Lena Horne News

Cleveland Play House enthusiastically welcomes dance legend Maurice Hines to Cleveland in the toe-tapping extravaganza, Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life. Co-produced with Alliance Theatre and Arena Stage, CPH audiences will be dazzled by this infectious production, which brings the history of American tap to life. Directed by Tony-nominee Jeff Calhoun (Newsies) and featuring contemporary tap icons The Manzari Brothers and music from the all-female big band The Diva Orchestra, Tappin' Thru Life will dance its way onto PlayhouseSquare's Allen Theatre stage for an extended run from May 30 - June 29. Special gratitude is given to CPH's generous sponsor, Zinner & Co.

The show is a celebration of the life of Maurice Hines, his brother Gregory, and their parents who Maurice fondly remembers throughout the show. Adding to emotional content, moveable screens that divide the orchestra from the performing area were often used to display photographs of the Hines family in their early days. And throughout the show, Hines, now a young 70 years old, expresses sheer joy in entertaining his audience, singing and dancing with a passion from deep within his soul. You can't help but be pulled into the magic!

The Wallis Center for the Performing Arts presents Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life for 19 performances only from today, May 9 - 24, 2014 in the Bram Goldsmith Theater.

Nevada Ballet Theatre (NBT) announced today that it will honor dancer, choreographer, actress, producer, director and author Debbie Allen as Woman of the Year for the 31st Annual Black & White Ball. The recipient of numerous awards, including a Tony Award, Golden Globe and three Emmy Awards among others, Allen's many contributions to the performing arts and entertainment industry will be celebrated on Saturday, January 24, 2015 at ARIA Resort & Casino, CityCenter.

Guest conductor Jack Everly joins the Utah Symphony this weekend, May 2-3 for a trip down memory lane at Abravanel Hall. This special concert, celebrating the Baby Boom generation, highlights songs and television shows from the 1960s. The program features music by the Beach Boys, Frankie Valli, and the Beatles, and guest vocalists Roy Chicas, Jim Hogan, Marissa McGowan, N'Kenge, Kristine Reese and Max Quinlan.

The Wallis Center for the Performing Arts presents Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life for 19 performances only from May 9 - 24, 2014 in the Bram Goldsmith Theater. Maurice Hines, a Tony Award nominee, is a celebrated dancer, choreographer, director, and singer, whose impressive career spans over 40 years. Directed by Tony Award nominee Jeff Calhoun (Broadway's Newsies and Grey Gardens), Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life features D.C.'s dynamic tap-dancing duo, the Manzari Brothers, 11-year old tapping phenomenon Luke Spring, as well as the all-female, nine-piece big band, The DIVA Jazz Orchestra.

El Portal Theatre presents Ms. Neile Adams in The Lives of Me, A Musical Celebration of her memories and the stages of her life! Directed by Ted Sprague with Musical Direction by Andy Howe, The Lives of Me runs May 24 & May 25 for 2 shows only, at the Monroe Forum Theatre at the historic El Portal Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Blvd. in the heart of the NoHo Arts District.

Artistic Director Vincent J. Cardinal has announced that Leslie Uggams, the Tony and Emmy Award winning actress will be starring as Rose in Connecticut Repertory Theatre's (CRT) production of GYPSY: A Musical Fable onstage July 10-20. GYPSY, is the third show in the 2014 Summer Nutmeg Series, which includes A CHORUS LINE (June 5-14) and THE SUNSHINE BOYS (June 19-29) starring Jerry Adler and Richard Kline.

Guest conductor Jack Everly joins the Utah Symphony on May 2-3 for a trip down memory lane at Abravanel Hall. This special concert, celebrating the Baby Boom generation, highlights songs and television shows from the 1960s. The program features music by the Beach Boys, Frankie Valli, and the Beatles, and guest vocalists Roy Chicas, Jim Hogan, Marissa McGowan, N'Kenge, Kristine Reese and Max Quinlan.

Amas Musical Theatre and The Amas Musical Theatre Lab will present free staged readings of "Cookin! - A Taste of Things to Come," a new musical by Debra Barsha and Hollye Levin, with musical direction by Gillian Berkowitz. Directed by Tony Award nominee Lynne Taylor-Corbett (Swing!), the readings will be held on Monday, May 12th at 1pm & 4pm and Tuesday, May 13th at 4pm at St. Luke's Theatre.

