John Williams News

Reprise Theatre Company presents Brian Stokes Mitchell Sings Broadway, a program especially created for Reprise. It will have one performance only on Monday, May 11 at 8 pm, at UCLA's Freud Playhouse.

He's charming, articulate, and a different kind of classical pianist. From his groundbreaking transcriptions of Radiohead to his powerful interpretations of repertoire classic and contemporary, pianist Christopher O'Riley has redefined the possibilities of classical music. He has taken his unique vision to both traditional classical music venues and symphonic settings, as well as to entirely new audiences on the radio, at universities and even clubs. As host of the most popular classical music radio show on the air today, National Public Radio's From the Top, Mr. O'Riley works and performs with the next generation of brilliant young musicians, demonstrating to audiences, with humour and lack of pretense, that these young artists are as diverse in their personal lives as they are in their music-making. In 2007, From the Top was filmed for public television in Zankel Concert Hall at Carnegie Hall and debuted on PBS in the spring. The series is now airing its third season.

The Blumenthal Performing Arts Center will host a live TV broadcast of President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration, including the swearing in ceremony and related festivities, on Tues, Jan. 20. The event will take place in the McGlohon Theatre at Spirit Square (345 N. College St.) and is free and open to the public. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. and seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets are not required. Pizza and beverages will be available for purchase

Music arranger Angela Morley, who won Emmys for arranging two of Julie Andrews television specials has died at 84 in Scottsdale, Arizona. She's said to have passed away from complications of a fall and a subsequent heart attack. The three-time Emmy winner, also received Oscar nominations for adaptaing the songs in the musicals 'The Little Prince' and 'The Slipper and the Rose' This prolific woman also wrote her own official bio for her web site, which we reprint below. A very full life! Our thoughts and prayers go out to her partner Christine Parker, along with her son, grandchildren and great-grandchildren during this difficult time.

The Blumenthal Performing Arts Center will host a live TV broadcast of President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration, including the swearing in ceremony and related festivities, on Tues, Jan. 20. The event will take place in the McGlohon Theatre at Spirit Square (345 N. College St.) and is free and open to the public. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. and seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets are not required. Pizza and beverages will be available for purchase

E! Online News has reported that George Lucas has given his blessing to Star Wars: A Musical Journey, a two-hour live musical event featuring a Stormtrooper kick line and Wookies warbling to John Williams' Oscar-winning score.

Signature Theatre Company continues its celebration of the Negro Ensemble Company (NEC) with special presentations of three more plays from the historic NEC repertoire. Curated by NEC Founder Douglas Turner Ward, Signature Associate Artist Ruben Santiago-Hudson and the Signature Theatre Company staff, these plays will be read on stage at the Peter Norton Space (555 West 42nd Street) on select evenings throughout the season. These classic works give greater insight into the history of this vital and groundbreaking company.

Feinstein's at Loews Regency, the nightclub proclaimed 'Best of New York' by New York Magazine and 'an invaluable New York institution' by The New York Post, will continue its 10th Anniversary season with the return of the club's founder Michael Feinstein for an exclusive engagement from December 2 - 30. Musical Director John Oddo will lead a 17-piece band featuring Bucky Pizzarelli on guitar, Jim Saporito on drums, and David Finck on bass.

The list of nominations has been announced for the 51st annual Grammy Awards. The Grammy Awards will be presented on February 8, 2009, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

One would think that the man who conducts the Boston Pops, the Utah Symphony and is the Artistic Advisor of the Summer Institute and Music Festival of the Brevard Music Center in North Carolina to be pretty apathetic about Christmas music by the time fruitcake season rolls along, but that's not true with Keith Lockhart.

Tony Award winning singer and actress Patti LuPone is featured on this week's Associated Press 'On Broadway' podcast. In this interview Jane Waldman reports on LuPone's new CD on Ghostlight Records, 'Patti PuPone at Les Mouches;' a live recording of the legend's 1980 nightclub act that she performed on Saturdays during her run in 'Evita.'

