The Beach Boys News

Smokey Joe's Cafe-The Songs of Leiber and Stoller transports audiences to the golden age of rock, rhythm and blues this spring at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. Director Randy Johnson returns to Arena Stage following the success of A Night with Janis Joplin (which enjoyed two runs at Arena Stage followed by a subsequent run on Broadway) to helm this Grammy Award-winning tribute to legendary songwriting duo Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, which originally opened on Broadway in 1995 and became the longest running musical revue, topping 2,000 performances. Bursting with hit tunes including 'Hound Dog,' 'Jailhouse Rock,' 'Stand by Me,' 'Love Potion #9' and 'On Broadway,' Smokey Joe's Cafe showcases choreography by Parker Esse (Arena Stage's The Music Man, Oklahoma!) and music direction by Victor Simonson (Center Stage's A Civil War Christmas, Arena Stage's 3 Mo' Divas) and runs April 25-June 8, 2014 in the Fichandler Stage.

Indian Ranch in Webster, MA announced that the iconic multi-platinum selling Marshall Tucker Band will be returning to the lakeside concert venue on Saturday, July 19th at 2PM and Chris Young will be back on Sunday, September 21st at 2PM. Both shows will go on-sale Saturday, March 8th at 10AM.

Ravinia's 2014 season, dubbed 'Summer of Love/Season of Stars,' was announced today by Ravinia President and CEO Welz Kauffman. Brimming with talent and romance, the festival's 2014 schedule brings some the biggest names in the world of music as well as repertoire that explores the theme of great love in its various manifestations. No fewer than three musical incarnations of the most famous love story of all time, Romeo and Juliet, will be featured, with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performing Tchaikovsky's Overture-Fantasy (July 27), a suite from Prokofiev's ballet setting of the story (July 16) and the score of West Side Story as the classic film is shown (July 17-18). In other examples of love, soprano Deborah Voigt describes it as 'Something Wonderful' on a Broadway evening (July 13), the legendary Broadway team of Lerner and Loewe will be celebrated (July 20), and Chanticleer even jabs at the battle of the sexes in an evening titled 'She Said/He Said' (July 6). In fact, love lurks, longs and lingers across genres in most of the more than 130 events that Ravinia will present in 2014, its 110th year and its 78th as the summer residence of the CSO.

The Midtown Men, a.k.a. the original stars of Broadway's runaway hit Jersey Boys, are coming to Chicago with a whole new musical act that celebrates the love songs of the 1960s for two special Valentine's Day performances, today, February 14 at 1:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora.

Wells Fargo Center for the Arts rings in the New Year with performances in comedy, cooking, and music in the newly renovated Ruth Finley Person Theater (50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa). The 2013-2014 season continues with a line-up of renowned comedians, including Colin Quinn's Unconstitutional (January 16), Larry the Cable Guy (January 29) and Kathleen Madigan: Madigan Again (February 15). The star of TV's Restaurant: Impossible will cook up an entertaining evening in Robert Irvine Live! (January 17), while a legend of romance, Engelbert Humperdinck (February 9), and legends of rock, Chicago (February 11), perform just in time for Valentine's Day. Additionally, the 9th season of the Symphony Pops Series continues with Three Phantoms in Concert on February 23.

Groupies, trophies and fast, beautiful cars. Is winning all there is? Terri Hanauer directs a rare revival of the celebrated Broadway drama that kick-started playwright/screenwriter John Bishop's career. Nick Stabile (Bride of Chucky, Dennis Wilson in ABC's award-winning The Beach Boys) heads the cast as once-great NASCAR racer Bobby Horvath in The Trip Back Down, opening Feb. 21 at the Whitefire Theatre.

Indian Ranch in Webster, MA announced today Scotty McCreery will return to the lakeside concert venue on Saturday, August 2 at 2PM and The Beach Boys will perform live in concert on Sunday, August 17 at 2PM and. Both shows go on-sale Wednesday, January 15th at 10AM.

The Midtown Men, a.k.a. the original stars of Broadway's runaway hit Jersey Boys, are coming to Chicago with a whole new musical act that celebrates the love songs of the 1960s for two special Valentine's Day performances, Friday, February 14 at 1:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora.

