The Apollo News

Joining the previously announced Reece Shearsmith as biology teacher Mr Stuart are Ashleigh Gray as Stephanie, Aaron Sidwell as Michael, Hannah Levane as Paulette and Niall Sheehy as Johnny.

According to a post on Jennifer Holliday's Facebook page, the Broadway star and singer will appear at the Barnes & Noble Upper East Side (86th and Lexington) to sign copies and celebrate the release of her new album 'The Song Is You' on Friday, January 24, 2014.

Directors Guild of America President Paris Barclay today announced the DGA's nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television and Commercials for the year 2013.

From Martin Ratick, the prolific author of 'Forsaking All Others,' 'Four Faces of Jezebel,' 'Claw of the Jaguar,' 'Faith Of The Fathers,' and 'Kiss a Green Frog and Find Your Prince' comes new inspiring fiction entitled 'A Romantic Anthology'. Inspired by his own love story, Ratick penned four romantic novellas and compiled them into this one heartwarming collection.

The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park will launch a reading series of new works by playwrights with Cincinnati connections. Readings will take place on Monday evenings beginning Jan. 27 and continuing through Feb. 17.

Following last month's ceiling collapse at the Apollo Theatre, there will be no more performances of The Curious Incident of the Dog In the Night-Time there.

American Stage Theatre Company kicks off the new year with August Wilson's 2 TRAINS RUNNING. They are excited to present their seventh installment of their August Wilson Century Cycle. Previews are January 22 and 23. Opening Night is January 24 and the production runs through February 23, 2014.

Joe Murena, a singer songwriter from Long Island is honored to be making his first off broadway debut as 'Ezio.' Joe is most commonly known as a finalist from American Idol (Season 4 with Carrie Underwood). He is also known for his performances on Star Search, Good Morning America and Showtime at the Apollo. Joe's theatrical credits include Long Island community theater productions of West Side Story (Arab) and Breaking Up Is Hard To Do (Del Delmonico). He has lent his voice to some chart topping singles like 'Always Have Tomorrow' (Serge Devant) and 'You are the Only One' (MYNT Project .) His passion is writing music and his songs are available on iTunes (e.g. Reconcile, Transparent, Truth Is…)

Following the record-breaking attendance of Festival 2013, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival announces the 2014 Festival schedule. Jacob's Pillow is a National Historic Landmark, home to America's longest-running dance festival, and a recipient of the National Medal of Arts. Noted dance writer Jennifer Dunning has called the Pillow "the dance center of the nation, possibly the world."

The highly successful Arts & Ideas program at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco (JCCSF) continues into 2014 with an array of fascinating thinkers, writers and entertainers.

The World Music Institute is thrilled to present, along with the Apollo Theater, the second edition of Africa Now! —a weekend festival with a focus on today's African music scene, featuring artists who draw upon their roots for inspiration, and transplant them into the global music landscape.

Gary Naylor previews London Theatre's start to the New Year.

On January 21, 2014, Shanachie Entertainment/Euphonic Records will release Jennifer Holliday's highly anticipated label debut, The Song Is You, an enchanting collection of R&B and Jazz numbers that showcase Holliday at her best. Listen to a sampling of the album below!

ON KENTUCKY AVENUE, a musical revue based loosely on fact and mostly fiction about the people and performers who took the stage and filled the tables at the majestic Club Harlem 'on Kentucky Avenue' in the north section of Atlantic City from the 1930s until the late 1980s, will make its NYC commercial stage debut at STAGE72/THE TRIAD, 158 West 72nd Street, on Sunday, February 2, with performances at 3pm and 7pm and Monday, February 3 at 7pm in honor of Black History Month.

From murder mysteries to musicals to debut plays, there was a variety of offerings for theater in West Virginia in 2013. Out of many wonderful musicals and plays, five have been selected as truly stand-out productions from the West Virginia theater scene this year.

The stars were out on the emerald carpet to fete long-running musical mega-hit WICKED in the UK last week in honor of the 2013/14 Media Night, ushering in a new cast and a refreshed production, and a video featurette showcasing the show's headliners and those on hand to enjoy the performance is now available to view.

Million Dollar Quartet, now the longest-running Broadway musical production in Chicago's history, is celebrating the holidays by adding performance dates and a special number for a limited time. For the holidays only, the classic 1958 song 'Run, Run, Rudolph' has been added to the finale of the show.

Casting has been announced for the National Tour of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, the Broadway musical inspired by the electrifying true story of four rock 'n' roll icons, which is entering its third smash year on the road. The tour will play over 75 cities this season including the State Theatre in Easton on Wednesday, January 22nd.

Side Splitters Comedy Club - Tampa will welcome Happy Cole this weekend, December 26 - 29.

The UK's Daily Mail reports that famed composer Andrew Lloyd-Webber had warned of the 'shocking' condition of London's Apollo Theatre 10 years ago, and asked that the Grade II listed building be torn down to avoid a dangerous situation.