Simon Cowell News

NBC's AMERICA'S GOT TALENT and its producers have again collaborated with YouTube, and for the first time, show sponsor Snapple, to allow talented acts from across the country the opportunity to audition online for their shot at stardom and a million-dollar prize.

AMERICA'S GOT TALENT will premiere with two two-hour episodes on Monday, May 14 (8-10 p.m. ET) and Tuesday, May 15 (8-10 p.m. ET). The show's return will feature the first appearance of new judge Howard Stern, who joins fellow judges Howie Mandel and Sharon Osbourne. The series then resumes in its regular day and time on Monday, May 21 (8-9 p.m. ET) and on Tuesday, May 22 (9-10 p.m. ET).

E! News is confirming that Demi Lovato and Britney Spears will join Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid at the judge's table for the next season of THE X FACTOR. According to the report, both have offers in place and have agreed to the terms.

According to The Huffington Post, Demi Lovato has signed on to be a judge for THE X FACTOR Season 2 on when the show returns to the FOX network this fall.

As first reported in The Hollywood Reporter, Demi Lovato is in final negotiations to appear as the fourth judge on the upcoming season of Fox's THE X FACTOR. The former Disney star would join Britney Spears as a judge on the singing competition.

Howard Stern, American radio personality, television host and author, will serve as the new judge on the top-rated summer alternative series AMERICA'S GOT TALENT. The season premieres on May 14 at 8:00 pm/ET on the NBC network. Get a first look at Stern as a judge on the upcoming talent competition below!

On Thursday night's JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE, American Idol alum Adam Lambert played a five-song set in front of more than 1,000 fans gathered in the parking lot behind the famous El Capitan theater.

The Annenberg Theatre will present Upright Cabaret's RHYTHM OF THE NIGHT tonight April 27 at 8:00 pm. RHYTHM OF THE NIGHT is the third installment of Upright Cabaret's "American Icon" Series and will star Olivier Award-Winner Lesli Margherita, Lexi Lawson (Rent, In The Heights)) and Rogelio Douglas Jr. (In The Heights, The Little Mermaid)). This high energy, multi-media Cabaret celebrates the music of Ricky Martin, Gloria Estefan and Santana and features pop favorites such as Livin' La Vida Loca, Shake Your Bon-Bon, Rhythm Is Gonna Get You, Anything for You, Smooth, Let It Shine, and more, performed live with the Upright Cabaret band!

Drew Cameron performs his first ever Brighton Fringe show at The Temple Bar, Western Road, on Monday May 7th, 8th and 9th at 10.45pm.

The Annenberg Theatre will present Upright Cabaret's RHYTHM OF THE NIGHT on April 27 at 8:00 pm. RHYTHM OF THE NIGHT is the third installment of Upright Cabaret's "American Icon" Series and will star Olivier Award-Winner Lesli Margherita, Lexi Lawson (Rent, In The Heights)) and Rogelio Douglas Jr. (In The Heights, The Little Mermaid)). This high energy, multi-media Cabaret celebrates the music of Ricky Martin, Gloria Estefan and Santana and features pop favorites such as Livin' La Vida Loca, Shake Your Bon-Bon, Rhythm Is Gonna Get You, Anything for You, Smooth, Let It Shine, and more, performed live with the Upright Cabaret band!

Shock jock Howard Stern joins the judge's table on the upcoming seventh season of NBC's AMERICA'S GOT TALENT. The series returns this summer with the hottest performers from across the country ready to compete in the blockbuster reality show.

Rock Icons THE MOODY BLUES come to BergenPAC tonight, April 16, 2012 at 8:00 pm.

THE X FACTOR is extending online auditions to Friday, April 27th. Solo artists and vocal groups have an additional two weeks to submit their online auditions. To audition online, auditioners should upload a thirty-second introduction and a one-and-a-half minute a cappella video performance to www.TheXFactorUSA.com.

