Joan Jett News

Pacific Festival Ballet of Thousand Oaks will be premiering its new ballet version of Camelot, the original 'Game of Thrones' in two performances on May 18 at the Fred Kavli Theatre in the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. Directed and choreographed by Kim Maselli and featuring new music by Eric Allaman.

Kevin Black, one of South Florida's best-known producer/director/choreographers, is once again collaborating with award-winning vocalist Mimi J to create a concert program that will appeal to audiences of all ages. The two have worked together several times developing shows that achieved great success - most notably On the Radio: Sounds of the 70s, which debuted at Stage Door Theatre in 2014, and eventually morphed into I Will Survive.  That show went on to play several other area venues. 

Benzel-Busch Motor Car announces the 2019 Benzel-Busch Concert Series at Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC) in Englewood, NJ.

American grunge legends, L7 have released their blistering 1st new album in 20 years on Joan Jett's Blackheart Records. Armed with lyrical daggers, rib-rattling chops, the highly anticipated new record has been positively received from fans and critics alike. It has had accolades from The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, Revolver, NPR, Kerrang!, Flaunt, Modern Drummer and many more. The band was also featured on NPR Weekend Edition on Sunday.  

Punk-pop duo the Dollyrots recently locked themselves away at Minnesota's famed Pachyderm Studios with longtime producer John Fields, (known for his work with All Time Low, Switchfoot, Soul Asylum) to wrap up recording their 7th studio album Daydream Explosion. The twosome who have been known to take the DIY approach has decided to join forces with friends and supporters at Wicked Cool Records/ The Orchard for the new album release. Daydream Explosion will be out on July 12. Preorder Daydream Explosion on May 17 and receive instant downloads of the songs “In Your Face” and “Everything.”

Students will perform in a one-night-only musical UNSTOPPABLE, Tales from the Schoolyard on May 8, 2019 at The Sheen Center for Thought & Culture. Students in Haven Kids Rock, the afterschool music program of Mott Haven Academy in the South Bronx, will harness the power of music and the performing arts to explore the themes of immigration, shelter, foster care, family, and more through the lens of their firsthand experiences growing up and coming of age in New York City. Many of the students in Haven Kids Rock are also involved in New York City's child welfare and foster care systems, bringing their own personal experiences to the stage.

Steppenwolf's LookOut Series announces their fantastic Summer 2019 lineup with three months of multi-genre performance - new faces, familiar friends and a jam packed schedule in June celebrating Pride Month. This summer LookOut is serving up the hottest reasons to grab a cold drink from Front Bar and head into Steppenwolf's 1700 Theatre to revel in the excitement of comedy, live music, storytelling, drag and more!

Steppenwolf Theatre Company is hard at work in rehearsal for the world premiere of MS. BLAKK FOR PRESIDENT, co-written by ensemble members Tina Landau (SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical) and Tarell Alvin McCraney (Moonlight, Academy Award).

In more ways than just food, Chicago has a thriving and growing vegan community. Plant-based Expert and Awesome Vegans Podcast host, Elysabeth Alfano (pictures below) highlights the various areas in which Chicago is leading the way in plant-based living. 

MarbleJam Kids 12th Annual Dinner Benefit - Celebrating the Music of Life Edgewood Country Club, 449 Rivervale Rd, River Vale, NJ 07675 will host MarbleJam Kids, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, "Celebrating the Music of Life," benefit dinner event. The elegant remodeled Edgewood Country Club sets an elegant stage for the gala event with cocktails, dinner, auctions, dancing, under the spring warm air balcony. MarbleJam Kids will honor the following individuals for their impact in our community and beyond: Jacqueline Laurita, Global Autism Advocate & Star of Real Housewives of NJ; Tom & Lucy Ott, Founders of David's Fund; Jodi DiPiazza, teen musical prodigy and Autism Ambassador; and Peter Demoleas, florist and outstanding volunteer. Edgewood Country Club's award winning Chef Jamil Barqawi will serve a delightful gourmet dinner adding his unique renowned style and impeccable taste. Live entertainment provided by Willie Wilson and his band The Willies, a local favorite featuring retro, contemporary, and rock selections. Special celebrity guests will be attending this exclusive event. Musicians Barron Raymonde, Tony Cerbo, and Chris Tristram, all of whom have performed with Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Joan Jett, Great White and others. Founded in 2007, MarbleJam Kids provides creative arts therapies and adaptive arts and enrichment to children of all ages with autism and special needs. MarbleJam Kids Center for Creative Arts Therapy provides a safe space for exploration, creative expression, social and prevocational skills, with the support of therapists, special educators, trained support staff, and volunteers. The facility is equipped with a dance, art and music studio and allows for both group and private sessions as well as adaptive arts instruction. MarbleJam Kids is a state authorized service provider through NJ Dept. of Health & Human Services and is dedicated to working with each family to ensure programs meet their child's unique needs and abilities. MarbleJam Kids has worked with hundreds of children, youth, and young adults in Bergen County and beyond, but may only continue to do so through fundraising and community support. There are several opportunities for sponsorship support at this event. Please contact Anna Bager 201-497-6512 or email info@marblejamkids.org for sponsorship and journal acknowledgements or for more information on how you or your business may benefit from this event. Tickets may be purchased online at http:mjkgala19.bpt.me or visit www.marblejamkids.org for event RSVP form to submit check purchase. Ticket prices range 150-175 dollars with VIP at the higher end. Children under 14 are welcome to attend at 100 dollars per ticket with childcare provided in the Edgewood Country Club game room. Cocktail attire requested.

