Nick Ashford News

Shaffer is best known for the 30 plus years he spent as David Letterman's musical director and bandleader, but on Saturday, May 6th at 8 p.m. this world renowned musician takes center stage at The Ridgefield Playhouse!

The Ridgefield Playhouse and Pepsi Rock Series Powered by xfinity are going to rock your world with musical legend Paul Shaffer and the Most Dangerous Band on Saturday, May 6 at 8 p.m.  Paul Shaffer may be best known as David Letterman's musical director and sidekick for the past 33 years, but his illustrious career goes far beyond the Ed Sullivan Theater.  Paul began his career working with Stephen Schwartz in 1972 as musical director for the Toronto production of "Godspell." From there he went on to spend 5 years with the original cast of "SaturdayNight Live" where he was the band leader and performer - most notably for his parody of Don Kirschner.  Shaffer occasionally teamed up with the "Not Ready for Prime-Time Players" off the show as well, including work on Gilda Radner's highly successful Broadway show and as the musical director for John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd whenever they recorded or performed as The Blues Brothers. In 1984, Shaffer played keyboards for The Honeydrippers, a group formed in 1981 by former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant, and performed on the hit single "Sea of Love" which reached #1. 

Musical theatre composer/lyricist Brett Ryback will be the 2016 recipient of the ASCAP Foundation Cole Porter Award.

Musical theatre composer/lyricist Brett Ryback will be the 2016 recipient of the ASCAP Foundation Cole Porter Award.

Evelyn must follow her dreams ... by leaving her family. Come down for some hot times with THE JOINT at Theatre for The New City's Dream Up Festival this September.

Evelyn must follow her dreams ... by leaving her family. Come down for some hot times with THE JOINT at Theatre for The New City's Dream Up Festival this September.

Ebony Jo-Ann, a 'Blackgold' acclaimed Blues vocalist, multiple award winning Broadway, film and television actress, and social activist, is in residence during the month of April at Ashford & Simpson's Sugar Bar, 254 W. 72nd St. in New York, for the first time since 2011, to reprise Nuttin' But the Blues, the Sugar Bar's weekly Blues series, which she co-created with the late Nick Ashford. Check out a preview here!

Ebony Jo-Ann, a 'Blackgold' acclaimed Blues vocalist, multiple award winning Broadway, Film and television actress and social activist, is in residence during the month of April at Ashford & Simpson's Sugar Bar, 254 W. 72nd St. in New York, for the first time since 2011, to reprise Nuttin' But the Blues, the Sugar Bar's weekly Blues series, which she co-created with the late Nick Ashford.

In their continuing effort to broaden its musical scope, Lincoln Center's American Songbook series at The Appel Room Saturday night presented two-time Tony Award nominee Andy Karl (Rocky, On the Twentieth Century) and his Tony-Award nominee wife Orfeh (Legally Blonde) performing together in concert for the first time.

Multiple award-winning theatre, film and television actress, Ebony Jo-Ann releases her new Blues CD, Please Save Your Love for Me on her independent label, Blackgold Production on Friday, September 18th.

Melba Moore, a four-time Grammy nominee and winner of the 1970 Tony Award for 'Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical,' for her performance as 'Lutiebelle' in Purlie will appear at the Metropolitan Room on April 13 at 9:30 with a new show featuring songs made famous by legendary singers, including Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne, Nancy Wilson, Barbra Streisand, and Diana Ross. Joining Moore will be her special guest, actor/singer/songwriter Clifton Davis, who wrote hits for The Jackson Five. With a total of 11 top ten U.S. hits on the Billboard charts over the past 40 years, both singles and albums, Melba Moore continues into the 21st century as one of pop music's most enduring artists.

Proteus Spann celebrates the 20th Anniversary of New York Times best-selling author E. Lynn Harris' classic American love story INVISIBLE LIFE. This explosive new musical adaptation addresses the conflicts of sexuality, religion, HIV/AIDS and family in America.

Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson's new musical INVISIBLE LIFE is coming to the Apollo Theater this summer. Presented by Proteus E2 Productions, the show will begin Thursday, June 25 for a limited run through June 30, 2015.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: 'HUNCHBACK' swings into New Jersey and more!

Woodie King Jr's New Federal Theatre kicks off its 45th season with Karima's Accept 'Except' LGBT NY, which will begin performances October 23rd and continue through November 23rd with opening night set for November 6th. Tony Award winner George Faison directs a cast that features Tuluv Maria Price and Tyree Young. The design team includes Chris Cumberbatch (scenic design), Ali Turns (costume design), Thurston Reyes (lighting design), and Ralph Gentry (sound/visual design).

Melba Moore will play two shows at New York's Metropolitan Room on June 20, 2014, at 7pm & 9:30pm. Price $35.00 - $115.00.

With a catalog of hit songs that have served as the soundtrack to the lives of legions of music fans worldwide, the incomparable Valerie Simpson will grace the stage at Queens College's LeFrak Concert Hall tonight, December 14th at 8:00 PM.

With a catalog of hit songs that have served as the soundtrack to the lives of legions of music fans worldwide, the incomparable Valerie Simpson will grace the stage at Queens College's LeFrak Concert Hall on Saturday, December 14th at 8:00 PM. Kupferberg Presents hosts the legendary singer and songwriter as she performs the music of her hit-making duo, Ashford and Simpson, which created such classics as "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "You're All I Need To Get By," "Reach Out And Touch Somebody's Hand," and many more. Tickets are on sale now!