Matthew Charles

NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt is the #1 most-watched evening broadcast in the key news demo for the week of December 31, according to Nielsen Media Research data. Nightly News continues as the #1 most-watched evening newscast season-to-date in the demo most valued by news advertisers, delivering its largest demo lead over CBS in five seasons.

Vocalist Kyra Gordon with Pianist and arranger Larry Steelman bring hypnotic and far-out arrangements of two iconic singers: Janis Ian and Janis Joplin. In "Loving Janis" the stylistic interpretations of both Janis Joplin and Janis Ian will encompass jazz, rock and folk arrangements of the iconic performers. Epic song classics including "At Seventeen"; "Jesse"; "Piece of My Heart"; "Bobby McGee" and others will be joyfully sung in a heartfelt tribute by singer-songwriter Kyra Gordon.

I've seen three productions of Avenue Q in my life, all of them ranging from the Broadway national tour to a local community theater performance, to Sunday's matinee performed by the Austin Theatre Project. Bottom line: Avenue Q smart, funny, and relatable show. It's crude, sometimes a bit cringe-worthy, but simultaneously downright hilarious. Throw in an equally humorous and catchy soundtrack, and it's no wonder the show won the 2004 Tony Award for Best Musical (beating Wicked, mind you).

Winner of the TONY 'Triple Crown' for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book, Avenue Q is part flesh, part felt, and packed with heart. The laugh-out-loud musical tells the timeless story of a recent college grad named Princeton who moves into a shabby New York apartment all the way out on Avenue Q. He soon discovers that although the residents seem nice, it's clear that this is not your ordinary neighborhood. Together, Princeton and his new-found friends struggle to find jobs, dates, and their ever-elusive purpose in life.

Winner of the TONY 'Triple Crown' for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book, Avenue Q is part flesh, part felt, and packed with heart. The laugh-out-loud musical tells the timeless story of a recent college grad named Princeton who moves into a shabby New York apartment all the way out on Avenue Q. He soon discovers that although the residents seem nice, it's clear that this is not your ordinary neighborhood. Together, Princeton and his new-found friends struggle to find jobs, dates, and their ever-elusive purpose in life.

Arizona Broadway Theatre (ABT) brings the critically acclaimed, musical powerhouse The Secret Garden to life April 11 - May 11. Tickets for the three-time Tony Award-winning production can be purchased now at azbroadway.org or by calling the ABT box office at (623) 776-8400.

Tarpan Records is pleased to announce the national release of Thunder 2013, a new full length album by Narada Michael Walden on September 17th 2013.

Austin Theater Project's hysterical production of Avenue Q-the hit Broadway musical which beat out Wicked to win the Tony Awards triple crown of Best Book, Best Score, and Best Musical-is sure to be a must see event of the Austin summer season. Though while the show involves cute Jim Henson-esque puppets, leave the kids at home. We're not in Sesame Street anymore.

Every few years or so a show comes to Broadway that takes the world by storm. Even rarer... when that show wins the coveted Tony Award 'triple crown!' Avenue Q shocked the theatre world when it walked away with Best Show, Best Book, and Best Score - defeating Wicked, the odds-on favorite to sweep the awards that season.

Every few years or so a show comes to Broadway that takes the world by storm. Even rarer... when that show wins the coveted Tony Award 'triple crown!' Avenue Q shocked the theatre world when it walked away with Best Show, Best Book, and Best Score - defeating Wicked, the odds-on favorite to sweep the awards that season.

Joining the Avenue Q cast is Michelle Alexander (Gary Coleman), Isaac Arrieta (Princeton), Matthew Charles Burnett (Rod/Bad Idea Bear), RMichael Clinkscales (Brian), Marett Hanes (Kate Monster) Rachel Hoovler (Mrs. Thistletwat/Bad Idea Bear), June Julian (Christmas Eve), Ashley Laverty (Lucy T. Slut), and Eric Meo (Nicky/Trekkie Monster).

Connecticut Repertory Theatre's SPRING AWAKENING does not totally rock, but it's not totally f**ked, either.

Frances Hodgson Burnett's work, THE SECRET GARDEN, was initially serialized before being published in 1911 and becoming a children's classic. Several attempts by Hollywood have tried to capitalize on it's dramatic and hope-filled story, with the 1949 MGM adaptation, starring Margaret O'Brien, wonderfully changing from black and white into full-blown technicolor as the garden is revealed in all it's splendor. However. most folks today will probably be more familiar with the the rather staid, but thoughtful motion picture made in 1993, which was fairly well mounted. This current stage adaptation is far more appealing in any number of ways, with stronger acting and a memorably performed score being among the many highlights that are attractive to an audience interested in the material.

Unlock the magic behind The Secret Garden,opening July 22 at STAGES ST. LOUIS.The Secret Garden continues through August 21 at the Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood.

Pittsburgh Public Theater Producing Artistic Director Ted Pappas will stage a new production of Camelot, running January 20 - February 20, 2011 at the O'Reilly Theater, Pittsburgh Public Theater's home in the heart of Downtown's Cultural District. For tickets call 412.316.1600 or visit www.ppt.org. Camelot is presented by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Pittsburgh Public Theater Producing Artistic Director Ted Pappas will stage a new production of Camelot, running January 20 - February 20, 2011 at the O'Reilly Theater, Pittsburgh Public Theater's home in the heart of Downtown's Cultural District. For tickets call 412.316.1600 or visit www.ppt.org. Camelot is presented by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield.