The Heart of Rock and Roll, a jukebox musical featuring songs from the GRAMMY Award-winning band Huey Lewis and the News, is coming to Broadway this spring.
Matt Doyle and members of the Old Globe company of “The Heart of Rock and Roll,” 2018. Credit: Jim Cox.
The show will begin performances on March 29, 2024, ahead of an opening night on April 22 at the James Earl Jones Theatre. The musical premiered at San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre in 2018, featuring a cast led by Tony winner Matt Doyle and Katie Rose Clarke. A summer 2023 workshop was led by Jonah Platt with Clarke.
The Heart of Rock and Roll tells the story of two 30-somethings each with certain plans, changing when they meet each other, set to a score of songs made famous by Huey Lewis and the News.
The Heart of Rock and Roll features a book by Jonathan A. Abrams, based on a story created by Tyler Mitchell and Abrams. Brian Usifer does the music supervision, arrangements, and orchestrations, with Gordon Greenberg directing and choreography by Lorin Latarro. The musical is also being produced by Hunter Arnold, Mitchell, and Kayla Greenspan.
Working on our show has been so gratifying. I’ve always been a storyteller, and it’s a thrill to see my songs woven together in service of a fantastic, new story. That it will all take place on the world’s most prestigious stage — Broadway — just makes the ride that much sweeter.
Huey Lewis
Lewis’s tune “The Power of Love” was featured in Back to the Future on Broadway earlier this year, and in the original movie as well. “The Power of Love,” as well as “Workin’ for a Livin’,” “Stuck with You,” “If This Is It” and the musical’s title tune are among the Huey Lewis and the News songs that will be featured in The Heart of Rock and Roll.
Casting for the Broadway production, as well as additional creative team members, will be announced soon. To purchase tickets and find more information, visit here.
Is It Thursday Yet?, a beautiful show featuring complex dance choreography and enriching live music, opens December 12 at the Perelman Performing Arts Center. The show features the incredible talents of Jenn Freeman, Holland Andrews, and Price McGuffrey.
Is It Thursday Yet? is a stunning tapestry of dance, live music and home video footage. The show invites you into the unique complexities of dancer and choreographer Jenn Freeman’s life following her Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis at age 33. Since then, she has navigated an endless sea of epiphanies, examining childhood memories through this new lens.
Is It Thursday Yet? is co-created, co-choreographed and performed by Jenn Freeman, co-created, co-choreographed and directed by Sonya Tayeh, and composed and performed by Holland Andrews. The production runs from December 8 through December 23 at PAC NYC.
Jenn Freeman (they/she) (Co-Creator/Co-Choreographer/Performer) is an Autistic American choreographer, dance performer, and educator based in New York City. Freeman is an O’Donnell-Green Music and Dance Foundation recipient, a 2023 New England Foundation for the Arts Recipient and the New York State Council on the Arts grant award recipient. Most recently Freeman was commissioned to set a solo for American Ballet Theatre principal dancer, Cassandra Trenary, that premiered at Festival des arts de Saint-Sauveur in 2022.
In 2021, Freeman created new work for the Martha Graham Dance Company. In 2018 Freeman produced, directed and choreographed her evening-length world premiere debut: …it’s time… at the Theater at The 14th St Y in New York City. After a sold-out run the show was presented for a second run in 2019. Freeman’s choreography has been commissioned by Marymount Manhattan College, Wayne State University, BYU, and The University of Texas at Austin. Her work has been presented at The Theater at the 14th Street Y, The Kaatsbaan Summer Festival, The Reverb Dance Festival, and The McCallum Theater Choreography Festival.
For over a decade, Jenn has worked as Sonya Tayeh’s associate and resident choreographer in the development of pieces for: The Gibney Company, American Ballet Theater, The Martha Graham Dance Company, Guggenheim W&P, LA Ballet, The Juilliard School, and Cirque du Soleil. Professionally, Jenn has danced in works by choreographers Sonya Tayeh, Kyle Abraham, Larry Keigwin, Charlotte Boye-Christensen (NOW-ID), and many others. Freeman is a graduate of the dance program at TISCH School of the Arts, NYU.
Sonya Tayeh (she/her) (Co-Creator/Co-Choreographer/Director) is a New York City based TONY® Award winning choreographer and director. Since paving her professional career, her work has been characterized as a blend of powerful versatility and theatrical range. She has gleaned many accolades for her versatile work, including a Tony Award, two Emmy nominations, one Drama Desk Award, an Obie Award, and two Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Choreography.
