Quincy Jones News

ABC has acquired the television rights to 'BAD25,' a documentary film by the award-winning director Spike Lee. Airing at Thanksgiving (details to be announced at a later date), 'BAD25' shares fresh insights into the King of Pop's creative vision that resulted in his landmark 'BAD' album, this year marking its 25th anniversary.

Showtime is 8 PM. Tickets at $90/$75 will go on sale to State Theatre Members Wednesday, September 5 at 10 AM, to the public September 12. During Members Only sales, there will be a 6 ticket limit per Member per performance. The State Theatre appearance is sponsored by Alvin H. Butz, Inc.

GPR Records will release a recording of Catherine Zeta-Jones narrating The Runaway Bunny, based on the best selling children's classic by Margaret Wise Brown. Also on the CD will be English Baritone Mark Stone singing Goodnight Moon and a special guest superstar narrating Poulenc's Babar, The Elephant. The CD will be released on November 15th, will be available at www.GPRRecords.com, Amazon, and iTunes.

Award-winning producers Michael & Barbara Ross will present Tony Award-winning actress Tonya Pinkins in Larry Parr's ETHEL WATERS: HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW at Luna Stage in West Orange, New Jersey, for a limited run, tonight, August 16 - September 2, 2012. The production will be directed by award-winning director Dennis Courtney, with musical direction by Barry Levitt.

The Producers Guild of America announced today the opening of submissions for a new initiative and gala awards event later this year - Digital V.I.P. - to honor nine "Visionaries, Innovators and Producers" who have made significant contributions to the advancement of digital entertainment and storytelling during the past year.

Award-winning producers Michael & Barbara Ross will present Tony Award-winning actress Tonya Pinkins in Larry Parr's ETHEL WATERS: HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW at Luna Stage in West Orange, New Jersey, for a limited run, August 16 - September 2, 2012. The production will be directed by award-winning director Dennis Courtney, with musical direction by Barry Levitt.

In the Fall of 2010, multiple award-winning author/director PAUL LEVINE produced a workshop of BIG MAYBELLE: Soul of the Blues in association with the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts and Amas Musical Theatre.

Berkeley Playhouse closes its 2011-12 main stage season with a delicious adaptation of Roald Dahl's WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. Berkeley Playhouse founding Artistic Director Elizabeth McKoy helms this musical treat, based on Roald Dahl's stylish children's story about the world famous candy man, starring noted Bay Area singer/songwriter, musician, and recording artist Vernon Bush in the title role. Roald Dahl'S WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY plays tonight, July 14 through August 19 at the Julia Morgan Theatre in Berkeley.

This week at Joe's Pub, June 25-July 1, performances include Kat Edmonson, The Epiphany Project, Our Hit Parade, Jonathan Batiste, Dave Doobinin, Kotorino, Dominick Farinacci Group, Jay Nash and Canada's Birthday Bash featuring Great Canadian Songbook. See below for full details.

More than 25 years ago, retired music executive Joe Smith accomplished a Herculean feat-he got more than 200 celebrated singers, musicians and industry icons to talk about their lives, music, experiences and contemporaries. The Library of Congress announced today that Smith has donated this treasure trove of unedited sound recordings to the nation's library. The list of noted artists and executives is a veritable who's who in the music industry. They include Artie Shaw, Woody Herman, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, Barbra Streisand, Little Richard, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Elton John, Paul Simon, David Bowie, Billy Joel, Sting, Tony Bennett, Joan Baez, James Taylor, Dick Clark, Tina Turner, Tom Jones, B. B. King, Quincy Jones, David Geffen, Mickey Hart, Harry Belafonte and many others. All types of popular music are represented-from rock 'n' roll, jazz, rhythm & blues and pop to big-band, heavy metal, folk and country-western.

Berkeley Playhouse closes its 2011-12 main stage season with a delicious adaptation of ROALD DAHL'S WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. Berkeley Playhouse founding Artistic Director Elizabeth McKoy helms this musical treat, based on Roald Dahl's stylish children's story about the world famous candy man, starring noted Bay Area singer/songwriter, musician, and recording artist Vernon Bush in the title role. ROALD DAHL'S WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY plays July 14 through August 19 at the Julia Morgan Theatre in Berkeley.

Six-time Emmy Award-winning-and Oscar nominee for scoring Steven Spielberg's film adaptation of The Color Purple-composer Chris Boardman makes his debut as a playwright with So She Lived, his new play debuting at Nashville's Darkhorse Theatre this weekend for a two performance run June 15 and 16.

Whether she's putting a coffee-house spin on David Guetta's hit song 'Without You' or singing an impromptu duet with Wyclef Jean, Rachel Brown's shows are just as unpredictable as her unique sound. A soulful gumbo of folk, afro-Caribbean, country, pop, and Hawaiian influences, Brown's music has won her prestigious songwriting awards-such as the ASCAP Foundation Robert Allen Award for songwriting-as well as recognition from celebrity blogger Perez Hilton. This month, the self-taught musician will be playing three upcoming shows in New York City: two at the Darby and one at Rockwood Music Hall. Learn more at www.RachelBrownMusic.com.

The 25th anniversary of Graceland, Paul Simon's groundbreaking album that continues to influence and inspire generations, will be commemorated with musical and film celebrations stretching into the summer. Following its Sundance Film Festival premiere, the Joe Berlinger-directed documentary 'Under African Skies,' chronicling the creation and lasting influence of Graceland, will have its US television premiere on A & E this spring.

The new Broadway musical, COME FLY AWAY, conceived, choreographed, and directed by Tony Award®-winner Twyla Tharp and by special arrangement with the Frank Sinatra Family and Frank Sinatra Enterprises, will open Pittsburgh CLO's Summer Season at the Benedum Center tonight, June 5 at 8pm.

High school vocalists from 11 states will arrive in Indianapolis on June 12 for the Great American Songbook Vocal Academy and Competition. The four-day academy and competition is sponsored by the Michael Feinstein Great American Songbook Initiative. The annual endeavor is the only U.S. competition dedicated solely to the music from Broadway, Hollywood musicals and the Tin Pan Alley era of the early to mid-twentieth century.

The Apollo Theater will induct Lionel Richie and the late Etta James into its Apollo Legends Hall of Fame at its seventh annual Spring Gala on Monday, June 4, 2012.

The new Broadway musical, COME FLY AWAY, conceived, choreographed, and directed by Tony Award®-winner Twyla Tharp and by special arrangement with the Frank Sinatra Family and Frank Sinatra Enterprises, will open Pittsburgh CLO's Summer Season at the Benedum Center on June 5 at 8pm.

SCA Board Chairman, Michael L. Widland today announced that HARMAN will upgrade the SCA's audio equipment with a completely redesigned, state-of-the-art professional-grade audio installation. In honor of this generous donation, The Palace Theatre will be naming the stage the HARMAN Stage.

Cornish College of the Arts announces the appointment of jazz French hornist Tom Varner to the position of Assistant Professor of Jazz Performance.