- Jan 1 "A Tuna Christmas" closes at Booth Theater NYC after 20 performances
- Jan 1 "Glass Menagerie" closes at Criterion Theater NYC after 57 performances
- Jan 1 "Shadow Box" closes at Circle in Square Theater NYC after 49 performances
"A Christmas Carol"
Jan 7 Limited run of Patrick Stewart's one-man show "A Christmas Carol", based on Charles Dickens' novel, closes at Richard Rodgers Theater, NYC, after 18 performances
Musical Finale
Jan 7 Stephen Sondheims's musical "Passion" closes at the Plymouth Theater, NYC, after 280 performances, and 6 Drama Desk and 4 Tony Award wins
"Guys & Dolls"
Jan 8 Revival of Frank Loesser's musical "Guys & Dolls", starring Nathan Lane, closes at Martin Beck Theater, NYC, after 1143 performances, winning 4 Tony and 7 Drama Desk Awards
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Jan 12 10th Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees: The Allman Brothers Band; Al Green; Janis Joplin; Led Zeppelin; Martha and the Vandellas; Neil Young; Frank Zappa; The Orioles; Paul Ackerman
- Jan 17 "Carousel" closes at Beaumont Theater NYC after 322 performances
- Jan 20 "Love! Valor! Compassion!" opens at Walter Kerr, NYC; runs for 276 performances
- Jan 30 22nd American Music Awards: Boyz II Men & Ace of Base win
- Jan 30 Jazz guitarist Kevin Eubanks officially becomes bandleader of "The Tonight Show"
- Feb 2 "Molière Comedies" opens at Criterion Theater NYC for 56 performances
- Feb 5 Philip Glass' Symphony No. 3, for string orchestra, premieres with the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra conducted by Dennis Russell Davies, in Künzelsau, Germany
Now that I've Found You
Feb 7 Bluegrass and country musician Alison Krauss releases her compilation album "Now that I've Found You"
The Woman in Me
Feb 7 Mercury Nashville Records releases "The Woman in Me", the 2nd studio album by Shania Twain (Billboard Album of the Year, 1996)
Riverdance Premieres
Feb 9 Irish music and dance show "Riverdance" first opens in Dublin, Ireland with lead dancer Michael Flatley
- Feb 19 British composer Michael Tippett's last major work "Rose Lake," premieres at Barbican Hall in London, with the London Symphony led by Colin Davis
Sinatra's Last Performance
Feb 25 Singer Frank Sinatra performs for final time before a live audience of 1200 select guests at the Palm Desert Marriott Ballroom, in Palm Desert, California, on the closing night of his charity golf tournament
Grammy Awards
Mar 1 37th Grammy Awards: "All I Want to Do" by Sheryl Crow; "Streets of Philadelphia" by Bruce Springsteen win
Soul Train Music Awards
Mar 13 9th Soul Train Music Awards: Boyz II Men, Anita Baker win
Baby It's You
Mar 20 Beatles release single, a cover of Shirelles song, "Baby It's You" (written by Burt Bacharach & Mack David), with late John Lennon as lead singer; 1st Fab Four single in nearly 10 years
- Mar 23 Revival of Frank Loesser's musical "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" opens at Richard Rodgers Theater, NYC; runs for 548 performances
- Mar 26 "Defending the Caveman" opens at Helen Hayes Theater NYC for 671 performances
- Mar 26 "Moliere Comedies" closes at Criterion Theater NYC after 56 performances
Music Concert
Apr 12 Rock for the Rainforest benefit concert held at Carnegie Hall, NYC; performers include: Sting, Elton John, James Taylor, Jon Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Jessye Norman, and Geoffrey Oryema
- Apr 25 "A Month in the Country" opens at Roundabout Theater, NYC; runs for 79 performances
- Apr 27 "Indiscretions" opens at Ethel Barrymore Theatre NYC for 221 performances
- Apr 30 "Blood Brothers" closes at Music Box Theater NYC after 839 performances
- Apr 30 "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" closes at Lyceum Theater NYC after 24 performances
- Apr 30 "The Rose Tattoo" opens at Circle in the Square Theater NYC for 80 performances
