Sting News

Chris Botti returns to the Blue Note for his annual three-week residence from December 13 to January 2, including Christmas and New Year's Eve. This year, Botti is bringing a new band that features drummer Billy Kilson, guitarist Mark Whitfield, pianist Billy Childs, keyboardist Andy Ezrin, bassist Carlos Henriquez, vocalist Lisa Fischer, and violinists Caroline Campbell and Chee-Yun. Botti's accessible style, charm, and impressive backing band have kept him at the top of the contemporary jazz world for years. With a warm, effortless tone on the trumpet, Botti seamlessly weaves songs from the pop, jazz, classical and contemporary genres into each set. His Blue Note runs have been star-studded affairs over the last few years, boasting guest artists like John Mayer and Sting, and this year's series will be no different. As an artist who plays mostly concert halls all over the world, playing for three weeks at such an intimate club is a treat for Botti, who calls the Blue Note his favorite stop of the year.

This weekend only, after you've had all the turkey you can stand, come on down to CityRep for a heaping helping of TUNA! THIS WEEKEND ONLY (Nov. 26-28) CityRep is offering TWO FOR ONE ADMISSIONS FOR 'A TUNA CHRISTMAS.'

Tony Award-winning actress, singer, and songwriter Idina Menzel, star of Broadway's Wicked and the original stage production of Rent, will make her New York Philharmonic debut Saturday, February 5, 2011, at 8:00 p.m. The concert, a benefit for the New York Philharmonic, will be conducted by multi-award-winning conductor/composer Marvin Hamlisch. Ms. Menzel - who appeared in the hit television show Glee - will perform a repertoire of classic pop, musical theater favorites (including hits from Wicked and Rent), as well as selections from her album of original songs, I Stand.

The Hartt School, the comprehensive performing arts conservatory of the University of Hartford, is pleased to present 'Bang on a Can All-Stars' on Thursday evening, December 9, 2010, at 7:30 PM, in Millard Auditorium on the University of Hartford's West Hartford campus. Individual concert tickets are $30 and Series subscriptions are $100, with discounts on individual tickets and subscriptions for seniors, educators, University of Hartford alumni, students, and groups.

This year, a six-year-long WQXR tradition will continue with a little help from WNYC - and a Tony Award winner, too. On Thursday, December 9 at 5pm, the annual WQXR reading of Charles Dickens' A CHRISTMAS CAROL will take place in the station's live performance venue, The Greene Space. WQXR personalities, including Jeff Spurgeon and Midge Woolsey, will be joined by WNYC hosts, including Kurt Andersen and Jad Abumrad, in a version re-imagined for stage and directed by WQXR's Elliott Forrest. Stage and screen actor DAVID HYDE PIERCE will star in the role of Ebenezer Scrooge.

The Culture Project's IMAGINING HESCHEL, running now through November 28 at Cherry Lane Theater, has decided to cancel the opening night for its production, which began peformances on November 4. Allan Buchman, the founder and director of the Culture Project, decided the production would most likely not fare well under the critical eye, fearing that negative or mixed reviews would prevent the production from expanding regionally. Reports also indicate that rewrites to the play and changes to rehearsal schedules were still being managed late last week.

This holiday season, Mannheim Steamroller will celebrate a quarter-century of being America's favorite Christmas music artist with a 25th Christmas Anniversary Tour of their spectacular and beloved holiday show. The group will perform live for one performance only in Columbus at the Palace Theatre on Sunday, December 19th, 2010 at 4:00pm.

It wouldn't be the holidays without A TUNA CHRISTMAS and THE SANTALAND DIARIES, and CityRep is proud to bring them to you once again.

Today we are taking a look at one of the most exciting DVD/Blu-Ray releases of the year - perhaps ever, at least as far as Broadway connoisseurs are concerned. Taped back in mid-March of this year, a week before the actual central celebratory event itself occurred, comes SONDHEIM! The Birthday Concert, which will also be shown next Wednesday on PBS as part of this season's sensational series of GREAT PERFORMANCES at 9 PM on WNET in New York and across the country. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event that has been ever-so-lovingly rendered on disc in high definition preserving a heavenly host of the very best Broadway talent one could ever possibly ask to be assembled. SONDHEIM! has it all.

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presents the tantalizing and captivating Bellydance Superstars' Bombay Bellywood on Wednesday, November 17, 2010, at 7:30 p.m. at the Byham Theater. Experience the intensity and passion of this performance as the best dancers in the art of bellydance transport you to an exotic locale. Bellydance Superstars' Bombay Bellywood is a bold interpretation of Bollywood that weaves traditional bellydance with Indian dance styles, brilliant costuming and emotive, infectious music. This performance is part of the 2010-2011 Cohen & Grigsby Trust Presents series.

Milwaukee Children's Choir begins its 17th performance season Sunday, November 14, when its choristers gather to joyfully celebrate the beauty of nature and give thanks for the bounty of fall.

Nick Stefanacci Band CD Release Performance Sat. Jan. 29th- 8pm show At the Bitter End

It wouldn't be the holidays without A TUNA CHRISTMAS and THE SANTALAND DIARIES, and CityRep is proud to bring them to you once again.

This holiday season, Mannheim Steamroller will celebrate a quarter-century of being America's favorite Christmas music artist with a 25th Christmas Anniversary Tour of their spectacular and beloved holiday show.

'SHOW TUNES' is a collection of classic songs from the Broadway World songbook, performed by Gurland in his impeccable award winning style. Musical Director for this ONE NIGHT ONLY concert is well known Chicago based Robert Ollis.

Culture Project (Allan Buchman, Artistic Director) will present the world premiere of Imagining Heschel, a new play by Colin Greer, directed by Larry Moss, who was last represented Off-Broadway by his acclaimed production of Syringa Tree. The two-character play will feature actors Richard Dreyfuss and Rinde Eckert. Performances begin at the Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce Street, NYC) on Thursday, November 4th, 2010, and continue through Sunday, November 28th, 2010, for 20 performances only. An official opening night is set for Monday, November 8, 2010.

Lamb's Players Theatre has extended its 80s musical revue miXtape through December 19.

Culture Project (Allan Buchman, Artistic Director) will present the world premiere of Imagining Heschel, a new play by Colin Greer, directed by Larry Moss, who was last represented Off-Broadway by his acclaimed production of Syringa Tree. The two-character play will feature actors Richard Dreyfuss and Rinde Eckert. Performances begin at the Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce Street, NYC) on Thursday, November 4th, 2010, and continue through Sunday, November 28th, 2010, for 20 performances only. An official opening night is set for Monday, November 8, 2010.

This holiday season, Mannheim Steamroller will celebrate a quarter-century of being America's favorite Christmas music artist with a 25th Christmas Anniversary Tour of their spectacular and beloved holiday show.

"CPCC Theatre isn't [on the level of 'community theatre'] they're really on a professional level." - Creative Loafing theatre critic, Perry Tannenbaum, on WFAE 90.7fm's "Charlotte Talks."