Peggy Lee News

“We've Only Just Begun: Carpenters Remembered,” a tribute to popular 70s music group The Carpenters, is returning to the Suncoast Showroom May 31 and June 1.

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.

In what can only be called a drive-by performance, the indomitable Baby Jane Dexter is bringing 'More Rules of the Road' for two-night special engagement this month. The critically acclaimed traffic-stopper plays two Fridays -- April 18 and 25 -- both at 7pm. Her back-seat driver is Ian Herman, her music director at the piano.

Penguin Rep Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director Joe Brancato and Executive Director Andrew M. Horn, announces the slate of plays and special events for its 37th season.

San Francisco-based jazz and cabaret vocalist Veronica Klaus will bring her new show, Lee a la V - A Peggy Lee Songbook, to Feinstein's at the Nikko for one performance only - Sunday, May 18 at 7 p.m. Featuring a collection of personal favorites written, co-written or recorded by the one-and-only Peggy Lee, Veronica will be joined by her pianist and musical director Tammy L. Hall along with her quartet. This performance serves as the official CD release for her new album of the same name.

Jude Law is back in theaters this weekend with the dark-comedy DOM HEMINGWAY. Written and directed by Richard Shepard, the film, starring Law and Richard E. Grant, was shot on location in the South of France. In the film, which opens in limited release on Friday, Law plays a notorious safecracker looking for payback from a crime boss portrayed by Demian Bichir. The cast also features Emilia Clarke, Jumyan Hunter and Madalina Ghenea.

In the late '70s, Vivian Reed captured a Tony Award nomination and won a Drama Desk Award for her work in the Broadway musical Bubbling Brown Sugar, and although Reed has delivered some critically-acclaimed work in the many years since (a Tony nomination for the 1992 musical The High Rollers Social and Pleasure Club and a star turn in the revue Three Mo' Divas), during the last decade she had gone and stayed away too long, mainly to take care of her ailing mother. Last November, she dipped a toe in the New York nightclub waters, producing a one-night show at 54 Below that was highly praised and offered hints of great things to come. But this past Monday night—the first of what will ultimately be a four-show run of “An Evening With Vivian Reed” (the next three dates are April 14, May 20 and June 19)—this performing powerhouse established her return in earnest. With Reed's still expressive voice tackling musical genres ranging from R & B to Jazz to Great American Songbook standards to Gospel (even a dash of Opera), her electric and passionate show was cabaret/nightclub performing as revival meeting in more ways than one. Reed is not only reviving her singing career, she is inspiring impassioned converts at the same time.

Hotel Nikko San Francisco and Michael Feinstein are thrilled to announce the one-year anniversary of Feinstein's at the Nikko with a lineup of stars from stage and screen, along with local luminaries, during the month of May. Since opening its doors in May 2013, Feinstein's at the Nikko has quickly been embraced by locals and tourists alike and was recently named one of the 'Top 10 Best Music Venues in San Francisco' (SFist). Located within Hotel Nikko (222 Mason Street, San Francisco), Feinstein's at the Nikko has played host to a wide variety of entertainers, including Sutton Foster, Tommy Tune, Paula West, Linda Eder, Steve Tyrell, Mitzi Gaynor, and Cheyenne Jackson to name a few! Tickets for all upcoming performers are available by calling 866.663.1063 or visiting www.ticketweb.com.

In what can only be called a drive-by performance, the indomitable Baby Jane Dexter is bringing 'More Rules of the Road' for two-night special engagement this month. The critically acclaimed traffic-stopper plays two Fridays -- April 18 and 25 -- both at 7pm. Her back-seat driver is Ian Herman, her music director at the piano.

Bay Area Cabaret concludes its Tenth Anniversary Season by presenting the award winning Karen Mason in her new show, 'SECRET OF THE ANCIENT DIVAS.' A performer who has mastered both playing starring roles on the Broadway stage as well as projecting her own presence in intimate cabaret settings, Ms. Mason now comes to San Francisco for a performance in homage to her personal idols, including iconic singers Judy Garland, Barbara Streisand, and Peggy Lee. Ms. Mason will perform at the historic Venetian Room of The Fairmont San Francisco, 5pm, Sunday, May 18, 2014.

Back from a SRO concert in San Miguel de Allende in Mexico where she performed More Rules of the Road at the Angela Perlata Theater and Opera House, Baby Jane Dexter returns to Metropolitan Room for two performances of that hit show on Friday, April 18 and Friday April 25.

May and June sees some new artists and some returns at The Crazy Coqs, including: Harold Sanditen (May 2-3); Simon Green with David Shrubsole (May 6-10); Lauren Fox with Jon Weber (May 13 - 17); Gary Williams (May 20 -24); KT Sullivan and Mark Nadler (May 26-28); Opera Tottie (May 29 - 31); Bryan Batt (June 3 - 7); Judy Carmichael with Colin Oxley (June 10 -14); Elaine Delmar (June 17 - 21) and more. Details 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.

The stars are coming out to play this summer with Principal Pops Conductor Michael Feinstein and the Pasadena POPS and their one of a kind, simply cannot miss popular outdoor summer concert series at the Los Angeles Arboretum. Coming off the heels of last summer's critically acclaimed concerts to record breaking crowds, Feinstein and the Pasadena POPS are taking the popular series to new heights. Artists include Laura Osnes ('Cinderella' and 'Bonnie and Clyde'), Norm Lewis ('LES MISERABLES' and 'Porgy and Bess'), Julia Goodwin (2013 Great American Songbook Youth Ambassador), composer/host Tena Clark, Dionne Warwick (five-time Grammy Award winning music legend), Michael Feinstein (to sing Gershwin for one night only), powerhouse singers Maureen McGovern, Patti Austin, stars of stage and screen Kevin Earley, Liz Callaway ('Anastasia and 'Aladdin'), Jeremy Jordan ('Smash'), plus special appearances by Debby Boone, Alan Bergman and pianist Armen Guzelimian.

On Monday, March 3, singer/pianist Billy Stritch debuted the first of two Birdland concerts called "I've Got Your Number - The Jazz of Cy Coleman." The next show will take place at the historic music room this coming Monday, March 10 at 7pm. Scroll down for photos!

The Man Beneath His Wings - Today we lost a man to whom the song, made famous by Ms. Bette Midler, could have very well been about - Robert L. Spencer.

If you like high quality, memorable music, superbly performed, with a clever and informative narrative, then you will love this unique cabaret production.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced their wonderful line-up of excellent talent for March 10-16. Birdland will kick-off their outstanding week of programming with the following acts:

Platinum Award-winning singer-songwriter Ann Hampton Callaway celebrates the music of one of America's most powerful and enduring musical artists at The McCallum Theatre for one very special evening, tonight, February 26 at 8:00 pm.