Jay Z News

Rick Crom (Urinetown, The Goodbye Girl), Marina Franklin ('Chappelle's Show') and Erica Watson (upcoming film Push) headline A Hip-Hop Def Comedy Jam at the Comedy Cellar (117 MacDougal Street) on Sunday, June 7, 2009 from 4:00 pm until 6;30 pm. Presented by the production team behind the new play Twin Towers, the event benefits the New York-based non-profit ENACT, where actors use role-play and drama therapy techniques to help New York City students learn emotional and social skills.

After a 48 year absence, Bye Bye Birdie will return to Broadway this fall presented by Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) in a production starring John Stamos (Albert Peterson), Gina Gershon (Rose Alvarez), Bill Irwin (Mr. Harry MacAfee) and Jayne Houdyshell (Mrs. Mae Peterson). Directed & choreographed by Robert Longbottom, Bye Bye Birdie has a book by Michael Stewart, lyrics by Lee Adams and music by Charles Strouse. Roundabout is proud to welcome back three artists who have previously worked at the theatrical institution: John Stamos, Gina Gershon and Bill Irwin.

Grammy Award winning superstar and 'Dreamgirl' Beyonce Knowles revealed to The New York Times her hoped for plan of settling down in a couple of years to have some children with her husband, hip hop mogul Jay-Z, slow down on touring and saving the best for - make her Broadway debut.

The Tony Awards today announced that Audemars Piguet (O-de-mar Pee-gay) will be the presenting sponsor of the 63rd Annual Tony Awards Telecast Red Carpet on June 7th at Radio City Music Hall.

After a 48 year absence, Bye Bye Birdie will return to Broadway this fall presented by Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) in a production starring John Stamos (Albert Peterson), Gina Gershon (Rose Alvarez), Bill Irwin (Mr. Harry MacAfee) and Jayne Houdyshell (Mrs. Mae Peterson). Directed & choreographed by Robert Longbottom, Bye Bye Birdie has a book by Michael Stewart, lyrics by Lee Adams and music by Charles Strouse. Roundabout is proud to welcome back three artists who have previously worked at the theatrical institution: John Stamos, Gina Gershon and Bill Irwin.

Five of the world?s foremost design and style luminaries will be honored at the Savannah College of Art and Design?s annual SCAD Style ?toile Awards in New York March 23. Honorees accepting the distinguished ?toile Award include hip hop mogul and designer Russell Simmons, Tony Award-winning Broadway costume designer William Ivey Long, Pulitzer Prize-winning fashion editor Robin Givhan, actress and philanthropist Cornelia Guest, and New York City Planning Director Amanda Burden.

Five of the world?s foremost design and style luminaries will be honored at the Savannah College of Art and Design?s annual SCAD Style ?toile Awards in New York March 23. Honorees accepting the distinguished ?toile Award include hip hop mogul and designer Russell Simmons, Tony Award-winning Broadway costume designer William Ivey Long, Pulitzer Prize-winning fashion editor Robin Givhan, actress and philanthropist Cornelia Guest, and New York City Planning Director Amanda Burden.

Violin virtuosos Black Violin (BV) to headline New York's oldest and most active theatre in the heart of the Broadway district from March 11- 22, 2009. Combining a daunting array of musical styles and influences to produce a signature sound that is part maestro, part emcee, the group features two classically trained violinists and their DJ. With influences from Shostakovich and Bach to Jay-Z, Black Violin blends the classical with the modern and creates a sound that not only stimulates the senses but penetrates the soul. Black Violin features Wil B on the viola and Kev Marcus the violin. Showtime at the Apollo champions, these musical magicians have toured and worked with artists from Alicia Keys to Aerosmith to Aretha Franklin and Tom Petty. From The Eagles to P. Diddy, Black Violin's true mission is to help under privileged kids get ahead through education and awareness. The New Victory Theatre is the perfect place for Black Violin to showcase their unique live show that features intense violin duets intertwined with an entertaining flow of information that strives to educate and excite young minds. New Victory's dedication to children's education and their families fits perfectly into Black Violin's commitment to enriching the lives of kids through music. Black Violin's Wil B says, 'We understand the influence we have over kids that's why we want to give back. We want to help them think outside of the box.'

