Tina Turner News

Halfway through her opening night at 54 Below on Monday, Laura Benanti unveiled the evening's showstopper, a multi pop-song mix titled 'Inappropriate Medley.' No, Benanti didn't faux strip her way through the songs as if she was replaying her past role as Gypsy Rose Lee, but she frantically ripped through eight songs, including Beyonce's 'All the Single Ladies,' 'Old Man River,' Sonny & Cher's 'I Got You Babe,' Aretha Franklin's 'Respect,' and culminated the riff by boogying like Tina Turner on 'Proud Mary,' and playing a tambourine tossed over by her Musical Director/pianist Todd Almond. As the audience commenced with raucous cheering, an almost out-of-breath Benanti quipped, 'I can't wait to read the review tomorrow that says Laura Benanti is an idiot.' Well, Laura Benanti may be a lot of things, but idiot is not one of them.

Celebrated rhythm and blues musician Robert Cray, along with his band, will perform at The Orleans Showroom tonight, May 18 and the 19th.

The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center presents one of the most exciting vocalists of our time, Ms. Julie Budd, making a long anticipated return to Los Angeles after an eight year hiatus. This special, one-night-only concert appearance presents a rare opportunity to see Ms. Budd (who has thrilled audiences in such venues as Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center and the London Palladium) in the intimate setting of the Center's beautiful Renberg Theatre.

Check out the new video for Italian pop sensation Senit for 'A OK'. Click below to watch!

On Thursday, May 30 at 9pm at NYC's sexiest party Speakeasy Moderne, the show's host and producer "Official Hank" Stampfl will release his newly remixed single by DJ Mark Picchiotti (Kylie Minogue) titled "Gonna Get Better." Hank is also the owner of Feel Good Music Inc. and each month at Stage 72, Speakeasy Moderne offers an unforgettable evening featuring an intoxicating blend of Jazz Age Manhattan, vaudeville, cabaret and a touch of burlesque.

Mad Max, the sci-fi franchise that introduced Mel Gibson to the world, will come together for the first time as a Blu-ray collection when Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) debuts the Mad Max Trilogy on June 4th.

SRO Theatre Company presents The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas to be staged May 31 to June 9, 2013, at the Shedd Theatre in the Columbus Performing Arts Center, 549 Franklin Avenue, Columbus, OH 43215.

On Thursday, May 30 at 9pm, Broadway's Gabrielle Ruiz (Evita, In the Heights, the 1st National Tour of A Chorus Line) will guest star at NYC's sexiest party Speakeasy Moderne where the audience gets swept up in a world where singers enchant, flappers flirt and dancers dazzle… Playing STAGE 72 each month and hosted by 'Official Hank' Stampfl, it's an unforgettable evening featuring an intoxicating blend of Jazz Age Manhattan, vaudeville, cabaret and a touch of burlesque.

This Spring sees the return of the West End musical hit Drag Divas, direct from its previous run in 2012 at The Arts Theatre. This camp, colourful show heads its way back into the West End for a limited season. Drag Divas is a live celebration to the world's greatest divas performed by some of the county's finest talent hosted by the hilarious Mrs Moore. Scroll below for photos from the show!

Jazz piano legend Joe Sample makes his Wolf Trap debut in a jazz-fusion solo show influenced by gospel, soul, blues, and classical music. Born and raised in Texas, Sample gained recognition in the '70s as one of the founding members of The Crusaders-formerly known as the Jazz Crusaders.

Jazz piano legend Joe Sample makes his Wolf Trap debut in a jazz-fusion solo show influenced by gospel, soul, blues, and classical music.

The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center presents one of the most exciting vocalists of our time, Ms. Julie Budd, making a long anticipated return to Los Angeles after an eight year hiatus. This special, one-night-only concert appearance presents a rare opportunity to see Ms. Budd (who has thrilled audiences in such venues as Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center and the London Palladium) in the intimate setting of the Center's beautiful Renberg Theatre.

US Magazine reports exclusively that GLEE star Heather Morris is expecting her first child. 'She's a little more than three months along and starting to show,' a source says of the 26-year-old. 'It was totally unexpected, but they are incredibly happy and excited.'

Celebrated rhythm and blues musician Robert Cray, along with his band, will perform at The Orleans Showroom May 18 and 19.

One World Theatre, Austin's premiere music venue known presenting diverse music and cultural arts in an up close and personal setting has announced its 2013 Summer Season. Highlights include top singer-songwriters like Dar Williams and Jimmy Webb, contemporary jazz greats like Euge Groove and Earl Klugh, Latin music icons like Sergio Mendes and Arturo Sandoval and local favorites like Walking Woody's Road featuring Jimmy LaFave, Eliza Gilkyson, Slaid Cleaves and Sam Baker. One World Theatre will also present GRAMMY Award winning trumpeter, Chris Botti at Riverbend Centre.

ERIC WOOLFSON'S SOMEWHERE IN THE AUDIENCE is set for release today, 18th March 2013 on Limelight Records. The alumb will be released on the anniversary of what would have been the late Eric Woolfson's 68th birthday. 'Somewhere in the Audience' is a compilation of music from four of Eric's musicals 'GAUDI', 'GAMBLER', 'POE' and 'DANCING SHADOWS'.

SRO Theatre Company in association CATCO is Theatre presents Hairspray, staged February 22 - March 10, 2013, at the Shedd Theatre in the Columbus Performing Arts Center, 549 Franklin Avenue, Columbus, OH.

ERIC WOOLFSON'S SOMEWHERE IN THE AUDIENCE is set for release 18th March 2013 on Limelight Records. The alumb will be released on the anniversary of what would have been the late Eric Woolfson's 68th birthday. 'Somewhere in the Audience' is a compilation of music from four of Eric's musicals 'GAUDI', 'GAMBLER', 'POE' and 'DANCING SHADOWS'.

Two iconic San Francisco institutions - the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus (SFGMC) and Steve Silver's Beach Blanket Babylon - come together for Snow White & Her Merry Men, a concert celebrating SFGMC's 35th anniversary at Davies Symphony Hall (Van Ness & Grove Street, San Francisco 94102) performing for two nights only on Monday, March 25 and Tuesday, March 26, 2013. Featuring more than 300 men from SFGMC and the cast of Beach Blanket Babylon, this marks the first time that both organizations have performed together on-stage. Tickets for Snow White & Her Merry Men range in price from $15-$75 and are available now online at SFGMC.org or through City Box Office at (415) 392-4400.

Friday nights are taking on a new tune as Sony Movie Channel (SMC) features music-themed blockbuster films each week in March.