Sam Harris News

Berkshire Theatre Group welcomes Respect: A Tribute to Aretha Franklin, The Queen of Soul at The Colonial Theatre on Thursday, November 1 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $25.

The internationally acclaimed Broadway @ concert series hosted and music directed by Sirius XM Radio Star Seth Rudetsky is finally landing smack dab in the middle of Broadway itself this fall.

Composer and trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire's fourth studio album Origami Harvest—which will be released October 12 on Blue Note—began with a challenge of sorts. It was a commission from curators Judd Greenstein of Manhattan's Ecstatic Music Festival and Kate Nordstrum of St. Paul's Liquid Music Series that began with Greenstein asking, “What's the craziest idea you have?” Considering “challenge” and “crazy” are the order of the day, Akinmusire's reply was right on time: “I wanted to do a project about extremes and putting things that are seemingly opposite right next to each other.” The result is a surprisingly fluid study in contrasts that—with help from New York's Mivos Quartet and art-rap expatriate Kool A.D. along with drummer Marcus Gilmore, pianist Sam Harris, and others—pits contemporary classical wilding against deconstructed hip-hop, with bursts of left-field jazz, funk, spoken word, and soul.

'LAs Next Great Stage Star is more than a competition - it is an experience, deeply felt and expressed by these super-talented young people who are the new faces of our business. If this is any indication, the future of theatre is in good hands!!' - Multi-Million selling recording artist and author, Sam Harris

On Monday, August 27 LA's Next Great Stage Star 2018 Presented by Princess Cruises came to a thrilling conclusion on the Debbie Reynolds Mainstage of the El Portal Theatre in NoHo. After a very entertaining 90-minute program in which the 10 contestants gave 150% to their monologues and songs from Broadway shows, eight contestants were eliminated and the top two finalists were selected. It was then decided,  from the consensus of the judges, to add a third runnerup. Then each of the three proceeded to perform a second number after which the distinguished panel of judges made the final decision. Musical director par excellence Jennifer Lin accompanied at the piano throughout the three hour show.

Following Reprise's successful re-launch (as the newly christened REPRISE 2.0) with a crowd-pleasing SWEET CHARITY, REPRISE 2.0 mounts THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND on the Freud Playhouse boards beginning September 5, 2018. We had the chance to chat with one of WORLD's talented cast members, theatre vet Valerie Perri on being back with Reprise, while hitting highlights of her extensive theatrical career.

Albatross Theatre Lab opens its inaugural production with Richard Greenberg's Three Days of Rain. Three Days of Rain will run two weekends, September 28-October 6, 2018 (opening night is September 28, 2018), at The Slate Theater in the SODO neighborhood of Seattle. Tickets will be available for purchase online beginning Monday, August 27, 2018 at www.albatrosstheatrelab.com.

On August 27th, the Debbie Reynolds Main stage at the historic El Portal Theater will host the 12th annual LA's Next Great Stage Star(R), following a six week competition.  Creator, Michael Sterling, along with his Co-Executive Producer and Co-Sponsor, Barbara Van Orden, are proud to offer this annual opportunity to talented individuals seeking to spotlight their abilities. Presented by Princess Cruises LA's Next Great Stage Star(R) is the only competition of its kind in the Western United States.

George M. Cohan has been attributed to being the father of the American Musical, whose works are the very roots of Broadway and musical theater that we know today. Without his numerous contributions to the American theater, Broadway as we all know it probably wouldn't even exist. This is the idea that's drummed rather loudly and patriotically by the ending of YANKEE DOODLE DANDY, the 2004 stage musical now in the midst of its Southern California regional premiere via Musical Theatre West. A fairly entertaining, if inescapably old-fashioned jukebox musical that paints rather broad strokes rather than giving a deep dive into Cohan's life story, this new production continues performances at the Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts in Long Beach through July 22, 2018.

