John F Kennedy News

On sale Friday, November 2nd! University of Illinois Springfield and Exceptional Artists proudly announce:

For the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony's 2018-2019 season opener, music director David Bernard has chosen a program titled “Heroes and Legends” featuring the New York Premiere of Steven Rosenhaus' JFK: A Profile with narration and multimedia elements developed and curated by WQXR Radio Personality Elliot Forrest. The program also includes the debut of Eli Goldberger, a 15-year-old student of Larry Guy at the Juilliard School Pre-College Division in Weber's Clarinet Concerto No. 1, and concludes with Dvo?ák's brilliant Symphony No. 6.

At a recent performance of Little Shop of Horrors at the Kennedy Center, composer Alan Menken stopped by! He took to the stage to say a few words to the cast, and you can watch his whole speech in the video below.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts' semi-staged concert production of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman's Little Shop of Horrors, helmed by director Mark Brokaw (Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella) is now on stage.

All things considered, this presentation offers a fabulous time at the theater.

The Country Music Association's critically acclaimed CMA Songwriters Series wrapped the second-annual U.K. and European tours with a final show in London, England. Stops on the European tour included Stockholm, Oslo, Hamburg and Amsterdam before heading to the U.K. for shows in Glasgow, Liverpool, Gateshead, Manchester and London. Featured artists on the tour, that ran from Oct. 8 – 22, included Kassi Ashton, Ashley Campbell, Chris DeStefano, Tenille Townes, Drake White and Charlie Worsham.

BroadwayWorld has a first look at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts' semi-staged concert production of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman's Little Shop of Horrors, helmed by director Mark Brokaw (Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella). Check out the photos below!

An evening of unsung and new songs as well as hits by Stephen Schwartz will be performed at a Orphaned Songs for Orphaned Starfish a special benefit evening for The Orphaned Starfish Foundation.  This one night only show will be Monday, November 19th at 7:00 pm at The Cutting Room, 44 East 32nd Street, NYC. The musical evening will have performances by Stephen Schwartz and Tony Award winners and Broadway stars to be announced.  Musical Director is Michael Lavine, and Paul Kreppel is the Concert Director, with Host Scott Coulter and the Creator is Carol de Giere.  

The Kenny Awards has announced its 10 program finalists for the 2018-2019 school year. The Kenny Awards, presented by Shea's Performing Arts Center and The Lipke Foundation, is an endeavor that recognizes the talent, dedication, and efforts of our local high school youth in musical theatre. The Lipke Foundation recently announced that it is doubling its grant to $10,000 for the WNY area high school that receives the Outstanding Musical Production award.

The Japan Art Association has appointed Caroline Kennedy, former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, as International Advisor to Praemium Imperiale. Starting in November 2018, she will preside over the U.S. Nomination Committee, recommending candidates for the Praemium Imperiale International Arts Award. Ms. Kennedy will succeed, Ambassador William Luers, former President of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, who served in this role for 18 years and will become an Honorary Advisor.

Suave and debonair, a gangster saunters onto the stage, sizes up his audience, and the tale of the story of how the mob helped to make Las Vegas bursts into the showroom. Along with commentary about the life of "The Prince of the Mafia" Michael Franzese, John 'Handsome Johnny' Roselli is captured by one of the leads-narrator and storyteller Marcel Forestieri. A cautionary tale with an ending of redemption, A Mob Story combines song and dance with recounting this fascinating story at the Plaza Showroom in the Plaza Las Vegas.

The New York Pops, led by Music Director Steven Reineke, kicks off its 2018-19 season with Roll Over Beethoven: A Different Kind of Orchestra today, October 19 at 8:00 p.m. in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall. The orchestra is joined by three time 'Las Vegas Headliner of the Year' singer Frankie Moreno, plus band and a pair of dancers, for an evening of rock 'n' roll favorites by Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and others. Songs include 'Great Balls of Fire,' 'Jailhouse Rock,' 'Eleanor Rigby,' 'Bridge Over Troubled Water,' and more.

The Great American Songbook Foundation is laying the groundwork for the sale of Asherwood, the massive Carmel estate donated by philanthropist Bren Simon to support the Foundation's mission of music education and historic preservation.

NYU Skirball will present the NYC premiere of  Fantasque, an ebullient and magical pageant by Dance Heginbotham, created by choreographer John Heginbotham and puppeteer Amy Trompetter, for three performances, on Saturday, November 17 and Sunday, November 18, 2018.

Nikki Renee Daniels and Ryan Shaw will join The New York Pops and Music Director Steven Reineke for Unforgettable: Celebrating Nat King Cole and Friends on Friday, February 8, 2019 at 8:00 p.m. in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall, replacing previously announced soloist Billy Porter, who has withdrawn from this performance due to a schedule conflict. Unforgettable celebrates Nat King Cole's centennial, featuring his greatest hits alongside special selections from legends that he inspired.

The New York Pops, led by dynamic Music Director and Conductor Steven Reineke, opens its 2018-2019 Carnegie Hall season this Friday, October 19 at 8:00 p.m. in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage, with a program entitled Roll Over Beethoven: A Different Kind of Orchestra. The concert-which honors rock giants including Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and others-features three-time "Las Vegas Headliner of the Year" winner Frankie Moreno who is joined by vocalists, dancers, and a rocking band for this performance. Mr. Moreno last appeared at Carnegie Hall with The New York Pops and Mr. Reineke in 2015, performing the music of Frank Sinatra.

Liverpool Irish Festival (18-28 Oct) is the largest festival of Irish art and culture in the UK. With over 60 events across the city incorporating visual art, film, performance, music, talks, tours, dance and more, the festival is in its 16th year and celebrates the connections between Liverpool and Ireland.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will continue its Broadway Center Stage series with Alan Menken and Howard Ashman's Little Shop of Horrors, helmed by director Mark Brokaw. The production will run Wednesday, October 24, 2018 - Sunday, October 28, 2018.

Ming Luke will act as guest conductor for San Francisco Ballet (SFB), "one of the world's top ballet companies" (London Sunday Times), at Kennedy Center on October 28th, 1:30pm. Luke will lead the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra in live accompaniment for pieces choreographed by some of the world's most renowned dance-makers.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will continue its Broadway Center Stage series with Alan Menken and Howard Ashman's Little Shop of Horrors, helmed by director Mark Brokaw. The production will run Wednesday, October 24, 2018 - Sunday, October 28, 2018.