Pop and R&B princess Mariah Carey has had a record breaking eighteen number one singles on the Billboard charts. Carey also boasts over 200 million album sales and is the best-selling female artist of all time. Currently, the 5 octave chanteuse is performing for her residency in Las Vegas at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.  Carey’s show “Mariah #1 to Infinity” will be the first time she will perform all 18 of her number one hits in one concert. And while the Las Vegas show has been met with some not so nice reviews , there is no doubt that she has cemented her name as a dominator of the charts. No one croons about the highs and lows of love and courtship quite like Mimi!

Regardless of the Vegas reviews, a Mariah Carey tribute is still the perfect accompaniment to the fine dining at 54 Below. The swanky top nightspot affectionately dubbed Broadway’s Supper Club, “offers an unforgettable New York nightlife experience, combining performances by Broadway’s best with world class dining in an elegant setting. 54 Below has become Broadway’s living room; a home away from home for Broadway professionals and audiences alike” according to the website.

For more information on how to purchase tickets for this fabulous night of food and fresh vocal arrangements of the Mariah Carey’s hit, check out www.54below.com

The post Mmm…Mmm…Mimi! 54 Below Serves Up Mariah Carey’s Hottest Hits appeared first on Broadway Black.

In his initial audition for the judges, Shaw belted out a powerful rendering of the Beatles “Yesterday” prompting judge’s Howard Stern and Heidi Klum to emphatically send him on to the next round. Shaw, who is a native of Decatur, Georgia, has been singing since the age of 5. As the son of a Pentecostal Minister, Shaw did not begin singing pop music until he left home and began working at the now closed Motown Café in New York City. His star continued to rise as he toured with Tyler Perry’s I Know I’ve Been Changed.

After touring with the play, Shaw joined doo-wop group the Fabulous Soul Shakers. His first album, “This is Ryan Shaw”, for Columbia, earned him a 2008 Grammy nomination for “I Am Your Man.” In 2011 Shaw received another Grammy nomination for “In Between,” and in 2014 received his third for “Yesterday”. Shaw also snagged an audition with Berry Gordy and was then cast as Stevie Wonder. Shaw says of playing that iconic role “Initially it was very frightening because as an up and coming artist, I had the fear of failing him in some way. I had come to terms that I will never be Stevie and so my challenge became not how to imitate him, but rather how to embody him. It took pressure off and gave me a sense of freedom to be Stevie to each audience every night. It is a brilliant honor each and every time.”

On his second performance for “America’s Got Talent”, Shaw performed Bonnie Rait’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me”. Unfortunately, the judges found his performance less than stellar and he did not advance to the quarterfinals. Fans on Twitter strongly disagreed with the judge’s ruling and voiced their support of the charismatic singer.

@thisisRyanShaw Saw your performance on #AGT & your voice is amazing! Will be keeping my eye on you…something good is coming your way!!!

— FeliciaRenee (@TheFeliciaRenee) July 25, 2015

.@thisisRyanShaw The choir was good… but man you are on a whole other level. #AGT judges got this one wrong @howiemandel @howerdstern

— Brian Jackson (@brianleejackson) July 24, 2015

@thisisRyanShaw I hope you stay encouraged. Your voice is amazing. I am downloading your albums as we speak! #shouldvewentthrough

— Chef Wyze (@WyzeWordz) July 22, 2015

Shaw took the time out to reply to many of the fans on Twitter with grace and humility.

Thanks for the love #AGT #JudgeCuts #teamryanshaw https://t.co/KTE8guUPAL

— Ryan Shaw (@thisisRyanShaw) July 23, 2015

This made me smile. I believe music should move people and that why I do it. Thanks for the love #AGT #JudgeCuts https://t.co/QkkLU5wQP8

— Ryan Shaw (@thisisRyanShaw) July 22, 2015

There is no doubt that appearing on the show further grew Shaw’s fan base and we are quite sure that we haven’t heard the last from this talented singer.

The post ‘America’s Got Talent’ Fans Say Judges Miss The Mark On Ryan Shaw appeared first on Broadway Black.

This year’s festival, which runs August 3^rd through August 8th, boasts celebrity co-chairs Debbie Morgan  and Darnell Williams well known as the beloved Black power couple “Angie and Jessie” on the soap opera “All My Children”. Additionally, theatre goers will have the opportunity to attend “The Monkey on My Back” (An Intimate Evening with Debbi Morgan) which details memoirs of her life and legacy. After a stirring celebrity processional replete with African drummers and dancers, attendees of the opening night gala will be treated to an awards presentation. Check out our previous article on this year’s honorees.

The headlining event of the festival this year will be “Black Stars of the Great White Way: A Chapman Roberts Concept” produced by Chapman Roberts. The concert has been described as a “soaring music and dance celebration of the glorious 100 year history of African Americans on Broadway and at Carnegie Hall. This Gala All Broadway Star Production is specifically designed to honor NBTF luminaries past and present”. The concert will include tributes to Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Louis Jordan, Eubie Blake, Fats Waller, Louis Armstrong and Noble Sissle. This star studded concert will include the likes of Melba Moore, Jackee Harry, Harold Wheeler, Hattie Winston, Obba Babatunde, Maurice Hines, Alyson Williams, Norm Lewis, Andre Deshields, Larry Marshall, Peggi Blu, Longineu Parsons, Jeffresy Anderson-Gunter, Kirk Taylor, Jacob Wheeler, Dawnn Lewis and Jermaine Coles. Selections from beloved productions of Eubie, Bubbling Brown Sugar, Sunset Boulevard, Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, The Wiz  and the film “Selma,” will highlight the rich history of Black Broadway Theatre.

According to the website, this year’s festival promises a multitude of “…electrifying performances, informative workshops, riveting films and insightful spoken word poetry that will open your eyes to a new perspective on our culture’s artistic endeavors. Every evening culminates with a Celebrity Reception, Midnight Readers’ Theatre and the Midnight Poetry Jam.” Festival attendees should keep their eyes out for popular productions such as “Letter from Zora: In Her Own Words” performed by OPAS (Los Angeles, CA)  , “The Eve of Jackie: A Tribute to Jackie Wilson” performed by Chess, Not Checkers, Inc. (New York, NY), , “At Last: A Tribute to Etta James” performed by Black Ensemble Theater (Chicago, IL) and “The Bluest Eye” performed by North Carolina Central University (Durham, NC)

This year’s lineup promises to be an exciting and powerful celebration of Black Theatre for both festival veterans and newcomers. Avid festival attendee and supporter Wendell Tabb, Chair of Visual and Performing arts at Hillside High School says the following about the festival “I have had the pleasure of attending the Theatre Festival since 1989. Many of my former Hillside Theatre students perform at the Festival with Theatre Companies from around the world. The National Black Theatre Festival has helped jumpstart so many professional careers and has afforded great opportunities for artist to develop and showcase their works. The vision and legacy of the late Larry Leon Hamlin continues to shine through the hearts of many. I am extremely grateful and honored to be a part of Black Theatre” in the words of Larry Leon Hamlin that’s Marvtastic!

Tickets are currently available online at ww.nbtf.org . Connect with the festival on Facebook.

View a full list of the 2015 NBTF Honorees HERE

The post 2015 National Black Theatre Festival: Promises Music, Dance, Theatre & A Celebration of Legacy appeared first on Broadway Black.