Wesley Whatley News

Celebrate the holiday season at Carnegie Hall with a lineup of festive performances including Bach's Christmas Oratorio, a special program of holiday favorites with The New York Pops and Broadway's Norm Lewis, and annual year-end concerts by the New York String Orchestra.

MADam LUCY, deceased, a new musical about the life (and afterlife) of Lucy Ludwell Paradise (1752-1814), with book & lyrics by two-time Emmy Award-winning songwriter William Schermerhorn and music by composer and recording artist Elise Morris, will have its first staged workshop in Williamsburg, Virginia, in the historic Great Hall of the Sir Christopher Wren Building on the campus of William & Mary.

Today, the organizers of TEDxBroadway released videos of the talks and performances from the fifth annual event held February 22, 2016 at New World Stages in New York City.

Today, the organizers of the fifth annual TEDxBroadway announced the final line up of speakers and performers who will be taking the stage on Monday, February 22, 2016 at New World Stages in New York City.

Today, the organizers of the fifth annual TEDxBroadway announced additional speakers for the event being held on Monday, February 22, 2016 at New World Stages in New York City.

Two of Broadway's favorites join Steven Reineke's orchestra for a festive time at Carnegie Hall.

On Saturday December 19 at 3 pm and 8 pm and on Sunday December 20 at 3 pm, the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA) presented its annual Holiday Spectacular at the Alex Theatre, Glendale, this year entitled Brassy, Classy & Sassy! There's always diversity in the shows - it's what I like most - and this year, Acts One and Two of Brassy, Classy & Sassy!were as different as night and day. The chorus is under the executive direction of Chris Verdugo and artistic direction of conductor Dr. Joseph P, Nadeau. Chris wore a silly blue Christmas suit covered with snowflakes ,which almost blinded me and Nadeau a sweater, well, we'll talk about that one later on...

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" may be the most famous line ever written in a newspaper editorial.  And this holiday season, the Heights Players Theater for Children, in conjunction with Macy's, will bring the story of that most famous line to life in Yes, Virginia, The Musical.  Opening this Saturday, December 12, it is a magical story filled with holiday cheer that the entire family will enjoy!

'Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" may be the most famous line ever written in a newspaper editorial.  And this holiday season, the Heights Players Theater for Children, in conjunction with Macy's, will bring the story of that most famous line to life in Yes, Virginia, The Musical.  Opening this Saturday, December 12, it is a magical story filled with holiday cheer that the entire family will enjoy!

THE HOPE OF CHRISTMAS is a new collection of Christmas songs interpreted by multiplatinum-selling singer, Tony nominated actress, pianist and leading champion of the American songbook, Ann Hampton Callaway, with lyrics by two-time Emmy® Award winner William Schermerhorn, and featuring twenty-nine of the world's best jazz musicians, including Five Play, New York Voices, Hubert Laws, Claudio Roditi, Gerald Albright, The Ted Rosenthal Trio and more. The recording will be released on Friday, October 9 by the MCG Jazz record label (Marty Ashby, producer).

Tonight, December 1st at 7 pm at at Barnes & Noble located at 150 East 86th Street, Ann Hampton Callaway will perform selections from THE HOPE OF CHRISTMAS, a new collection of Christmas songs interpreted by the multiplatinum-selling singer, Tony nominated actress, pianist and leading champion of the American songbook, with lyrics by two-time Emmy Award winner William Schermerhorn. Schermerhorn will join Callaway in the discussion, with Alex Rybeck on piano.

On December 1st at 7 pm at at Barnes & Noble located at 150 East 86th Street, Ann Hampton Callaway will perform selections from THE HOPE OF CHRISTMAS, a new collection of Christmas songs interpreted by the multiplatinum-selling singer, Tony nominated actress, pianist and leading champion of the American songbook, with lyrics by two-time Emmy Award winner William Schermerhorn. Schermerhorn will join Callaway in the discussion, with Alex Rybeck on piano.

The collaboration between Ann Hampton Callaway and lyricist William Schermerhorn on the new holiday season CD called The Hope of Christmas is, alas, unsuccessful. Though Schermerhorn's lyrics can be pleasing, some worthy of considerable play, the over-produced collection burdens them with music that evokes not a moment of holiday feeling. There's swing, mute-horn jazz, samba, and a bit of New Orleans. Melodies are neither light, nor spiritual or celebratory.

THE HOPE OF CHRISTMAS is a new collection of Christmas songs interpreted by multiplatinum-selling singer, Tony nominated actress, pianist and leading champion of the American songbook, Ann Hampton Callaway, with lyrics by two-time Emmy® Award winner William Schermerhorn, and featuring twenty-nine of the world's best jazz musicians, including Five Play, New York Voices, Hubert Laws, Claudio Roditi, Gerald Albright, The Ted Rosenthal Trio and more. The recording will be released on Friday, October 9 by the MCG Jazz record label (Marty Ashby, producer).

Continuing December 20, 2013 at 8:00 PM, The New York Pops will present an evening full of holiday cheer at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage with Ashley Brown and Essential Voices USA. Music Director and Conductor Steven Reineke - described byThe New York Times as a 'polished, welcoming host' who is 'young and vigorous, with a playful attitude' - will lead the orchestra and guest artist Ashley Brown in a festive concert featuring traditional favorites and new holiday hits. Below, check out photos from the show!

Continuing December 20, 2013 at 8:00 PM, The New York Pops will present an evening full of holiday cheer at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage with Ashley Brown and Essential Voices USA. Music Director and Conductor Steven Reineke - described byThe New York Times as a 'polished, welcoming host' who is 'young and vigorous, with a playful attitude' - will lead the orchestra and guest artist Ashley Brown in a festive concert featuring traditional favorites and new holiday hits. Below, check out photos from rehearsal!

The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra will perform the world concert premiere of Macy's Yes, Virginia in Concert at 2 p.m. today, December 14, at Music Hall. The family-friendly performance is developed and presented by Macy's and will feature John Morris Russell conducting the Pops along with singers and actors in a semi-staged adaptation under the stage direction of Patrick Boyd. Headlining the cast for the world concert premiere are Broadway veterans Liz Callaway, performing the role of Miriam, and Norm Lewis, as Mr. Church.

The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra will perform its annual 'Holiday Pops' concert tonight, December 13-15 (Today and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m.) at historic Music Hall under the direction of 'Mr. Christmas,' Pops Conductor John Morris Russell. Multiplatinum-selling vocalist and Broadway veteran Ann Hampton Callaway returns to the Pops as guest artist, performing traditional holiday favorites and up-and-coming classics such as 'My Favorites Things,' 'I Wonder as I Wander,' and 'Somewhere in my Memory' (from John Williams' Home Alone). The rich Pops orchestration, along with the May Festival Youth Chorus, Winton Woods High School Varsity Ensemble and the ever-popular cloggers from the Studio for Dance of Cincinnati, give life to these and other familiar tunes in this highly-entertaining family tradition.

The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra will perform the world concert premiere of Macy's Yes, Virginia in Concert at 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 14, at Music Hall. The family-friendly performance is developed and presented by Macy's and will feature John Morris Russell conducting the Pops along with singers and actors in a semi-staged adaptation under the stage direction of Patrick Boyd. Headlining the cast for the world concert premiere are Broadway veterans Liz Callaway, performing the role of Miriam, and Norm Lewis, as Mr. Church. The role of eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon will be performed by Gracie Alexander. This will be the world premiere performance of the fully orchestrated concert version of the musical with book and lyrics by William Schermerhorn and music by Wesley Whatley. "Yes, Virginia The Musical" was created by Macy's in 2012 as part of its annual holiday Believe campaign.