Michael Jackson News

From the WIZARD OF OZ/WICKED opening number right through the encores, the gorgeously refurbished Hamer Hall resounded with appreciation for Idina Menzel in this, her first Melbourne show, and the last concert of her first ever Australian tour.

Dallas Theater Center presents the world premiere of Fly, a new musical based on J.M. Barrie's novel, Peter Pan. Three-time Tony Award-winning producer Jeffrey Seller (Rent, Avenue Q, In the Heights) makes his directorial debut with this production.

The 33rd annual broadcast of A CAPITOL FOURTH on PBS will feature over thirty cast members from Broadways' new smash hit MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, including Tony Award nominee Brandon Victor Dixon, Saycon Sengbloh and 2013 Tony Award nominee Valisia LeKae. The company's medley of legendary Motown hits from the Broadway musical will include "Stop in the Name of Love," "Get Ready" and "Dancing in the Street" arranged and orchestrated for the majestic National Symphony Orchestra by 2013 Tony Award nominees Ethan Popp and Bryan Crook.

According to the Las Vegas Sun, cast member of Cirque du Soleil's KA Sarah Guillot-Guyard died yesterday, June 29, after a fall during her performance at the MGM Grand. A mother of two, Guillot-Guyard was 31. This is the first fatality resulting from an onstage accident in Cirque du Soleil's 30-year history.

Only six months after launching the company in Nashville, HitShop Records President Skip Bishop today announced the signing of an exclusive recording agreement with dynamic new talent, Natalie Stovall and The Drive.

Just yesterday, the stars of Broadway's biggest box office hit of the year MOTOWN THE MUSICAL appeared at a special live performance at The Apple Store in SoHo to celebrate the Universal Music Enterprises (UME) new Original Broadway Cast Recording. BroadwayWorld was there for the special event and you can check out photos below!

Richard Eyre will direct the world premiere of Stephen Ward, opening in the West End later this year. Tickets go on sale on 28 June 2013 for the production which will preview at the Aldwych Theatre from 3 December 2013 with press night on 19 December 2013 and is currently booking to 1 March 2014.

Put 97Nine and American English together, and you have a rockin' double bill for the first of threeDowntown Alive! concerts this summer at the new RiverEdge Park, 360 North Broadway in Aurora. 97Nine and American English will perform tonight, June 28 at 7 p.m. Tickets are only $5. Children 12 and under are free with an accompanying ticketed adult.

THE BELLE BRIGADE KICKS OFF THE SKIRBALL CULTURAL CENTER'S

Art has so many forms in which is can be expressed and perceived. Pierre Kenal Louis is a visual artist born in Haiti who offers original artworks for sale online though his website Kenalsworld. Among his most recognized pieces online include drawings of Frank Ocean and Artworks of singer/songwriter Miguel.

The New York Philharmonic will present A Dancer's Dream: Two Works by Stravinsky, a multidisciplinary, theatrical reimagining of the ballets The Fairy's Kiss and Petrushka, created by Giants Are Small. Sara Mearns, New York City Ballet principal dancer, will star in the production, which will be conducted by Music Director Alan Gilbert, directed and designed by Doug Fitch, choreographed by Karole Armitage, and produced by Edouard Getaz - tonight, June 27, 2013, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, June 28 at 8:00 p.m.; and Saturday, June 29 at 8:00 p.m.

Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce their annual FREE BROADWAY IN CHICAGO SUMMER CONCERT will take place on Monday, August 5, 2013 at 6:15 p.m. at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park (201 E Randolph St). Hosted by ABC 7 Chicago's Janet Davies, Val Warner and Ryan Chiaverini, the headlining performance will feature cast members from the smash hit Broadway musical MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, as well as Broadway's biggest blockbuster WICKED, and showcase additional cast performances from ELF, EVITA, FLASHDANCE THE MUSICAL, GHOST THE MUSICAL, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, ONCE and WE WILL ROCK YOU. The Broadway In Chicago Summer Concert at Millennium Park is sponsored by ABC 7 Chicago and produced in partnership with The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

When Sly and The Family Stone hit the scene back in the late '60s, the world – socially, culturally and politically – was in a state of upheaval. And their music perfectly evangelized the moment. Today, we stand dangerously at the edge of a similar precipice – and that message of celebratory potential and jubilant clarity is sorely needed. With that concept squarely implanted in his mind's eye, visionary conceptualist, producer, arranger, composer and keyboard wizard Jason Miles has created the extraordinary Sly Reimagined on the Zoho Roots label. With his groundbreaking, genre-defying borderless mothership Global Noize providing the vehicle, Miles takes on eight classic Sly Stone journeys into the wilds of a reality nearly half a century beyond their point of inception.

Lincoln Center's Midsummer Night Swing - This summer marks the 25th Anniversary season of Midsummer Night Swing. Midsummer Night Swing takes place Tuesdays through Saturdays, today, June 25-July 13, on the elevated dance floor in Damrosch Park on West 62nd Street, between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues.

Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce that the new Broadway and West End musical GHOST THE MUSICAL will play Chicago's Oriental Theatre (24 West Randolph) from Jan. 7 - 19, 2014. Relive the iconic and magical moments from the Oscar-winning movie Ghost in a brand-new Broadway musical. Ghost The Musical breathes glorious new life into a timeless love story.

Shakespeare. It's not just for highbrows anymore. You can be sure of that when you see The Flynnsmen present Shakespeare's KING PHYCUS at the Hollywood Fringe Festival. What may have once scared off those less familiar with Shakespeare's plays for fear of not understanding the language is now made completely and hilariously accessible to everyone.

iLuminate Productions presents the return of their live show in New York City. iLuminate wowed the nation with their groundbreaking light suits and inventive dance moves on America's Got Talent and then debuted in New York City last November for a successful limited run over the holidays. The show has relocated to a new, larger venue at New World Stages, 340 W. 50th Street, and begins previews tonight, June 24, 2013, with a July 18, 2013 opening.