Laura Nyro News

A group of gifted artists have been added to the lineup of VINEYARD CELEBRATES THE SONGS OF DORY PREVIN, a special, one-night-only benefit concert featuring the brilliant and iconic work of the legendary singer and songwriter on Monday, June 17, 2013 at 7:00 PM at The Vineyard (108 E. 15 St., between Irving Place and Union Square East).

Joe's Pub at The Public is proud to welcome seven different artist residencies this summer including sultry pop songstress DIANE BIRCH, New Orleans piano virtuoso HENRY BUTLER, performance artist JOHN KELLY, swinging jazz band THE HOT SARDINES, airhostess/comedienne PAM ANN, and more. Like its NEW YORK VOICES commissioning program, these residencies are a central part of the venue's commitment to artist development and to providing space for new work. Last year Joe's Pub hosted 15 artist residencies and it's on track to reach that number again. Get to know more about the artists making a home at Joe's Pub:

Joe's Pub has announced this week's lineup of artists - check out the full listings below!

This June and July, 54 BELOW, the performance venue in the grand tradition of New York City nightlife, presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. In addition at 54 Below is the WBGO Jazz Series on Tuesday nights, as well as Late Night at 54 Below: 'Backstage' with Susie Mosher, '54 Piano Bar,' and new vocal competition 'The Callback.' Located just below legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street.

Today we are presenting a specially-focused InDepth InterView centering upon Audra McDonald's sensational new solo album, GO BACK HOME, which is available now and will be accompanied by a PBS TV special tonight, featuring the five-time Tony Award-winning performer at her very, very best. McDonald and I parse the finer points of GO BACK HOME, analyzing the song selection process itself as well as the meanings behind the myriad masterful musical moments present on the new release and what inspired her exquisite performances of these songs by Broadway's absolute best. McDonald also shares stories and insights into composers covered on GO BACK HOME, including frequent collaborators Stephen Sondheim, Michael John LaChiusa and Adam Guettel as well as Kander & Ebb, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Jule Styne, Comden & Green and many more. In addition to all about GO BACK HOME, McDonald and I also discuss the two brand new compositions on the album originating in the new specially-penned solo musical written expressly for her by LaChiusa, MARLENE DIETRICH'S ABC, and what the future potentially holds for that fascinating stage endeavor and take a look back at her other LaChiusa musicals, MARIE CHRISTINE, SEND (WHO ARE YOU? I LOVE YOU) and specialty material included. Also, McDonald fills us in on her recent and upcoming film appearances, such as last year's RAMPART with Woody Harrelson and the upcoming I FOUGHT THE LAW. Plus, McDonald expresses her enthusiasm for her continuing role as host of LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER, reveals her opinions on the current movie musical renaissance and the popularity of GLEE, as well as clues us in on her iPod favorites, practicing playing the piano to relax and the possibility of even accompanying herself onstage someday, reflections on Laura Nyro and other favorite pop artists, future plans to pursue more Shakespeare onstage (and musings on what parts), the distinct possibility of essaying the title role in GYPSY sometime soon, appearing on the web series IT COULD BE WORSE - and much, much more!

Celebrating the launch of her new solo album, 'ALL THIS HAPPINESS', on PS Classics, Judy Kuhn is making her debut at 54 Below, (254 W. 54th Street between Broadway & 8th Avenue) in, 'ALL THIS HAPPINESS' on Monday, June 10th and Wednesday, June 12th at 7:00 p.m., featuring Dan Lipton, Musical Director, cellist Peter Sachon and percussionist Damien Bassman. The show will include songs from the new CD as well as some of her other favorites.

The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center presents one of the most exciting vocalists of our time, Ms. Julie Budd, making a long anticipated return to Los Angeles after an eight year hiatus. This special, one-night-only concert appearance presents a rare opportunity to see Ms. Budd (who has thrilled audiences in such venues as Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center and the London Palladium) in the intimate setting of the Center's beautiful Renberg Theatre.

What happens when the squares of Seville meet the streets of New York? Find out tonight, April 26 when Carmen's Place (A Fantasy) opens at the Castillo Theatre on 42nd Street, running until June 16. Featuring some of opera's best-loved music as well as six original musical numbers, Carmen's Place (A Fantasy) is helmed by the 2012 AUDELCO Award winner for directing, Gabrielle L. Kurlander, whose production of Sally and Tom (The American Way) was a popular and critical success at Castillo last season.