Seattle Women's Chorus (SWC) wraps their 2018-2019 season with one big blowout concert at Benaroya Hall on April 28 at 4pm. Legends of Rock is a loud proud ode to the trailblazing singer-songwriters who weren't afraid to raise their voices and make a scene.

Mark Weiss, was a 14-year old kid from New Jersey when he made a deal with a neighbor to cut his lawn in exchange for a 35mm camera. Thus began a lifelong journey of rock & roll mayhem that continues to this day. While in high school, Mark would sneak his camera into concerts, paying off security guards to get him closer to the stage. Mark developed the prints in his parent's bathroom to sell the next morning out of his school locker and then in front of the concert venue that night.

When a musician starts their career with such high praise from some of music's biggest names, it's a sign of big things to come. That sentiment rings true for “American Idol” Season 13 winner, CALEB JOHNSON, who's new album, BORN FROM SOUTHERN GROUND, set for release June 14 on Big Johnson Records. A video for the album's first single, “Born and Raised,” is available now on his official YouTube page, and for download on all digital formats.

Lively McCabe Entertainment Co-President Michael Barra proudly announces a slate of three new stage musicals in partnership with licensing agency Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW) and music powerhouse BMG. These initial three projects, all which will have premiere productions in 2020 (TBA), will feature select music from the BMG catalog, as part of their previously announced partnership with Lively McCabe.

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, the nonprofit cultural center located at the site of the 1969 Woodstock festival, today announced that Elvis Costello & The Imposters and Blondie will perform at the center on Saturday, July 20th as the first stop on their coast-to-coast co-headlining tour.

New shows on sale at bergenPAC: Cinderella's Tom Keifer on Monday, Aug. 15, 2019 at 8 p.m.; Joan Jett & The Blackhearts on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019 at 7:30 p.m.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announced today the full casting for the world premiere of MS. BLAKK FOR PRESIDENT, co-written by ensemble members Tina Landau (SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical) and Tarell Alvin McCraney (Moonlight, Academy Award). Conceived by Tina Landau, she also directs this true and little-known Chicago story that will star Tarell Alvin McCraney as Ms. Joan Jett Blakk. Joining McCraney in the cast are Patrick Andrews, Molly Brennan, Daniel Kyri, Jon Hudson Odom and Sawyer Smith.

The World's Largest Bourbon Festival, Bourbon & Beyond, will make its anticipated return to Louisville, KY Friday, September 20, Saturday, September 21, and Sunday, September 22, expanding to three days full of incredible music, unique culinary events, and unmatched experiences from the region's best distilleries at the new Highland Festival Grounds At KY Expo Center. In addition to an unforgettable lineup of bourbon and chefs, music performers include a unique mix of rock, roots, bluegrass and folk acts headlined by Foo Fighters, Robert Plant And The Sensational Space Shifters (returning after originally being scheduled to appear in 2018) and the Zac Brown Band. Additional acts include John Fogerty, Daryl Hall & John Oates, ZZ Top(celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2019), Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Trey Anastasio Band, Leon Bridges, The Flaming Lips, Alison Krauss, Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeroes, +LIVE+, Grace Potter, Little Steven & The Disciples Of Soul, and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, among many others. In total, more than 45 artists will play on three stages, including the side-by-side Oak and Barrel main stages and a bluegrass stage that will be curated by the genre's leading authority, The Bluegrass Situation.

 Brooklyn's Girls on Grass announce the release of their sophomore album, Dirty Power, on April 5, 2019. The video for the first single off the album, "Down At The Bottom", premieres on The Big Takeover today. 

Legendary American grunge pioneers, L7, have signed with Joan Jett's Blackheart Records for their first album in 20 years, Scatter the Rats, due out May 3, 2019. 'I've been friends with L7 for years and am very excited and proud to have the opportunity to release their new album on Blackheart!'shares Jett. “When we decided to make a new record, Joan was there for us as the good friend she has always been. So great to stomp into Blackheart Records with her at the helm. We're very excited to work with Joan and the entire Blackheart family. Just imagine the family dinners!” says Donita Sparks.