Holland Andrews (they/them) (Composer) is a vocalist, composer, and performance artist whose work focuses on the abstraction of operatic and extended-technique voice to build soundscapes encompassing both catharsis and dissonance. Andrews develops and performs soundscapes for dance, theater, and film. Notable collaborations include Bill T. Jones, Dorothee Munyaneza, Will Rawls, poet Demian Dinéyazhi, Son Lux, Christina Vantzou, William Brittelle, Methods Body, West Thordson, Peter Broderick, Darian Donovan Thomas, and Nils Frahm.
Perelman Performing Arts Center NYC Memberships starting at $10 for the inaugural season are available. Members are provided early access to purchase tickets and other perks. For more information or to learn how to support PAC NYC, visit their website.
Tickets start at $39 and are available online at PACNYC.org or by calling 212.266.3000. All performances are at 251 Fulton Street.
The public can sign up for important updates from PAC NYC at PACNYC.org/sign-up.
SLC Arts has announced their second annual “A North Country Christmas” Holiday Music Tour, performed by Josh Barkley.
SLC Arts musician Josh Barkley will present a holiday music tour featuring organ and piano this December. Four performances during the week of December 18th will begin at 6:00 PM and take place at different churches in St. Lawrence County.
Josh Barkley was born and raised in Madrid, NY, and is a graduate of The Crane School of Music, holding his Bachelors in Music Business. He currently works with SLC Arts through the Creatives Rebuild New York Artist Employment Program. Performing in many local venues, Josh has years of experience behind the keys as well as organ and bass. He is a prolific solo performer, in addition to performing with many bands since high school. He supplies bands with sound equipment and often does live sound for the regional ensembles.
The tour is free to the public, and performances will not include a religious service.
A North Country Christmas Tour Schedule
Monday, December 18: Potsdam United Methodist Church. 26 Main St. Potsdam, NY
Tuesday, December 19: Waddington First Presbyterian Church. 13 Fenton St. Waddington, NY
Wednesday, December 20: Ogdensburg United Methodist Church. 627 Caroline St. Ogdensburg, NY
Thursday, December 21: Massena First United Methodist Church. 189 Main St. Massena, NY
SLC Arts is the administrator of the New York State Council on the Arts’ Statewide Community Regrants (SCR) Program in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence Counties. Through this program, $160,000 in state funding is distributed to municipalities, libraries, 501(c)3 organizations, individual artists and collectives, for the purpose of arts programming. Initiatives may include (but are not limited to) concerts, exhibitions, theatrical performances, readings, screenings, art classes, public art and more. Grants are project-based, and support community-centered projects in any artistic discipline.
Isaac Mizrahi returns to the famed Café Carlyle in Manhattan with his show, “Mizrahi on Ice,” from February 6-17, 2024.
Accompanied by his band of jazz musicians led by Ben Waltzer, Mizrahi will perform a range of tunes from Arthur Freed to Grace Jones. His previous residencies in the room were sellouts, receiving widespread critical acclaim.
The New York Times noted, “he qualifies as a founding father of a genre that fuses performance art, music and stand-up comedy.”
Isaac Mizrahi has worked extensively in the entertainment industry as a performer, host, writer, designer and producer for over 30 years. Along with his annual residency at Café Carlyle, Isaac has performed at various venues across the country such as Joe’s Pub, The Regency Ballroom, several City Winery locations nationwide and comes to the Carlyle fresh from a United States tour and his run as Amos Hart in the Broadway production of CHICAGO.
He is the subject and co-creator of Unzipped, a documentary following the making of his Fall 1994 collection which received an award at the Sundance Film Festival. He hosted his own television talk show, “The Isaac Mizrahi Show” for seven years, has written three books, and has made countless appearances in movies and on television. He served as a judge on Project Runway: All-Stars for the series’ entire seven-season run and. is just completing his first season of his record breaking podcast, HELLO ISAAC. The series can be streamed on iHeart radio, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Café Carlyle is located in The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel (35 East 76th Street, at Madison Avenue). Tucked behind a Madison Avenue doorway, Café Carlyle welcomes its guests into a classic cabaret setting where incredible talent and music are paired with New York elegance and style, yet in an updated way. Originally opened in 1955, Café Carlyle is known for headlining incredible talent through the years – from classic performers such as Elaine Stritch and Eartha Kitt to more modern-day acts such as Jon Batiste, Isaac Mizrahi, Jeff Goldblum, Jill Kargman, Katharine McPhee, Dianna Agron, Alan Cumming, Debbie Harry and Rita Wilson. Café Carlyle, the New York City bastion of classic cabaret entertainment, continues to draw socialites, politicians and celebrities into its distinguished and glamorous setting.
Tickets are available online via Tock. General Seating: $140 per person / Premium Seating: $190 per person / Bar Seating: $110 per person.
Playhouse Stage Company has opened their 36th season presenting the beloved story of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Based on the children’s novel by Barbara Robinson, the musical adaptation will be presented at Cohoes Music Hall outside Albany.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever was first published in 1971, and has since become a children’s classic holiday story. After a nearly sold out run in 2017, Playhouse Stage Company continues to present the show each year for holiday audiences in the Capital Region.
