LeDroit Park's Howard Theatre at 6th & T St NW is reopening this April after being shuttered for 30 years and undergoing a $29 million renovation that includes the restoration of its 1910 facade. Opening 30 years before Harlem's famed Apollo Theater, the Howard Theatre launched many musical careers, including Duke Ellington, The Supremes, and Ella Fitzgerald (who was also one of the first winners of Amateur Night, which the theater invented). Howard Theatre has an important place in African American history since it was "one of the first entertainment venues in the country built for the African American community" and can claim former President Teddy Roosevelt and Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun as patrons.
The benefit gala on April 12th includes the headliners Smokey Robinson, Al Jarreau, Madeleine Peyroux, and Savion Glover (but a few days beforehand there's a concert by Wale too). A couple dozen shows are already lined up for the rest of the season, so click through for a list of performers. Besides all the exciting news about performers, the new space will also have a full service restaurant for dinner and brunch overseen by chef Marcus Samuelsson. So come hungry. UPDATE: Reps from Howard Theatre have passed on an even more up-to-date list of the scheduled performances. Click through for a list of events planned through July (as of 3/1/2012).
· Howard Theatre [OfficialSite]
· Grand Opening Gala and Benefit Concert [OfficialSite]
Howard Theatre Talent Lineup through July (As of 3/1/2012)
April 9th Wale: 6pm doors / 8pm show; GA Standing; $35
April 12th Grand Opening Gala & Tribute Concert with an all-star lineup produced by musical director George Duke, featuring Smokey Robinson, Savion Glover, Al Jarreau, Madeleine Peyroux, Keb Mo and many more; honoring Motown Records founder Berry Gordy. Sponsorship tables start at $10,000.
April 13th Wanda Sykes: 6pm doors/ 8pm show; All Seated; $95 GA Tables/ $125 booths (per person)
April 13th Robert Randolph & The Family Band: 10pm doors/ 11pm show; GA Standing; $25 adv/ $30 dos
April 14th Wanda Sykes: 6pm doors /8pm show; All Seated; $95 GA Tables/ $125 booths (per person)
April 14th Yasiin Bey (aka Mos Def) Tribute to Gil Scott-Heron: Full Band Show, produced in association with Jill Newman Productions 10pm doors/ 11pm show; GA Standing; $45
April 15th Sunday Gospel Brunch featuring The Harlem Gospel Choir: includes full brunch buffet (drinks, tax and gratuity not included) 12:30pm doors/ 1:30 show; All Seated; $35 adv/ $45 dos
April 15th Wanda Sykes: 6pm doors/ 8pm show; All Seated; $95 GA Tables/ $125 booths (per person)
April 15th The Roots: Produced in association with Jill Newman Productions 10pm doors/ 11pm show; GA Standing; $55
April 16th The Roots: Produced in association with Jill Newman Productions 6pm doors/ 8pm show; GA Standing; $55
April 18th: Henson Alternative Presents: Stuffed & Unstrung: 6pm doors/8pm show; All seted; $39.50 adv/$45 dos
April 19th: Alice Smith; 7pm doors/9pm show; All seated; $25 adv/ $30 dos
April 20th Bad Brains, GZA, Lionize Doors: 6pm doors/ 8pm show; GA Standing; $29 adv/ $32 dos
April 21st Chuck Brown: 7pm doors/ 9pm show; GA Standing; $27 adv/ $30 dos
April 22nd Sunday Gospel Brunch featuring The Harlem Gospel Choir: includes full brunch buffet (drinks,tax and gratuity not included) 12:30pm doors/ 1:30 show; All Seated; $35 adv/ $45 dos
April 22nd True Blues ft.Taj Mahal Trio plus Corey Harris, Guy Davis and Alvin Youngblood Hart: 6pm doors/ 8pm show; All Seated; $49.50 adv/ $55 dos
April 23rd: Hoodie Allen; 6pm doors/ 8pm show; GA Standing; $16 adv/$18 dos
