Steve Allen News

As the result of her recent successful appearances at the Metropolitan Room, singer Peggy King will be joined by the entire All-Star Jazz Trio for her next show on Tuesday, April 29 at 7 PM. The award-winning group consists of Andy Kahn on piano, Bruce Klauber on drums and Bruce Kaminsky on drums and they have been performing with King for the past year, but this will mark their debut at the Metropolitan Room.

Emerson College will award four honorary degrees during the College's 134th Commencement ceremonies on Sunday, May 11, at the Agganis Arena at Boston University, 925 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston. The ceremony will be streamed live at emerson.edu/stream.

The Geffen Playhouse has announced four plays for the eight-play 2014-2015 season, including the Co-World Premiere, with the Sydney Theatre Company, of the Geffen commissioned, Switzerland, written by Joanna Murray-Smith (The Female of the Species); the West Coast Premieres of The Night Alive, written by Olivier and Evening Standard Award winner and Tony nominee Conor McPherson (The Weir, The Seafarer) and directed by Geffen Artistic Director Randall Arney; and The Power of Duff, written by Stephen Belber and directed by Peter DuBois (Rapture, Blister, Burn); and The Gospel According to Thomas Jefferson, Charles Dickens and Count Leo Tolstoy: Discord, written by Scott Carter.

Eddie Lawrence passed away in Manhattan on Tuesday, March 25th at the age of 95.

After a heavy winter, parents of small children all around the country may be in a celebratory mood as they anticipate letting their children once again enjoy the great outdoors. Adding to the fun is the availability of many songs and albums from the Ruth Roberts children songbook collection, including 'St. Patrick's Day Songs That Tickle Your Funny Bone,' 'Easter Songs That Tickle Your Funny Bone,' 'Spring Songs That Tickle Your Funny Bone,' and 'April Fools' Day Songs That Tickle Your Funny Bone.'

Whidbey Island Center for the Arts announces the headliner schedule for the second annual PianoFest Northwest from April 16 - 19, 2014. The four-day piano music festival will feature a Locals Night (4/16), as well as Classical (4/17), Latin (4/18), and Jazz Music (4/19). Respectively, the headliners for each day are local Northwest favorite Nancy Nolan, spectacular female trio Thirtyfingers, three-time Latin Grammy Award-winner Jovino Santos Neto, and performing on Whidbey Island for the first time in years, native piano virtuoso Aaron Parks.

As the result of her recent successful debut at the Metropolitan Room, singer Peggy King has added a revised new schedule. She will do a special St. Patrick's Weekend show this Sunday, March 16 at 12 Noon and then return on Wed., April 9 at 7 PM and Tuesday, April 29 at 7 PM, accompanied by Andy Kahn on piano. One of the best-loved stars of TV's Golden Age, as well as stage, screen and nightclubs, Peggy continues her resurgence after nearly a 30-year absence. She was re-discovered last year in the Emmy and Golden Globe-winning HBO film 'Behind the Candelabra,' in which Michael Douglas and Matt Damon watch a lengthy 1955 video clip of the young Peggy King singing 'When Liberace Winks at Me,' with the real Liberace on piano. It also became a popular YouTube video and is included on the Elektra soundtrack album. 'Pretty, perky Peggy King' has worked in films and television with nearly every star imaginable, from Frank Sinatra and Mel Torme (with whom she co-starred on a 50's TV series) to Sammy Davis, Jr. and Andre Previn, and her dozens of recordings through the years show just why she remains a favorite of America's finest composers and lyricists.

Whidbey Island Center for the Arts announces the headliner schedule for the second annual PianoFest Northwest from April 16 - 19, 2014. The four-day piano music festival will feature a Locals Night (4/16), as well as Classical (4/17), Latin (4/18), and Jazz Music (4/19). Respectively, the headliners for each day are local Northwest favorite Nancy Nolan, spectacular female trio Thirtyfingers, three-time Latin Grammy Award-winner Jovino Santos Neto, and performing on Whidbey Island for the first time in years, native piano virtuoso Aaron Parks.

The national tour of SISTER ACT comes to Hershey Theatre with a heady mix of nunsense and the sound of Philadelphia as filtered through Alan Menken. The music -- and the Mother Superior -- are worth the trip.

