Roland Hayes News

Breath & Imagination chronicles Roland Hayes's inspirational journey from a Georgia plantation to a singing career that included command performances for kings and queens. Despite his international acclaim, Roland never left behind his complex and loving relationship with his mother, his Angel Mo'. With spirituals and classical music, Breath & Imagination is a compelling musical about one man's determination to become an artist despite seemingly insurmountable odds.   

Award-winning actor, director, and arts educator Maurice Emmanuel Parent has joined the Boston College Theatre Department as the Rev. J. Donald Monan, S.J. Professor in Theatre Arts for the 2018-2019 academic year. [Jpg of Parent attached.]

The Handel and Haydn Society has announced a new partnership with Boston Public Schools that will offer students in grades 5-9 the chance to develop their music skills in a chorus.

FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Elijah Rock in 'Gershwin For My Soul' on Thursday, June 7th at 9:30pm.

The Lyric Stage Company of Boston announces complete 7-play 2018-19 season.

The Lyric Stage Company of Boston announces complete 7-play 2018-19 season.

Academy Award-nominee, Angela Bassett will join Kathleen Battle as a guest narrator in Battle's program Underground Railroad: A Spiritual Journey accompanied by pianist Joel Martin and the LA-based choir, The Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers at the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts (The Soraya) on Thursday, March 29 at 8:00pm.

American soprano Kathleen Battle's luminous voice has been called by The Washington Post "...without qualification, one of the very few most beautiful in the world."  Yet beyond the glory of her singing, in a career filled with countless accolades, honors and major milestones, what has perhaps distinguished her most is her almost magical ability to create an unwavering emotional bond between herself, her music and her audience.  On Thursday, March 29 at 8pm, that special bond will be on full display when Ms. Battle makes her debut at The Soraya with Kathleen Battle: Underground Railroad-A Spiritual Journey accompanied by pianist Joel Martin and the LA-based choir, The Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers.

The greatest collaboration against racism in American History before the Civil Rights Movement was The Underground Railroad, in which persons of all ethnic backgrounds, from North and South, came together to help escaped slaves make their way to free territory.

Music Hall presents an original American story - 'The First Of His Kind- The Roland W. Hayes Story' a new musical theatre work commissioned by Music Hall, about the life and career of Roland Hayes, the groundbreaking African-American lyric tenor and composer who broke color barriers to become a world-renowned artist - acclaimed on the biggest stages in Europe and finally, in his own United States, on Saturday, December 3rd at 8:00 PM

In an extraordinary life that grappled with racial tensions, interracial liaisons, personal scandals and politics, lyric tenor Roland Hayes (1887 – 1977), was the first African American man to reach international fame as a concert performer and one of the few artists who could sell out Carnegie Hall and other major venues.  Once called the “Black Caruso,” Hayes was also hailed as one of the greatest performers of the 20th century.  On October 4, critically acclaimed baritone Robert Sims will honor Hayes with a concert featuring African American spirituals, arranged by Hayes and narrated by George Shirley, in conjunction with his latest recording Robert Sims Sings the Spirituals of Roland Hayes. 

The Colony Theatre has announced that the final production of its historic 40thAnniversary season, the critically-acclaimed, smash-hit, Los Angeles Premiere of WORDS BY IRA GERSHWIN A Musical Play by Joseph Vass, directed by David Ellenstein, Musical Director Kevin Toney, Musical Arranger Joseph Vass will be EXTENDING through SUNDAY, MAY 24 at the Colony Theatre, 555 N. Third Street in Burbank.

The Colony Theatre is thrilled to present the final production of its historic 40th Anniversary season, the Los Angeles Premiere of WORDS BY IRA GERSHWIN A Musical Play by Joseph Vass, directed by David Ellenstein, Musical Director Kevin Toney, Musical Arranger Joseph Vass. WORDS BY IRA GERSHWIN will preview today, April 15; Thursday, April 16; and Friday, April 17 at 8:00pm. It will open on Saturday, April 18 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, May 17.

Virginia Stage Company (VSC) will present its final show of the season, running tonight, March 31st through April 19th. Breath & Imagination, directed by Saundra McClain is the true and inspirational story of the life and struggles of Roland Hayes, the first African American classical vocalist of world renown. VSC's production will feature Travis Pratt, who appeared on season 8 of America's Got Talent, in the role of Hayes, and marks the first time a true tenor has portrayed this role. The show features operatic, classical and spiritual music.

The Colony Theatre is thrilled to present the final production of its historic 40th Anniversary season, the Los Angeles Premiere of WORDS BY IRA GERSHWIN A Musical Play by Joseph Vass, directed by David Ellenstein, Musical Director Kevin Toney, Musical Arranger Joseph Vass. WORDS BY IRA GERSHWIN will preview on Wednesday, April 15; Thursday, April 16; and Friday, April 17 at 8:00pm. It will open on Saturday, April 18 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, May 17.

Virginia Stage Company (VSC) will present its final show of the season, running March 31st through April 19th. Breath & Imagination, directed by Saundra McClain is the true and inspirational story of the life and struggles of Roland Hayes, the first African American classical vocalist of world renown. VSC's production will feature Travis Pratt, who appeared on season 8 of America's Got Talent, in the role of Hayes, and marks the first time a true tenor has portrayed this role. The show features operatic, classical and spiritual music.

Cleveland Play House has in its recent history included small cast musicals in its offerings. Those shows included TAPPIN' THROUGH LIFE (Maurice Hines), BREATH AND IMAGINATION (Roland Hayes), WOODY SEZ; LIFE AND MUSIC OF WOODY GUTHRIE (Woody Guthrie), THE DEVIL'S MUSIC: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF BESSIE SMITH (Bessie Smith), and ONE NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN (Janis Joplin). Each told a story about the person through their own words, their music, or from the mouths of those who knew them. Often they have been tied to Black History Month.

The Colony Theatre will present the second production of its historic 40th Anniversary season, the West Coast Premiere of WHAT I LEARNED IN PARIS by Pearl Cleage. The production stars Tony winner L. Scott Caldwell, and is directed by Saundra McClain. WHAT I LEARNED IN PARIS will preview tonight, September 3; Thursday, September 4; and Friday, September 5 at 8:00pm. It will open on Saturday, September 6 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, October 5 at The Colony Theatre, 555 North Third Street in Burbank.

The Colony Theatre will present the second production of its historic 40th Anniversary season, the West Coast Premiere of WHAT I LEARNED IN PARIS by Pearl Cleage. The production stars Tony winner L. Scott Caldwell, and is directed by Saundra McClain. WHAT I LEARNED IN PARIS will preview on Wednesday, September 3; Thursday, September 4; andFriday, September 5 at 8:00pm. It will open on Saturday, September 6 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, October 5 at The Colony Theatre, 555 North Third Street in Burbank.

The Tallest Tree in the Forest/written & performed by Daniel Beaty/directed by Moises Kaufman/Mark Taper Forum/through May 25