Lou Rawls News

Disco diva and Grammy Award winner, Thelma Houston, will once again grace the Teatro ZinZanni fabled spiegeltent as the legendary hostess from February 4 - May 16. She will appear in a new version of Hearts on Fire, a show that ran some eighteen months ago to great critical and audience acclaim, and which will span the celebratory month of March, which marks the Teatro ZinZanni's 10th anniversary in San Francisco

ATCO/Atlantic a cappella group Straight No Chaser has announced a 50-city tour with dates beginning in September and running through the fall.

As friend and costar Audra McDonald has said, Devin's booming bass voice has anchored many B'way ensembles--11 of them, to be precise.

Preceded by Michael Bernardi (son of Broadway legend Herschel Bernardi) who, earlier this month, made his cabaret debut at Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's in Studio City, the venue concludes its festival of October concerts with noted Los Angeles artists Charlotte Ruiz, Lisa Stanley and Jeanne Page.

San Franciscos award-winning AfroSolo Theatre Company presents the 16th annual AfroSolo Arts Festival, celebrating African American artists giving voice to the Black experience. Paying homage to and exploring the rich legacy of African Americans and people of African descent, Festival events (August 1-October 15) featuring live music, visual art, and new works for the stage will take place in San Francisco at Yerba Buena Gardens, the Main San Francisco Public Library, the African American Art and Culture Complex, and the Ella Hill Hutch Community Center. Most events, unless otherwise noted, are free and open to the public. For more information, the public may visit afrosolo.org or call 415-771-AFRO (2376).

San Franciscos award-winning AfroSolo Theatre Company presents the 16th annual AfroSolo Arts Festival, celebrating African American artists giving voice to the Black experience. Paying homage to and exploring the rich legacy of African Americans and people of African descent, Festival events (August 1-October 15) featuring live music, visual art, and new works for the stage will take place in San Francisco at Yerba Buena Gardens, the Main San Francisco Public Library, the African American Art and Culture Complex, and the Ella Hill Hutch Community Center. Most events, unless otherwise noted, are free and open to the public. For more information, the public may visit afrosolo.org or call 415-771-AFRO (2376).

Anything can happen when Teatro ZinZanni opens its magical spiegeltent at Pier 29 on the Embarcadero to a troupe of wild gypsies! Music, comedy and romance abound when Under the Gypsy Moon opens on September 3, featuring fiery blues legend Duffy Bishop as Zara, Queen of the Gypsies, and the one-and-only character actor Geoff Hoyle as the Chef.

San Franciscos award-winning AfroSolo Theatre Company presents the 16th annual AfroSolo Arts Festival, celebrating African American artists giving voice to the Black experience. Paying homage to and exploring the rich legacy of African Americans and people of African descent, Festival events (August 1-October 15) featuring live music, visual art, and new works for the stage will take place in San Francisco at Yerba Buena Gardens, the Main San Francisco Public Library, the African American Art and Culture Complex, and the Ella Hill Hutch Community Center. Most events, unless otherwise noted, are free and open to the public. For more information, the public may visit afrosolo.org or call 415-771-AFRO (2376).

San Franciscos award-winning AfroSolo Theatre Company presents the 16th annual AfroSolo Arts Festival, celebrating African American artists giving voice to the Black experience. Paying homage to and exploring the rich legacy of African Americans and people of African descent, Festival events (August 1-October 15) featuring live music, visual art, and new works for the stage will take place in San Francisco at Yerba Buena Gardens, the Main San Francisco Public Library, the African American Art and Culture Complex, and the Ella Hill Hutch Community Center. Most events, unless otherwise noted, are free and open to the public. For more information, the public may visit afrosolo.org or call 415-771-AFRO (2376).

Anything can happen when Teatro ZinZanni opens its magical spiegeltent at Pier 29 on the Embarcadero to a troupe of wild gypsies! Music, comedy and romance abound when Under the Gypsy Moon opens on September 3, featuring fiery blues legend Duffy Bishop as Zara, Queen of the Gypsies, and the one-and-only character actor Geoff Hoyle as the Chef.

