Lena Horne News

Center Theatre Group announced "A Grand Night," a special one-night-only event on Monday, April 22 featuring a 5:30p.m. pre-show reception in the Ahmanson lobby, a 7p.m. performance in the Mark Taper Forum and a post-show gala dinner on the stage of the Ahmanson Theatre.

Center Theatre Group announced "A Grand Night," a special one-night-only event on Monday, April 22 featuring a 5:30p.m. pre-show reception in the Ahmanson lobby, a 7p.m. performance in the Mark Taper Forum and a post-show gala dinner on the stage of the Ahmanson Theatre.

The living legends of jazz, veteran musicians who have achieved greatness in performing jazz are now being honored at The Nash with the creation of The Jazz Beacon Award. Conceived by Lewis Nash as a way to recognize the important role and contributions these musicians have given to the world of jazz, The Nash inducted its first honoree, bassist Ron Carter, during his March 23rd appearance at the downtown Phoenix jazz club.

With under two weeks to go until opening, Underbelly Festival Southbank has 31 more shows for 2019 including international drag sensation Courtney Act - the star who gained global recognition for starring in Australia's Got Talent, RuPaul's Drag Race and Celebrity Big Brother UK returning with her acclaimed show Under the Covers.

Black Ensemble Theater continues its 2019 Season (Legends and Lessons) with Style and Grace: In Tribute to Lena Horne, written and directed by Kylah Williams. Style and Grace: In Tribute to Lena and Nancy will be performed May 11 - June 30, 2019 at the Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark Street in Chicago. The press opening is Sunday, May 19 at 3:00pm. 

The Harlem Repertory Theatre's chamber version of the musical Sweet Charity unabashedly ventures into Bob Fosse's adult-themed musical drama about women who make their living in the sex trade. HRT's company of seven talented actor/singers/dancers tell the tale of the abusive (emotionally and physically) cycle in which our star, Charity Hope Valentine, finds herself inextricably trapped. She falls in love with the same wrong man over and over again. The current #MeToo movement inspired HRT's AUDELCO award-winning director and choreographer, Keith Lee Grant, to take on the challenge of mounting this production of Sweet Charity. The #MeToo era has thankfully forced the way we perceive the treatment of women as depicted in this musical from the late 1960s. Charity's desperate yet ever hopeful search for love is in stark contrast to the vicious cycles of abuse that are the 'accepted' realities of her workplace.

One of the Southwest's largest jazz festivals will return to Texas Christian University March 22-23, 2019, for its 42nd year, featuring legendary American jazz drummer Duffy Jackson to the exciting theme,  "Tribute to the music of Count Basie and Buddy Rich." The 2019 TCU Jazz Festival will host more than 700 middle and high school students at Ed Landreth Auditorium and PepsiCo Recital Hall during the annual competition, encompassing two days of performances from some of the most highly-regarded names in jazz, TCU ensembles and young artists from across the state.

Brooklyn Music School (BMS) presents the 6th Annual Middle School Jazz Festival today, March 2, 2019 from 12pm to 6:30pm, with a concert at 4:30pm, followed by a jam session with students, faculty, and guest artist. BMS is located at 126 Saint Felix Street, Brooklyn. Concert tickets are a $10 suggested donation.

After the powerful sincerity of his sold-out Ella, Louis & All That Jazz show in 2017, world-renowned trumpeter Byron Stripling returns to the The Philly POPS in Uptown Nights, March 1-3 at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.

Brooklyn Music School (BMS) presents the 6th Annual Middle School Jazz Festival on Saturday, March 2, 2019 from 12pm to 6:30pm, with a concert at 4:30pm, followed by a jam session with students, faculty, and guest artist. BMS is located at 126 Saint Felix Street, Brooklyn. Concert tickets are a $10 suggested donation.

This week's decluttering is only freeing up a tiny bit of space in my collection, but it represents an enormous place in my heart. The only version of The Wiz I have on CD is the AMAZING/IF YOU DON'T KNOW IT, YOU'RE NOT A REAL BROADWAY FAN original cast album starring Stephanie Mills. I do have the movie soundtrack in my iTunes and the soundtrack of 'The Wiz Live!' is on Apple Music, so let's dive in.

Two-time Emmy and five-time Grammy Award-nominee Michael Feinstein returns to Feinstein's at the Nikko May 9-12, 2019 with It Might as Well Be Spring, an all-new show celebrating the great mothers of song.

Black Ensemble Theater's Founder and CEO Jackie Taylor announces the 43rdSeason of Excellence: Legends and Lessons. The 2019 Season includes tributes to the renowned Gospel great Mahalia Jackson, legendary singer and actress Lena Horne, funk legends from James Brown to The Parliaments, and the legendary Motown artist, American icon and musical genius Stevie Wonder. The season culminates with the return of audience favorite The Other Cinderella. All performances will be held at the Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark Street in Chicago. 

As part of a means to celebrate the rich and beautiful diversity in Tampa Bay, The Straz Center created The Straz Arts Legacy REMIX Project, where writers, actors, musicians, singers, and dancers join together to perform for a free event showcasing a particular culture. During February's Black History month, The Straz Arts Legacy REMIX Project will celebrate artists of color on screen by showing three influential films in TECO Theatre 3-5pm on February 3, 10, and 17.

According to Variety, Michel Legrand, three-time Oscar winning composer has passed away at age 86.

There were many places around the world where the music of The Great American Songbook was being performed last night, but none more significant than the concert celebrating the 5th Anniversary of Dick Robinson's Legends Radio 100.3FM, the most successful privately owned radio station in the United States.

After the powerful sincerity of his sold-out Ella, Louis & All That Jazz show in 2017, world-renowned trumpeter Byron Stripling returns to the The Philly POPS in Uptown Nights, March 1-3 at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.

Baltimore Center Stage is thrilled to announce Grammy-nominated Broadway actress Syndee Winters will be in concert on Saturday February 9, 2019 in the Pearlstone Theater for a one-night-only special performance of her album Syndee Winters: Lessons >From a Lady, a musical love letter to American icon Lena Horne. Thanking her for her journey and sacrifice in her professional and personal life, Winters weaves stories and highlights the parallels of the life of Ms. Horne with those of her own professional and personal journey while infusing a beautiful interpretation of the standards Horne made famous, including "Yesterday, When I Was Young," and the iconic song from the 1970's film The Wiz, "Believe in Yourself."

It has been reported that veteran actor of stage and screen. Ethel Ayler, passed away last month at her home in California. She was 88 years old. 

City Theatre will welcome Tamara Tunie and Laurie Klatscher to the City Theatre stage this spring to bring the unlikely plans in Jen Silverman's play The Roommate to life. It is directed by City Theatre's Artistic Producer, Reginald L. Douglas, and will run on the City Theatre Main Stage, March 2 - 24, 2019. Tickets are on sale now.