According to the LA Times, Phil Everly -- who with his brother Don made up rock duo The Everly Brothers -- has passed away from complications due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He was 74.

The full cast for Rent - 20 Anniversary Concert has now been announced. Leading the cast is West End and Broadway star Kerry Ellis, who will be joined by Superstar runner up Rory Taylor. Mykal Rand will join the production, returning to the role of 'Collins', which he has played both in the West End and on tour.

Warner Bros. Records (WBR) today announced the appointment of Dan McCarroll as President. McCarroll's responsibilities will include helping to forge creative strategy for the label and overseeing all A&R activities.

Last night I had the pleasure of speaking to two of the hottest producers in Hollywood and on Broadway all about their recent smash hit December with the ratings bonanza of NBC's live presentation of Rodgers & Hammerstein's THE SOUND OF MUSIC as well as the three-network tent-pole two-night TV event, BONNIE & CLYDE - the peerless Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. Discussing all aspects of the unprecedented live presentation, Zadan and Meron outline the process of bringing the gigantic production to the small screen and grant us a vivid look behind the scenes of the big show. Additionally, Zadan and Meron comment on the social media frenzy that occurred during the 25+ million-viewed telecast as well as their reaction to criticism of country music superstar Carrie Underwood in the starring role, as well as their longstanding relationship with NBC in general. Plus, Zadan and Meron also clue us in on what elements they seek out in special events such as this as we look ahead to next year's confirmed major live musical - whatever could it be?! Besides all about THE SOUND OF MUSIC, Zadan and Meron also offer us the 411 on a number of other projects immediately upcoming in 2014 and far beyond, with a special focus on their just-announced Harvey Weinstein collaboration on a feature film version of Stephen Schwartz's beloved PIPPIN, as well as first news on a forthcoming original Beach Boys jukebox musical currently in development and preliminary information on the pilot for a new musical series inspired by Grammy Award-winning songwriter Diane Warren titled SONGBYRD, set to shoot in January. All of that, reflections on last year's sensational Academy Awards broadcast hosted by the controversial Seth MacFarlane and a look ahead to this year's Zadan & Meron-produced Oscars show - set to be hosted by daytime queen Ellen Degeneres - as well as stories from their early years producing cabaret showcases and penning books on theatre as well as much, much more in this all-encompassing conversation with the most important men in movie musicals.

Hot on the heels of their new viral video, Nashville group Ferris & The Wheels will be releasing their highly anticipated debut EP 'Hollow' today, December 17, 2013.

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.

Wells Fargo Center for the Arts rings in the New Year with performances in comedy, cooking, and music in the newly renovated Ruth Finley Person Theater (50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa). The 2013-2014 season continues with a line-up of renowned comedians, including Colin Quinn's Unconstitutional (January 16), Larry the Cable Guy (January 29) and Kathleen Madigan: Madigan Again (February 15). The star of TV's Restaurant: Impossible will cook up an entertaining evening in Robert Irvine Live! (January 17), while a legend of romance, Engelbert Humperdinck (February 9), and legends of rock, Chicago (February 11), perform just in time for Valentine's Day. Additionally, the 9th season of the Symphony Pops Series continues with Three Phantoms in Concert on February 23.

The King Center presents an AEG Live Production - THE BEACH BOYS, on Sunday, February 16, 7pm. Tickets on Sale Friday, December 13th at Noon, with tickets starting at $47.50 (inclusive of ticketing fees).

As the festive month of December approaches, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Pacific Symphony and Pacific Chorale ring in the season with a cornucopia of holiday shows. The Center presents three yuletide concerts, including the return of Fiesta Navidad with Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano (December 4), the Center debut of The Beach Boys performing their Christmas show (December 7) and American vocal ensemble The Manhattan Transfer entertaining with holiday favorites (December 16).

This week (Nov. 27 - Dec.1), Joe's Pub wil feature INNA BARMASH, MICHAEL CERVERIS, CARL HANCOCK RUX, MIKE VIOLA, PIERCE TURNER, OUR LADY J, REVEREND BILLY & THE STOP SHOPPING CHOIR, KENNY ENDO AND KAORU WATANABE'S CONVERGENCE, and JOEY ARIAS.

The Warner Theatre has just announced two new shows coming to the theatre in April: