Billy Johnson News

The Merrimack Repertory Theater has announced a new performance, How High the Moon: The Music of Ella Fitzgerald, running from May 3-May 21, 2023. A musical tribute starring Broadway performer Tina Fabrique, How High the Moon will feature some of Ella Fitzgerald's greatest hits including “A-Tisket, A-Tasket,” “Dream a Little Dream of Me,” and “Mack the Knife.”  

Today's question is: Who has worn the most hats on Broadway- director, producer, writer, actor, etc.? Here are a few folks that could hold a record for the 'number of hats' they've worn on Broadway shows. Part one includes those who have worn four or five hats on Broadway shows and part two will include those who have held even more positions than that!

Liz Kennedy revisits the insightful and humorous song 'It's Late' from her critically acclaimed 2008 album 'Nothing Like An Angel.' The song, produced by Joel Jaffe (Maria Muldaur), features Kennedy on piano alongside several top bay area musicians.

The song, produced by Joel Jaffe (Maria Muldaur), features Kennedy on piano alongside several top bay area musicians including Eamonn Flynn (The Commitments) on keyboards, Jamie Brewer (Michelle Shocked) on bass, Billy Johnson (Santana) on drums, Dale Chung (Con Funk Shun) on percussion and producer Jaffe on guitar.

The Antoinette Montague Experience will be in concert at the Newark Museum of Art and the Morris Museum's Bickford Theatre in July.

Liz Kennedy is revisiting the soulfully African-tinged track 'I Wish I Believed' from her critically acclaimed 2008 album 'Nothing Like An Angel.' The song, produced by Joel Jaffe, features Kennedy on piano alongside several top bay area musicians including Eamonn Flynn on keyboards, Joel Jaffe on acoustic guitar, Billy Johnson on drums and more.

HBO has canceled its new comedy series Run after only one season. 

Written and produced by Vicky Jones, HBO's new half-hour comedy series RUN, debuting SUNDAY, APRIL 12 (10:30-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), follows a woman whose humdrum life is thrown upside down when she receives a text from her college sweetheart inviting her to drop everything and meet him in New York to fulfill the pact they made 17 years earlier.

11 Year Old Triple Threat, Lauren Yeobin Park Lands 3 Shows! 'Shine Holiday Spectacular Show' Tonight! Friday, December 13th at 8PM at The Playroom Theater, on Saturday, December 14th at Carnegie Hall, Weill Recital Hall in American Protègè Winners Recital and beginning December 20th, 'A Christmas Carol' in Bergen Performing Arts Center!

From Peter Pan to Gypsy Rose Lee, explore the depiction of children in Broadway musicals like Matilda, Peter Pan, Falsettos, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, School of Rock, Charlie Brown and Gypsy. The mixed cast of adults and children includes Farah Alvin (It Shoulda Been You), Kennedy Kanagawa, Graham Stevens, Brandi Porter, Benjamin Barham-Wiese, Devin Trey Campbell (Kinky Boots), Brandon Chosed, Charlotte MacLeod and Lauren Park. Directed by Devanand Janki; music directed by Yan Li.

Blues, Funk, Soul and Jazz are fused together, wrapped into an eclectic, colorful package, and emerge as a funky, yet soulful sound that is called 'Groovality'.

Domhall Gleeson will star in HBO's upcoming comedy pilot, RUN, according to Variety.

Maui's John Hickman releases his new track 'What's This All About' with a new lyric video and digital release available Friday, September 21st.

Maui's John Hickman releases his new alt-rock track 'That's Life' with a new lyric video and digital release available June 8. Working with San Francisco Bay Area producer Joel Jaffe (Flaming Groovies, Ray Manzarek) John delivers in signature style, tapping flavors of classic rock with a further stretch to his impressive vocal range. This guitar-rich and hook-laden track explores both the struggles and joy of incarnating into human life on planet earth.

Maui's John Hickman releases his new alt-rock track 'That's Life' with a new lyric video and digital release available June 8. Working with San Francisco Bay Area producer Joel Jaffe (Flaming Groovies, Ray Manzarek) John delivers in signature style, tapping flavors of classic rock with a further stretch to his impressive vocal range. This guitar-rich and hook-laden track explores both the struggles and joy of incarnating into human life on planet earth.

San Francisco based singer-songwriter Liz Kennedy finds fresh ways to define rootsy - including bringing in legendary bluesman Taj Mahal who contributes his inimitable vocals and banjo to the buoyant tune 'Everyone Knows How It Goes.'

On Hike Up Your Socks, San Francisco based singer-songwriter Liz Kennedy's latest full length album of soulful and poetic narratives, Kennedy finds fresh ways to define rootsy - including bringing in legendary bluesman Taj Mahal who plays harmonica on the front porch ballad 'Love Gave Me Away' and contributes his inimitable vocals and banjo to the buoyant opener 'Everyone Knows How It Goes.'

On Hike Up Your Socks, San Francisco based singer-songwriter Liz Kennedy's latest full length album of soulful and poetic narratives, Kennedy finds fresh ways to define rootsy - including bringing in legendary bluesman Taj Mahal who plays harmonica on the front porch ballad 'Love Gave Me Away' and contributes his inimitable vocals and banjo to the buoyant opener 'Everyone Knows How It Goes.'

In celebration of her new blues/folk inspired pop/rock album Speed Bump, San Francisco-based singer/songwriter LIZ KENNEDY (www.lizkennedymusic.com) brings her soulful sound to Fenix on Sunday, July 27 at 6:30 p.m.

Liz Kennedy (www.lizkennedymusic.com) had been composing wordless songs on the piano since she was 12, always wondering who was going to come along and finish them for her. By her late '40s, she finally gave up waiting and began adding the lyrics herself. Performing for the first time in her early '50s, she knew she was taking a bold risk. Divorced and remarried, facing the kind of fears that come with the pain of loss, never playing for anyone but her young children asleep on the floor below, she was protecting a budding need for self-expression. She worried that one sharp critique could destroy her deep connection to something that had always been her greatest passion.