Ethel Waters News

At Chelsea Table + Stage, Klea Blackhurst 'Box Set' shows are continuing to draw crowds and bring smiles. Songs of Vernon Duke were on the bill in April, and May 5 will find her saluting Jerry Herman.

Triad Theater and Laura Slutzsky will present a musical benefit for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, co-hosted by Laura Slutsky and Sue Matsuki, featuring special guest Lina Koutrakos.

Goodwill Cultural Ambassador Ronald Rand, during his 24th year touring around the world to 26 countries will perform in his celebrated solo play, LET IT BE ART! as Harold Clurman, 'the Elder Statesman of the American Theatre,' on March 31st at the renowned Lithographeion Theatre in Patras, Greece.

Ben Masterton and Frank Farrell Productions will present Walt Kelly's Songs of the Pogo written by Walt Kelly and Norman Monath and directed by Frank Farrell.

Patrons of 54 Below glimpsed a special piece of New York City history with its presentation of DAVID JACKSON & DAVID WHITE: COTTON CLUB CONFIDENTIAL on February 15, 2024.  Each a Broadway veteran in their own right, David Jackson and David White brought the famed ambiance of the Cotton Club of the 1920’s and 30’s to life in 21st century midtown Manhattan.

Paper Mill Playhouse is now presenting After Midnight, a scintillating musical revue.

FRIGID New York announces the full schedule for the 2024 The Fire This Time Festival.

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) will host the Milt Hinton Institute for Studio Bass, an exceptional summer music education program for teens, in residence at Montclair State University, in July 2024. 

The Milt Hinton Summer Camp is all about that bass! Join us for a summer experience dedicated to the famous bass player, Milt Hinton. Learn from top-notch instructors and immerse yourself in the world of bass playing.

FRIGID New York will present the 2024 The Fire This Time Festival at a brand new home this January. The Obie Award winning festival will be celebrating its 15th anniversary with the return of its annual Ten-Minute Play Program at The Wild Project.

While we wait for Ethel Waters to get the large-scale showbiz treatment she deserves, Nashville audiences, for now at least, can show respect and give recognition to the legendary figure who is brought to life onstage once more by Connye Florance and Saaneah Jamison via the Kennie Playhouse Theatre production of Parr’s His Eye Is On the Sparrow: The Ethel Waters Musical. Director Kennie Dozier’s production is somewhat uneven, but his two leading ladies – the aforementioned Florance and Jamison – are mesmerizing, each one creating her own indelible portrait and unique interpretation of Ethel Waters in two acts that feature some of her best-known songs, tunes that are a part of the Great American Songbook and among the most haunting, most beautiful melodies ever written.

freeFall Theatre Company’s 2023/2024 season opens with an all-new musical revue that celebrates the hits of such legendary artists as The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Jackie Wilson and many others.

Late Night Snacks from the Bearded Ladies Cabaret is back this September to bring an array of cabaret, drag, and operatic talent to the Philadelphia Fringe Festival and Festival O23.

freeFall Theatre Company's 2023/2024 season opens with an all-new play with music written by and starring Rose Weaver (freeFall debut) as the one and only Ethel Waters.

Washington Performing Arts has announce its 2023/24 Season with the theme of Together in Art and Community, running from September 2023 through June 2024 in nine venues across the Washington, D.C., region.

Subscriptions and single tickets are now on sale for freeFall's 2023/2024 season. Learn more about the lineup here!

This month, the reader question was: 'Which songs have appeared in multiple Broadway shows?'

BroadwayWorld talks to Sheldon Epps about his new memoir 'My Own Directions: A Black Man's Journey in the American Theatre' that recounts his struggles and successes leading the Pasadena Playhouse for two decades and directing the Tony-nominated musicals 'Blues in the Night' and 'Play On!' on Broadway and beyond.

The Wizard of Oz, the beloved story of Dorothy's journey over the rainbow will begin previews at Capital Repertory Theatre on Friday, November 18, opening on Tuesday, November 22 and running through Saturday, December 24.

Guitarist/vocalist Shemekia Copeland was literally born into blues royalty and founded her own kingdom of artistic expression. Composer/vocalist/ keyboardist Ruthie Foster established her own sonic citizenship by combining a melting pot of musical genres into her own distinctive sound.