April 25th Meshell Ndegeocello: 6pm door/ 8pm show; All Seated; $28 adv/ $30 dos
April 27th McCoy Tyner Trio + Savion Glover: 6pm doors/ 8pm show; All Seated; $45
April 27th: The Polish Ambassador: 10:30pm doors/11pm show; GA Standing; $15 adv/ $17 dos
April 28th Chuck Berry: 6pm doors/ 8pm show; All Seated; $95
April 28th The Motet "Funk Is Dead": 10:30pm doors/11pm show; GA Standing; $15
April 29th Sunday Gospel Brunch featuring The Harlem Gospel Choir: 12:30pm doors/ 1:30 show; All Seated; $35 adv/ $45 dos
May 1st Bad Plus: 6pm doors/ 8pm show; All Seated; $35
May 2nd: PJ Morton with Dawn Richards; 6pm doors/ 8pm show; All Seated; $20
May 3rd Emancipator: 7pm doors/9pm show; GA Standing; $15 adv/ $17 dos
May 4th Blue Öyster Cult: 6pm doors/8pm show; All Seated; $35 adv/ $40 dos
May 4th Blue Öyster Cult: 10pm doors/ 10:30pm show; All Seated; $35 adv/ $40 dos
May 5th Chaka Khan: 6pm doors/ 8pm show; All Seated; $75
May 5th Chaka Khan: 10pm doors/ 10:30pm show; All Seated; $75
May 6th Sunday Gospel Brunch featuring The Harlem Gospel Choir: includes full brunch buffet (drinks,tax and gratuity not included)12:30pm doors/ 1:30 show; All Seated; $35 adv/ $45 dos
May 6th Kid Ink; 6pm doors/ 8pm show; GA Standing; $16 adv/$18 dos
May 7th UK "Night After Night" 2012 World Tour: Eddie Jobson, John Wetton, Terry Bozio: 6pm doors/ 8pm show; All Seated ; $45 adv/ $50 dos/ $70 VIP
*VIP tickets is pre-show soundcheck access and meet and greet. No assigned seating
May 8th The Musical Box performs Genesis "The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway": 6pm doors/ 8pm show; All Seated ; $35 adv/ $40 dos
May 12th Esperanza Spalding Radio Music Society: 6pm doors/ 8pm show; GA Standing; $35
May 13th Sunday Gospel Brunch ft. The Harlem Gospel Choir: 12:30pm doors/ 1:30 show; All Seated; $35 adv/ $45 dos
May 18th Jerry Lee Lewis: 6pm doors/ 8pm show; All Seated; $100
May 19th Bilal: 6pm doors/ 8pm show; GA Standing; $25
May 20th Sunday Gospel Brunch featuring The Harlem Gospel Choir: includes full brunch buffet (drinks,tax and gratuity not included)12:30pm doors/ 1:30 show; All Seated; $35 adv/ $45 dos
May 20th Brian McKnight w/ Duke Ellington Orchestra: 5pm doors/ 7pm show; All Seated; $55
May 20th Brian McKnight w/ Duke Ellington Orchestra: 9pm doors/ 9:30pm Show; All Seated; $55
May 24th: Babasonicos: 6pm doors; 8pm show; GA Standing; $25 adv/$35 dos
May 25th Amel Larrieux: 6pm doors/ 8pm show; All Seated ; $35
May 27th Sunday Gospel Brunch featuring The Harlem Gospel Choir: includes full brunch buffet (drinks,tax and gratuity not included) 12:30pm doors/ 1:30 show; All Seated; $35 adv/ $45 dos
May 31st Victor Wooten: 6pm doors/ 9pm show; GA Standing $30 adv/ $35 dos
June 2nd: Curren$y: 10pm doors; 10:30pm show; GA Standing; $20 adv/ $25 dos
June 9th Los Straitjackets + Eilen Jewell: 6pm doors/8pm show; All Seated; $15 adv/ $18 dos
June 13th Ziggy Marley: 6pm doors/ 8pm show; GA Standing; $35
June 14th Tinariwen: 6pm doors/ 8pm show; GA Standing; $22 adv/ $ 25 dos
June 15th Raul Midon: 6pm doors/ 8pm show; All Seated; $15 adv/ $20 dos
June 22nd: Buika: 6pm doors/ 8pm show and 10pm doors/10:30 pm show; All Seated; $35 adv; $40 dos
June 30th Spectrum Road ft. Jack Bruce, Vernon Reid, Jon Medeski & Cindy Blackman: 6pm doors/ 8pm show; All Seated; $45 adv/ $50 dos
July 6th: Johnny Clegg; 6pm doors/8pm show; All seated; $25 adv/ $30 dos
July 19th Morris Day & The Time: 6pm doors/ 8pm show; GA Standing; $42.50 adv/ $46 dos
September 6th BoyzIIMen: Doors 6pm/show 8pm; All seated; $59.50 adv/$64 dos
September 7th BoyzIIMen: Doors 6pm/show 8pm; All seated;$59.50 adv/ $64 dos
-- George Perkins
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