Mike Stoller News

Smokey Joe's Cafe: The Songs of Leiber and Stoller comes to Arena Stage April 25 to June 8, 2014. Part 1 of our interview with director Randy Johnson and choreographer Parker Esse looks at the legacy of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller's collaboration and impact on the rock and roll era.

The Pasadena Playhouse announced today the planning and honorary gala committee members leading the best party in Pasadena annual fundraiser entitled PREMIERE GALA -TAKE THE LEAD AT THE PLAYHOUSE. The Pasadena Playhouse's gala will be held on the stage of The Pasadena Playhouse on Sunday, May 4, 2014 at 5:30p.m.

Smokey Joe's Cafe-The Songs of Leiber and Stoller transports audiences to the golden age of rock, rhythm and blues this spring at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. The show runs April 25-June 8, 2014 in the Fichandler Stage, and BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast below!

Smokey Joe's Cafe-The Songs of Leiber and Stoller transports audiences to the golden age of rock, rhythm and blues this spring at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. Director Randy Johnson returns to Arena Stage following the success of A Night with Janis Joplin (which enjoyed two runs at Arena Stage followed by a subsequent run on Broadway) to helm this Grammy Award-winning tribute to legendary songwriting duo Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, which originally opened on Broadway in 1995 and became the longest running musical revue, topping 2,000 performances. Bursting with hit tunes including 'Hound Dog,' 'Jailhouse Rock,' 'Stand by Me,' 'Love Potion #9' and 'On Broadway,' Smokey Joe's Cafe showcases choreography by Parker Esse (Arena Stage's The Music Man, Oklahoma!) and music direction by Victor Simonson (Center Stage's A Civil War Christmas, Arena Stage's 3 Mo' Divas) and runs April 25-June 8, 2014 in the Fichandler Stage. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in rehearsal below!

Smokey Joe's Cafe-The Songs of Leiber and Stoller transports audiences to the golden age of rock, rhythm and blues this spring at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. Director Randy Johnson returns to Arena Stage following the success of A Night with Janis Joplin (which enjoyed two runs at Arena Stage followed by a subsequent run on Broadway) to helm this Grammy Award-winning tribute to legendary songwriting duo Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, which originally opened on Broadway in 1995 and became the longest running musical revue, topping 2,000 performances. Bursting with hit tunes including 'Hound Dog,' 'Jailhouse Rock,' 'Stand by Me,' 'Love Potion #9' and 'On Broadway,' Smokey Joe's Cafe showcases choreography by Parker Esse (Arena Stage's The Music Man, Oklahoma!) and music direction by Victor Simonson (Center Stage's A Civil War Christmas, Arena Stage's 3 Mo' Divas) and runs April 25-June 8, 2014 in the Fichandler Stage.

Today in 1995, Smokey Joe's Cafe opened at the Virginia Theatre (now the August Wilson Theatre) where it ran for 2036 performances. Smokey Joe's Cafe is a musical revue showcasing 39 pop standards, including rock and roll, rhythm and blues songs written by songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. The Original Broadway cast recording, Smokey Joe's Cafe: The Songs Of Leiber And Stoller won a Grammy award in 1996. In revue format with no unifying theme the 39 songs are presented by various members of the cast in various combinations, with no dialogue. There are novelty songs ('Charlie Brown'), romantic ballads ('Spanish Harlem') and infectious melodies ('There Goes My Baby').

The Broadway production of A Night With Janis Joplin plays its final performance tonight, Sunday, February 9 at 7PM at the Lyceum Theatre. The show has played 22 preview performances and 141 regular performances since beginning previews on Friday, September 20 and opening on Thursday, October 10. A Night With Janis Joplin will move to a new home in New York City this March.

The Broadway production of A Night With Janis Joplin will play its final performance on Sunday, February 9 at 7PM at the Lyceum Theatre (149 West 45th Street). On that date, the show will have played 22 preview performances and 141 regular performances. A Night With Janis Joplin will move to a new home in New York City this March.

A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN will play its final performance at the Lyceum Theatre (149 West 45th Street) this February (exact date will be announced shortly), prior to moving to a new home in New York City this March.

