The musical legacy of Duke Ellington, considered amongst the world's greatest composers and musicians, is celebrated in this stylish and brassy retrospective that has taken audiences and critics alike by storm throughout the world. Memorable music and incredible dancing transport you into the Grand Duke's world. Sophisticated Ladies is a glorious recreation of the Duke Ellington big band sound, featuring his most famous numbers from the infamous speakeasy era of the Cotton Club, the Harlem Renaissance, art deco, and high society, including:
"It Don't Mean a Thing, If It Ain't Got That Swing," "Take the 'A' Train," "Satin Doll," and the haunting "In a Sentimental Mood." This is the eye-Â?popping, foot-Â?stomping, Tony Award-Â?winning musical extravaganza that will send you into jazz heaven. It's an unforgettable celebration of the genius of Duke Ellington, brought to vibrant life with amazing talent, a sensational big band orchestra, sparkling staging, and all the lights and colors of Broadway!
To Celebrate Black History Month, New York City's leading arts-education non-profit organization Inside Broadway (www.InsideBroadway.org) will present the classic Duke Ellington musical Sophisticated Ladies to over 25 N.Y.C. Public Schools throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens & The Bronx at the end of January and during February & March. A dancing and singing celebration of history & music, this award-winning Broadway musical examines Duke Ellington's life and focuses on the Harlem Renaissance, a unique time of cultural growth in New York's history. Inside Broadway's special production will tour schools beginning next week, with the first performance on Monday, January 25th. Performances are scheduled at the end of January and throughout the months of February & March.
Updated this week! Check out upcoming Equity Auditions from Sunday, December 13, 2015 for both productions in your area and around the country including what/when/where and how to audition!
Broadway In Chicago presents the Chicago premiere of UNSPEAKABLE, a dramatic fantasia inspired by the life of comedic legend Richard Pryor. UNSPEAKABLE features a cast of many prominent Chicago performers and will play the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut St.) for a limited five-week engagement tonight, Oct. 6 through Nov. 8, 2015.
Broadway In Chicago has announced full casting for the Chicago premiere of UNSPEAKABLE, a dramatic fantasia inspired by the life of comedic legend Richard Pryor.
Eddie Cooper and Joe Grifasi join Ellen Greene, Jake Gyllenhaal and Taran Killam in the Encores! Off-Center concert production of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken's LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, running for three performances, tonight, July 1, and tomorrow, July 2, 2015 at New York City Center.
Eddie Cooper and Joe Grifasi will join the previously announced Ellen Greene, Jake Gyllenhaal and Taran Killam in the Encores! Off-Center concert production of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken's Little Shop of Horrors, running for three performances, July 1-2, 2015 at New York City Center. Eddie Cooper replaces his father Chuck Cooper, who will be starring in the upcoming Broadway musical Amazing Grace.
Jake Gyllenhaal, Chuck Cooper and Taran Killam will join the previously announced Ellen Greene in the Encores! Off-Center concert production ofHoward Ashman and Alan Menken's Little Shop of Horrors, running July 1-2, 2015. NOTE: A third performance has been added at 2pm on Thursday, July 2 in order to meet ticket demand. The production will be directed by Dick Scanlan, with choreography by Patricia Wilcox. Jeanine Tesori is the Artistic Director of Encores! Off-Center, and Chris Fenwick is Music Director. The show will mark the musical theater debuts of both Gyllenhaal and Killam.
Today we are revisiting the very best theatre-related items released in 2014 in honor of the holiday shopping season being upon us.
?The New Victory Theater received the 2014 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award today from First Lady Michelle Obama for the New Victory Usher Corps, the 42nd Street theater's creative youth development program for New York City teens. The New Victory Usher Corps, one of only 12 programs to receive the award this year, accepts the nation's highest honor for programs that excel in developing learning and life skills in young people through the arts.
New Hampshire and summerstock are pretty much interchangeable. Across the Granite State, theatergoers will find incredible options for live entertainment. One night they could be in an old barn, where the floors creek and an occasional bat will make its presence known. Then the next night, you're in a brand new, modern facility with air conditioning, comfy seats and a bar.
The Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour 55th Anniversary Celebration makes its way to Segerstrom Center for the Arts today, January 13 in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. The all- star ensemble will perform classic jazz and original compositions by critically acclaimed, Grammy Award-winning artists: bassist and musical director Christian McBride, vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater, saxophonist Chris Potter, trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, pianist Benny Green and drummer Lewis Nash.
The Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour 55th Anniversary Celebration makes its way to Segerstrom Center for the Arts on January 13 in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. The all- star ensemble will perform classic jazz and original compositions by critically acclaimed, Grammy Award-winning artists: bassist and musical director Christian McBride, vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater, saxophonist Chris Potter, trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, pianist Benny Green and drummer Lewis Nash.
