Michael Masser News

Craft Recordings is delighted to announce the debut vinyl release of Natalie Cole's bestselling, 1994 holiday album, Holly & Ivy. Set for an November 8th release date, Holly & Ivy has been remastered by George Horn and Anne-Marie Suenram at Fantasy Studiosand pressed on 180-gram vinyl at RTI. A CD reissue will be released on the same day. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the acclaimed album—which was the first of several holiday outings in Cole's career.

As the grand finale of their fourteen year residency at Christopher Street's Lucille Lortel Theatre, before moving to their brand new Hell's Kitchen digs, Manhattan Class Company brings in an encore engagement of Jocelyn Bioh's Lortel and Outer Critics Circle Award-winning drama from last season, the endearing and poignant School Girls; or, the African Mean Girls Play.

Though the teenage girls at the center of Jocelyn Bioh's endearing and poignant SCHOOL GIRLS; OR, THE AFRICAN MEAN GIRLS PLAY all have wonderful qualities that should be appreciated and nurtured during their years at Aburi Girls Boarding School in central Ghana, there is one quality that prevents them all from having a chance to represent their country in the 1986 Miss Universe Pageant. They all look like a teenage girl from Ghana.

Diana Ross was six years into her wildly successful solo career from the Supremes when she outdid herself, releasing a self-titled project, her seventh studio album, that included two No. 1 pop smashes

With the holiday season upon us how wonderful it is to experience the joyful celebration of friendship. In their recent sold out performance (December 17th at Don't Tell Mama), the attractive girl-power singing duo, Kim Grogg and Kim Sutton, examine the true meaning of friendship from a decidedly female point of view. Gracing the stage spectacularly dressed in shades of sparkling silver and platinum grey, these two alluring ladies begin the evening by conjuring up a bit of their own "Magic" (John Farrar). Grogg informs the audience that she and Sutton had previously met in cabaret class, but pretty much solidified their fast and furious friendship this past summer after having survived the "ultimate cabaret boot camp" at The Eugene O'Neill Cabaret Conference.

Campbell took the time to chat with BroadwayWorld about stepping into Goffin's shoes, sharing the stage with Tony winner Jessie Mueller, and more. Check out the full interview below!

Producers Paul Blake and Sony/ATV Music Publishing announced today that Scott J. Campbell, previously with Jersey Boys, will step into the role of 'Gerry Goffin' in Beautiful - The Carole King Musical, beginning Tuesday, September 23, 2014. Campbell will take over for Jake Epstein. Beautiful - The Carole King Musical opened on Broadway at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre (124 West 43rd Street) on Sunday, January 12, 2014, where it has broken all box office records and continues to play to standing-room-only crowds nightly.

Today, The Recording Academy has issued the following statement on the passing of Gerry Goffin.

Gerald 'Gerry' Goffin, the legendary lyricist who, with songwriting partner (and first wife) Carole King, was responsible for some of the greatest popular hits of the 20th Century, died at his home of natural causes early this morning, Thursday, June 19, 2014. The announcement was made by his wife Michele Goffin.

The ASCAP Foundation honored composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz for his lifetime contributions to the Musical Theater with The ASCAP Foundation Richard Rodgers Award.

The 38th Songwriters Hall Of Fame Ceremony was held at the Marriott Marquis in New York City on June 7, 2007.