Jazz singer Mark Winkler has written a new album dedicated to fresh interpretations of the work of his own favorite singer/songwriter Laura Nyro, which is set to be released today, April 16.

The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center presents one of the most exciting vocalists of our time, Ms. Julie Budd, making a long anticipated return to Los Angeles after an eight year hiatus. This special, one-night-only concert appearance presents a rare opportunity to see Ms. Budd (who has thrilled audiences in such venues as Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center and the London Palladium) in the intimate setting of the Center's beautiful Renberg Theatre.

As an undergraduate theater major in the early 1970s, I heard music everywhere. It seemed to pour out of every office and workspace around the department. (And in the LP era, if you wanted more than the radio, this meant schlepping a twenty pound record player and a dozen or so albums from your home to the campus, sometimes requiring back-and-forth trips from the car. If you go to that much trouble, you want to keep the music playing.) In the hushed costume shop with its quietly industrious all female staff, Broadway ruled, with Stephen Sondheim's recent Company and Follies in heavy rotation. It was 'men only' in the scene shop where I listened to male balladeers like James Taylor and Gordon Lightfoot while unhappily working off assigned crew hours. Jazz classes (my favorites) in the dance department were conducted to the pre-disco sounds of Isaac Hayes and the Temptations. And late night cast parties were never complete without spins of Bette Midler's first two albums.

It's April 1st. Do you know when your Spring is coming? During another longggggg New York winter, the good news is that there were a ton of warming cabaret shows. The bad news is that there were so many, even during this seemingly endless winter our intrepid reviewer Stephen Hanks didn't have enough time to review them all right after the performances. So in what is becoming a seasonal ritual, here he offers yet another compilation of 13 'catch-up' cabaret show reviews.

According to her official Facebook page, singer and actor Lorna Luft announced today that she has recently undergone surgery for breast cancer and is embarking on a regimen of adjuvant chemotherapy. She will resume concert appearances mid-August.

What happens when the squares of Seville meet the streets of New York? Find out on April 26 when Carmen's Place (A Fantasy) opens at the Castillo Theatre on 42nd Street, running until June 16. Featuring some of opera's best-loved music as well as six original musical numbers, Carmen's Place (A Fantasy) is helmed by the 2012 AUDELCO Award winner for directing, Gabrielle L. Kurlander, whose production of Sally and Tom (The American Way) was a popular and critical success at Castillo last season.

Ailey II, the youthful and gifted second company of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, returns to its home, The Ailey Citigroup Theater, from tonight, March 13- 24 for a highly anticipated two-week season - the first led by recently appointed Artistic Director Troy Powell. The 14 exciting performances experienced through two dynamic programs come on the heels of a successful North American tour to over 20 cities and an array of critically-acclaimed performances in Germany and France.

Ailey II, the second company of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, returns to its home, The Ailey Citigroup Theater, from March 13- 24 for a highly anticipated two-week season - the first led by recently appointed Artistic Director Troy Powell. The 14 exciting performances experienced through two dynamic programs come on the heels of a successful North American tour to over 20 cities and an array of critically-acclaimed performances in Germany and France.

Legacy Recordings is proud to announce a brand-new series of playlists created by legendary music executive Clive Davis, appearing exclusively on 'The Legacy Of' app on digital music subscription service Spotify. The creation of the playlists coincides with the publication of Davis' long-awaited autobiography, The Soundtrack Of My Life(Simon & Schuster).

The most musically satisfying Beatles tribute band and State Theatre audience favorite features TV star/musicians Will Lee from The Late Show with David Letterman and Jimmy Vivino of Conan O'Brien's house band, plus Rich Pagano, Frank Agnello and Jack Petruzzelli. The Fab Faux, featuring the Creme Tangerine Strings & Hogshead Horns, promise to bring you a concert that will take you 'there and back' with a musical trip spanning the career of the Beatles! This is THE band to see if you want to know what it might have been like if the Beatles toured behind their later albums.

Ailey II, the youthful and gifted second company of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, returns to its home, The Ailey Citigroup Theater, from March 13- 24 for a highly anticipated two-week season - the first led by recently appointed Artistic Director Troy Powell. The 14 exciting performances experienced through two dynamic programs come on the heels of a successful North American tour to over 20 cities and an array of critically-acclaimed performances in Germany and France.