Nesha Ward

Theater Resources Unlimited will establish a new TRU scholarship fund at its annual TRU Love Benefit this November 4th at Caroline's on Broadway. Honorees at the benefit this year will be Baayork Lee and the National Asian Artists Project (NAAP) receiving the TRU Spirit of Theater Award, and John Chatterton and the Midtown International Theatre Festival (MITF) receiving the TRU Entrepreneur Award. The scholarship fund will be open to any candidates demonstrating financial need, and will include annual worthy candidates submitted by both NAAP and MITF.

The casts (and their alumni) of Off-Broadway's long-running hits THIS ONE'S FOR THE GIRLS and SISTAS: THE MUSICAL were selected to perform the National Anthem for the New York Yankees home game vs. the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium last Wednesday. As seen in this video of the performance simulcast on the stadium's jumbotron, the ladies really hit this one out of the park! And, of course, the Yankees won the game.

The casts (and their alumni) of Off-Broadway's long-running hits THIS ONE'S FOR THE GIRLS and SISTAS: THE MUSICAL have been selected to perform the National Anthem for the New York Yankees home game vs. the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium this Wednesday, September 19th at 7:05 pm. The game will be broadcast on ESPN and the YES Network.

The longest-running African American musical in New York history, SISTAS: THE MUSICAL, will be the main segment on WNBC's "New York Live" tomorrow(Tuesday) at 11:30 am. The co-host of Channel 4's highly popular lifestyle show, Jacque Reid, pretaped an interview at the theatre with two of the stars of SISTAS,Haley Swindal and Nesha Ward. Produced by three-time Tony winner Hinton Battle and directed by Kenneth Ferrone ("Smash," "Grease Live!"), SISTAS: THE MUSICAL opened Off-Broadway October 23, 2011. The show was released on DVD and digital download (iTunes, Netflix) by RLJ Worldwide/One Village Entertainment in 2013, and has been nationally broadcast on the BET Network.

With the arrival of 2018, the long-running smash SISTAS: THE MUSICAL had its seventh New Year's celebration at St. Luke's Theatre in the heart of the Theatre District. Produced by three-time Tony winner Hinton Battle and directed by Kenneth Ferrone ( Smash, Grease Live! ), SISTAS: THE MUSICAL opened Off-Broadway October 23, 2011. The show was released on DVD and digital download (iTunes, Netflix) by RLJ Worldwide/One Village Entertainment in 2013, and has been nationally broadcast on the BET Network. The production is now the longest-running African American musical in New York history.

Cabaret Cares/Help Is On The Way Today, a 501c non-profit organization founded by MAC Award winning producer, Joseph Macchia, will hold its annual fundraising gala (cocktails, auction, dinner, show) on May 18th at the Laurie Beechman Theater, featuring a live show with many of New York's favorite performers who donate their time and talent to this wonderful event.

The evening will benefit Help Is On The Way Today a non for profit organization that helps assists children living with HIVand AIDS.

Random Unrelated Projects, the first feature film by award-winning independent filmmaker/playwright Aaron Mark (Zbornik Developing, Commentary), featuring a cast of Broadway veterans, will be screened on Saturday, July 2nd at 9:00 PM at Anthology Film Archives as part of NewFilmmakers New York (newfilmmakers.com).

While critics and fans alike justifiably lament the paucity of female leads in Broadway musicals this season just past, you need look no further than the current tour of The Color Purple for a musical filled to overflowing with noteworthy women characters. The beautiful and moving reimagination of Alice Walker's extraordinary novel of faith, despair, horror, beauty, love and redemption, The Color Purple might best be described as a woman's story, but it is, in every possible way, a human story as universal and as affecting as any work of musical theater ever created.

The National Theatre is proud to announce that THE COLOR PURPLE, The Musical about Love, will return to D.C. for an Easter engagement April 12 to 24, and will feature special guest star Lil' Mo as the Church Soloist.

Broadway/San Diego ~ A Nederlander Presentation is proud to announce that the Broadway smash hit THE COLOR PURPLE, The Musical about Love, will play at San Diego Civic Theatre for five performances only December 3 - 5, 2010.

Broadway/San Diego ~ A Nederlander Presentation is proud to announce that the Broadway smash hit THE COLOR PURPLE, The Musical about Love, will play at San Diego Civic Theatre for five performances only December 3 - 5, 2010.

Aaron Mark's film 'Random Unrelated Projects,' which features New York theatre veterans including Anne L. Nathan and Kristine Zbornik, will screen at the New York International Independent Film & Video Festival on July 26 at 10pm, the festival's official website announces.

Aaron Mark's film 'Random Unrelated Projects,' which features New York theatre veterans including Anne L. Nathan and Kristine Zbornik, will screen at the New York International Independent Film & Video Festival on July 26 at 10pm, the festival's official website announces.

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs has announced the nominees for the 2010 24th Annual MAC Awards. The ceremony honoring the nominees, will take place on May 4, 2010 at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, and will be hosted by Sharon McNight. Leslie Uggams will be honored for Lifetime Achievement, with Board of Directors Awards being presented to Peter Leavy and playbill.com. The event will begin at 7:30pm. Doors open at 6:00pm. Lennie Watts will direct the evening, with Tracy Stark musical directing.

Led by the exquisitely voiced Dayna Jarae Dantzler in the pivotal role of Celie, we are taken on a journey of almost 40 years in the lives of Walker's richly drawn characters, to learn the true lessons of life and love. The story is as moving as it has ever been - Walker's novel relates the story of Celie's extraordinary life eloquently and articulately - but the creators of this musical (which earned a whopping 11 Tony Award nominations, winning the top honor for LaChanze's stirring performance as Celie) have re-fashioned the story to make it more palatable for theatre-goers, delivering a version of the story that is easier to follow, while retaining all the epic scope and dramatic possibilities of the original work. Neither is it slavish in its devotion to Stephen Spielberg's fine film version; The Color Purple, 'the musical about love,' obviously tells the same story, but in a different way, offering instead a re-intepretation of Walker's artfully created story set to music and told vividly onstage.

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs has announced the nominees for the 2010 24th Annual MAC Awards. The ceremony honoring the nominees, will take place on May 4, 2010 at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, and will be hosted by Sharon McNight. Leslie Uggams will be honored for Lifetime Achievement, with Board of Directors Awards being presented to Peter Leavy and playbill.com. The event will begin at 7:30pm. Doors open at 6:00pm. Lennie Watts will direct the evening, with Tracy Stark musical directing.

Jenna gives a rundown of where she's been and what's coming up in the world of cabaret (and sometimes beyond!) This week's column features Salon at Etcetera, Etcetara, Chris Dingman at The Brooklyn Lyceum, Marquee Five at Don't Tell Mama, and more!

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