- May 1 "On the Waterfront" opens at Atkinson Theater NYC for 8 performances
- May 1 "Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)" single released by John Michael Montgomery (Billboard Song of the Year 1995)
- May 2 "Hamlet" opens at Belasco Theater NYC for 121 performances
- May 3 "My Thing of Love" opens at Beck Theater NYC for 16 performances
Academy of Country Music Awards
May 10 30th Academy of Country Music Awards: Alan Jackson and Reba McEntire win
Jackie Mason: Politically Incorrect
Jun 4 "Jackie Mason: Politically Incorrect" closes at Golden Theater, NYC, after 347 performances
Jagged Little Pill
Jun 13 "Jagged Little Pill", 3rd studio album by Alanis Morissette is released (Grammy Award Album of the Year, 1996)
- Jun 15 Bob Telson, Graciela Daniele and Jim Lewis's musical "Chronicles of a Death Foretold", based on Gabriel García Márquez's 1981 novella, opens at Plymouth Theatre, NYC; runs for 55 performances
The Who's Tommy
Jun 17 Pete Townshend's rock musical "The Who's Tommy" adapted for theatrical stage, closes at St James Theater, NYC. after 899 performances, 5 Tony Award wins, and a Grammy Award for the cast recording
Music Concert
Jul 2 Ringo Starr's third All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include: Randy Bachman, Mark Farner, Billy Preston, Felix Cavaliere, John Entwistle, Zak Starkey, and Mark Rivera
Music Concert
Jul 9 Jerry Garcia's unexpectedly final concert with The Grateful Dead, at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
The Play's The Thing
Jul 9 Revival of P. G. Wodehouse's adaptation of Ferenc Molnár' s comic play "The Play's The Thing" opens at Criterion Theater, NYC; runs for 75 performances
Enrique Iglesias
Jul 12 Enrique Iglesias releases his first album, "Enrique Iglesias"
- Jul 16 Bob Telson, Graciela Daniele and Jim Lewis's musical "Chronicles of a Death Foretold", based on Gabriel García Márquez's 1981 novella, closes at Plymouth Theater, NYC, after 55 performances
- Jul 16 Red Buttons' one-man show "Buttons on Broadway" closes at Ambassador Theater, NYC, after 33 performances
- Jul 23 "Hamlet" closes at Belasco Theater NYC after 121 performances
Damn Yankees
Aug 6 Revival of Richard Adler and Jerry Ross' musical comedy '"Damn Yankees", starring Jerry Lewis and Bebe Neuwirth, closes at Marquis Theater, NYC, after 519 performances
Arcadia
Aug 27 Tom Stoppard's comedic play "Arcadia" closes at Vivian Beaumont Theater, NYC, after 204 performances
- Sep 1 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum opens in Cleveland, Ohio
Xena: Warrior Princess
Sep 4 Cult TV series "Xena: Warrior Princess" starring Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor debuts in the US
Video Music Awards
Sep 7 12th MTV Video Music Awards: TLC, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, & Madonna win
Photography
Sep 12 INXS' Michael Hutchence pleads guilty to punching a photographer
Music History
Sep 24 Latin musicians Emillio & Gloria Estefan's boat is hit by a jet skier who dies from his injuries off of South Beach, Miami, Florida
Outside
Sep 25 Virgin Records releases David Bowie's 20th studio album "Outside"
- Sep 28 American singer Bobby Brown escapes injury in gun battle in Roxbury, Massachusetts; his friend Steven Sealy is killed
Farm Aid Concert
Oct 1 Farm Aid VIII held in Louisville, Kentucky; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Hootie and the Blowfish, Dave Matthews Band, John Conlee, and Steve Earle [1]
- Oct 2 "Moon Over Buffalo" opens at Martin Beck Theater NYC for 308 performances
- Oct 2 British band Oasis release their second studio album "(What's the Story) Morning Glory?", sells record 347,000 copies 1st week
- Oct 4 29th Country Music Association Awards: Krauss Jackson wins
- Oct 5 "Company" opens at Criterion Theater NYC for 68 performances
- Oct 10 "Garden District" opens at Circle in the Sq Theater NYC
- Oct 12 "Patti LuPone on Broadway" opens at Walter Kerr NYC for 46 performances