Violin virtuoso's Black Violin will headline New York's oldest and most active theatre in the heart of the Broadway theatre district from March 11- 22, 2009.

Violin virtuoso's Black Violin (BV) to headline New York's oldest and most active theatre in the heart of the Broadway district from March 11- 22, 2009. Combining a daunting array of musical styles and influences to produce a signature sound that is part maestro, part emcee, the group features two classically trained violinists and their DJ

Violin virtuoso's Black Violin will headline New York's oldest and most active theatre in the heart of the Broadway theatre district from March 11- 22, 2009.

Violin virtuoso's Black Violin (BV) to headline New York's oldest and most active theatre in the heart of the Broadway district from March 11- 22, 2009. Combining a daunting array of musical styles and influences to produce a signature sound that is part maestro, part emcee, the group features two classically trained violinists and their DJ

Current GRAMMY nominees Adele, Chris Brown, and Sugarland; a special performance with Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift; Estelle and Kanye West to perform together; and a Four Tops tribute featuring Duke Fakir (2009 Lifetime Achievement Award honoree and original member of the Four Tops), Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx, and current nominee Ne-Yo are the next round of performers announced for the 51st Annual GRAMMY Awards.

Last night in Beverly Hills, Monday January 26th, The Paley Center for Media saluted the work of award-winning composer Charles Strouse in the third of its concert & conversations series, PaleyAfterDark. The composer of such great Broadway hits including Bye Bye Birdie, Golden Boy, Applause, Annie, and Rags, Strouse with special guests Bonnie Franklin (who nominated for a Tony award for Applause) and cast members of Minsky's shared a rare evening of story and song which celebrated his illustrious career and the Los Angeles debut of his latest musical triumph, Minsky's. The program was illuminated by archival footage of rare Strouse material from the Paley Center's collection and finished with a musical performance by the composer singing an arrangement of favorites from 'Put on a Happy Face' to 'Tomorrow.'Minsky's is based on the Bud Yorkin-Norman Lear production of 'The Night They Raided Minsky's.' Charles Strouse has touched the life of almost every American in the last half century with his musical works. There may be no other living composer from America's popular songbook whose work is as integrated into the popular culture as that of Charles Strouse.His music has attracted top recording artists from the last half-century with covers of his songs recorded by such diverse pop artists as Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Bobby Darin, Harry Connick, Jr., Bobby Rydell, Jay Z, Vic Damone, Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone, Grace Jones and Duke Ellington and his Orchestra.Strouse has written the score to over 30 stage musicals, 14 scores for Broadway, four Hollywood films, two orchestral works and an opera.He has been inducted to the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Theatre Hall of Fame.

Violin virtuosos Black Violin (BV) to headline New York's oldest and most active theatre in the heart of the Broadway district from March 11- 22, 2009. Combining a daunting array of musical styles and influences to produce a signature sound that is part maestro, part emcee, the group features two classically trained violinists and their DJ. With influences from Shostakovich and Bach to Jay-Z, Black Violin blends the classical with the modern and creates a sound that not only stimulates the senses but penetrates the soul. Black Violin features Wil B on the viola and Kev Marcus the violin. Showtime at the Apollo champions, these musical magicians have toured and worked with artists from Alicia Keys to Aerosmith to Aretha Franklin and Tom Petty. From The Eagles to P. Diddy, Black Violin's true mission is to help under privileged kids get ahead through education and awareness. The New Victory Theatre is the perfect place for Black Violin to showcase their unique live show that features intense violin duets intertwined with an entertaining flow of information that strives to educate and excite young minds. New Victory's dedication to children's education and their families fits perfectly into Black Violin's commitment to enriching the lives of kids through music. Black Violin's Wil B says, 'We understand the influence we have over kids that's why we want to give back. We want to help them think outside of the box.'