The story follows the “horrible Herdmans,” a rowdy family keen on joining the local Sunday School Christmas pageant. With humor, song, and heartwarming moments, the production brings laughter and holiday cheer to audiences all over. This year’s cast features 7 local professional actors, alongside 13 local Playhouse Stage Academy students in age appropriate roles.
The show will run from December 1-23, with 7PM performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and 2PM performances on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets for The Best Christmas Pageant Ever are on sale through The Cohoes Music Hall Box Office, by phone at 518-434-0776, or online at www.playhousestage.org.
The Public Theater is presenting the coming-of-age musical, Hell’sKitchen, on stage this fall. The production has now been extended twice, running through January 7 at Manhattan’s historic nonprofit theater.
Written by Grammy Award-winner Alicia Keys, Hell’s Kitchen follows the story of Ali, a 17-year-old New Yorker reaching towards her dreams, falling in love, and navigating mother-daughter relationships. She encounters a neighbor playing piano, which opens new doors for her into unexpected and exciting new opportunities.
Based somewhat on Alicia Keys’ own experiences, the legendary artist worked for over 13 years to perfect the full body of work that is now showing at New York’s Public Theater.
The show is choreographed by Tony nominee Camille A. Brown, and directed by yet another Tony nominee, Michael Grief. With a stacked production team and a cast featuring Maleah Joi Moon as protagonist Ali alongside Shoshana Bean (Wicked), and Brandon Victor Dixon (The Color Purple, Hamilton), the show delivers a heartfelt and impactful story.
Photo Credit: Joan Marcus
Now playing at the Public Theater, Hell’s Kitchen was originally scheduled to run through mid-December, but has now been extended for audiences through January 7, 2024. Tickets for all shows are available now. Lottery and discounted tickets are also available.
Open captioned, masked, and sign language interpreted performances will also be held on select dates. Tickets and all information are available at publictheater.com.
This holiday season, Buffalo’s local venues Seneca One and The Canterbury Woods Performing Arts Center will host a variety of Christmas festivities with holiday jazz for all. The events feature A Charlie Brown Christmas presented at both venues for a total of three shows, as well as the “In The Christmas City” Jazz Concert, featuring rising jazz vocalist Corinne Mammana.
Seneca One will present A Charlie Brown Christmas on December 2 at 7:30PM and December 3 at 2PM. The Ed Croft Trio will perform the beloved soundtrack by Vince Guaraldi. Ed Croft will lead the performance with story anecdotes between songs, celebrating the adored holiday classic movie. Tickets are available for December 2 and December 3.
Corinne Mammana
Seneca One will follow with a holiday jazz concert titled “In The Christmas City” on December 8. The show stars rising jazz vocalist Corinne Mammana, combining jazz with timeless holiday traditions. Mammana has not just vocal skills, but is also a songwriter, arranger, recording artist, and bandleader sure to deliver a wonderful performance. Tickets are available here.
Finally, The Canterbury Woods Performing Arts Center will also present “A Charlie Brown Christmas” on December 13 led by the Ed Croft Trio. The Trio consists of Ed Croft, Ivan Docenko, and Dave Wasik. Presented by JazzBuffalo and Canterbury Woods, the classic soundtrack to A Charlie Brown Christmas is a perfect holiday event for Buffalo. Tickets are available here.
In a groundbreaking announcement, producers Mara Isaacs, Dale Franzen, Hunter Arnold, and Tom Kirdahy revealed that Grammy Award®-winning music icon Ani DiFranco will embark on her Broadway debut as ‘Persephone’ in the Tony® and Grammy Award-winning Best Musical, Hadestown, at the Walter Kerr Theatre starting February 9, 2024.
DiFranco’s association with Hadestown dates back to 2010 when she extended an invitation to Anaïs Mitchell to release the original studio album on DiFranco’s label, Righteous Babe Records. Having originated the role of ‘Persephone’ on the album, DiFranco’s return to the character marks a significant moment in the evolution of the show.
Expressing her excitement, Ani DiFranco stated, “I could not be more thrilled to be joining the cast of Hadestown. It’s like I get to rewind to my New York youth and follow the road not taken.”
Mitchell added, “I can’t really overstate the influence of Ani’s music and example on me as a young songwriter. Poetic, bold, radically emotive and FUN, she simply has been a mythic figure in my life, and I can’t think of anything more beautifully full circle than Ani playing the role of ‘Persephone’ on Broadway. Grateful and awestruck.”
