Little Richard News

George Bugatti, takes our country's most notorious scandal and asks “What if … President Richard M. Nixon had not resigned?,” “What if … One young lawyer uncovered a shocking truth?” and What if … Nixon had fought back?” in “Trial on the Potomac, The Impeachment of Richard Nixon.”

Young Actors Theatre will present GREASE as its 2021 Summer Main Stage production, with live performances running June 25 to July 10, 2021. ​

This follows the diamond certifications of “Just the Way You Are, “Grenade,” and “Uptown Funk!(Mark Ronson)” Furthermore, “Just the Way You Are” is twelve times multi-platinum, “Uptown Funk!” and “When I Was Your Man” are eleven times multi-platinum, and “Grenade” and “That’s What I Like” are ten times multi-platinum.

honor of Black leaders who shaped and defined American history, The Marsh is presenting Darryl Van Leer’s riveting The Escape of Frederick Douglass on its digital platform, MarshStream. Van Leer wrote and stars in the acclaimed production, which brings to vivid life the early years of African American rights activist Frederick Douglass, from his youth as an unruly boy caught in a slave training camp to his gripping and suspenseful train ride to freedom. Immediately following the performance, Van Leer will be joined by The Marsh Founder/Artistic Director Stephanie Weisman for a Q&A. The Escape of Frederick Douglass will be streamed on Saturday, April 24 at 7:30pm PDT. For more information, please visit www.themarsh.org/marshstream. BroadwayWorld up with Van Leer last week from his home base in Nashville, Tennessee. An actor with some notable film & TV credits, Van Leer is perhaps best known for his stage works about political and cultural leaders, including musical performers such as Ray Charles and Little Richard. We discussed The Escape of Frederick Douglass and how he went about bringing such an iconic historical figure to life, and his thoughts on finding hope in difficult times. Van Leer has made it his mission to take inspiration from these great historical figures and pass it on to his audiences.

This special 90-minute show will be held at The Winter Park Playhouse with socially distanced seating in place.  Net proceeds will support The Winter Park Playhouse's year-round musical programming in-house and out in the community. 

SHOUT SISTER SHOUT! Has announced its creative team. Playwright Cheryl L. West (FANNIE: The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer; Jar the Floor), will be joined by Kenneth L. Roberson (Avenue Q; All Shook Up), who will direct & Joseph Joubert (Respect; The Color Purple) as arranger & orchestrator for the musical about the Godmother of Rock ’n’ Roll.

Anderson .Paak was among the evening’s big winners, taking home the “Best Melodic Rap Performance” GRAMMY® for his 2020 single, “Lockdown,” which was also nominated for “Best Music Video.”

Brittany Howard performed Rodgers & Hammerstein's classic tune 'You'll Never Walk Alone' during last night's Grammy Awards ceremony.

The Beach Boys were in a career low, and Maharishi had begun to fade from his media darling days as the Indian 'guru' to the Beatles, Mia Farrow, the Beach Boys and others. With photos andheadlines of the hip and famous at his ashram in India, Maharishi had burst into the spiritual mythology of media hype, creating a worldwide market for similar gurus, endless lines of clothing and Indian music of the brilliant Ravi Shankar, among others.

The uncommonly versatile actor/writer/musician Darryl Van Leer has made it his mission to provide inspiration to others. It would therefore be hard to think of a more perfect way for The Marsh to launch Black History Month than with a live performance of his electrifying one-man play, Mandela: Let Freedom Reign, which it will present on MarshStream on Saturday evening, February 6th. From his early life to his epic struggles against apartheid, Nelson Mandela comes to vivid life in this life-affirming performance. An icon of democracy and social justice, Mandela’s life-long dedication to promoting forgiveness and equality are celebrated in this stirring reminder of one man’s incredible impact. Mandela: Let Freedom Reign will be presented at 7:30pm PST on Saturday, February 6th on MarshStream. Van Leer will also appear two days prior to that on Stephanie’s MarshStream at 7:30pm PST on Thursday, February 4th to discuss the play and perform a brief excerpt. For more information, visit www.themarsh.org/marshstream. Also, please note that the performance on February 6th will be live only, and not archived for later viewing. Van Leer is a man of many talents who has enjoyed an exceptionally wide-ranging career. While his theater work has focused primarily on his one-man shows about iconic historic and musical figures, he has also racked up some impressive film and TV credits in ensemble projects, sharing the screen with acting luminaries such as James Earl Jones, Samuel L. Jackson and Rue McClanahan. BroadwayWorld spoke with Van Leer last week from his home base in Nashville, Tennessee.  In conversation, he is instantly and effortlessly engaging, warm and upbeat, and clearly thankful for the opportunity to create and perform works of inspiration. His Kentucky roots are evidenced by the delightfully musical lilt in his speech patterns.

Formed on the open plains of their home state of Oklahoma, husband and wife duo The Imaginaries’ Maggie McClure (piano, keyboard, vocals) and Shane Henry (guitar, vocals) are finally set to release their long-awaited self-titled debut album, The Imaginaries on March 26, 2021 

Today, Amanda Shires shares a cover of the beloved Genesis song, “That’s All,” via Rolling Stone.

The Wick Theatre has been keeping audiences entertained for months now with their dynamic Supper Club Cabarets, which take place in the grand lobby, but now the time has come to open the doors to the main theatre! The first show will be appropriately, Back Home Again, a John Denver tribute by Tom Becker and his band, who have been featured on PBS.

The Wick Theatre is bringing back live entertainment with a wonderful series of Supper Club events, concerts and theatrical productions.  All safety and social distancing procedures are being followed. For more information and tickets, please visit www.thewick.org or call the box office at 561-995-2333.

Today's top stories: Cherry Jones accepts her third Emmy Award, Andrew Lloyd Webber discusses the creation of Song & Dance, John Lloyd Young shares his top 10 Broadway performances, and more!

Billy Porter is a singer, composer, actor, playwright and director from Pittsburgh, PA. He currently stars as Pray Tell on the FX television series Pose, for which he won an Emmy Award.

Variety reports that Elton John's 'Elton: Jewel Box' album will contain 148 songs, including 60 previously unreleased ones.

Oklahoma Americana husband / wife duo, The Imaginaries, Shane Henry (guitar, vocals) and Maggie McClure (keys, piano, vocals), are exclusively premiering their stunning video for their third single “Walking On A Wire” today with Cowboys & Indians Magazine – watch it HERE.

Craft Recordings is set to reissue Between the Buried and Me’s acclaimed third album, Alaska on vinyl. Releasing September 25th and available for pre-order today, the 2005 record features newly remixed and remastered audio by the group’s longtime collaborator, Jamie King, at Basement Studio.

Andrew Lloyd Webber has contributed words to a book of artwork by SuperSize artist Morgan Howell.