More Northeast shows lined up for Billy Joel

iberty DeVitto, drummer for Billy Joel The piano man, who is still scheduled to launch the run Jan. 7 in Sunrise, FL, has added new stops in Boston, New York City and Hartford, CT, to his itinerary, tickets for all of which will hit the box office Saturday (12/17). The new dates extend Joel's Boston and Hartford engagements to three shows each, and the native New Yorker's stand at Madison Square Garden has swelled to encompass seven shows.Joel will be racking up plenty of frequent-flyer miles during the outing, as his multi-night engagements are largely comprised of non-consecutive shows that will require him to jet between a number of Northeastern cities. Details are included in the itinerary shown below.
The upcoming tour, which is currently scheduled to wrap up April 8 in Las Vegas, marks Joel's first since his 1998-99 headlining run. In the wake of that run, his major concert appearances have mostly been co-headlining affairs with fellow singer/pianist Elton John.
Late last month, Columbia Records issued "My Lives," a four-disc collection that clocks in at more than five hours, and chronicles Joel's career "from his early '60s Long Island bar bands through his biggest hits to his most recent classical compositions," according to a press release. The set includes demos, live cuts, alternate takes, covers and more.
In addition to the audio discs, the set includes a DVD of Joel's June 18, 1994 concert in Frankfurt, Germany. More details about the set are posted at his website.

Billy Joel Surprises Audience with Performance at Movin Out's Final Curtain

The Broadway musical Movin' Out ended with a bang Dec. 11 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre.
After numerous rounds of rapturous applause for the musical's cast of dancers and its onstage orchestra, pop songwriter Billy Joel—whose songs provided the musical score of Movin' Out—suddenly and unexpectedly took the stage.
The audience roared with surprise and gratification. With a big smile on his face, leading Movin' Out vocalist Michael Cavanaugh immediately vacated his piano bench in deference to the original Piano Man.
Joel agreed to play and treated the crowd to a rendition of "Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway," which included an ad-libbed lyric that referred to producers James L. Nederlander and Emanuel Azenberg as the men who lit up Broadway again. Meanwhile, the musical's cast sat together downstage in a semi-circle formation in what seemed to be a collective state of idolized appreciation. Upon the song's finish, Billy Joel then led the band in a second and final song, "You May Be Right."
Movin' Out, which sets Twyla Tharp's choreography to Billy Joel songs, ended its three-year run at the Richard Rodgers Theatre Dec. 11 after 28 previews and 1,303 regular performances.
Movin' Out boasts most of its original lead cast—who have taken breaks here and there, but returned—including Tony Award nominees John Selya, Elizabeth Parkinson, Keith Roberts, Ashley Tuttle, Michael Cavanaugh as well as Scott Wise and Benjamin G. Bowman.
"I am so proud to have been a part of this landmark production. As important as the creation of the show, a wonderful family has been created here," lead producer James L. Nederlander stated in a release. "Long after the final performance, the memory of this show will live in the new standard of excellence and commitment they have set."
Tharp is currently at work on another piece in the same vein, The Times They Are A-Changin', which uses the music of Bob Dylan.

New Yorker Billy Joel adds more hometown shows

Another weekend of brisk ticket sales moved Billy Joel (tickets music) to add two more performances at New York City's Madison Square Garden. The new shows are set for Feb. 27 and March 2, and stretch Joel's Big Apple run to nine shows. Tickets for both are already on sale.In addition to the lengthy home stand, Joel so far has three shows lined up in Boston and Hartford, CT, and four shows booked in Philadelphia.
The multi-night engagements are largely comprised of non-consecutive shows that will keep Joel jetting back and forth between a number of Northeastern cities. Details are included in the itinerary shown below.
The upcoming tour, which is currently scheduled to wrap up April 8 in Las Vegas, is Joel's first solo outing since his 1998-99 headlining run. During the interim, his major concert appearances have mostly been co-headlining affairs with fellow singer/pianist Elton John.
Late last month, Columbia Records issued "My Lives," a four-disc collection that clocks in at more than five hours and chronicles Joel's career "from his early '60s Long Island bar bands through his biggest hits to his most recent classical compositions," according to a press release. The set includes demos, live cuts, alternate takes, covers and more.
In addition to the audio discs, the set includes a DVD of Joel's June 18, 1994 concert in Frankfurt, Germany. More details about the set are posted at his website.