Joni Mitchell News

The RRazz Room, San Francisco's premier nightclub, will welcome back acclaimed entertainer Lypsinka for a special two-week engagement from September 4 to 16 to celebrate Lypsinka's 30th anniversary. She will recreate the widely popular show 'The Passion of the Crawford' - a fab fantasia about the refraction of celebrity and addiction to fame - for the first time in the Bay Area in more than five years.

Today we are talking to one of the most alluring and anomalous recording stars on the rise all about this week's US release of her sophomore album, BOYS DON'T CRY, a tribute to male songwriters of the 1970s - the ethereal Rumer. Discussing many aspects of this new release, as well as her previous studio work - such as her Burt Bacharach Christmas EP - Rumer sheds some light on what makes her such an arresting and intriguing performer to follow for the enthusiasts of intimate, revealing, performance-based artists around the world, as she herself reveals the early influences - Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand and Karen Carpenter most of all - that have shaped the unmistakable sound she continues to perfect on this moody, subdued and intoxicating new cover album. Plus, Rumer offers forth candid recollections of participating in recent gala concert presentations - none the least of which would be her superb "A House Is Not A Home" on the PBS Burt Bacharach edition of IN PERFORMANCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE - as well as recounts her own favorite performances, performers and albums and what she plans for the future; another new album is already in the ether! Additionally, Rumer also shares her thoughts on GLEE, provides amusing anecdotes about famous friends like Darryl Hall and Duffy, compares the recording industry now to the era BOYS DON'T CRY pays tribute to, recalls reactions to her dynamic new covers of these rare pop gems - all of that as well as much, much more!

So many cabaret shows, so little time . . . to write reviews that is. During his almost two years as a cabaret reviewer, BroadwayWorld.com critic Stephen Hanks managed to do a pretty good job of writing critiques during a show's run or soon after the run ended. But this summer he just couldn't keep up. Finally, here are observations on 10 performances over the past two months.

The RRazz Room, San Francisco's premier nightclub, will present three-time Grammy Award-nominated jazz singer Karrin Allyson for three shows only on August 31, September 1 and 2. She will celebrate her Grammy Award nominated CD 'Round Midnight.

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY continues its Summer 2012 season with the return of MAC, Bistro, and Nightlife Award winning vocalist, Karen Oberlin from July 24 to 28. BroadwayWorld was there for the first concert and we bring you photos below!

Victoria Theatre Association will present the ROYAL DRUMMERS AND DANCERS OF BURUNDI Thursday, November 1 at 7:00 pm at the historic Victoria Theatre, as part of VTA's 2012-2013 African-American Arts Festival. Tickets start at $16 and go on sale August 11 at the Ticket Center Stage Box Office.

The Blue Note announces its lineup for the Late Night Groove Series, Brunch and Monday nights, tonight, July 20-July 23, featuring the Randy Oxford Band, Dwight & Nicole, Ben Monder Trio and Michelle Carr. See full details below.

54 BELOW introduces two musical weekend brunches to make the weekend a little more enjoyable - Jazz Brunch on select Sundays and Sing, Harlem, Sing! Gospel Brunch on select Sundays.

Today we are talking to one of Broadway's most recent stars to make a big impression in Hollywood with his many recent TV and film appearances - from GLEE, 30 ROCK and CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM to the forthcoming HBO Liberace biopic BEHIND THE CANDELABRA as well as the new NBC series MOCKINGBIRD LANE - following his stints on the Great White Way in the lead roles of musicals such as ALL SHOOK UP, XANADU and FINIAN'S RAINBOW - the convivial, exceedingly talented Cheyenne Jackson. Giving us an all-access pass to his new role as songwriter, crafting two pop gems - "Drive" and "Before You" - and creating accompanying music videos for them as a preview of his forthcoming EP, which will also include collaborations with Sia and more. In addition to his recording career and songwriting responsibilities, Jackson also has a number of high profile film and TV projects coming up and he gives us the 411 on his role opposite Michael Douglas in the new Steven Soderbergh HBO film BEHIND THE CANDELABRA, as well as shares his experiences filming the new Bryan Fuller-created NBC reboot of THE MUNSTERS titled MOCKINGBIRD LANE. Also, will he be returning to 30 ROCK for its final season? What about a GLEE reprise? Plus, Jackson fills us in on the newest member of his family, as well as recollections of working on Dustin Lance Black's remarkable landmark PROP 8 live multi-media presentation, his involvement with Neil LaBute's THE HEART OF THE MATTER, his new film MUTUAL FRIENDS, participating in BARACK ON BROADWAY duetting with SMASH star Megan Hilty and what we can expect from his appearance in the new Christopher Ashley-directed movie musical adaptation of Ahrens & Flaherty's LUCKY STIFF. All of that and much, much more!

As a super-special prelude to BroadwayWorld's forthcoming InDepth InterView with Cheyenne Jackson, today we are shining a light on his two infectiously catchy and frothily pleasing pop singles from a forthcoming EP tentatively scheduled for release later this year - "Drive" and "Before You". Particularly given this week's world premiere of the eye-grabbing new music video for the instant earworm "Before You", now was the perfect time to catch up with one of Broadway and Hollywood's biggest rising stars as he prepares for his roles on the new NBC reboot of THE MUNSTERS, created by PUSHING DAISES and upcoming HANNIBAL writer/producer Bryan Fuller, titled MOCKINGBIRD LANE, as well as his part in the new star-studded Steven Soderbergh-directed HBO Liberace biopic BEYOND THE CANDELABRA, co-starring Oscar-winners Michael Douglas and Matt Damon, all about his many exciting endeavors. While the InDepth InterView covers those fresh topics as well as his new songwriting career and upcoming EP - as well as much, much more - today we are focusing primarily on the two new summer singles, some live performances of them, and, of course, both of their subsequent uniquely effective music videos. The music video for "Drive" is an instantly visually arresting animated road-trip travelogue depicting a cartoon Cheyenne navigating life's highways and byways while casting the occasional glance in the literal and proverbial rearview mirror, whereas "Before You" is a slightly ROCKY HORROR-esque, almost entirely black-and-white throwback to the frivolous sci-fi and horror-themed cheesy B-movies of the era - complete with a house of horrors featuring zombies, mummies, monsters and Rachel Dratch in a bizarre bird-themed hat. Both videos go the unexpected route in delivering the song's message, yet each hits their target in managing to showcase Cheyenne's considerable skills to their best advantage.

David Geffen's far-reaching influence - as agent, manager, record industry mogul, Hollywood and Broadway producer, and philanthropist - has helped shape American popular culture for the past four decades.

Robert Gould reports on the new American/British songwriting partnership of Barry Anderson and Mark Petty, whose songs are beginning to gain a great following on both sides of the Atlantic.

54 BELOW, the new performance venue located just below legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, hosts some of Broadway's brightest stars tonight, July 9 through July 22. Coming up are Ben Vereen, Bucky Pizzarelli, Maury Yeston, MX Justin Vivian Bond, Joe Iconis, Jamie Deroy, Rebecca Luker, Annie Golden, Mara Davi and more.

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY will continue its Summer 2012 season with the return of MAC, Bistro, and Nightlife Award winning vocalist, KAREN OBERLIN from July 24 to 28.

The Blue Note announces its lineup for the Late Night Groove Series, Brunch and Monday nights, July 20-23, featuring the Randy Oxford Band, Dwight & Nicole, Ben Monder Trio and Michelle Carr. See full details below.