Whitney Houston News

The musical icon and beloved actress Julie Andrews returned to the UK stage for the first time in thirty years, with a special one off performance at London's O2 Arena. 'An Evening with Julie Andrews' saw a night of music from her greatest stage and screen performances, as well as the live narration of the story Simeon's Gift, the best-selling children's book written by Julie and her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton. Stephen Buntrock, Kevin Odekirk, Christiane Noll, Anne Runolfsson, and Jubilant Sykes all took to the stage with Julie Andrews.

In honor of Margaret Wise Brown's 100th Birthday, The InterSchool Orchestra of New York (ISO) (www.isorch.org) in association with GPR Records (Glen Roven, Peter Fitzgerald, Richard Cohen, artistic directors) have announced a live concert based on Brown's two best selling children's books Goodnight Moon and Runaway Bunny.

In honor of Margaret Wise Brown's 100th Birthday, The InterSchool Orchestra of New York (ISO) (www.isorch.org) in association with GPR Records (Glen Roven, Peter Fitzgerald, Richard Cohen, artistic directors) have announced a live concert based on Brown's two best selling children's books Goodnight Moon and Runaway Bunny.

International pop artist GEORGE HODOS will be making his United States debut with the release of his new single 'Just A Man' featuring Snoop Dogg on May 4th. The featured single is currently positioned at #32 on Billboard's Nextmusic Charts, and can been seen topping others including Billboard's Mike Bordes Sprint Radio Alltel Playlist, and Promo-only Charts.

Heather Headley, Alli Mauzey, Jodi Benson and Anthony Federov will headline a special concert version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, set for Friday, May 14, at Nashville's Schermerhorn Symphony Center. They will be joined by a cast of Nashville theatre luminaries - and featuring BeBe Winans and Nashville native Jake Speck, currently on Broadway in Jersey Boys - Cinderella is the spring celebration of the locally based showHOPE organization, which hopes to bring both attention and awareness to its efforts across the globe.

In honor of Margaret Wise Brown's 100th Birthday, The InterSchool Orchestra of New York (ISO) (www.isorch.org) in association with GPR Records (Glen Roven, Peter Fitzgerald, Richard Cohen, artistic directors) have announced a live concert based on Brown's two best selling children's books Goodnight Moon and Runaway Bunny.

The timeless enchantment of a magical fairy tale is reborn with the Rodgers & Hammerstein hallmarks of originality, charm and elegance. Originally presented on television in 1957 starring Julie Andrews, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella was the most widely viewed program in the history of the medium. Its recreation in 1965 starring Lesley Ann Warren was no less successful in transporting a new generation to the miraculous kingdom of dreams-come-true, and so was a second remake in 1997, which starred Brandy as Cinderella and Whitney Houston as her Fairy Godmother. Adapted for the stage with great warmth and more than a touch of hilarity, the hearts of children and adults alike still soar when the slipper fits. This Enchanted Edition is based on the 1997 teleplay.

The timeless enchantment of a magical fairy tale is reborn with the Rodgers & Hammerstein hallmarks of originality, charm and elegance. Originally presented on television in 1957 starring Julie Andrews, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella was the most widely viewed program in the history of the medium. Its recreation in 1965 starring Lesley Ann Warren was no less successful in transporting a new generation to the miraculous kingdom of dreams-come-true, and so was a second remake in 1997, which starred Brandy as Cinderella and Whitney Houston as her Fairy Godmother. Adapted for the stage with great warmth and more than a touch of hilarity, the hearts of children and adults alike still soar when the slipper fits. This Enchanted Edition is based on the 1997 teleplay.

BET's hit gospel singing competition show, SUNDAY BEST is taking praise and competition to the next level. Viewers witnessed as thousands of hopefuls showed up for auditions in Lagos, Nigeria, Detroit, Philadelphia and New Orleans but now the competition swings in to full gear and names this season's Top 20 contestants. Taping in New Orleans, the stage show portion of SUNDAY BEST begins on Sunday, May 2 at 8:00 p.m.

International pop artist GEORGE HODOS will be making his United States debut with the release of his new single 'Just A Man' featuring Snoop Dogg on May 4th. The featured single is currently positioned at #32 on Billboard's Nextmusic Charts, and can been seen topping others including Billboard's Mike Bordes Sprint Radio Alltel Playlist, and Promo-only Charts.

William Shatner and Lin Yu Chun joined together on 'Lopez Tonight' to perform a duet of 'Total Eclipse Of The Heart'.

Big band sound transforms the Lincoln Theatre into a Duke Ellington jazz club as Arena Stage presents Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies, choreographed by and starring Maurice Hines (Broadway's Sophisticated Ladies and Uptown... It's Hot!) with direction by Charles Randolph-Wright (Arena's Guys and Dolls and Blue).

The top seven contestants of 'American Idol' kicked off the week with a set of inspirational songs led by the incomparable Alicia Keys. Keys was brought in due to her talent as well as her charity involvement, specifically working with families suffering from HIV and AIDS, as the show celebrates 'Idol Gives Back' this week. Some of the performances were perfect for the theme, while other lacked inspiration and felt as though they could have been performed any other week. As the competition heats up, the contestants will have to give standout performances weekly, and some of them failed to grow this week, while others had fantastic showings.

As we anticipate some late April showers that will no doubt bring us some beautiful May flowers here on the California Central Coast, numerous live performance venues and theatres are offering up a vibrantly blooming entertainment bouquet to be enjoyed as part of a fabulous afternoon or evening out on the town!

In honor of Margaret Wise Brown's 100th Birthday, The InterSchool Orchestra of New York (ISO) (www.isorch.org) in association with GPR Records (Glen Roven, Peter Fitzgerald, Richard Cohen, artistic directors) have announced a live concert based on Brown's two best selling children's books Goodnight Moon and Runaway Bunny.

Big band sound transforms the Lincoln Theatre into a Duke Ellington jazz club as Arena Stage presents Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies, choreographed by and starring Maurice Hines (Broadway's Sophisticated Ladies and Uptown... It's Hot!) with direction by Charles Randolph-Wright (Arena's Guys and Dolls and Blue).

Taiwan's reality TV singing competition may have found the next Susan Boyle in 23-year-old Lin Yu Chun.

GPR Records, the new CD label specializing in Broadway, classical, spoken word and children's music, is sponsoring a poetry contest that will take place on Twitter, called TwItsPoetic, to celebrate National Poetry Month and the release of their first CD Poetic License: 100 Poems by 100 Performers.

Like many boys and girls bit by the performing bug (just watch that giddy TV phenomenon Glee and you'll understand), Teanna Berry is living her dream. She currently stars as 'Peaches' in the latest national tour cycle of the multiple-Tony Award-winning musical HAIRSPRAY, which returns to the Orange County Performing Arts Center for a brief engagement from April 6 - 11. For Berry, HAIRSPRAY's week-long stop in Costa Mesa is expected to be an exciting homecoming.

The New York City Gay Men's Chorus' Big GAY Sing 2 takes last year's sellout sing along and turns up the dial. This show has it all - including the chance to sing a solo with the Chorus in our Big Gay Idol competition. With music from Lady Gaga, Glee and Beyonce to classics by George Michael, Cher and Broadway, plus dance and drag, BGS2 leaves no gay stone unturned. On March 25 and 26, the NYCGMC is going to fill Skirball with glitter, glamour, and gorgeous men.