A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, the new Broadway musical, is celebrating Joplin's birthday with special activities at the theatre and online on Sunday, January 19.At the theatre for both the matinee and evening performances, there will be a special photo booth, supplied by Top Hat Photo Booths, where audience members can write special messages in honor of Joplin's birthday and take photos with the messages. Following the performance the cast will give a special birthday salute to Joplin. For the evening performance only, there will be custom Joplin birthday cupcakes for audience members as they leave the theatre supplied by Sugarush in Red Bank.

Broadway Records just announced the release of the Original Broadway Cast Recording of the critically acclaimed, A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN on the occasion of the iconic musician's birthday celebration. The album will be available digitally on January 17, and the CD is currently available at the Lyceum Theatre. The album is also available for pre-orders at Amazon.com and the official show website.

Tomorrow evening, January 4, A Night With Janis Joplin, the new Broadway musical, will celebrate its 100th regular performance at the Lyceum Theatre (149 West 45th Street).

A backstage interview with Mary Bridget Davies, star of the new Broadway musical A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, will appear on ABC's "World News Now" late tonight, December 18 (early Thursday morning, December 19), between 2:30-4:00am. "World News Now" airs from 2:30-4:00am EST on channel 7 (WABC). Check local listings.

Last night, 92Y celebrated songwriting legend Mike Stoller on the occasion of his 80th year with An 80th Birthday Celebration, a one-night-only Lyrics & Lyricists Special Event hosted by Paul Shaffer and directed and written by Randy Johnson (director/writer of A Night withJanis Joplin). Performers included: legendary vocal group The Coasters, along with artists Karen Akers,Mary Bridget Davies, Corky Hale, Maria Elena Infantino,Sally Kellerman, Bettye Lavette, Melissa Manchester, Billy Stritch, Tommy Tune and Steve Tyrell. Backed by Tyrell's band, the artists performed some of the greatest songs written by Stoller with his longtime lyricist partner Jerry Leiber and others. Check out photos from the special event below!

A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, the new Broadway musical, will perform live on 'THE WENDY WILLIAMS SHOW' tomorrow morning, December 10 between 10-11am. Mary Bridget Davies, critically acclaimed for her portrayal of Janis, is joined by Taprena Michelle Augustine, De'Adre Aziza, Nikki Kimbrough, and NaTasha Yvette Williams to perform the show-stopping Act One finale 'Spirit in the Dark.'

A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, the new Broadway musical will perform live on FOX5's 'Good Day New York' tomorrow morning,November 14 between 9-10am. 'Good Day New York' airs from 9:00-10:00am EST on channel 5. A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN is now playing at the Lyceum Theatre (149 W. 45th Street).

GRAMMY award-nominated and Songwriters Hall Of Fame Inductee, Gordon Lightfoot performs his '50 Years on the Carefree Highway Tour' at The Colonial Theatre tonight, November 8 at 8pm.

A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, the new Broadway musical that opened to rave reviews for star Mary Bridget Davies, will be featured on VH1's 'Big Morning Buzz Live' tomorrow morning, November 5 between 10-11am. Tune in to see Davies perform a live in-studio acoustic version of Janis' hit 'Me and Bobby McGee.'

On December 9, 2013 92Y celebrates songwriting legend Mike Stoller on the occasion of his 80th year with An 80th Birthday Celebration, a one-night-only Lyrics & Lyricists Special Event hosted by Paul Shaffer and directed and written by Randy Johnson (director/writer of A Night with Janis Joplin). Confirmed artists performing expected and unexpected interpretations from Stoller's genre-spanning career in blues, R&B, rock 'n' roll and jazz include legendary vocal group The Coasters, along with artists Karen Akers, Mary Bridget Davies, Corky Hale, Maria Elena Infantino, Sally Kellerman, Bettye LaVette, Melissa Manchester, Billy Stritch, Tommy Tune and Steve Tyrell. Backed by Tyrell's band, the artists perform some of the greatest songs written by Stoller with his longtime lyricist partner Jerry Leiber and others. Leiber will be the subject of a special tribute during the evening. Stoller is planning to be in attendance for the celebration.

A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, the new Broadway musical that opened earlier this month to rave reviews for star Mary Bridget Davies, will be featured on VH1's "Top 20 Video Countdown" this weekend on channel 19 (check local listings). Davies' interview with host Jim Shearer will air Saturday, October 26 at 9:00am EST, repeating on Sunday, October 27 at 8:00am EST.