Liza Minnelli News

In this episode, Ben and Daniel talk to playwright, composer, and lyricist Michael R. Jackson about Tori Amos's 1994 album 'Under the Pink.' They also discuss Liz Phair, Joni Mitchell, Mariah Carey, alt rock, Fiona Apple, 'Show Boat,' William Finn, 'In Trousers,' 'Raisin,' Sondheim, 'Company,' 'Rent,' and 'Passing Strange.' Michael talks about how he discovered his favorite songwriters and how they influenced his own writing process. Michael's acclaimed new musical 'A Strange Loop' recently played to sold-out audiences, and the cast recording is now available from Broadway Records.

NiCori Studios & Productions has announced the Fourth Annual Winter Gala on Friday, December 6 at 7pm at the The Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair. Scheduled to perform are Linda Purl (Broadway's Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Television's Happy Days, Matlock, The Office, Homeland and Designated Survivor), Nicolas King (Broadway's Beauty and the Beast, Worldwide Entertainer as Liza Minnelli's opening act for 10 years), Justin Matthew Sargent (Broadway's Spiderman, Turn Off The Dark, Rock of Ages and Bonnie and Clyde), David LaMarr (International Headliner for Disney, Carnival and Princess Cruise lines). All performers are subject to change.

ScoBar Entertainment has announced that PIANO BAR LIVE!has been extended through November, at Brandy's Piano Bar on the Upper East Side, beginning Monday, November 4 from 7-8:30pm. Joining Piano Bar Maestro, MICHAEL McASSEY at the keys, will be a veritable Who's Who of Cabaret and Broadway! PIANO BAR LIVE! is an interactive, live-streaming Piano Bar experience. THERE IS NO COVER CHARGE for PIANO BAR LIVE! but there is a two drink minimum.

Christmas at Birdland featuring Billy Stritch, Jim Caruso and Klea Blackhurst made a strong debut on the Billboard Jazz chart. The project currently claims the #7 spot on the chart, after having reached the #2 spot on the iTunes Jazz chart on its first weekend out.

Lincoln Center's acclaimed American Songbook series returns for its 21st year, celebrating the expansive scope and intricacy of the popular music canon from January 22 - February 29, 2020. This year's concert series includes lauded singer-songwriters, groundbreaking composers, storytellers speaking truth to power, experimental vocalists, and multitalented performers whose artistic breadth reflects the far-reaching perspectives and experiences of the essential American Songbook.

Coming on November 12, Penguin Random House will release A Is For Audra: Broadway's Leading Ladies from A to Z - the new children's picture book written by John Robert Allman and illustrated by Peter Emmerich. 

Filmmaker Robert Townsend has truly had a singular career ever since coming to prominence with his groundbreaking 1987 film a?oeThe Hollywood Shuffle.a?? That satirical comedy about Black actors dealing with racial stereotypes in the film and TV industry was famously self-financed by Townsend maxing out his credit cards. Perhaps even more remarkably, he has successfully maintained simultaneous careers over the ensuing decades as an actor, director, writer and producer working in both film and TV, narratives and documentaries, with the occasional mockumentary thrown in for good measure. Along the way, he has worked with a virtual galaxy of stars - Beyoncé, James Earl Jones and Morgan Freeman to name just a few a?" while surviving the inevitable ups and downs of a career in show business. Townsend is now returning to his roots as a stage performer with his solo show a?oeLiving the Shufflea?? at The Marsh Berkeley.

In this episode, Ben and Daniel talk to playwright, composer, and lyricist Michael R. Jackson about Tori Amos's 1994 album 'Under the Pink.' They also discuss Liz Phair, Joni Mitchell, Mariah Carey, alt rock, Fiona Apple, 'Show Boat,' William Finn, 'In Trousers,' 'Raisin,' Sondheim, 'Company,' 'Rent,' and 'Passing Strange.' Michael talks about how he discovered his favorite songwriters and how they influenced his own writing process. Michael's acclaimed new musical 'A Strange Loop' recently played to sold-out audiences, and the cast recording is now available from Broadway Records.

a?oeWe need a little Christmas, right this very minute!a?? And Tony Award-winning star of stage and screen Angela Lansbury provides it as Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS updates and rereleases the Broadway legend's holiday ornament.

After a sold-out premiere this summer, on Tuesday, Dec. 3 at 9:30pm Broadway star and recording artist Luba Mason (Chicago, Jekyll & Hyde, How to Succeed, Will Rogers Follies) will bring her acclaimed Broadway-centric concert Luba Mason a?" 5' 10a?? with pianist & music director Billy Stritch (Liza Minnelli, Christine Ebersole) to Feinstein's/54 Below (254 W. 54th Street).

Today, San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus (SFGMC) Artistic Director Dr. Timothy Seelig and Executive Director Chris Verdugo announced Holigays Are Here: Ring Them Bellsa?"a holiday extravaganza featuring the 300 men of the chorusa?"performing at San Francisco's Sydney Goldstein Theater (formerly the Nourse Theater) on Friday, December 6 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 7 at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets for Holigays Are Here: Ring Them Bells ($25a?"$110) are on-sale now by visiting www.SFGMC.org or by calling 415-392-4400.

Today, San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus (SFGMC) Artistic Director Dr. Timothy Seelig and Executive Director Chris Verdugo announced Holigays Are Here: Ring Them Bellsa?'a holiday extravaganza featuring the 300 men of the chorusa?'performing at San Francisco's Sydney Goldstein Theater (formerly the Nourse Theater) on Friday, December 6 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, December 7 at 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Award-winning Broadway veteran JOHNNY RODGERS celebrates the 100th birthday of 'the best friend a song ever had' in UNFORGETTABLE: The Music of Nat King Cole, December 4-8, 2019 in the SideNotes Cabaret. The cabaret is located in the Marla Eichmann Studio Theater of Sunset Playhouse in Elm Grove, Wisconsin.

The Drama League has revealed more of the artists who will be celebrating Sutton Foster at the organization's 36th Annual Benefit Gala next week. The black-tie evening honoring Foster a?" a two-time Tony Award, Drama Desk, Outer Critics, Fred Astaire, and Gracie Award winner and star of TV Land's hit television series a?oeYoungera?? -- will take place on Monday, October 28, 2019 beginning at 6:30 p.m. in New York City at The Plaza (768 Fifth Avenue). As previously announced, EY is the 2019 recipient of The Drama League's Arts Ally Award, to be accepted by Herb Engert at the Benefit Gala.

Steven Brinberg a?' best known for creating and performing Simply Barbra, the acclaimed all-live homage to the legendary Barbra Streisand a?' will produce and host an all-star tribute to Marvin Hamlisch at Catalina Jazz Club (6725 West Sunset Blvd) in Los Angeles, CA on Thursday, October 24 at 8:30 PM. The evening will feature Edie Alyson (Little Shop of Horrors), Alan Bergman (Two-time Oscar-winning lyricist), Herve Coeur (Haitian singer and songwriter), Kay Cole (A Chorus Line, Bye Bye Birdie), Mary Bond Davis (Hairspray), Fay DeWitt (Flahooley), Nancy Dussault (Two-time Tony nominee), Joshua Finkel (Kiss of the Spider Woman), Ilene Graff (Grease, I Love My Wife), Natalie Lander (a?oeLegally Blonde: The Search for Elle Woodsa??), Ashley Fox Linton (Wicked), Melissa Manchester (Grammy winning singer and songwriter), J. Elaine Marcos (A Chorus Line), Barbara Minkus (Funny Girl), Jenny O'Hara (The Odd Couple, Promises Promises), Noah Weisberg (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Jennifer Westfelt (Wonderful Town, a?oeYoungera??), and David Zack (Sweet Smell of Success). Michael Lavine serves as Music Director. For tickets and information, please call (323) 466-2210 or visit SimplyBarbra.com.

In this episode, Ben and Daniel talk to actress and singer Bridget Everett about Prince's legendary 1984 album Purple Rain. They also discuss Bread, Barry Manilow, Bette Midler, Patti LuPone, Little Richard, Lillias White, The Life, Tina Turner, Kiki & Herb, Murray Hill, Allison Janney, Brooks Ashmanskas, RuPaul, karaoke, lowbrow brilliance, and finding solace in music. Bridget talks about growing up with six siblings and how she found her way from Kansas to New York's electrifying downtown scene. Bridget can be seen in a number of TV shows such as Inside Amy Schumer, Lady Dynamite, Unbelievable, and Camping, as well as the upcoming AJ and the Queen on Netflix.

FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Isabelle Georges in Oh La La! On November 15th 2019 at 9:30pm.

Paper Mill Playhouse and the company of Chasing Rainbows: The Road to Oz support a?oeSpirit Day 2019a?? in the attached image. This year's Spirit Day (Thursday, October 17) is a means of speaking out against LGBTQ bullying and standing with LGBTQ youth, who disproportionately face bullying and harassment because of their identities. Pledging to 'go purple' on Spirit Day is a way for everyone to visibly show solidarity with LGBTQ youth and to take part in the largest, most visible anti-bullying campaign in the world.  

The Dangerous Christmas of Red Riding Hood is a hilarious take on the Red Riding Hood story told from the Wolf's point of view, book by Robert Emmett, lyrics by Bob Merrill and music by Jule Styne. TADA! was the first company to perform this musical on stage. It was originally produced as a TV special in 1965 featuring Liza Minnelli, Cyril Richard and Vic Damone. Performances run from November 23 through December 15, 2019. The production will be directed by Janine Nina Trevens, TADA!'s Founder and Producing Artistic Director, and choreographed by Joanna Greer, TADA!'s Associate Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer.

Two brand new musical theatre shows are being premiered at Liverpool's Epstein Theatre this weekend.