New York Music Month’s Full Schedule Announced, Launching June 1

Colton Ryan is still getting used to spotting his image on street lamp banners throughout the Theater District.“Every time I take a new block home, I’m like, ‘Oh hey, me,'” said Ryan of the nearly 100 flags bearing his likeness. “It’s pretty wild, honestly.”The 27-year-old — who this year was nominated for his first Tony Award for his portrayal of Jimmy Doyle, the leading man in “New York, New York” — was at first unaware of his high-flying honor.“I was asked to approve a photo and I did, but I didn’t know that’s where it was going,” he said of the banners, which feature a shot of him and his costar, Anna Uzele.In the musical, nominated for nine Tonys, he plays the role of Robert De Niro originated in the 1977 film of the same name.

Hello and welcome to the Scene 2 Seen podcast season 2! I am your host Valerie Complex.

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor Grammy-winning Songwriters Hall of Fame member Cynthia Weil — who co-wrote “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling,” “On Broadway,” “Make Your Own Kind of Music,” “On Broadway,” “Walking in the Rain,” “You’re My Soul and Inspiration,” “Uptown,” “Kicks,” “Here You Come Again,” “Through the Fire,” “Somewhere Out There” and many other hits with her husband and Brill Building colleague Barry Mann — has died, her daughter confirmed to TMZ on Friday morning. No cause of death was announced; she was 82. “My mother, Cynthia Weil, was the greatest mother, grandmother and wife our family could ever ask for,” Jenn Mann said. “She was my best friend, confidant, and my partner in crime and an idol and trailblazer for women in music.”

It was Pride and Drag Queen picket day in Los Angeles, where around 300 people hit up Warner Bros. Discovery to highlight their issues as the strike marches into its second month.

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor Grace Jones was one of the most iconic artists of the early ‘80s, with a boldly androgynous and prescient image and string of brilliant albums with a pioneering sound and expertly curated covers that fused R&B, new wave and reggae into a fusion that has been echoed everywhere from Rihanna to Massive Attack and beyond. Now 75, she’s continued performing but hasn’t released an album since 2008, and seemed to drop below the radar for all but her fanbase, influencees and the LGBTQ and Pitchfork audiences until the past few years, when the brilliance of her “Warm Leatherette,” “Nightclubbing” and “Living My Life” albums became even more undeniable. Yet even fans who’d seen her shows in the past probably were not prepared for the eye-popping, mind-blowing concert she staged as part of Blue Note Jazz Festival at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom on Wednesday night, which mere words cannot do justice. At 75, her always-deep voice sounds as great as ever, her outfits and staging are as provocative as ever, and she could give Mick Jagger a literal run for his money in terms of fitness and dexterity at a certain age. Best of all, for all her hauteur, diva-tude and icon status, she never takes herself too seriously and every outfit, headdress, and staging touch had an undercurrent of humor that’s sadly lacking in most artists — and her stage banter is absolutely hilarious, although the humor often lay less in what she was saying than the way she said it (although lines like “Why do you need a dick if you’ve got a dildo?” land in a multitude of contexts).

The new Alicia Keys musical Hell’s Kitchen will make its world premiere this fall as part of the 2023-24 season of New York’s Public Theater Off Broadway, the Public announced today.

Billy Joel and Madison Square Garden Entertainment announced at a press conference Thursday that the singer will end his record-breaking residency in July 2024.After 10 years, Joel, 74, will be “Movin’ Out” of the iconic New York arena. The first of his final 10 shows will be on October 20, 2023.His final show in July 2024 will mark his 150th concert at the Garden, after playing a show there every month since January 2014 and performing 90 consecutive times.“There’s only one thing that’s more New York than Billy Joel — and that’s a Billy Joel concert at MSG,” Mayor Eric Adams said at the press conference.

Lil Uzi Vert is a longtime Paramore stan, having professed their love for the band as far back as 2017. Last night in New York they got to live out their dreams when they joined Hayley Williams and co. on stage during their song "Misery Business." You can see a clip of the celebratory moment above.