Widely acknowledged as a feminist icon, Ani DiFranco pioneered the DIY movement, establishing her own record label in 1990. Beyond her reputation as the “Little Folksinger,” her music spans genres from punk and funk to hip hop and jazz. Her recent works include the 2021 album Revolutionary Love and the 25th-anniversary reissue of Little Plastic Castle in June 2023, both released on her label Righteous Babe Records. In addition to her musical endeavors, her memoir No Walls and the Recurring Dream became a New York Times Top 10 best seller in May 2019, and she recently released her debut children’s book, The Knowing.
Hadestown’s current cast features Betty Who as Persephone (through February 4), Jordan Fisher as Orpheus, Tony Award winner Lillias White as Hermes, Phillip Boykin as Hades, and Solea Pfeiffer as Eurydice. The production, with its unique blend of modern American folk music and New Orleans-inspired jazz, has earned critical acclaim for reimagining the ancient tale and providing audiences with a captivating theatrical experience.
In addition to her musical achievements, Ani DiFranco has left an indelible mark in her hometown of Buffalo. Renaming the 19th-century Gothic church she bought and renovated, the venue, originally dubbed The Church, is now known as Babeville. This multifaceted space houses her music label, Righteous Babe Records, and the Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center. A proud Buffalo native, DiFranco continues to contribute to the cultural vibrancy of her hometown.
Tickets for Hadestown are available at www.seatgeek.com/hadestown-tickets or by visiting the Walter Kerr Theatre box office. Don’t miss the chance to witness Ani DiFranco’s Broadway debut in this transformative and resonant production.
In the world of family fun, Sesame Street has been a go-to for decades. Now, get ready for something extra special as Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster, and the whole Sesame Street gang hit the road in the brand-new live production, Sesame Street Live! Say Hello.
This musical road trip is set to hit cities all across the U.S. and Canada, bringing the magic of Sesame Street to life starting in April 2024.
Sesame Street Live! Say Hello promises more than just a show – it’s an interactive musical adventure. Join in the fun as your favorite characters come to life on stage. Expect surprises, laughter, and all the timeless magic of Sesame Street. This is an experience that goes beyond the screen, bringing the heartwarming spirit of Sesame Street to a live and tangible stage.
This tour is no small affair, hitting major cities from Portland, ME, to Vancouver, and everywhere in between. The kickoff is at Merrill Auditorium in Portland on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, and the fun won’t stop until it’s made its way through more than 50 cities.
SESAME STREET LIVE! SAY HELLO TOUR DATES:
Tuesday, Apr. 16 – Merrill Auditorium – Portland, ME
Wednesday, Apr. 17 – Lowell Memorial Auditorium – Lowell, MA
Thursday, Jun. 27 – Rio Rancho Events Center – Rio Rancho, NM
Friday, Jun. 28 – Pueblo Memorial Hall – Pueblo, CO
Saturday, Jun. 29 – United Wireless Arena – Dodge City, KS
Sunday, Jun. 30 – Budweiser Events Center – Loveland, CO
Tickets for this musical journey go on sale Friday, November 17th, with early access starting Tuesday, November 14th. Don’t miss out – head to SesameStreetLive.com to snag your tickets. This event is for everyone, from the littlest fans to those young at heart.
Moulin Rouge! The Musical will be welcoming GRAMMY award-winning singer, songwriter and trailblazer Boy George in his return to Broadway as he performs the the role of “Harold Zidler” at Broadway’s Al Hirschfeld Theatre, starting February 6, 2024.
Boy George rose to fame as the lead singer of the iconic band Culture Club, first appearing on Top of the Pops with Culture Club in 1982, he instantly had people talking. The pop sensation achieved seven UK Top 10 singles, nine Top 10 singles in the USA, and nine Top 20 singles in Australia including, “Karma Chameleon” and “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me”.
Boy George was last represented in the Broadway production Taboo in 2003, where he performed and wrote the music for the production. Taboo became well respected for highlighting the 80’s club scene, and focusing on George’s life before and after achieving fame.
Boy George attracted high praise and gained global recognition, creating a world-wide presence that transcends age, race, colour, creed, nationality and even religion. He began his solo career in 1987 and became part of the New Romantic movement which emerged in the late 1970s to early 1980s.
Moulin Rouge! The Musical is the winner of ten 2021 Tony Awards, directed by Alex Timbers and choreography by Sonya Tayeh and music supervision, orchestrations and arrangements by Justin Levine. Moulin Rouge! The Musical enters a world of splendor and romance, eye-popping excess, glitz, grandeur, glory and a world where bohemians and aristocrats rub elbows to revel in electrifying enchantment. Pop the champagne and prepare for the spectacular Baz Luhrmann’s iconic film come to life onstage, remixed in a musical mash-up extravaganza celebrating truth, beauty and freedom.
For more information on Boy George in Moulin Rouge! The Musical, please visit here.