It's quite an achievement for any theater company to mount a credible "Dreamgirls," frankly, with its casting challenges, costume budget and high energy performance level. But Robin's Marriott "Dreamgirls" succeeds on many levels. It never stops moving, and it frequently moves the audience as well....
Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) presents Gilbert & Sullivan's comic operetta THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, directed by Broadway veteran Terrence Mann, starring Sean Martin Hingston as the Pirate King, Steven Hayes as the Major-General and Connecticut native Diane Phelan as Mabel.
Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) presents Gilbert & Sullivan's comic operetta THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, directed by Broadway veteran Terrence Mann, starring Sean Martin Hingston as the Pirate King, Steven Hayes as the Major-General and Connecticut native Diane Phelan as Mabel.
Welcome to BroadwayWorld.com's newest photo series 'Photo Blast From the Past'. Featuring some of the collected theatre gem's of BroadwayWorld's own senior photographer Walter McBride, the series will feature images from his archives of theatre and Hollywood related gems. Check out Phyllis Hyman (Sophisticated Ladies, 1981) - once upon a time!
With its many supporting roles for older performers, one of the great pleasures of productions of Follies is the opportunity to see some of the theatre's senior members making a triumphant return to the Broadway stage.
The Concert Operetta Theater will open its 9th season with a concert, Remembering Romberg! honoring the great American composer. Philadelphian Michael Presser, founder of New York City's leading Broadway non-profit organization Inside Broadway will be the guest narrator.
The Concert Operetta Theater will open its 9th season with a concert, Remembering Romberg! honoring the great American composer. Philadelphian Michael Presser, founder of New York City's leading Broadway non-profit organization Inside Broadway will be the guest narrator.
The David Berger Jazz Orchestra - the acclaimed band featured in the Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio and PBS TV - recently released their latest CD, 'Sing Me A Love Song: Harry Warren's Undiscovered Standards', featuring Freda Payne ('Band Of Gold,' 'Bring The Boys Home') and Denzal Sinclaire (National Jazz Award Winner). The CD has had great radio airplay and was singled out in USA Today's Best Tracks of the Week and is on sale now at retailers nationwide, as well as Amazon.com, iTunes, CD Baby and their website, http://www.davidbergerjazz.com.
Freda Payne returns to the Iridium Nov 12-14 doing her tribute Ella and now Lena. Born in Detroit, Michigan, Freda grew up listening to Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday, which inspired her growing interest in music. While still in school, she began her musical career by singing radio commercial jingles. It was then that her polished voice first caught the attention of music executives and other artists. She was wooed with offers of contracts from the likes of Berry Gordy and Duke Ellington, but her mother wanted her to finish school first. After she did, the legendary Pearl Bailey gave Freda her first professional job and this paved the way for her to share the stage with other legends such as Lionel Hampton, Sammy Davis Jr., Billy Eckstine, Quincy ]ones, Bill Cosby and many others. Freda toured with Quincy Jones during his big band era, performing at the world famous Apollo in New York and the Regal in Chicago, among others, and soon after, recorded her first album When The Lights Go Down for Impulse Records.
Freda Payne returns to the Iridium Nov 12-14 doing her tribute Ella and now Lena. Born in Detroit, Michigan, Freda grew up listening to Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday, which inspired her growing interest in music. While still in school, she began her musical career by singing radio commercial jingles. It was then that her polished voice first caught the attention of music executives and other artists. She was wooed with offers of contracts from the likes of Berry Gordy and Duke Ellington, but her mother wanted her to finish school first. After she did, the legendary Pearl Bailey gave Freda her first professional job and this paved the way for her to share the stage with other legends such as Lionel Hampton, Sammy Davis Jr., Billy Eckstine, Quincy ]ones, Bill Cosby and many others. Freda toured with Quincy Jones during his big band era, performing at the world famous Apollo in New York and the Regal in Chicago, among others, and soon after, recorded her first album When The Lights Go Down for Impulse Records.
The Town Hall, Broadway's landmark concert venue, (123 W. 43rd Street) announces its 90th Anniversary season lineup. Headliners include Tony Award ®winning Broadway star Ben Vereen; the acclaimed musical comedy troupe Capitol Steps, back by popular demand; Grammy Award® winning singer and songwriter Don Mclean; the world premiere of a new production by the Romulo Larrea Tango Ensemble; Broadway stars Linda Eder and three time Tony Award® nominee Kelli O'Hara; celebrated singers and actors Andrea Marcovicci and Jeff Harner; Grammy and Tony Award® winner Dee Dee Bridgewater and the acclaimed concert series Broadway By The Year®, featuring the years 1921, 1932, 1982 and 1997.
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).
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).
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