- Oct 19 Revival of Jerry Herman's musical "Hello Dolly!", starring Carol Channing, opens at Lunt-Fontanne Theater, NYC; runs for 118 performances
- Oct 22 "Swinging On a Star" opens at Music Box Theater NYC for 97 performances
Knighthood
Oct 25 British pop-rock singer Cliff Richard receives his knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II, - 1st rock star to be knighted
Victor/Victoria
Oct 25 Henry Mancini, Leslie Bricusse, and Blake Edwards' musical adaptation of the film "Victor/Victoria", starring Julie Andrews, opens at Marquis Theater, NYC; runs for 738 performances; Andrews declined Tony Award nomination because she felt other cast and crew should have been recognized
- Oct 29 Return engagement of Bill Irwin and Dacid Shiner's "Fool Moon" opens at Ambassador Theater, NYC; runs for 81 performances
- Oct 31 American jam band Phish performs The Who's "Quadrophenia" as a musical costume during a show at the Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont, Illinois
- Nov 1 Revival of William Shakespeare's "The Tempest", starring Patrick Stewart, opens at Broadhurst Theater, NYC; runs for 71 performances
- Nov 2 "Busker Alley" musical premieres at St James Theatre, NY
- Nov 2 "Sacrilege" opens at Belasco Theater NYC for 21 performances
- Nov 4 "Indiscretions" closes at Ethel Barrymore Theatre NYC after 221 performances
- Nov 8 Comedy revue "Danny Gans on Broadway: The Man of Many Voices" opens at Neil Simon Theater, NYC; runs for 6 performances
- Nov 12 Comedy revue "Danny Gans on Broadway: The Man of Many Voices" closes at Neil Simon Theater, NYC, after 6 performances
- Nov 15 "Master Class" opens at Golden Theater NYC for 601 performances
- Nov 19 "Sacrilege" closes at Belasco Theater NYC after 21 performances
- Nov 19 "School for Scandal" opens at Lyceum Theater NYC for 23 performances
- Nov 19 "The Beatles Anthology" documentary series premieres in US on ABC-TV; the 6-hour program airs over three nights that week
- Nov 20 Apple Records releases The Beatles "Anthology 1" (double CD/triple LP), the first of a 3-part series of rare recordings and outtakes by the Beatles; set covers the years 1955-64, as well as new collaboration "Free as a Bird" - a John Lennon demo augmented by additional lyrics and performances by the surviving three; album tops Billboard chart in US and peaks at no. 2 in UK
- Nov 21 Columbia Records releases Bruce Springsteen's 11th studio album "The Ghost of Tom Joad"; wins Grammy Award for best Contemporary Folk Album
- Nov 25 "Patti LuPone on Broadway" closes at Walter Kerr NYC after 46 performances
- Nov 29 "Garden District" closes at Circle in the Square Theater, NYC
- Dec 3 "Holiday" opens at Circle in Square Theater, NYC; runs for 49 performances
- Dec 3 Revival of Stephen Sondheim's musical "Company" closes at Criterion Theater, NYC, after 68 performances
- Dec 6 6th Billboard Music Awards: TLC & Hootie & The Blowfish win
Michael Jackson Collapses
Dec 6 Michael Jackson collapses while rehearsing for an HBO special
- Dec 7 American rock band The Grateful Dead break up after the death of Jerry Garcia
Penderecki's Symphony No, 3
Dec 8 Krzysztof Penderecki conducts the Munich Philharmonic in premiere of his Symphony No. 3
- Dec 17 "School after Scandal" closes at Lyceum Theater NYC after 23 performances
Music History
Dec 20 Revival of Phillip Hayes Dean's drama "Paul Robeson" opens at Longacre Theater, NYC; runs for 14 performances
- Dec 31 "Having Our Say" closes at Booth Theater NYC after 308 performances
- Dec 31 "Heiress" closes at Cort Theater NYC after 340 performances
- Dec 31 "Paul Roebson" closes at Longacre Theater NYC after 14 performances
- Dec 31 "Racing Demon" closes at Vivian Beaumont Theater NYC after 48 performances
- Dec 31 "Tempest" closes at Broadhurst Theater NYC after 71 performances
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