Jerry Leiber 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 eagerly-awaited 'Sunday In The Park...' and 'A Class Act,' two tiny venues a block apart debuting pocket musicals, 'Avenue Q' visits Bailiwick Chicago, a 'Carrie' parody, our beloved 'Christmas Schooner' and more....

Thanks to the sparkling, imaginative Studio Tenn revival of Smokey Joe's Cafe-the Tony Award-nominated musical revue that collects some 39 (although a couple were cut, so we'll place the number at 37 for this production) of those terrific Leiber and Stoller songs into one smooth, entertaining package- you can revel in the music and set your feet to tapping out the rhythms of your life...

Multi-Jeff Award-winning theatre company, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, will kick off its 2012-13 season with Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller'sSmokey Joe's Cafe on September 24. The season, comprised of two full-length musicals, two cabarets, and a new series, marks Theo Ubique's 15th year-the 10thin historic No Exit Cafe.

Grammy Award Winners, singer Steve Tyrell and composer Mike Stoller are sending a 'Musical Valentine' to the City of Charlotte, NC, which is hosting the Democratic Convention. The legendary composer Mike Stoller, of the renowned songwriting team of Leiber & Stoller has penned a new song called "Charlotte" which has been recorded by Steve Tyrell. The new song can be heard, set to a video montage of the city of Charlotte, NC, by visiting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0CyDS-3c6w. For a free MP3 download of the song during the convention and a Bonus download of the video in high definition, please visit the Home Page of the website, www.leiberstoller.com.

Grammy Award-winning composer Mike Stoller, of the legendary songwriting team of Leiber & Stoller, has gone solo. Stoller just recently penned the music and lyrics to his latest song, "Charlotte," at the request of Anthony Foxx, mayor of Charlotte, NC. The song has just been recorded by the popular American jazz musician and Grammy Award-winning singer and producer, Concord Records recording artist Steve Tyrell, whose eight American standards albums have all achieved Top 5 status on Billboard's Jazz charts.

Mike Stoller, of the legendary Grammy Award-winning songwriting team of Leiber & Stoller, will appear for a book signing of "Hound Dog: The Leiber and Stoller Autobiography" at 1:00 p.m., followed by a Question and Answer Session and screening of the 1957 Warner Bros. classic film (originally made by MGM), "Jailhouse Rock" starring Elvis Presley at 2:00 p.m. today, August 19, 2012 at the American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, Calif. The screening will celebrate the life of The King of Rock & Roll, Elvis Presley, while simultaneously commemorating the 35th Anniversary of the late singer's passing.

Mike Stoller, of the legendary Grammy Award-winning songwriting team of Leiber & Stoller, will appear for a book signing of "Hound Dog: The Leiber and Stoller Autobiography" at 1:00 p.m., followed by a Question and Answer Session and screening of the 1957 Warner Bros. classic film (originally made by MGM), "Jailhouse Rock" starring Elvis Presley at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 19, 2012 at the American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, Calif. The screening will celebrate the life of The King of Rock & Roll, Elvis Presley, while simultaneously commemorating the 35th Anniversary of the late singer's passing.

Terry Martin, producing artistic director of WaterTower Theatre, today announced an extension of SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE, which is now playing. The musical revue will be extended for one week through Sun., Aug. 19 with the addition of five performances: Wed., Aug. 15 at 7:30PM, Thurs., Aug. 16 at 7:30PM, Fri., Aug. 17 at 8PM, Sat., Aug. 18 at 8PM and Sun., Aug. 19 at 2PM.

"Stand by Me" may be one of the most frequently recorded songs of the 20th century, but when Akron Watson's silky voice glides into the first phrase near the end of SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE, he found my aural pleasure spot.

WaterTower Theatre's Smokey Joe's Cafe opens tonight, July 23, and plays through August 12, 2012, featuring an ensemble cast, including Steve Barcus, Feleceia Benton, Chimberly Carter Byrom, Walter Cunningham, Maurice Johnson, Laura Lites, Calvin Roberts, Courtney Sikora and Akron Watson. Get a first look at the ensemble in the photos below!

WaterTower Theatre's Smokey Joe's Cafe, which previews July 20 and 21 and opens July 23, playing through August 12, 2012, features an ensemble cast, including Steve Barcus, Feleceia Benton, Chimberly Carter Byrom, Walter Cunningham, Maurice Johnson, Laura Lites, Calvin Roberts, Courtney Sikora and Akron Watson. Get a first look at the ensemble in the photos below!

From "Jailhouse Rock" to "Stand By Me," from "Spanish Harlem" to and "On Broadway," Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller wrote some of the most enduring rock-n-roll hits ever recorded. This summer, talented high school and college-age musical actors will bring the hits to life in Smokey Joe's Cafe, the annual collaboration between the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) Arts Education department and the New Jersey Youth Theatre (NJYT).

"Stand By Me," the song written by Leiber & Stoller and Ben E. King will receive the Towering Song Award at the 2012 Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) Gala Event to be held at the Marriott Marquee Hotel in New York City tonight, June 14, 2012, Songwriters Hall of Fame Chairman, Jimmy Webb, announced. Mike Stoller will accept the award along with Ben E. King, who will also be honored with the Towering Performance Award for his performance on the Leiber & Stoller produced recording of "Stand By Me."

WaterTower Theatre today announced casting details for Smokey Joe's Cafe which opens Monday, July 23, 2012. The ensemble cast includes Steve Barcus, Feleceia Benton, Chimberly Carter Byrom, Walter Cunningham, Maurice Johnson, Laura Lites, Calvin Roberts, Courtney Sikora and Akron Watson.

Grammy Award-winning songwriter Mike Stoller will be honored during his upcoming visit to New York City in June 2012. Stoller, who will be accompanied by his wife Corky Hall Stoller, will attend numerous events during his visit to the Big Apple.

Summer is just around the corner, and with its arrival comes a host of exciting entertainment options for the entire family. Here are our picks for the hottest performances that will hit the stage in the northern New Jersey area!

Smokey Joe's Cafe is a show features nine performers, who take audiences back to the 1950s and 1960s with their renditions of many wonderful hits of the rock and roll era. Four of the male singers come together to form a group reminiscent of the two famous quartets Leiber and Stoller wrote for-the Drifters and the Coasters-while other cast members deliver songs made famous by some of the most powerful figures in the world of music, including Elvis Presley, Dion and Big Mama Thornton.

The Stoller-Filer Health Center, the newest Planned Parenthood Los Angeles facility, to be located at 11722 South Wilmington Avenue, Compton, CA 90059, will celebrate its Grand Opening on Tuesday, April 24, 2012, Sue Dunlap, President of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles announced today. "The new health center will be named after the renowned Jazz Pianist, Harpist and Singer, Corky Hale Stoller and her Grammy Award winning husband, Mike Stoller of Leiber & Stoller fame, along with the late Compton Civic Leader, Maxcy Dean Filer, who was affectionately known as 'Mr. Compton,'" Dunlap said.