senior art students.

Renowned jazz chanteuse Jane Monheit brings her longtime quartet featuring Michael Kanan (piano), Neal Miner (bass), and Rick Montalbano (drums) back to the Blue Note for a weeklong engagement this August.

According to Deadline.com, Ben Toth and Sam Forman have signed on to write the music and lyrics for the Broadway-bound SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE Musical. Previously announced Lonny Price will direct the show, which is set to have its world premiere at The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Charles Dillingham, Interim Executive Director) in June, 2013.

Making good on his promise to eventually show up in Orange County to speak about his enduring career in the theater, legendary Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim finally made his long-awaited appearance at the Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa for the landmark event STEPHEN SONDHEIM: IN CONVERSATION on July 13. Back to provide live performances were Christine Ebersole and Brian Stokes-Mitchell, while ASCAP Musical Theater scholar Michael Kerker hosted the talk show/concert hybrid.

Today, July 24 at 10:15 AM, Pulitzer Prize-winning nationally syndicated cartoonist WALT HANDELSMAN will be teaching cartoon students at Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts

Philip Glass's one night performance at the Kirkland Performance Center (KPC) is one of many exclusive NW engagements featured in the KPC Fall line-up. KPC serves as the presenter for many sought after musicians including: returning favorites (The Brothers Four, Jane Monheit), living legends (Philip Glass, Zakir Hussain) and new discoveries (Rupa & the April Fishes).

Pentatonix sing 'Love, Love, Love' from Scott Alan's new album LIVE, recorded in April 2012 at Birdland. Pentatonix's debut album PTX VOLUME 1 just reached Billboard's Top 20. Watch the video below!

A few fresh faces and a slew of beloved regulars showed up to serenade each other at Jim Caruso's Cast Party on Monday night, July 16, 2012. Check out photos from the performances below, featuring Clint Holmes, the cast of Central Avenue Breakdown and more!

On Monday, July 16, Broadway at Birdland was proud to present another "Frank & Friends," a monthly concert hosted by multi-Grammy and Tony nominated composer Frank Wildhorn. Joining Frank onstage was the gifted Grammy-nominated jazz singer Jane Monheit, Las Vegas and Cafe Carlyle headliner Clint Holmes, and a band that included David Mann on woodwinds, Chris Lightcap on bass and Clint de Ganon on drums. The historic room was packed with showbiz glitterati, including Chita Rivera (upcoming Drood), Ben Vereen, Constantine Maroulis (upcoming Jekyll & Hyde), Sara Gettelfinger (Addams Family tour), Patrick Page (Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark), and Paige Davis (host of the upcoming talk show "Home & Family").