New Issue of Billboard Mag...

Guess who is on the cover? 

Who is this fresh faced gent on the cover of Billboard? Why, it's none other than Jon Bon Jovi, rock and roll champion, surprise country and screen star, and pro sports team owner. Pick up a copy of the magazine, out Friday, for our in-depth convo with the dynamic Bon Jovi frontman.

 Look for it on newsstands next Friday, 10/22...

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Friday Funnies...

Did you miss me last week?  It was the end of the day before I realized I never posted a funny last Friday.

Sorry!  I'll try not to let that happen again...

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Soul Kitchen Opening...

Jon Bon Jovi to Open His Charity "Soul Kitchen" Next Week

Times are tough, and that's why Jon Bon Jovi is helping New Jersey folks out with a new restaurant where the bill isn't too hard on the wallet.  Next Wednesday, Jon and his Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation will officially open up the Soul Kitchen, an eatery in Red Bank, New Jersey where people can dine out, and pay what they can.  If you don't have the cash, you can volunteer at the restaurant and pay your bill that way, and people can also make cash donations to pay for the meals of those who can't.

Jon's non-profit Soul Foundation, now in its fifth year, had previously focused on affordable housing, but it's now tackling the hunger issue head on with the official opening of the Soul Kitchen.  At the launch event, which Jon and his wife Dorothea will attend, details will be provided about how to get reservations, and what the menu will feature: think locally-sourced ingredients and organic produce.

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Memphis on DVD

Yep, Memphis is coming to Blu-Ray, DVD and digital download in January (just in time for my birthday!)  I think I may need to drop some not-so-subtle hints to Mr. Q so he knows to get this for me for my birthday.  Or maybe I'll just buy it and thank him for the very thoughtful gift...

MEMPHIS to Become Available on DVD and Digital Download in January!

Shout! Factory and Broadway Worldwide, Inc. today announced a new deal to bring Broadway's 2010 Tony Award®-winning Best Musical MEMPHIS to the home entertainment marketplace in the U.S. and Canada. Under this multi-year agreement, Shout! Factory will be the exclusive home entertainment distributor to release MEMPHIS featuring the original Broadway cast, on Blu-ray^TM, DVD and for digital download. This announcement was made by Shout! Factory's founding partners Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos; and Broadway Worldwide's founder and CEO Bruce Brandwen.

"We are thrilled by this opportunity to join forces with Broadway Worldwide to bring this extraordinary Broadway hit MEMPHIS and its compelling story to fans and audiences nationwide for home entertainment," stated Shout! Factory's founding partners.

"MEMPHIS is a very special title and the Broadway producers and I are delighted to be working with Shout Factory. They are the ideal distribution partner because they have the best understanding of this unique home video opportunity," said Mr. Brandwen.

"MEMPHIS is proud to make history as the first Best Musical Tony Award® winner to be filmed and released while on Broadway and national tour," said producer Randy Adams. "We could not be more thrilled to bring MEMPHIS into your living room. Hockadoo!"

Shout! Factory plans an initial rollout of MEMPHIS this month with DVD and Blu-ray made available only at venues presenting MEMPHIS on its national tour which launches October 14 in Memphis at the Orpheum Theatre and at the musical's home on Broadway, the historic Shubert Theatre. Blu-ray and DVD's are scheduled to hit retail shelves in January 2012.

MEMPHIS takes place in the smoky halls and underground clubs of the segregated 50's, where a young white DJ named Huey Calhoun fell in love with everything he shouldn't: rock and roll and an electrifying black singer Felicia Farrell. MEMPHIS is an original story about the cultural revolution that erupted when his vision met her voice, and the music changed forever. Bursting off the stage with explosive dancing, irresistible songs and a thrilling tale of fame and forbidden love, this incredible journey is filled with laughter, soaring emotion and roof-raising rock 'n' roll. www.memphisthemusical.com

