McDonald News

Actors Bridge Ensemble's acclaimed production of Sarah DeLappe's The Wolves and Cumberland County Playhouse's rendition of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street were named as the top shows of the year during Midwinter's First Night, the annual tribute to theater in Tennessee, held at Nashville's The Larry Keeton Theatre last Sunday night, January 13. Photographer Rae Lynn Whetzel-Stickney captured many of the night's biggest moments with her camera, which are shared on BroadwayWorld Nashville today.

Announced today, Playing on Air's Winter/Spring 2019 season will include work by playwrights Gracie Gardner and Chiara Atik. The season will also include the April release of the highly-anticipated live recording of David Auburn's AN UPSET, starring David Harbour (Netflix's "Stranger Things," Hellboy) and Steven Boyer (Hand To God, NBC's "Trial & Error") and the re-release of Lynn Nottage's POOF! with Audra McDonald, Tonya Pinkins, and Keith Randolph Smith.  

Producer Mark Cortale has announced a marquee trio for his acclaimed West End concert series - with two unique shows in one day, on Sunday February 3.

NAACP Image® Award-winning Actress Wendy Raquel Robinson and GRAMMY® Award-nominated R&B singer Tank will host the 2019 Bounce Trumpet Awards, an exciting night of inspiration, history and crowd-rousing performances celebrating African-American achievements and contributions. 

Broadway Advocacy Coalition? and Columbia Law School? announce the participants in their collaborative course entitled: The Theater of Change: Building the Capacity for Impact through Artistry, Law, and Activism.

The South Florida Symphony Orchestra's production of the Gershwin's great American opera Porgy and Bess opens tonight.

Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, is pleased to announce the first show in its fifth season of our TYA Family Series... James and The Giant Peach. With book by Timothy Allen McDonald, music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, based on the book by Roald Dahl, and directed by Darryl B. Hovis, James and The Giant Peach will preview from February 15 through February 17; regular performances will begin February 17 and continue through March 3 at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center on the Fyda-Mar Stage.

Williamstown Theatre Festival has announced that the annual WTF Gala will include special appearances by Eden Espinosa (WTF's Lempicka, Wicked), Tony Award nominee Jessica Hecht (WTF's The Closet, "Friends"), and 2018 Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Martyna Majok (WTF's Cost of Living).

Broadway lost one of its brightest lights today with the passing of the renowned Carol Channing. Stars and fans alike have taken to social to remember and reminisce about the legend and her iconic performances. Check out some of the highlights below!

Actors Bridge Ensemble's critically acclaimed production of Sarah DeLappe's The Wolves and Cumberland County Playhouse's stunning mounting of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street were named as the top shows of the year during Midwinter's First Night, the annual tribute to theater in Tennessee, held at Nashville's The Larry Keeton Theatre Sunday night, January 13.

The Maltz Jupiter Theatre has announced that the big and splashy Broadway hit Mamma Mia! is the long-awaited surprise show of its 2018/19 season!

Neil Berg returns to the Van Wezel celebrating a record-breaking decade of annual performances with an exciting, all-new show! 110 YEARS OF BROADWAY recreates the finest moments from the most memorable shows of the century featuring the actual Broadway stars of shows like Jersey Boys, Wicked and Mamma Mia! Backed by an excellent New York-based band, Neil Berg presents skillful arrangements of Broadway classics as well as electrifying numbers from Broadway's freshest hit shows. Don't miss this spectacular performance on Wednesday, January 30 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Reserve your seats today!

The fourth season of the critically acclaimed conversation series Speakeasy continues with an episode featuring Def Leppard front man and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's newest inductee Joe Elliott with Rolling Stone editor David Fricke. The duo candidly discuss the early days of Def Leppard, the band's legacy, and unbelievable tour stories never heard before. Speakeasy airs on Public Television and public television's WORLD Channel. Air dates and times are available at www.speakeasytalks.com.

On March 4, 2019, Signature Theatre will honor Broadway star Audra McDonald with the company's tenth Stephen Sondheim Award. The Stephen Sondheim Award will be presented at a black-tie Gala Benefit at the Embassy of Italy and will benefit Signature Theatre's artistic, education, and community programs.

GHOSTLIGHT DELUXE, an imprint of Ghostlight Records, has announced the release of For Centennial Reasons: 100 Year Salute to Nat King Cole - the new album from the JOHN PIZZARELLI TRIO - in physical, digital and streaming formats on Friday, February 8. Following high-profile collaborations with Sir Paul McCartney and Michael McDonald, Pizzarelli returns to his roots to honor his hero, the legendary jazz/pop vocalist and pianist Nat King Cole, whose centennial is being celebrated around the world this year with various concerts, books and recordings. For Centennial Reasons completes an epic trio of Pizzarelli albums saluting Cole, starting with Dear Mr. Cole, which helped put Pizzarelli on the map as an influential jazz guitarist and singer in 1994, and continuing with P.S. Mr. Cole, which cemented his legacy five years later. To pre-order the album, please visit the label HERE.

Renowned for celebrating the American modern dance heritage and preserving the uniqueness of the African American cultural experience, dance company Ailey II will perform at Pepperdine University's Smothers Theatre in Malibu on Tuesday, February 26 at 8 p.m. 

With over 21,000 votes cast, the winners have today been announced for The Curtain Up Show Album of the Year 2018.

The New York Philharmonic's third album on Decca Gold, Universal Music Group's newly established US classical music label, will be released physically and digitally on February 22, 2019; the album is now available for preorder on nyphil.org

Book-It Repertory Theatre [Book-It] kicks off 2019 with an honest look at addiction in Seattle native Tom Hansen's American Junkie. Adapted by Jane Jones and Kevin McKeon and directed by Jones, Hansen deftly balances a raw story about the path that leads to self-destruction with wry humor and hope.

Corky Hale, legendary jazz harpist, pianist, vocalist, and social activist, will sign copies of her new book, "Corky Hale Uncorked," on Wed., Jan. 16 at 7 PM at Book Soup in West Hollywood.