Paper Mill Playhouse has just announced that American Idol finalist Syesha Mercado has been cast as Ti Moune in the Millburn, New Jersey, theater's production of Once On This Island (book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, music by Stephen Flaherty). More than 20 years after its premiere, Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens are re-inventing their first musical with Tony-nominated director Thomas Kail (In the Heights, Lombardi, Magic/Bird) and choreographer Bradley Rapier (So You Think You Can Dance). Once On This Island begins performances on Wednesday, May 30, 2012, and runs through Sunday, June 24, 2012. Complete casting will be announced at a later date. Once On This Island is proudly sponsored by Bank of America.

Deadline.com reports that Britney Spears is nearing a deal to appear as a judge on the upcoming second season of Fox's THE X FACTOR.

CHRIS ISAACSON announces the performers for UPRIGHT CABARET's AMERICAN ICON SERIES' third show of their 3rd Season, RHYTHM OF THE NIGHT, starring Olivier Award-Winner LESLI MARGHERITA, American Idol's DAVID HERNANDEZ (Thousand Oaks and Hollywood Shows only) & LEXI LAWSON, (Rent, In The Heights)) and ROGELIO DOUGLAS, JR. (In The Heights, The Little Mermaid)) celebrating the music of Ricky Martin, Gloria Estefan and Santana!

The hit NBC alternative series AMERICA'S GOT TALENT will have a fresh new perspective from the East Coast as the summer's top-rated series has found its brand new home for its seventh season, broadcasting live two nights a week from Prudential Hall at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) beginning in July.

The Hard Boiled Egg and the Wasp is an entirely original musical about the legendary English comedian Dan Leno written by actor, singer-writer and voiceover artist, Jonathan Kydd and Andy Street, one of the leading figures in British and American television music. The show runs at The Giant Olive Theatre at The Lion & Unicorn from Tues 22nd May to Sunday 10th June.

NBC will commence live episodes of THE VOICE on Monday, April 2 (8-10 p.m. ET) and will expand the hit singing competition series to a second night with live elimination rounds beginning on Tuesday, April 3 (9-10 p.m. ET).

A few days shy of the holiest week of the year for Christians - aptly named Holy Week, beginning with Palm Sunday and ending with Easter (with Holy Thursday and Good Friday, the most sacred events on the calendar coming between) - Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's seminal rock opera JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR was resurrected on Broadway by TOMMY and JERSEY BOYS director Des McAnuff - modeled after the hit Stratford Shakespeare Festival production last year and comprised of many of the same cast members, including all three leads - to hails of praise and hosannas, mostly. While JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR itself will always divide audiences and critics alike - and not merely because of its controversial content and its button-pushing treatment of the hallowed tale it tells - the magnetism and sheer power that Lloyd Webber's propulsive, throbbing rock score imbues gives the show an energy, vitality and life rare to find in even the most earnestly effervescent and energetic of comparable entities - the recently revived and similarly-themed GODSPELL in a revival a few blocks away included. Then, there are Tim Rice's lyrics - oh-so-spot-on in 1970, but still biting and edgy today in McAnuff's hi-tech and elaborately presented new Broadway production. Using the book of John as the jumping off point, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR tells the story of the last seven days in the life of Jesus Christ (Paul Nolan) and his subsequent betrayal by Judas (Josh Young) and sentencing to death at the hands of King Herod and Pontius Pilate (Tom Hewitt). The twelve apostles, Mary Magdalene and her female companions, lepers, Pharisees, priests and others populate the grand story told almost entirely through song - the show is 90% music - and Webber and Rice's score never, ever lets up. While this may not be the most faithful rendering as far as the Bible is concerned, nor the most historically accurate, SUPERSTAR is now available to experience for a whole new generation thanks to this new revival and the timing could not be more ideal. The time is ripe for a revival of SUPERSTAR, and, as Andrew Lloyd Webber himself has recently related, this new production of the show is the best ever as far as he is concerned. High praise indeed - coming from no less than the Lord.