As the days dwindled down to a precious few in 2014, a few cabaret goers and performers in what is affectionately but also self-mockingly called the “cabaret community” would sidle up and ask if I was planning my annual end-of-the year “Best Of” column, similar to the “Top 20 Bests and Favorites” piece over the first half of the year I posted back in early July. I would respond in the negative with very reasonable and believable excuses, but the truth is I didn't want to reveal my “Bests” of the year until the voting for the 2014 BroadwayWorld New York Cabaret Awards had ended. There's enough baggage and backstage whispering that comes with administering the BWW Awards, so I wasn't about to publish any opinions that might influence the vote while it was in process. I may be crazy but I'm not masochistic. But now all bets are off. You want lists? I'll give you lists.
When brainstorming concepts for new shows, the idea of making a musical about Berry Gordy--not necessarily a household name, may have seemed like an odd choice. So let's look at Plan B....a musical about the careers of Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Michael Jackson and Marvin Gaye. Well, essentially the two are all the same musical. The slick production of MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL that opened on Tuesday night at Shea's tells the story of producer Berry Gordy and his start up record label, 'Motown.'
Omaha Performing Arts presents the Ladysmith Black Mambazo in the Kiewit Hall at the Holland Performing Arts Center Friday, February 20, at 8:00 p.m. Tickets start at $20, and are available at TicketOmaha.com, 402.345.0606 or at the Ticket Omaha Office inside the Holland Center, 1200 Douglas St.
The Recording Industry Association of America has certified Barbra Streisand's album 'Partners' as gold, with over 500,000 sold. This is the 52nd gold in Streisand's career and the most for any female recording artist in RIAA's history.
MOTOWN THE MUSICAL may have given its final bow on Broadway, but the cast, crew, and stage management team have gone out in the most 'Happy' way possible! Check out a video of the group dancing to Pharrell's hit song, created by cast member Lisa Nicole Wilkerson, below!
MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, the hit musical featuring the music of the legendary Motown catalogue and a book by Berry Gordy, ended its Broadway run yesterday, January 18 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. MOTOWN is set to return to Broadway at a Nederlander theatre to be announced in July 2016. Last spring, the first National Tour of Motown the Musical opened to critical acclaim, grossing an impressive $20 Million dollars during a packed sixteen-week run, and is now heading to major markets across the US. MOTOWN will also head to London's West End this summer. BroadwayWorld was there for the show's final curtain call and you can check out photo coverage below!
Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: CHICAGO crowns its new King of the Courtroom, Scott Alan comes to 54 Below, Broadway stars team up for concerts across the city and more!
The touring production of MOTOWN the Musical sent a special 'Happy Trails' to the Broadway Production of MOTOWN, closing today, Sunday Jan. 18. With direction and arrangement by Jesse Nager (Smokey Robinson) the video features Julius Thomas III (Berry Gordy), Allison Semmes (Diana Ross), Jarran Muse (Marvin Gaye), Krisha Mercano (Suzanne De Passe), and Rod Harrelson (dance captain), all of whom joined the tour from the Broadway company. The video also has appearances from the entire company currently in Philadelphia. Check it out below!
MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, the hit musical featuring the music of the legendary Motown catalogue and a book by Berry Gordy, ends its Broadway run today, January 18 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. MOTOWN is set to return to Broadway at a Nederlander theatre to be announced in July 2016. Last spring, the first National Tour of Motown the Musical opened to critical acclaim, grossing an impressive $20 Million dollars during a packed sixteen-week run, and is now heading to major markets across the US. MOTOWN will also head to London's West End this summer.
'Forbidden Fruit: Love Stories From the Underground Railroad' is in development as a stage musical from Broadway producer Tara Smith's Triptyk Studios, Brian LaRoda and Universal Stage Productions, with Wonder attached to provide the score.
NBC is bringing both the heartbreaking and uplifting stories during one of America's most tumultuous periods to television in adapting author and Pulitzer Prize finalist Betty DeRamus' acclaimed book “Forbidden Fruit: Love Stories From the Underground Railroad” as an epic eight-hour miniseries titled “Freedom Run.”
Producers Kevin McCollum, Doug Morris and Berry Gordy have announced that MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL original Broadway cast member Jesse Nager has joined the First National Tour in the leading role of Smokey Robinson.
MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, the smash hit musical featuring the music of the legendary Motown catalogue and a book by Berry Gordy, will play its final performance of its current Broadway engagement this Sunday, January 18, 2015 at The Lunt Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46 Street) and will return to Broadway in a Nederlander theatre to be announced in Summer 2016.
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presents the legendary musician Maceo Parker and his funk-filled band tonight, January 16, 2015 at 8:00pm. This performance will take place at the Byham Theater, located at 101 Sixth Street, downtown Pittsburgh. The presentation is part of the 2014-15 Cohen & Grigsby Trust Presents series.
The North Carolina Symphony will pay tribute to two of the most beloved performers of the 20th century with Louis and Ella: All That Jazz, which will feature the music of Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald performed by trumpeter and vocalist Byron Stripling and vocalist Marva Hicks, with drummer Robert Breithaupt. The Symphony concerts, which will be led by Associate Conductor David Glover, will take place in Meymandi Concert Hall in downtown Raleigh, tonight, Jan. 16, and Saturday, Jan. 17, at 8 p.m. each night.
The Music Business Association (Music Biz) will present Country superstar Martina McBride with its prestigious Harry Chapin Memorial Humanitarian Award during the Music Biz 2015 Awards Luncheon
54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Denis Lambert with Mary Michael Patterson, Nikka Graff Lanzarone, Amy Jo Jackson and more on January 31, 2015.
Constantly in search of new musical terrain, the PRISM Quartet (Timothy McAllister, Taimur Sullivan, Matthew Levy, and Zachary Shemon)—“one of America's finest saxophone quartets for three decades” (The New Yorker)—celebrates its 30th anniversary with a groundbreaking recording: Heritage/Evolution, Volume 1.
Celebrate this Valentine's Day weekend WITH LOVE FROM DEEDS AND DIVA - a very special three-night engagement where two-time Grammy winning legendary jazz vocalist Diane Schuur takes to the stage with New York's own magnetic tour-de-force Diva Jazz Orchestra, led by the extraordinary talented drummer Dr. Sherrie Maricle.