Vocalist Peggy King, one of the best-loved stars of TV's Golden Age, as well as stage, screen and nightclubs, continues her resurgence after nearly a 30-year absence, with a series of performances at the Metropolitan Room, starting Sunday, Feb. 23 at 4 PM, just a few days after celebrating her 84th birthday. She will be accompanied by musical director Andy Kahn on piano. She was re-discovered last year in the Emmy and Golden Globe-winning HBO film 'Behind the Candelabra,' in which Michael Douglas and Matt Damon watch a lengthy 1955 video clip of Peggy King singing 'When Liberace Winks at Me,' accompanied by the real Liberace on piano. It also became a popular YouTube video and is included on the Elektra soundtrack album. 'Pretty, perky Peggy King' has worked in films and television with nearly every star imaginable, from Frank Sinatra and Mel Torme (with whom she co-starred on a 50's TV series) to Sammy Davis, Jr. and Andre Previn, and her dozens of recordings through the years show just why she remains a favorite of America's finest composers and lyricists.

Last night, December 19, Town Hall overflowed with the musical joys of the season when three extraordinary talents, Leslie Uggams, Marilyn Maye and Christine Andreas took the stage for Holiday Belles. These award-winning singers brought their unique and diverse talents to the celebration, performing songs from the musical theater and the American Songbook, as well as holiday favorites. The concert, conceived and directed by Michael Bush, featured each singer performing her own individual set, and then brought them together for a very merry finale of holiday melodies. Check out photos from the concert below!

Jay is an enormous fan of Broadway and all its denizens and has done many Broadway Cast Albums, but he has also worked with every great star of our time in every category of music.

On Tuesday December 3 sublime singer Spider Saloff appeared at Rockwell Table and Stage for an evening of Cool Yule accompanied by electric jazz pianist Richard Eames. I say sublime, as there are a rare few like Saloff who can really sing, wrapping their heart around the lyrics of a song and then delivering it as if they had never told the story before. It takes an actress to sing well, and Saloff has everything it takes. Like Garland, she's one of the best.

After acclaimed premieres in Hollywood and Chicago, CHRISTMAS SMACKDOWN makes it highly anticipated New York Premiere. Written by Mark Nutter (Re-Animator: The Musical, Bicycle Men) and Cynthia Carle (The Sixth Man), performances begin December 19 at The Laurie Beechman Theater (inside West Bank Cafe at 407 West 42nd Street -- at Ninth Avenue, accessible from the A,C,E,N,R,V,F,1,2,3 trains at 42nd Street). This limited engagement runs for 2 nights only: Thursday, Dec. 19 & Friday, Dec. 20 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $20 plus a $15 food/drink minimum. To purchase tickets call 212-352-3101 or visit www.SpinCycleNYC.com.

Vocalist Peggy King--one of the few, certifiable stars of stage, screen, television and nightclubs still performing today-is returning to New York City for the first time in several decades, along with the charismatically swinging All-Star Jazz Trio. Peggy King and The All-Stars will appear at 54 Below-"New York's Supper Club," 254 West 54th Street-on Monday, December 30. Showtime is 7:00 p.m. Tickets are priced from $25 to $35, and are available in advance via www.54below.com Reservation details:646-468-7619.

'The Firehouse Variety Hour' is a live entertainment-variety show, set in a TV talk show format. Gordy Young, host of 'Experience Michiana', weeknights at 7pm on WNIT/PBS, South Bend will emcee.

Swedish Grammy-winning pop band Brainpool (Christoffer Lundquist, David Birde, Jens Jansson) are in New York City for a week-long development workshop of their rock opera JUNK, following two sold-out concerts of songs from the show (Pieces of JUNK) performed by a cast of Broadway performers at Joe's Pub earlier this year.

"The Firehouse Variety Hour" is a live entertainment-variety show, set in a TV talk show format. Gordy Young, host of "Experience Michiana", weeknights at 7pm on WNIT/PBS, South Bend will emcee.

Tune in this Wednesday, October 16th, 2013 at 12:35 PM (ET) to join in the celebration with 'Mr. Showbusiness' on Jimmy Ferraro's THEATRE CHAT AND THIS 'N THAT, broadcasting live on WWJB -- regionally and nationally on the world wide web: www.wwjb.com/pages/4395150.php. This week's guest is legendary Broadway, television, film star, and author Kaye Ballard.

Legendary concert artist and Kennedy Center Honoree Barbara Cook returns to New York City's Town Hall, 123 West 43rd Street (between 6th Avenue & Broadway,) on Thursday, November 14th at 8 PM with a new evening of song (and stories) as she continues to explore her newly-developed repertoire of jazz and swing, while also reprising her now-classic renditions of songs from Broadway and the Great American Songbook. Five weeks later, on December 19, 2013, Town Hall will overflow with the musical joys of the season when three extraordinary talents, Leslie Uggams, Marilyn Maye and Christine Andreas take the stage for Holiday Belles.