Idol Headlines for 11/29/08

Second Cup Cafe: “Idol” Holiday Tour

(CBS) Four former “American Idol” finalists are hitting the road for a 15-city cross-country holiday music tour, but before they did, Chikezie, Diana DeGarmo, David Hernandez and Kimberley Locke dropped by the “Second Cup Cafà ©” to spread some holiday cheer.

The “American Stars in Concert for the Holidays” tour features the four top 10 finalists taking to the stage for an exciting night of solo, duet and ensemble performances. This production will be a great way to see and hear the Idols up close and personal in an intimate theatrical setting. Audiences will get a chance to relive their favorite former Idol moments as these talented artists perform an array of holiday favorites.

CBS News

Grease comes to PPAC Tuesday with a chance to break box-office record

Now another national tour is getting its start at PPAC, Grease, and organizers, based on advance ticket sales, are hoping to top that figure. In fact, Nick Scandalios, a vice president for the producing Nederlander Presentations in New York has a one-dollar bet with PPAC Lynn Singelton, wagering that the run of Grease, which opens Tuesday, will break the $1.2-million mark.

But his current touring version is slightly different. It contains for the first time several songs from the film that were not in the original Broadway show, tunes such as …Youre the One That I Want, …Sandy, and …Hopelessly Devoted to You. That has given the show a …fresh dynamic, said Scandalios.

It also has at least one popular face among the cast, Taylor Hicks of American Idol fame, who plays Teen Angel. Hicks, who won the season-five sing off, made his Broadway debut in that role this summer.

Providence Journal

More Idol Headlines after the Jump…

‘Grease’ at Auditorium Theatre with Taylor Hicks

This new production of GREASEÃ ¢’ž ¢, which opened on Broadway on August 19, 2007, was born out of NBC landmark talent competition TV series, …Grease: Youre The One That I Want. The weekly talent competition drew 90 million viewers, and America voted for its favorite contestants to play the lead roles of Sandy and Danny on Broadway. The production is directed and choreographed by two-time Tony Award-winner Kathleen Marshall (…The Pajama Game, …Wonderful Town). The book, music and lyrics are by the late Warren Casey who made Chicago his home in 1962 and Chicago native Jim Jacobs. Additional songs from the film are by Barry Gibb, John Farrar, Louis St. Louis and Scott Simon.

Broadway.com

Ruben Studdard Havin’ fun ‘Misbehavin”

Ruben Studdard is back in the studio and back on the road.

The road will take the second-season American Idol winner to Akron’s E.J. Thomas Hall beginning Tuesday, where he will perform in Ain’t Misbehavin’, the musical collecting the songs of the legendary Thomas ”Fats” Waller.

Running through Dec. 4, the production also features former Idol contestants Frenchie Davis and Trenyce Cobbins.

Studdard is a fan of both singers. Asked in a recent telephone interview about his favorite moments in the show, he mentioned his duet with Davis on Honeysuckle Rose and Cobbins’ rendition of Keepin’ Out of Mischief Now. Asked about any of his own, he somewhat reluctantly settled on Your Feet’s Too Big.

(Studdard also said he is still in touch with another Idol alum, Clay Aiken, whom he outscored in the closest Idol final vote ever. But when asked for his thoughts about Aiken’s coming out recently, he offered a terse, ”No comment.”)

Ohio.com

‹Idols spark ‹Aint Misbehavin

For many, only subtle differences exist between a top musical at the Scranton Cultural Center as opposed to Broadway.

Travel time, traffic, congestion and high ticket prices are just a few of those differences. And rarely, if ever, is the quality of the shows offered by the Broadway Theatre League of Northeast Pennsylvania any less dramatic than on the Great White Way.

Friday opening performance of …Aint Misbehavin, starring …American Idol alums Ruben Studdard, Trenyce Cobbins and Frenchie Davis, was no different.

The trio, along with fellow cast members Patrice Covington and David Jennings, staged a wildly entertaining performance of the Fats Waller musical that pays tribute to African-American musicians who were part of the Harlem Renaissance.

thetimes-tribune

Holiday spirit kicks off with Naperville parade

Downtown Naperville was shining brightly this evening as it kicked off the holiday season with its Hometown Holidays Friends of Little Friends Electric Parade.

Thousands of residents lined the streets to watch parade entries lit up with holiday lights, while anxiously anticipating Santa’s arrival and the Grand Illumination of the city.

