Tasha Thomas News

Un 5 de enero de 1975, THE WIZ se estrenaba en Broadway en el Majestic Theatre. Este musical supone una revisión del cuento clásico de EL MAGO DE OZ adaptándolo a la actualidad del momento y conectándolo de manera directa con la cultura urbana negra.

On December 31 at 7 pm ET, 92Y will ring in 2021 with the streaming premiere An 80th Birthday Celebration of Songwriter Mike Stoller, a Lyrics & Lyricists Special Event from 2013. This magical concert will be released for the first time and available for free to audiences beyond the 900 people who packed the concert hall that night. 

This week's decluttering is only freeing up a tiny bit of space in my collection, but it represents an enormous place in my heart. The only version of The Wiz I have on CD is the AMAZING/IF YOU DON'T KNOW IT, YOU'RE NOT A REAL BROADWAY FAN original cast album starring Stephanie Mills. I do have the movie soundtrack in my iTunes and the soundtrack of 'The Wiz Live!' is on Apple Music, so let's dive in.

This October, Cobblestone, the award-winning magazine for aspiring historians, focuses on the 'ten dollar Founding Father.' To celebrate this exciting new issue, the editors are wondering which other U.S. historical leaders might inspire future Broadway songwriters. So, Cobblestone has decided to launch the 'Rap Into History' Challenge.

Last night, 92Y celebrated songwriting legend Mike Stoller on the occasion of his 80th year with An 80th Birthday Celebration, a one-night-only Lyrics & Lyricists Special Event hosted by Paul Shaffer and directed and written by Randy Johnson (director/writer of A Night withJanis Joplin). Performers included: legendary vocal group The Coasters, along with artists Karen Akers,Mary Bridget Davies, Corky Hale, Maria Elena Infantino,Sally Kellerman, Bettye Lavette, Melissa Manchester, Billy Stritch, Tommy Tune and Steve Tyrell. Backed by Tyrell's band, the artists performed some of the greatest songs written by Stoller with his longtime lyricist partner Jerry Leiber and others. Check out photos from the special event below!

On December 9, 2013 92Y celebrates songwriting legend Mike Stoller on the occasion of his 80th year with An 80th Birthday Celebration, a one-night-only Lyrics & Lyricists Special Event hosted by Paul Shaffer and directed and written by Randy Johnson (director/writer of A Night with Janis Joplin). Confirmed artists performing expected and unexpected interpretations from Stoller's genre-spanning career in blues, R&B, rock 'n' roll and jazz include legendary vocal group The Coasters, along with artists Karen Akers, Mary Bridget Davies, Corky Hale, Maria Elena Infantino, Sally Kellerman, Bettye LaVette, Melissa Manchester, Billy Stritch, Tommy Tune and Steve Tyrell. Backed by Tyrell's band, the artists perform some of the greatest songs written by Stoller with his longtime lyricist partner Jerry Leiber and others. Leiber will be the subject of a special tribute during the evening. Stoller is planning to be in attendance for the celebration.