Usher News

Nominations for France's Cesar Awards, the country's equivalent to the Academy Award, were announced today from Paris.

MEMPHIS, Tenn.

VH1 Classic celebrates the 40th anniversary of the longest-running sketch comedy show in history by bringing fans 40 years of 'SNL' in one place: 'The SNL Rewind: 2015 - 1975 Mega-Marathon' beginning today, January 28th and wrapping on Sunday, February 15th.

Break the Floor Productions and Performing Arts Fort Worth are pleased to announce SHAPING SOUND will perform one night only at Bass Performance Hall tonight, January 28, at 7:30 p.m.

The estate of Henry Mancini has chosen leading independent music publisher Spirit Music Group to administer the prestigious music publishing catalog of Henry Mancini for North America as announced today by David Renzer, Chairman, Spirit Music Group. The catalog was previously administered by Universal Music Publishing Group (the company retains admin rights to the catalog outside of North America).

Unfinished Business is a production that aspires to engender love and catharsis by allowing eleventh-hour redemption and understanding between family members.

The Australia Council for the Arts, Australia's principal arts funding and advisory body, announces Fiona Hall AO as the representative for Australia at La Biennale di Venezia 56th International Art Exhibition. The renowned artist, whose work encompasses a range of media from sculpture to video art, will create a multisensory experience of sights and sounds. Her installation also marks the debut of a new Australian Pavilion. Designed by leading Australian architecture firm Denton Corker Marshall, the pavilion—the first 21st-century and only water-facing pavilion to be built in the historic Giardini—will usher in a new phase for the representation of Australian art and architecture on the international stage.

DANVILLE, Va.

Michael Harrison and David Ian have announced full casting for the forthcoming UK and Ireland tour of the hit musical THE BODYGUARD www.thebodyguardmusical.com. Directed by Thea Sharrock, the tour opens at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton on 12 February 2015.

Entertainment icon and two-time GRAMMY® Award winner LL COOL J is set to return as host of the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards® for the fourth consecutive year. Over the years, the dynamic host has presided over 10 GRAMMY shows, tributes and specials and served as a producer for "The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! - Countdown To Music's Biggest Night®" and "A Very GRAMMY Christmas" holiday special, both on CBS. The music industry's premier event takes place Sunday, Feb. 8 (8:00-11:30 PM, live ET/delayed PT) at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles on the CBS Television Network.

Omnia Nightclub today announced the first set of artists from its electronic music lineup featuring some of the world's top DJ sensations. The multi-faceted nightlife experience, scheduled to open its doors this Spring at Caesars Palace, unveiled a star-studded list of artists to add to its opulent and highly anticipated offerings.

The Handel and Haydn Society (H+H) and Artistic Director Harry Christophers are pleased to announce its 2015-2016 Season-H+H's 201st-featuring the Period Instrument Orchestra and Chorus performing works from the Baroque and Classical eras.

Ronald K. Brown and Evidence, A Dance Company celebrate 30 years at the Joyce Theater, February 24 - March 1. Ronald K. Brown and Evidence, A Dance Company will usher in its 30th year with a company premiere, New York premiere, live music and revivals of classic works. The week-long run features two programs. Program A highlights include the powerful classic Grace and The Subtle One, danced to a suite composed and performed live by Jason Moran. Moran, score composer for the Oscar-nominated film “Selma” and Kennedy Center's Artistic Director for Jazz, will be joined by his band, The Bandwagon. Program B highlights include the NewYork premiere of Through Time and Culture, a solo by Brown, along with the company premiere of Why You Follow/Por Que Sigues.

Serrano NY, LLC is thrilled to present the World Premiere of SERRANO THE MUSICAL, book and lyrics by Madeline Sunshine, music by Robert Tepper, musical direction by Jeff Rizzo (Sunset Blvd. The Wizard of Oz), choreography by Peggy Hickey (A Gentlemen's Guide to Love and Murder) and directed by Tony nominee Joel Zwick (Dance With Me, 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding'). SERRANO THE MUSICAL will begin previews on Thursday, January 8, 2015 and will open tonight, January 16 at 8pm and run through Sunday, March 29 at the Matrix Theatre, 7657 Melrose Ave. in West Hollywood.

Break the Floor Productions and Performing Arts Fort Worth are pleased to announce SHAPING SOUND will perform one night only at Bass Performance Hall on Wednesday, January 28, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $27.50 and are on sale NOW!

Soprano Lisa Delan (class of 1989) will perform on the San Francisco Conservatory of Music's distinguished Alumni Recital Series on Wednesday, February 11, 2015, at 8 p.m. Ms. Delan's program will include works by American composers John Corigliano, David Garner, Gordon Getty, Jake Heggie and Luna Pearl Woolf. She will be joined by special guests Matt Haimovitz, Christopher O'Riley and Jake Heggie. The concert, held at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music's Sol Joseph Recital Hall, is dedicated to the memory of pianist Kristin Pankonin (class of 1989), alumna and former staff pianist of the Conservatory.

Continuing in a tradition of storytelling and music, Hershey Felder announces the star cast for the Chicago stage premiere of Academy Award winning director Taylor Hackford's LOUIS AND KEELY, 'LIVE' AT THE SAHARA.

Nicola Benedetti will perform on Thursday, January 29, 2015 (Doors 7PM; Show 8PM) at SubCulture.

The Kansas City Theater League presents Chicago at the Kauffman Performing Arts Center January 20 through January 25. The musical with music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and a book by Bob Fosse and Ebb is set in Prohibition-era Chicago. It is the tale of two women in the Cook County Jail charged with murder, both fighting for fame that may keep them from the gallows. The interview with Terra C. MacLeod who plays Velma Kelly in the popular musical is courtesy of the Theater League.

I'm prepared to lose friends as I type this, but I'm actually not a huge of Will S. Perhaps attending a Shakespeare camp in my youth would've lead me in a different path, but in the past I'd spend so much time sifting through and interpreting the language, that the overall impact of the story was lost. However, this production seemed covertly aimed at changing my mind.