Feinstein's at Loews Regency, the nightclub proclaimed 'Best of New York' by New York Magazine and 'an invaluable New York institution' by The New York Post, will continue its 10th Anniversary season with the return of the club's founder Michael Feinstein for an exclusive engagement from December 2 ? 30. Musical Director John Oddo will lead a 17-piece band featuring Bucky Pizzarelli on guitar, Jim Saporito on drums, and David Finck on bass. This September, Michael sold out a week at the club celebrating his new CD 'The Sinatra Project.' By popular demand, he will bring back the great romantic songs performed by 'Ol' Blue Eyes' and combine them with seasonal classics into the new program 'The Sinatra Holiday Project.' Antonia Bennett, the acclaimed vocalist, will be his special guest for the run. All shows take place at the Regency Hotel (540 Park Avenue at 61st Street).

The year was 1980, and Patti LuPone was starring as 'Evita' on Broadway. She was en route to winning the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical, and cementing her status as a Broadway star. But there was another Patti LuPone performance taking place -- one that only a comparative handful of people were aware of: Every Saturday night at midnight, for 27 weeks, after performing one of the most demanding roles ever, she made her way to Les Mouches - a legendary nightclub in New York City, to perform a solo concert...This was a one-woman tour de force that -- until now -- only the lucky few who were on hand knew about.

Feinstein's at Lowes Regency has announced additions to their upcoming winter lineup.

Corky Hale, renowned Jazz pianist, harpist and vocalist, will be a judge for the 8th Annual World Soundtrack Awards, sponsored by the World Soundtrack Academy as the closing event of the 35th Annual Ghent Film Festival, to be held in Ghent, Belgium from October 7 - 18, 2008

Perfect for age's four to fourteen, the Paper Mill Playhouse Children's Theatre Series has partnered with the best and brightest theatre companies to bring charming, whimsical, and educational performances filled with audience participation and adventure. All shows take place on select Saturdays and Sundays in the fall and spring and begin at 10:00am. Tickets are $15 for orchestra and box seats and $12 for mezzanine seats. A facility preservation fee applies. Single tickets range in price from $12 to $15. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express accepted. Tickets may be purchased by calling 973-376-4343, or at the Paper Mill Box Office on Brookside Drive in Millburn, or online at www.papermill.org.

TimesTalks will present 'Broadway Divas as Gay Icons featuring Patti LuPone' on Monday, Nov 03, 2008 6:30 PM EST at TimesCenter Stage.

The Wilshire Theatre Beverly Hills, 8440 Wilshire Boulevard; Beverly Hills, CA 90211, will open its doors to the general public on Sunday, September 21, 2008, after being closed for several months for completion of Phase I of the historic venue's Revitalization Project. Corky Hale Productions will present a star-studded musical event, entitled, 'It's Magic! A Tribute to Sammy Cahn' celebrating the life and lyrics of one of Hollywood's greatest Academy Awardâ-winning songwriters.

The year was 1980, and Patti LuPone was starring as 'Evita' on Broadway. She was en route to winning the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical, and cementing her status as a Broadway star. But there was another Patti LuPone performance taking place -- one that only a comparative handful of people were aware of: Every Saturday night at midnight, for 27 weeks, after performing one of the most demanding roles ever, she made her way to Les Mouches - a legendary nightclub in New York City, to perform a solo concert...This was a one-woman tour de force that -- until now -- only the lucky few who were on hand knew about.

EMP Theatricals presents NOW THAT SHE'S GONE, written & performed by Ellen Snortland, as part of the 2008 New York International Fringe Festival - FringeNYC. The production, presented at the SoHo Playhouse, is directed by John Mitchell, with choreography by Leanne Fonteyn. Lighting Design is by Jason Mullen, Sound Design by Ken Gruberman, with Ruth Silveira as Costume Consultant. Production Stage Manager is Becky Harrison.