Usher News

Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox, the powerhouse pop-jazz phenomenon that has toured the world on the strength of its extraordinary music videos and huge followings on YouTube and Facebook, will tour the UK throughout February and March in support of its first live album. Entitled The New Classics, the 12-track CD is set for release on February 16th via Concord Records and Postmodern Jukebox Records.

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) announced today that Artistic Director Bill Rauch will leave OSF in August 2019 to assume artistic leadership of The Ronald O. Perelman Center for Performing Arts at the World Trade Center in New York City.

Abramorama and Bert Marcus Productions will debut the definitive electronic dance music film, WHAT WE STARTED, at the Regal Cinemas SOUTH BEACH 18 on Lincoln Road in Miami, Florida on March 22nd during ULTRA, the world's premiere electronic music festival. Following the film's SOUTH BEACH premiere, there will be theatrical events around the country, with additional premieres in New York City on Friday 3/23 and in Los Angeles on March 29th at American Cinematheque's Egyptian Theater.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company Artistic Director Anna D. Shapiro announced today the addition of Celeste M. Cooper and Cliff Chamberlain to the world-renowned Steppenwolf ensemble. Cooper, an in-demand Chicago-based actor, recently performed in Steppenwolf's production of BLKS and Chamberlain, a regular on the Steppenwolf stage, was recently featured in The Minutes by ensemble member Tracy Letts.

Michael Rader, Artistic Director of The Cape Playhouse, today announced the creative teams for the 2018 summer season. The six-play schedule, features three plays and three musicals-including three Playhouse premieres-in a season featuring Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning shows and the Pre-National Tour Engagement and New England premiere of an exciting new production of the classic movie Clue: On Stage.

On the heels of a sold out, twice-extended world premiere produced by Vineyard Theatre in association with Audible, Audible Inc., the world's largest producer and provider of downloadable audiobooks and other spoken-word entertainment, is pleased to announce that Tony Award winner Billy Crudup will return to the title role in Harry Clarke, written by Obie Award winner David Cale (Lillian) and directed by Leigh Silverman (Violet).

In commemoration of the miracle of Dunkirk and the decisive victory of the Battle of Britain, Our Finest Hour will see stars of stage and screen Peter Bowles and Kevin Whately host a series of triumphant and rousing concerts across the United Kingdom.

Utah Opera Artistic Director Christopher McBeth today announced Utah Opera's 2018-19 season. Featuring two new productions by the company's in-house Production Studios, Utah Opera's 41st season runs from October 2018 to May 2019 and comprises three main-stage productions at Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre and a semi-staged production at Abravanel Hall.

Kean University announced today that Dr. W. John Bauer, Professor Emeritus, and his sister Nancy Boucher will make a major gift to the University on behalf of Premiere Stages, the professional theatre company in residence at Kean. The gift will enable Premiere Stages and the Kean University Theatre Conservatory to refurbish the lobby and upgrade the entrance to their primary producing venues, the Zella Fry and Murphy Dunn Theatres housed in Vaughn Eames Hall. It will also provide support to Premiere's nationally recognized Play Festival and new play development programs. The University will commemorate the gift by officially designating the new entrance "The Bauer-Boucher Theatre Center."

TAIKOPROJECT performs their dynamic contemporary blend of taiko, music, storytelling, and choreography at Pepperdine University's Smothers Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 22 at the Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts.

Dirty Dancing - The Classic Story on Stage is an unprecedented live experience, exploding with heart-pounding music, passionate romance and sensational dancing. Seen by millions across the globe, this timeless love story features the hit songs "Hungry Eyes," "Hey Baby," "Do You Love Me?" and the heart-stopping "(I've Had) the Time of My Life." The dazzling new production will make its way to The McCallum Theatre for five performances, Friday, February 16, through Sunday, February 18.

In response to popular demand, Soho Rep. (Sarah Benson, Artistic Director; Cynthia Flowers, Executive Director) extends the world premiere of Aleshea Harris's Relentless Award-winning Is God Is, directed by Taibi Magar by two weeks, through March 25. In this play, which dauntlessly cracks jokes as it eviscerates, twin sisters Anaia (Alfie Fuller) and Racine (Dame-Jasmine Hughes) undertake a murderous journey from the Dirty South to the California desert, seeking payback for a horrendous act. Is God Is treats both morality and genre as notions to be exploded, drawing on the ancient, the modern, the tragic, the Spaghetti Western, hip-hop and Afropunk in its subversion of theatrical constructs.

Thriller Live, the concert spectacular at London's Lyric Theatre, which showcases his unforgettable music and dazzling choreography will see its record-breaking West End run enter its 10th year. And on February 15, the show will smash yet another West End record by becoming the 14th Longest Running Musical in History. Thriller Live also holds the record as the eighth longest running show currently playing in the West End. Yet more celebrations are planned for the 4,000th West End performance later in the year.

The Royal Opera House's 2017/2018 Cinema Series continues with director David McVicar's production of Giuseppe Verdi's RIGOLETTO, with libretto by Francesco Maria Piave after Victor Hugo's play, Le roi s'amuse.

The 2017/2018 Cinema Broadcasts from London's Royal Opera House, which screen in over 50 cinemas across the United States and Canada, are available for advance online viewing for editorial or review purposes.

A fresh new team of creatives step up to the limelight for bringing a completely brand new stage production!

Queensland's premier festival of contemporary dance returns to Brisbane for its second year with a boundary-pushing and thought-provoking program. A cultural celebration held across eight days, Supercell; a contemporary dance festival spans workshops, talks and performances for professional dancers and dance-lovers.

After 10 days and 123 feature films, the 2018 Sundance Film Festival's Awards Ceremony took place last night, with host Jason Mantzoukas emceeing and jurors presenting 28 prizes for feature filmmaking in Park City, Utah.

To celebrate the commencement of the 2018 Winter Olympics, a very special THROWBACK THURSDAY is coming to the big screen at Hollywood's legendary El Capitan Theatre celebrating the 25th Anniversary of COOL RUNNINGS for one night, Thursday, February 8, 2018. 

During an ostentatious wedding reception at a Knoxville estate, five reluctant, identically clad bridesmaids hide out in an upstairs bedroom, each with her own reason to avoid the proceedings below.