Previous attempts have been made to bring George M. Cohan's life to the stage. None is remembered, however, as much as the 1942 film starring James Cagney. Book writer David Armstrong has constructed a much more realistic account of Yankee Doodle Dandy, tryimg to avoid the traps of Hollywood glamor and tinsel, currently onstage at MTW Long Beach at the Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts through July 22 In spite of the fantastic cast and sturdy direction and scintillating choreography by James Rocco, it turns in a rather weak account of the father of the American musical comedy (1878-1942). Not that you shouldn't see it; go for the cast and the sheer entertainment value of the music alone that set the scene for Rodgers nd Hammerstein and others to follow.

Mark Cortale, Producing Artistic Director of Provincetown's internationally known Art House theater, has announced that he has begun to search for a new summer location for 2019. Cortale learned last week that the twin 120-seat theaters at The Art House will be gutted by the property owner after the current summer season due to restaurant expansion plans. The news comes on the heels of seven consecutive seasons of remarkable success; thriving outposts of its famed 'Broadway @' music series in major venues across the country and abroad; and the recent announcement of its largest lineup of Broadway, comedy and music stars yet for its P-Town home.

Aloft Hotels, Marriott International's brand for music lovers and music makers, and Universal Music Group & Brands (UMGB), the brand strategy division of Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment, today launched the 2018 edition of Aloft Hotels' artist discovery competition Project: Aloft Star, and unveiled the first-ever Project: Aloft Star Tour, a five-city tour celebrating UMG's emerging artists.

President/Founder of The Hollywood Museum, Donelle Dadigan, along with Council Member Mitch O'Farrell and Board President Esteban Montemayor of Christopher Street West, kicked off Pride weekend with the annual 'Real to Reel' exhibit that shines the spotlight on the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBTQ) community in television and film through the decades. This year's event also feature a special recognition with The Future of Hollywood Award presented to actress Stephanie Beatriz and the Legacy Award to TONY Award winning actress, Julie Newmar.

Celebrate America and the beginnings of our country's musical theatre history with a new look at the life of George M. Cohan in the Southern California premiere of Musical Theatre West's (MTW) production of Yankee Doodle Dandy! at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center July 6-22, 2018.  For tickets go to www.musical.org, call (562) 856-1999 ext. 4 or visit the MTW Ticket Office.  Tickets start at $20.

Chris Isaacson Presents has announced a full slate of summer entertainment at five venues: Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood, Upstairs at Vitello's in Studio City, the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood, Martinis Above Fourth in San Diego, and The Purple Room in Palm Springs. The lineup includes Star Search and Oprah Winfrey Show favorite Jake Simpson, the Grammy Award-winning Conspirare Choir performing Considering Matthew Shepard (presented in association with the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre), New York's indie-rock stars The Skivvies, Broadway sensation David Burnham, and Tony Award-winner John Lloyd Young.

Chris Isaacson Presents has announced that cabaret favorites Amy & Freddy will bring their show to Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood for one show only today, May 18, at 8:30pm.

Chris Isaacson Presents has announced that cabaret favorites Amy & Freddy will bring their show to Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood for one show only on Friday, May 18, at 8:30pm.

Chris Isaacson Presents has announced that Tony Award nominee Mary Bridget Davies (A Night with Janis Joplin) will bring her electric charm and powerhouse vocals to Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood for one show only on Sunday, May 13, at 7:30pm. Musical direction is by Ryan Sudick. 

On the occasion of the 20-year mark of Matthew Shepard's tragic death, the Ford Theatres presents Considering Matthew Shepard, on Friday, June 15 and Saturday June 16 at 8:30pm, in association with Chris Isaacson Presents. Part of the 2018 Season and the IGNITE @ the FORD! series, Considering Matthew Shepard is performed by the 30-member GRAMMY Award-winning Conspirare choir, and composed and conducted by its GRAMMY Award-winning artistic director, Craig Hella Johnson. 

The X Ambassadors are performing on The Late Late Show with James Corden on May 10th at 12:37am/11:37pm c on CBS!  'Ahead of Myself' hits #17 at Hot AC; Check Out The Knocks' Stunning Remix of the Rising Track!