Valerie Simpson News

Returning for its 17th season, Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook will continue to broaden its scope in celebrating the best in American singing and songwriting as interpreted by top performers and rising stars, with events at three Lincoln Center venues.

The new Broadway production of D.L. Coburn's Pulitzer Prize-winning classic, The Gin Game, starring Tony Award winners James Earl Jones and Cicely Tyson, opened last night, October 14 at the Golden Theatre (252 West 45th Street, between Broadway and Eighth Avenue). The production will play a limited engagement through Sunday, January 10, 2016. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the red carpet arrivals!

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents an evening with American Songbook - a words-and-music series co-presented by NJPAC and NJTV - returns for a third season!

Multiple award-winning theatre, film and television actress, Ebony Jo-Ann releases her new Blues CD, Please Save Your Love for Me on her independent label, Blackgold Production on Friday, September 18th.

Melba Moore, a four-time Grammy nominee and winner of the 1970 Tony Award for 'Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical,' for her performance as 'Lutiebelle' in Purlie will appear at the Metropolitan Room on April 13 at 9:30 with a new show featuring songs made famous by legendary singers, including Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne, Nancy Wilson, Barbra Streisand, and Diana Ross. Joining Moore will be her special guest, actor/singer/songwriter Clifton Davis, who wrote hits for The Jackson Five. With a total of 11 top ten U.S. hits on the Billboard charts over the past 40 years, both singles and albums, Melba Moore continues into the 21st century as one of pop music's most enduring artists.

Proteus Spann celebrates the 20th Anniversary of New York Times best-selling author E. Lynn Harris' classic American love story INVISIBLE LIFE. This explosive new musical adaptation addresses the conflicts of sexuality, religion, HIV/AIDS and family in America.

Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson's new musical INVISIBLE LIFE is coming to the Apollo Theater this summer. Presented by Proteus E2 Productions, the show will begin Thursday, June 25 for a limited run through June 30, 2015.

MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, the smash hit musical featuring the music of the legendary Motown catalogue and a book by Berry Gordy, will play its final performance of its current Broadway engagement this Sunday, January 18, 2015 at The Lunt Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46 Street) and will return to Broadway in a Nederlander theatre to be announced in Summer 2016.

The ASCAP Foundation Awards Ceremony was held at The Appel Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center and Broadwayworld was there. This years recipient of the Masters Award was composer John Corigliano. Mr. Corigliano has also won fiver Grammy's a Pulitzer Prize the Grawemeyer Award and an Academy Award for his many scores and compositions. Rupert Holmes, Composer, Playwright, lyricist, mystery novelist, arranger-conductor, screenwriter, record producer and singer-songwriter received the Foundations George M. Cohan Award which is made possible by the Friars Foundation.

Woodie King Jr's New Federal Theatre kicks off its 45th season with Karima's Accept 'Except' LGBT NY, which will begin performances October 23rd and continue through November 23rd with opening night set for November 6th. Tony Award winner George Faison directs a cast that features Tuluv Maria Price and Tyree Young. The design team includes Chris Cumberbatch (scenic design), Ali Turns (costume design), Thurston Reyes (lighting design), and Ralph Gentry (sound/visual design).

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the stage play, The Wiz. Join ImageNation, Harlem Week, Harlem Pride and Global Network of Black Pride as they celebrate this cultural milestone with a screening of the celebrated film adaptation of the award-winning play.

Melba Moore will play two shows at New York's Metropolitan Room on June 20, 2014, at 7pm & 9:30pm. Price $35.00 - $115.00.

NJTV, New Jersey's public television network, has launched The Arts Project with Maddie Orton, a new monthly series

Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre's 44th anniversary culminated with a special Gala at the BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center (199 Chambers Street) last night, March 16th. This special event saluting NFT, for over 40 years a seminal force in Black Theater, was hosted by Danny Glover and Debbi Morgan. BroadwayWorld brings you more photos from inside the big event below!

Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre's 44th anniversary culminated with a special Gala at the BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center (199 Chambers Street) last night, March 16th. This special event saluting NFT, for over 40 years a seminal force in Black Theater, was hosted by Danny Glover and Debbi Morgan. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the big night below!

Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre's 44th anniversary will culminate with a special Gala at the BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center (199 Chambers Street) on Sunday evening March 16th. This special event saluting NFT, for over 40 years a seminal force in Black Theater, will be hosted by Danny Glover and Debbi Morgan. Honorary Chairmen are Harry Belafonte and Hon. Mayor David N. Dinkins. The celebration will kick off at 4pm, and feature performances from Daniel Beaty, Impact Repertory Theater (Academy Award Nominee, 'Raise It Up' from the film August Rush), Chuck Jackson, and Valerie Simpson.

The GRAMMY Foundation® will host 'A Song Is Born,' the 16th Annual GRAMMY Foundation Legacy Concert (formerly the Music Preservation Project), featuring live musical performances and archival footage from its preservation archives.

American Songbook at NJPAC, a new music performance series from NJTV, New Jersey's public television network, and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), will be broadcast throughout the tri-state area on NJTV and WNET affiliates beginning this January.