Cafe Society Swing - a true story is set for Leicester Square Theatre, London on Tues 17th - Sat 21st June 2014 (not Thurs 19th June). A Copasetic Production, written by Alex Webb & directed by Simon Green.

The Wallis Center for the Performing Arts presents Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life for 19 performances only from May 9 - 24, 2014 in the Bram Goldsmith Theater. Maurice Hines, a Tony Award nominee, is a celebrated dancer, choreographer, director, and singer, whose impressive career spans over 40 years. Directed by Tony Award nominee Jeff Calhoun (Broadway's Newsies and Grey Gardens), Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life features D.C.'s dynamic tap-dancing duo, the Manzari Brothers, as well as the all-female, nine-piece big band, The Diva Jazz Orchestra.

The Fulfillment Fund has announced the 7th Annual 'The Songs of Our Lives' concert, which will pay special tribute to the songs of internationally acclaimed Songwriter's Hall of Fame and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, songwriter Lamont Dozier and the legendary Songwriter's Hall of Famer, two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, singer-songwriter, David Crosby.

Lawrence Hamilton, the elegant and commanding musical theater artist and one of Broadway's leading men, died of cardiac arrest on Thursday, April 3, 2014 at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City due to complications following bypass surgery. He was 59.

In the late '70s, Vivian Reed captured a Tony Award nomination and won a Drama Desk Award for her work in the Broadway musical Bubbling Brown Sugar, and although Reed has delivered some critically-acclaimed work in the many years since (a Tony nomination for the 1992 musical The High Rollers Social and Pleasure Club and a star turn in the revue Three Mo' Divas), during the last decade she had gone and stayed away too long, mainly to take care of her ailing mother. Last November, she dipped a toe in the New York nightclub waters, producing a one-night show at 54 Below that was highly praised and offered hints of great things to come. But this past Monday night—the first of what will ultimately be a four-show run of “An Evening With Vivian Reed” (the next three dates are April 14, May 20 and June 19)—this performing powerhouse established her return in earnest. With Reed's still expressive voice tackling musical genres ranging from R & B to Jazz to Great American Songbook standards to Gospel (even a dash of Opera), her electric and passionate show was cabaret/nightclub performing as revival meeting in more ways than one. Reed is not only reviving her singing career, she is inspiring impassioned converts at the same time.

Life-long performer and Tony nominee Maurice Hines (Uptown…It's Hot!; Sophisticated Ladies) narrates his glamorous career through tap as he inspires love and appreciation of this amazing art form. With song and dance, Hines pays tribute to his brother, Gregory Hines, his family, and the singers who have inspired him, from Frank Sinatra to Lena Horne. A charming storyteller, Hines will turn the expanse of the Alliance Stage into a place of intimate story-telling and dance moves that will make you realize you are in the presence of a song-and-dance legend. A once-in-a-lifetime stage experience you will remember for years. MAURICE HINES IS TAPPIN' THRU LIFE is a co-production with Arena Stage and Cleveland Play House. For tickets, visit www.alliancetheatre.org/tappin or call 404.733.5000.

Richard Ridge, lead correspondent for the popular theatrical web site Broadway World, will host the 45th Anniversary Gala for Amas Musical Theatre, New York City's award-winning pioneer in diversity and multi-ethnic casting in the performing arts since 1968, on Monday, March 31st, 2014 at the Baruch Performing Arts Center (East 25th Street between Lexington and 3rd Avenues). Honorary Chair for the event is veteran Broadway virtuoso Maurice Hines.

Life-long performer and Tony nominee Maurice Hines (Uptown…It's Hot!; Sophisticated Ladies) narrates his glamorous career through tap as he inspires love and appreciation of this amazing art form. With song and dance, Hines pays tribute to his brother, Gregory Hines, his family, and the singers who have inspired him, from Frank Sinatra to Lena Horne. A charming storyteller, Hines will turn the expanse of the Alliance Stage into a place of intimate story-telling and dance moves that will make you realize you are in the presence of a song-and-dance legend. A once-in-a-lifetime stage experience you will remember for years. MAURICE HINES IS TAPPIN' THRU LIFE is a co-production with Arena Stage and Cleveland Play House. For tickets, visit www.alliancetheatre.org/tappin or call 404.733.5000.

The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts announced today that The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, winner of the 2012 Tony Award for Best Musical Revival, will perform today, March 25-30, 2014 at the Ordway.