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor Billy Joel and Madison Square Garden Entertainment announced on Thursday that the singer will end his record-breaking residency at the iconic New York venue in July of 2024, after 10 years and some 150 concerts. The first of the final 10 concerts will take place on October 20, 2023. Throughout the course of his run, Joel has sold more than 1.6 million tickets. The announcement was made during a press conference at the venue, attended by Joel, MSG CEO James Dolan and New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “There’s only one thing that’s more New York than Billy Joel — and that’s a Billy Joel concert at MSG,” Mayor Adams said. “For more than 50 years, Billy’s music has defined our city and brought us together. On behalf of 8.5 million New Yorkers, congratulations, Billy, on a historic run of sold-out shows at MSG, and thank you for a lifetime of bringing joy to us all.”

WGAE Career Longevity Salon, a group of writers over the age of 50 within the WGAE have shown a presence as well, especially through co-leader Courtney Simon, who spoke on camera in a video posted to Twitter.“We’re here today picketing ‘The View,’ an ABC show that is still continuing to be written even though we are on strike,” Simon said in video you can watch below. “We are gonna make noise along with everyone else.

Matty Healy is getting candid in a new profile.

“The Little Mermaid,” but not for any reason you’re likely imagining. Twitter users criticized the publication and critic Wesley Morris for saying that the children’s movie lacked “kink.”“Disney’s live-action remake of ‘The Little Mermaid,’ with Halle Bailey starring as Ariel and a diverse cast, ‘reeks of obligation and noble intentions,’ Wesley Morris writes,” the viral tweet read.

Sam Faiers jetted off for a flying visit to the big apple to celebrate the American launch of her hugely successful supplement brand.The former The Only Way Is Essex star, 32, revealed to fans on her social media that she had spent just two nights in New York. Although she couldn’t stay for long, Sam called the US launch “a dream come true” and shared that it had “always been my goal.” Sam, who admitted that she felt emotional leaving her kids behind in the UK, is partnering with Saks, a department store headquartered in New York that boasts 42 locations across the country, to bring her brand to a brand new audience.To celebrate the collab, Sam posed in a bright pink pantsuit outside of Saks’ most famous store which is located on New York’s iconic fifth avenue. The former reality star thanked her “amazing team” for the feat and paid tribute to her business partner, John Bailey.

Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello continue to heat up rumours of their rekindled romance.

Nicholas Gray, whose Gray’s Papaya hot dog shop was a Manhattan fixture for 50 years, has died at 86.

Jennifer Lopez, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Beyoncé has died aged 64. Nello Balan built an empire from his eponymous diner on Madison Avenue, New York, which became a socialite hotspot. Sadly his daughter, Lucy, confirmed that he passed away in hospital on Tuesday afternoon.

Addie Morfoot Contributor Corporate consolidation, along with shrinking publicity budgets and streaming services’ willingness to bury their own content, have made film festivals and series increasingly desirable to documentary filmmakers who are not only seeking distribution, but also to those nonfiction helmers who have found a platform for their work. The rocky landscape has made the competition fierce for a slot at not only top-tier festivals, but also regional film events like New York’s Rooftop Films’ Summer Series. Over the course of the last year, Rooftop Films president Dan Nuxoll received 3,500 film submissions for the nonprofit organization’s 27th annual Summer Series, which kicks off on May 25. Only 23 feature films and seven shorts were accepted. (Not all films have been announced.)

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are on the defensive.

CBS News' Gayle King said she finds it "troubling" that media figures and members of the public are "downplaying" the paparazzi car chase involving Prince Harry and Meghan Markle that occurred last week in New York City. "I think it was a very unfortunate incident," King told Page Six on Saturday.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attended the Ms. Foundation Woman of Vision Awards in New York City Tuesday evening, and claim they were involved in a "near catastrophic car chase" after the ceremony. Following the event – where the Duchess of Sussex received the 2023 Woman of Vision Award from Gloria Steinem – Markle, her husband and her mother, Doria Ragland were pursued by swarms of photographers for "over two hours," which resulted in "multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road," according to a spokesperson for the royal couple.