Patti LaBelle News

Tonight, August 13, Broadway at Birdland presents multi-Grammy and Tony-nominated composer Frank Wildhorn in his monthly concert series called "Frank & Friends." Joining Frank onstage will be Constantine Maroulis (upcoming star of Jekyll & Hyde), Laura Osnes (Tony nominee/Bonnie & Clyde and upcoming Cinderella), Melissa van der Schyff (Bonnie & Clyde) and Stark Sands (upcoming Kinky Boots).

Accomplished jazz trumpeter, pianist and composer Arturo Sandoval brings his dynamic live performance to The Orleans Showroom September 15 and 16.

It's a season of change for Passage Theatre Company, Trenton's only professional theater company. The company will start its 2012-2013 season with a unique, outdoor celebration of Mercer County's landscapes, called Dancescapes NJ.

THE BLUES SUMMIT, featuring The Taj Mahal Trio, with special guests James Montgomery and Duke Robillard. The event happens on Friday, August 17, 8:00pm, at the Capitol Center for the Arts, Concord, and is the second installment of Child and Family Services' 2012 Concerts for the Cause season.

On Monday, August 13, Broadway at Birdland presents multi-Grammy and Tony-nominated composer Frank Wildhorn in his monthly concert series called "Frank & Friends." Joining Frank onstage will be Constantine Maroulis (upcoming star of Jekyll & Hyde), Laura Osnes (Tony nominee/Bonnie & Clyde and upcoming Cinderella), Melissa van der Schyff (Bonnie & Clyde) and Stark Sands (upcoming Kinky Boots).

The RRazz Room, San Francisco's premier nightclub, will welcome back CLAYON BRYANT for his new show "Out Of The Shadow" celebrating the release of his debut CD.

Aretha Franklin told CNN in an email yesterday that she would be interested in becoming a judge on next seaon's AMERICAN IDOL.

BroadwayWorld.com and Broadway Records are co-sponsoring a liner notes essay contest for the new Jekyll & Hyde studio concept recording. Fans will have the opportunity to submit a 250 to 500 word essay for consideration. Five finalists will be chosen by the staff of BroadwayWorld.com in consultation with Broadway Records. Frank Wildhorn, Constantine Maroulis and Broadway Records will select the Grand Prize Winner who will have his or her liner notes essay will be included in the upcoming recording.

Tonight, July 16, Broadway at Birdland presents multi-Grammy and Tony nominated composer Frank Wildhorn in his monthly concert series called "Frank & Friends." Joining Frank onstage will be gifted Grammy-nominated jazz singer Jane Monheit, and Las Vegas and Cafe Carlyle headliner Clint Holmes.

Filipino-American performing artist Stephanie Reese wears many hats: for the theater enthusiast, she is Esmeralda in the world premiere production of Disney's HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME or the "German" Kim in the German production of MISS SAIGON; for the concertgoer, she is the "Standing Ovation Queen," who never fails to bring her audiences to their feet, and who once shared the stage with Grammy winners Patti Labelle and Natalie Cole; and for the social worker - for nonprofit organizations such as Gawad Kalinga, Make A Wish Foundation, or World Vision - she is a young lady who has a compassionate heart for children who are in dire need of help.

Joe's Pub gives you a look ahead at the schedule today, July 9-July 15, including Amanda Holley, Bridget Everett & The Tender Moments, Matt Munisteri, Mary C., Happy Ending Music & Reading Series, Charles Perry, Kalman Balogh Gypsy Cimbalom Trio, Summer & Eve, Batz, Bhi Bhiman, Justin Robinson & The Mary Annettes, Ilusha Tsinadze's Dede Ena, Russian Red with special guest Tulsa, Lori Lieberman, Michael Serveris, and Loose Cattle. See full details below!

The following are the complete and current upcoming event listings for today, July 9 - July 23, 2012 at B. B. King Blues Club and Grill, NYC.

Today we are talking to a Tony Award-winning legend famous for his performances starring in the original Broadway productions of PIPPIN and JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, as well as his celebrated turns in stage and screen projects as diverse as ALL THAT JAZZ, SWEET CHARITY, CHICAGO, FOSSE, WICKED, GRIND, ROOTS, I'M NOT RAPPAPORT, GOLDEN BOY, IDLEWILD, FUNNY LADY, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER and many more - the simply incredible Ben Vereen. Discussing many of his most fondly remembered roles and recounting his experiences working with many legendary directors and collaborators - Bob Fosse, Hal Prince, Tom O'Horgan, Herbert Ross, Ann Reinking, Dan Sullivan, Sammy Davis, Jr., Barbra Streisand, Liza Minnelli and many more among them - Vereen paints a vivid picture of a bygone Broadway and reminisces about many of the most significant theatrical creators of the past fifty years and his roles in their stage and film projects. Additionally, Vereen fills us in on what we can expect from his upcoming solo spotlight show - a career retrospective - that will be kicking off at 54 Below on July 10 for a two-week engagement before an even larger, Broadway-bound mounting later this year at Princeton. Also, Vereen elaborates on the causes closest to his heart, shares thoughts on GLEE and SMASH, future plans and much, much more!

Filipino-American performing artist Stephanie Reese wears many hats: for the theater enthusiast, she is Esmeralda in the world premiere production of Disney's HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME or the "German" Kim in the German production of MISS SAIGON; for the concertgoer, she is the "Standing Ovation Queen," who never fails to bring her audiences to their feet, and who once shared the stage with Grammy winners Patti Labelle and Natalie Cole; and for the social worker - for nonprofit organizations such as Gawad Kalinga, Make A Wish Foundation, or World Vision - she is a young lady who has a compassionate heart for children who are in dire need of help.

The following are the complete and current upcoming event listings for July 9 - July 23, 2012 at B. B. King Blues Club and Grill, NYC.

On Monday, July 16, Broadway at Birdland is proud to present multi-Grammy and Tony nominated composer Frank Wildhorn in his monthly concert series called "Frank & Friends." Joining Frank onstage will be gifted Grammy-nominated jazz singer Jane Monheit, and Las Vegas and Cafe Carlyle headliner Clint Holmes.

Joe's Pub gives you a look ahead at its July 9-July 15 performances, including Amanda Holley, Bridget Everett & The Tender Moments, Matt Munisteri, Mary C., Happy Ending Music & Reading Series, Charles Perry, Kalman Balogh Gypsy Cimbalom Trio, Summer & Eve, Batz, Bhi Bhiman, Justin Robinson & The Mary annettes, Ilusha Tsinadze's Dede Ena, Russian Red with special guest Tulsa, Lori Lieberman, Michael Serveris, and Loose Cattle. See full details below!

Ballet is finally letting its hair down and heading to Happy Hour with the upcoming performance of "Cocktail Hour" at New York City's most buzzed about new performance space - XL Cabaret - tonight, June 14th at 8:00pm. Conceived and choreographed by critically acclaimed dance-maker Marilyn Klaus, each piece is inspired by a well known cocktail and brings one of the highest art forms to the masses in a fresh and playful way. The irreverent dance suite gives life to a variety of iconic drinks-saluting the elegance of cocktail culture as the Martini, Mai Tai, Gimlet, Mint Julep and an aptly named 'Scotch on the Rachmaninoff' spring off the menu and onto the stage.

ew York City is buzzing about the inventive new take on ballet in "Cocktail Hour" by Ballets with a Twist. Among the outlets praising the work of the company's choreographer, Marilyn Klaus, are The Wall Street Journal, which profiled the performance in yesterday's Arts & Entertainment section, and PIX11 Morning News, which will feature the dance company on Wednesday, June 13th during the 8:00am hour.

Ben Vereen returns to The RRazz Room to with his show 'Steppin' Out with Ben Vereen,' a high energy tribute to the music of Broadway, along with musical selections made famous by the likes of Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr. Audiences can expect to hear classics such as 'Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries,' 'Mr. Bojangles' and 'Defying Gravity.' Well known to theatre audiences for his Tony Award and Drama Desk winning performance in Pippin, Vereen has also appeared on Broadway in Wicked, Chicago, Fosse and Jelly's Last Jam. He is currently celebrating the release of his CD 'Steppin' Out Live.'