San Franciscos award-winning AfroSolo Theatre Company presents the 16th annual AfroSolo Arts Festival, celebrating African American artists giving voice to the Black experience. Paying homage to and exploring the rich legacy of African Americans and people of African descent, Festival events (August 1-October 15) featuring live music, visual art, and new works for the stage will take place in San Francisco at Yerba Buena Gardens, the Main San Francisco Public Library, the African American Art and Culture Complex, and the Ella Hill Hutch Community Center. Most events, unless otherwise noted, are free and open to the public. For more information, the public may visit afrosolo.org or call 415-771-AFRO (2376).

Acclaimed Broadway dancer extraordinaire, JUDINE SOMERVILLE, has become the first dancer to receive the prestigious F. LAMMOT BELIN ARTS SCHOLARSHIP in that award's 45-year history.

San Franciscos award-winning AfroSolo Theatre Company presents the 16th annual AfroSolo Arts Festival, celebrating African American artists giving voice to the Black experience. Paying homage to and exploring the rich legacy of African Americans and people of African descent, Festival events (August 1-October 15) featuring live music, visual art, and new works for the stage will take place in San Francisco at Yerba Buena Gardens, the Main San Francisco Public Library, the African American Art and Culture Complex, and the Ella Hill Hutch Community Center. Most events, unless otherwise noted, are free and open to the public. For more information, the public may visit afrosolo.org or call 415-771-AFRO (2376).

BMI will name preeminent production and songwriting team Gamble & Huff BMI Icons at its 57th annual Pop Awards, slated for Tuesday, May 19 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles. Hosted by BMI President & CEO Del Bryant and BMI Vice President & General Manager, Writer/Publisher Relations, Los Angeles, Barbara Cane, the invitation-only event will also honor the songwriters and publishers of the past year's most-performed pop songs in the United States. The evening's commendations will culminate with an all-star musical tribute to Gamble & Huff.

APRIL AT THE METROPOLITAN ROOM Join them every Friday and Saturday from 11PM-2AM for our nightly piano lounge. No cover, no minimum! 4/1 7PM Barbara Brussell 'Brilliance from on High...BORN IN THE BRONX' Accompanied by musical director Tex Arnold, this marks their first time venturing a new show together.

BMI will name preeminent production and songwriting team Gamble & Huff BMI Icons at its 57th annual Pop Awards, slated for Tuesday, May 19 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles. Hosted by BMI President & CEO Del Bryant and BMI Vice President & General Manager, Writer/Publisher Relations, Los Angeles, Barbara Cane, the invitation-only event will also honor the songwriters and publishers of the past year's most-performed pop songs in the United States. The evening's commendations will culminate with an all-star musical tribute to Gamble & Huff.

Derique aka Lance McGee will be the guest on AfroSolo TV this Friday, January 2, 2008 at 6:30 pm. Mr. McGee is an internationally known physical comedian, Emmy Award winning clown and vaudevillian. The broadcast can be seen on Comcast Cable Station 76 in San Francisco.

This one-hour version has toured Miami-Dade County High Schools and Middle Schools for the past several weeks. It is adapted and directed by Mad Cat Theatre Company Artistic Director Paul Tei and features three of South Florida's leading actors-- Erik Fabregat, Deborah Sherman and Margie Eisenberg. The performance, generously sponsored by The Children's Trust, will be followed by a discussion with the cast.

Producer Ralph Lampkin Jr, and LMGJAZZ Records are proud to release the CD debut of Devin Richards, 'MY OWN VOICE' Recorded live at Metropolitan Room in June 2007, 'My Own Voice' is a collection of standards mixed with new songs by Dan Furman, Devin Richards and Ritt Henn.

Disco diva and Grammy Award winner, Thelma Houston, will once again grace the Teatro ZinZanni fabled spiegeltent as the legendary hostess from September 25 through January 11, 2009.