The seventh annual parade, emceed by Naperville residents and CBS-2 Chicago’s Mary Kay Kleist and Dave Savini, included a special appearance by American Idol finalist and Naperville resident Gina Glocksen.

Suburban Chicago News

Giving thanks: Humble Carrie Underwood realizes how far she’s come since ‘Idol’ breakthrough

Country music’s most popular current female singer, Carrie Underwood, admits she can’t believe her good luck. Each day, she says, she takes a moment to realize, “Wow, this is my life.”

It’s been 3 years since Underwood stomped through “American Idol” beating the competition so soundly that acerbic judge Simon Cowell — with more than 10 weeks left in the season — declared she would win “Idol” and proceed to sell millions of albums.

Underwood, now 25, followed Cowell’s prediction and accomplished much more. Country music fans embraced her as firmly as paint sticks to the wall. The rural Oklahoma native’s debut album, “Some Hearts, ” dominated radio airwaves and sold 7 million copies.

Wisconsin State Journal

Ne-Yo Reached Out to Jennifer Hudson, Sent ‘Countless E-mails’ Post Family Tragedy

R ‘n’ B singer-songwriter Ne-Yo told Valerie Nome of OK! magazine’s Red Carpet Confidential that he did reach out to Jennifer Hudson after learning her mother, brother, and young nephew were all slain. He even admitted to have made phone calls to the former “American Idol” finalist and also sent her “countless emails.”

“I sent countless e-mails, I’ve tried to call a few times – of course, I’m not expecting her to answer the phone, going through what she’s going through, ” Ne-Yo confessed. “But I’ve sent her countless e-mails letting her know that my prayers are with her and her family, and just hold your head up. God has a plan for everything.”

Ace Showbiz

See stars Celine Dion, Katharine McPhee and more on ‘Hitman: David Foster and Friends’

Fortunately, medical science has found no evidence that it’s possible to overdose on musical crescendos. Otherwise, tomorrow night’s “Hitman: David Foster and Friends” special would need a warning sticker.

Foster, a songwriter, producer, pianist and general all-around tent pole of “adult contemporary” music, is featured on PBS’ “Great Performances” series with a dozen famous artists who have popularized his songs, arrangements and productions.

We have Michael Bublà ©, Katharine McPhee and Andrea Bocelli. Brian McKnight comes out with Josh Groban to sing “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”

You get the idea. No musical mountain is left unexplored, no heartstring left lyrically untugged.

Daily News

Ebay and Broadway Cares Offer Special ‘CONVERSATION WITH CLAY’ 11/29

Well, one of Broadway’s newest and biggest stars, Clay Aiken, continues to shine on Broadway at The Shubert Theatre every night where he is currently reprising his role as the dashing Sir Robin in Monty Python’s Spamalot.

The generous Mr. Aiken has agreed during one of his busiest 2-show Saturdays to conduct a talk-back: “Conversation With Clay” at the Shubert Theatre where the public may pay to come in and sit and chat with him as a group and ask all the questions that time allows.

This event is available through Ebay and sponsored by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Broadway World

My brother Simon Cowell – the little kid with the X-tra large ego

No-one knows Mr X Factor better than his brother Tony Cowell. Here he reveals all about Simon’s rebellious childhood, his strange obsession with mirrors and why he really dumped his girlfriend.

Tony Cowell is the spitting image of his younger brother, The X Factor’s Simon Cowell, but without the Botox and bad haircut. He’s also unashamedly vain. ‘We all are, ‘ he says, referring to brothers Michael and Nicholas, too.

‘Simon’s always been vain. His house in Los Angeles is full of mirrors – there’s one every five yards. We’re all the same. If Nicholas walked in here today, he’d look in the mirror and do his hair.’

Daily Mail.co.uk

Brooke Burke talks with News Channel 8

– News Channel 8’s caught up with Connecticut’s own Brooke Burke to talk about her Dancing With the Stars win and what’s up next for the model and television host.

Burke won the Dancing With the Stars title Wednesday night after dazzling the audience with her sizzling moves. Now the Connecticut native, who was back in town for Thanksgiving, says she has the people here at home to thank.

“Thank you so much to everybody in Connecticut who voted, ” Brooke said.

WTNH

About mj santilli 34832 Articles
Founder and editor of mjsbigblog.com, home of the awesomest fan community on the net. I love cheesy singing shows of all kinds, whether reality or scripted. I adore American Idol, but also love The Voice, Glee, X Factor and more!