McDonald News

Following up on their 25-date Summer 2019 Tour, LA's favorite garage-psych weirdos The Growlers bring their traveling party to 25 more cities this fall. 

THE GREEN ROOM 42 Broadway's newest intimate concert venue will present Buckingham Nicks, from Brad Simmons, Michael Holland, and Jon Weber, on Friday, May 3 at 9:30 PM. In this one-night-only event, three of New York City's most in-demand music directors will reinterpret and honor the extraordinary artists Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks. Before they joined Fleetwood Mac, the dynamic duo released one masterpiece self-titled album. Soon after, their luscious hit songs ( Rhiannon, Monday Morning, Landslide, and Don't Let Me Down Again ) were in heavy radio rotation. And then, the Rumours album gave us Dreams, Go Your Own Way, I Don't Want To Know, and The Chain.

When you see a high student support another high school student that is one of the best moments you can ever witness, but when you see over 2,000 students support one another the experience is astounding and one you will never forget! This was exactly the experience that happened at the Fisher Theatre on Thursday morning for the Hamilton Education Program, better known as EduHam, when the second of the two high school only Hamilton matinee performances happened. The students were greeted by Chaundre Hall-Broomfield, who plays Hercules Mulligan / James Madison, and then selected student took the stage to perform original projects inspired by their analysis of primary source materials and lyrics from the musical. That was followed by a Q & A with some members of the Angelica Tour company of Hamilton that is currently here in Detroit as part of the Broadway in Detroit season and the special matinee student performance. It was an experience that these students will never forget!

Birdland will kick-off their great week of programming with Frank Catalano Quartet, Emmet Cohen Trio, Julie Budd, and more!

The new Broadway production of Terrence McNally's Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, starring Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award winner Audra McDonald and two-time Academy Award nominee Michael Shannon, directed by Obie Award winner Arin Arbus, will play the Broadhurst Theatre (235 West 44th Street) on Broadway. Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune will begin previews on Saturday, May 4, 2019 and open officially on Thursday, May 30, 2019. The strictly limited 16-week engagement concludes on Sunday, August 25, 2019.

The new Broadway production of Terrence McNally's Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, starring Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award winner Audra McDonald and two-time Academy Award nominee Michael Shannon, directed by Obie Award winner Arin Arbus, will play the Broadhurst Theatre (235 West 44th Street) on Broadway. Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune will begin previews on Saturday, May 4, 2019 and open officially on Thursday, May 30, 2019. The strictly limited 16-week engagement concludes on Sunday, August 25, 2019.

The 36th season of the Verdi Chorus continues with the Walter Fox Singers in Love is Timeless for one night only at the First United Methodist Church in Santa Monica on May 4, at 7:30pm.  Led by Founding Artistic Director Anne Marie Ketchum, the Walter Fox Singers comprise the professional ensemble of the Verdi Chorus, which is the only choral group in Southern California that focuses primarily on the dramatic and diverse music for opera chorus. This program, devoted to the timeless nature of love in all of its intricacies, will feature best loved arias, duets and emsembles from the world of opera, as well as favorite songs from the canon of mid-century American musical theater

Circle Theatre opens their 67th Main Stage season with the musical production of Freaky Friday on Thursday, May 2 at 7:30 p.m. inside the Performing Arts Center on the campus of Aquinas College.

The new Broadway production of Terrence McNally's Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, starring Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award winner Audra McDonald and two-time Academy Award nominee Michael Shannon, directed by Obie Award winner Arin Arbus, will play the Broadhurst Theatre (235 West 44th Street) on Broadway. Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune will begin previews on Saturday, May 4, 2019 and open officially on Thursday, May 30, 2019. The strictly limited 16-week engagement concludes on Sunday, August 25, 2019.

Portland Stage presents The Last Five Years by Jason Robert Brown April 30 through May 19. This hit musical by Tony Award-winning lyricist Jason Robert Brown deconstructs a love affair and marriage between an aspiring novelist and a struggling actress over five years. Told almost entirely through song, this piece moves backward and forward through time weaving the beginning and end of a love affair.

Andy Mientus, Declan Bennett, Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, Cedric Neal and John Partridge will star as Patrick, Dale, Inez, Willie and Buddy respectively in the European premiere of new LGBTQ+ musical THE VIEW UPSTAIRS, which runs from 18 July to 24 August at Soho Theatre, with a press night on Tuesday 23 July.

U.K. reggae legends Steel Pulse announce today their first new studio album in 15 years, Mass Manipulation, out May 17 via Rootfire Cooperative in partnership with Steel Pulse's own imprint,Wiseman Doctrine. Lead single “Cry Cry Blood” debuts today. The full album can be pre-ordered/pre-saved HERE with deluxe bundles available HERE.

Running from May 8th-12th, 2019, New York Live Arts presents Live Ideas--its annual humanities festival of arts and ideas. This year Live Ideas 2019 - AI: Are You Brave Enough for The Brave New World? will offer five days of activity designed to imagine the future and understand the current conversation surrounding artificial intelligence. Programming includes thought provoking public forums, a HACK-ART-THON, workshops and classes for children and adults, and live performances in the studio, theater, and lobby gallery that are built around artificial intelligence.

Director Rebecca Frecknall and actress Patsy Ferran recently picked up deserved Olivier Awards for their revelatory revival of Summer and Smoke. Now, they're back at the Almeida, bringing that fresh approach to well-known Chekhov instead of obscure Tennessee Williams.

Today is the day! Shoshana Bean and Jeremy Jordan, who both currently star in Waitress, will announce the 2019 Drama League Awards Nominees for Outstanding Production of a Play, Outstanding Production of a Musical, Outstanding Revival of a Play, Outstanding Revival of a Musical, and the much-coveted Distinguished Performance Award.

The Drama League has announced, today, that Shoshana Bean and Jeremy Jordan, who both currently star in Waitress, will announce the 2019 Drama League Awards Nominees for Outstanding Production of a Play, Outstanding Production of a Musical, Outstanding Revival of a Play, Outstanding Revival of a Musical, and the much-coveted Distinguished Performance Award.

Utah Opera presents a night of thrilling music and dramatic narrative with Vincenzo Bellini's "Norma," in a semi-staged production at Abravanel Hall on May 4 at 7:30 PM and May 6 at 7 PM. This new production of "Norma,", created by Utah Opera's Costume Shop and Scenic Studios, will feature costumes designed by Season 12 "Project Runway" finalist Bradon McDonald, and projected images and video designed by Greg Emetaz. Crystal Manich will direct the production, and Stephen Lord will conduct the Utah Symphony. Due to renovations of the historic Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre, Utah Opera's performances of "Norma" will take place in Abravanel Hall." Tickets priced $29-108 ($15 for students) are available for purchase through utahopera.org or by calling (801) 533-6683.

Last night, WP Theater held its 40th Anniversary Gala honoring game-changing women with the Women of Achievement Awards. The gala honored three-time Tony Award-Winning Producer & Founder of BroadwayHD Bonnie Comley (A Gentleman's Guide, War Horse), Award-Winning actress, activist, and singer-songwriter Amanda Seyfried (Mamma Mia, Dear John, Mean Girls), and Grammy Award-winning songwriter and recording artist Emily Warren (The Chainsmokers' 'Don't Let Me Down', Dua Lipa's 'New Rules').

Birdland has announced its upcoming May program!

Courtney Barnett has reunited with long time collaborator Danny Cohen on the video for new single 'Everybody Here Hates You' which she shares today. The award winning director ingeniously takes us inside Barnett's brain as it slowly implodes, to dizzying, brilliant effect.