Luke Frazier News

The American Pops Orchestra (APO) announced today the release of “Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas with Vanessa Williams,” which premieres Tuesday, December 15, 2020, 8:00-9:00 p.m.

Today, The Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts and The American Pops Orchestra announced Up&Coming 2020, an online musical theatre and monologue contest for teens.  “With so many performances being cancelled, we wanted to give area teens an opportunity to showcase their skills, gain recognition, and support their continuing education,” said Deb Gottesman, Co-Executive Director of The Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts. “We look forward to seeing the broad range of skills from teen performers.”

The next Michael Bublé or Idina Menzel could be discovered but it'll depend on the audience's votes when the American Pops Orchestra presents the third annual 'NextGen: Finding the Voices of Tomorrow.'

American Pops Orchestra (APO), in light of the coronavirus pandemic, is stepping up to offer music to soothe nerves while supporting musicians and performers facing a loss of their incomes.

Some of Aretha Franklin's greatest performances happened at the Kennedy Center - chief of which may have been a 2015 performance of '(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman' at the Kennedy Center Honors that made Barack Obama shed a tear in the Presidential box.

The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts is launching into Leap Year with 23 dazzling shows, concerts and special events for every entertainment preference, from classical music to Broadway razzle dazzle, including the return of Michael Feinstein and the Kravis Center Pops Orchestra, the 13th annual Palm Beach Wine Auction Dinner & Live Auction, and the local premiere of HAMILTON, the biggest blockbuster of the past decade.

The holiday season is in full swing at the National Philharmonic with a?oeHoliday Singin' Popsa?? on Friday, Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m. at The Music Center at Strathmore. Guest conductor and local Washington talent Luke Frazier will lead the National Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorale, as well as Broadway stars and international talents Ali Ewoldt (Phantom of the Opera); Hilary Morrow (Birdland Jazz Club); Kevin Rose, international vocalist; and Addalie Burns, an eight-year-old tap dancer, in an evening of holiday hits. Frazier is the founder of the American Pops Orchestra (APO), comprised of excellent players in the Washington, DC, area, and serving the Washington community with community concerts that are free for veterans and their families, at-risk children, underserved families, and more.

The holiday season is in full swing at the National Philharmonic with a?oeHoliday Singin' Popsa?? on Friday, Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m. at The Music Center at Strathmore. Guest conductor and local Washington talent Luke Frazier will lead the National Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorale, as well as Broadway stars and international talents Ali Ewoldt (Phantom of the Opera); Hilary Morrow (Birdland Jazz Club); Kevin Rose, international vocalist; and Addalie Burns, an eight-year-old tap dancer, in an evening of holiday hits.

Audiences have loved Garrett Clayton in 'Hairspray Live!,' Disney movies and his dramatic roles, and now he's getting ready to add his voice to some of Dolly Parton's greatest songs.

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (LCPA) marked the anniversary of the center's groundbreaking with the 60th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee Gala on Sunday, May 5 hosted by Neil Patrick Harris with performances by Joshua Bell; Harry Connick, Jr.; Larisa Martinez; Erin Morley; Jessie Mueller; conductor Luke Frazier with Juilliard students; Sugartone Brass Band; Young People's Chorus of New York City and award presentations by Chelsea Clinton, Misty Copeland, Justin Peck, Tiler Peck, and Damian Woetzel.

What happens when you combine a 'Trading Spaces' star with a madcap musical about trying to trade one's identity? Or a 'Drag Race' contestant with songs about the larger than life 'Mame'? It promises to be an incredible evening of entertainment as The American Pops Orchestra presents 'I Am What I Am: The Music of Jerry Herman,' starring some of today's freshest voices.

In the fall of 2019 the Ohio University School of Theater will welcome its first class to an exciting new chapter of its undergraduate Theater Performance degree program. Two interrelated four-year degree tracks will now be offered in either acting or musical theater, with an innovative curricular approach designed to prepare students for the rapidly changing theater industry.

In his life, he won eight GRAMMY awards, sold over 35 million records worldwide, and filled arenas around the world. On Sunday, April 7, The American Pops Orchestra will bring the music and style of the legendary Luther Vandross back to the nation's capital.

The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts is offering more, more, more for entertainment fans next month: more shows, more stars, more music, more laughs, more fun for everybody.

Imagine seeing Stefani Germanotta perform before she became Lady Gaga. Or Beyonce sing before she was famous. That's the vision for The American Pops Orchestra's 'NextGen: Finding the Voices of Tomorrow.'

Birdland will kick-off their great week of programming with the following acts:

Washingtonians rising early to watch Prince Harry marry Meghan Markle on TV or online on Sat., May 19 can now end this romantic day by enjoying some of loveliest and sometimes over-the-top songs composed and written by the legendary Cole Porter.   

Maestro LUKE FRAZIER and THE AMERICAN POPS ORCHESTRA - Washington, DC's innovative hometown orchestra - has announced the winners of their first annual vocal competition, "NextGen: Finding The Voices of Tomorrow." The First Place female winner is Nia Savoy (Howard University) and the First Place male winner is Evan LaChance (The Catholic University of America).

Maestro LUKE FRAZIER and THE AMERICAN POPS ORCHESTRA - Washington, DC's innovative hometown orchestra - will conclude their star-studded third season with Let's Misbehave: Cole Porter After Dark at the Orchestra's new home, Arena Stage at The Mead Center for American Theater (1101 Sixth Street SW) on Saturday, May 19 at 8:00 PM. Let's Misbehave will feature guest stars Betty Who (the pop star making her orchestra debut), Liz Callaway (Tony Award nominee, voice of Disney's Princess Jasmine and Anastasia), Ali Ewoldt ((Phantom of the Opera on Broadway), Helen Hayes Awards Winner), Vishal Vaidya (Groundhog Day on Broadway), and Mo Rocca ('CBS Sunday Morning,' NPR's 'Wait Wait…Don't Tell Me!'). Conductor Luke Frazier will lead a 20-piece orchestra in an evening directed by Kelly Crandall d'Amboise. Tickets are on sale now at www.TheAmericanPops.org.

Maestro LUKE FRAZIER and THE AMERICAN POPS ORCHESTRA - Washington, DC's innovative hometown orchestra - has teamed up with Washington, DC chapter of The National Society of Arts and Letters for their first annual vocal competition, "NextGen: Finding The Voices of Tomorrow."  The final round audition will take place on Friday, March 23 at 8:00 PM in Washington, DC at Arena Stage in The Kreeger Theater. Judges for competition will include Baayork Lee (Tony winning Broadway Legend), Jim Caruso (Birdland Jazz Club), Kelly d'Amboise (Signature Theater and APO Resident Director), and Robert Pullen (Emmy-nominated Producer and owner of Nouveau Productions). Tickets - which are $20 for adults and $10 for students - will be on sale Friday, February 2. Please visit www.TheAmericanPops.org.