MEMPHIS boasts a Tony®-winning original score with music and lyrics composed by David Bryan, Grammy Award®-winning keyboard player and founding member of Bon Jovi. The all-star cast features Tony® nominee Chad Kimball, Tony® nominee Montego Glover, Derrick Baskin, J. Bernard Calloway, James Monroe Iglehart, Michael McGrath and Cass Morgan. MEMPHIS is directed on Broadway by Tony® nominee Christopher Ashley with choreography by Sergio Trujillo. MEMPHIS is produced on Broadway by Junkyard Dog Productions, Barbara and Buddy Freitag and Kenny and Marleen Alhadeff with Latitude Link, Jim and Susan Blair, Demos Bizar Entertainment, Land Line Productions, Apples and Oranges Productions, Dave Copley, Dancap Productions, Inc., Alex and Katya Lukianov, Tony Ponturo, 2 Guys Productions, and Richard Winkler in association with Lauren Doll, Eric and Marsi Gardiner, Linda and Bill Potter, Broadway Across America, Jocko Productions, Patty Baker, Dan Frishwasser, Bob Bartner/Scott and Kaylin Union, Loraine Boyle/Chase Mishkin, Remmel T. Dickinson/Memphis Orpheum Group and ShadowCatcher Entertainment/Vijay and Sita Vashee. The high definition presentation is a production of Broadway Worldwide; executive producer Bruce Brandwen; director, Don Roy King; and sound producer, Matt Kaplowitz.

Broadway Worldwide was established in 1995 as first-to-market in the high definition, surround sound production and worldwide distribution of Broadway musicals captured live-in-performance for digital cinema, DVD and television. To date, Broadway Worldwide has captured and distributed, DIRECT FROM BROADWAY®, Best Musical Tony® winner MEMPHIS, Broadway's longest running musical revue, SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE, Stephen Sondheim's PUTTING IT TOGETHER starring Carol Burnett and JEKYLL & HYDE starring David Hasselhoff.

Shout! Factory is a diversified entertainment company devoted to producing, uncovering and revitalizing the very best of pop culture. Founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos have spent their careers sharing their music, television and film faves with discerning consumers the world over. Shout! Factory's DVD offerings serve up classic, contemporary and cult TV series, riveting sports programs, live music, animation and documentaries in lavish packages crammed with extras. The company's audio catalogue boasts Grammy®-nominated box sets, new releases from storied artists, lovingly assembled album reissues and indispensable "best of" compilations. These riches are the result of a creative acquisitions mandate that has established the company as a hotbed of cultural preservation and commercial reinvention. Shout! Factory is based in Santa Monica, California. For more on Shout! Factory, visit shoutfactory.com.

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Heart of Camden Gala...

From Heart of Camden.org

Jon Bon Jovi To Attend 

Heart of Camden Gala

Camden, NJ – The Heart of Camden Gala Committee is pleased to announce it will present the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation with the “Small Things with Great Love” award and its Chairman Jon Bon Jovi will be on-hand to accept it. Other Camden community partners of the Soul Foundation will also attend this year’s event.

The gala will take place on December 2, 2011 at the Crowne Plaza in Cherry Hill.

Monsignor Michael J. Doyle was the recipient of the “Small Things Great Love” award last year which recognizes the powerful impact of extending a helping hand to those in need and acknowledges the difference seemingly small things can make in a person’s life.  The work of the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation in Camden is in keeping with this theme and focuses on the importance of helping the community, “one soul at a time.”

Jon Bon Jovi’s interest in Camden began in early 2000 when he became acutely aware of the city’s needs and pledged the help of his Foundation to assist with a variety of projects throughout the city. Projects included building a house for young adults in north Camden, rehabilitating houses in the east and south sections of the city and cleaning up blighted lots in the center of the city, all with the goal of providing decent housing and
improving the lives of the people of Camden.

According to Helene Pierson Executive Director of The Heart of Camden, Inc., the Jon Bovi Soul Foundation arrived in Camden at a critical time. “The economy was spiraling downward and the need for family support and housing in particular, was at an all-time high,” she said. “We couldn’t be more pleased that Jon will attend our event and allow us to recognize the outstanding work done by his Foundation,” Pierson added.

Last year’s gala raised $200,000 in support of the Community Center/Gymnasium in South Camden which will open in early December.

For information, tickets and sponsorships in support of this year’s gala, please visit
www.heartofcamden.org.

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Story Update...

So, finally, the next chapter of New Beginnings has been posted.  I apologize for the delay, but it's hard to write a sexy chapter when you have a head cold and are feeling infinitely less than sexy.

I hope you enjoy it.

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