Current GRAMMY? Award nominees Paul McCartney (with special guest drummer Dave Grohl); Radiohead (in the band's first live U.S. television performance since 2000); T.I. and Justin Timberlake together; and Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, T.I. and Kanye West in a special performance of their hit single 'Swagga Like Us' are the next round of performers announced for the 51st Annual GRAMMY Awards.

New York: Urban Stages' (Frances Hill, Founder/Artistic Director, Lauren Schmiedel, Managing Director) Developmental Program for Playwrights will present a workshop reading of LYRICS from LOCKDOWN, The Ugly Side of Beauty by Byronn Bain and directed by Mei Ann Teo with set and lighting by Kristen Adams at Urban Stages (259 West 30th Street) on January 22-24 at 6PM. This reading is FREE to the public, for reservations please email urbanstages@gmail.com or call 212-695-5131. Urban Stages' Developmental Program for Playwrights is a year round program that allows playwrights in various stages of their careers the opportunity to mount a stage reading of their piece as part of Urban Stages dedication to developing new works with a diverse voice.

Urban Stages' (Frances Hill, Founder/Artistic Director, Lauren Schmiedel, Managing Director) Developmental Program for Playwrights will present a workshop reading of LYRICS from LOCKDOWN, The Ugly Side of Beauty by Byronn Bain and directed by Mei Ann Teo with set and lighting by Kristen Adams at Urban Stages (259 West 30th Street) on January 22-24 at 8PM. This reading is FREE to the public, for reservations please email urbanstages@gmail.com or call 212-695-5131. Urban Stages' Developmental Program for Playwrights is a year round program that allows playwrights in various stages of their careers the opportunity to mount a stage reading of their piece as part of Urban Stages dedication to developing new works with a diverse voice. Weaving together hip-hop, theater, spoken word, and song, Byronn Bain's LYRICS from LOCKDOWN, The Ugly Side of Beauty takes a no hold barred journey that reveals how race and prisons, poverty and privilege, reflect underlying inequities in our 'progressive' America. As this country looks to swear in its first Black President, Bain's one man show takes no prisoners as it confronts the unresolved contradictions we will continue to face in the next century. Byronn Bain was crowned the Nuyorican Grand Slam Poetry Champion in 2000, and has lectured and performed at over 100 U.S. colleges and universities, as well as in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe. Bain's debut album 'Problem Child' features the producers of artists such as Jay Z and Dead Prez and fuses hip hop and spoken word with reggae and world music. Mr. Bain is also a radio and TV personality.

Minsky's is the second new musical playing the Ahmanson this season, boasting a book by Bob Martin and direction and choreography by Casey Nicholaw, who both crafted the U.S. premiere of the musical The Drowsy Chaperone at the Ahmanson in 2005. Composer Charles Strouse (Bye Bye Birdie, Annie) will join lyricist Susan Birkenhead (Triumph of Love) on the musical, which begins performances January 21 through March 1, 2009.

New York: Urban Stages' (Frances Hill, Founder/Artistic Director, Lauren Schmiedel, Managing Director) Developmental Program for Playwrights will present a workshop reading of LYRICS from LOCKDOWN, The Ugly Side of Beauty by Byronn Bain and directed by Mei Ann Teo with set and lighting by Kristen Adams at Urban Stages (259 West 30th Street) on January 22-24 at 6PM. This reading is FREE to the public, for reservations please email urbanstages@gmail.com or call 212-695-5131. Urban Stages' Developmental Program for Playwrights is a year round program that allows playwrights in various stages of their careers the opportunity to mount a stage reading of their piece as part of Urban Stages dedication to developing new works with a diverse voice.