Anika Noni Rose News

Walt Disney Animation Studios presents the musical THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG, an animated comedy that provides a modern twist on a classic tale, featuring a beautiful girl named Tiana, a frog prince who desperately wants to be human again. Disney's 'PRINCESS,' will open exclusively in New York and Los Angeles on Nov. 25th. The upcoming film will be set in New Orleans and feature the Walt Disney Studio's first black princess.

Heather M. Kitchen, now in her 14th season as executive director at American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.), will step down from her position at the end of August 2009. Ms. Kitchen will remain available to the company through the end of this year as a consultant and adviser during the transition process. The A.C.T. Board of Trustees is forming a search committee to conduct a comprehensive search for Ms. Kitchen's successor.

Walt Disney Animation Studios presents the musical THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG, an animated comedy that provides a modern twist on a classic tale, featuring a beautiful girl named Tiana, a frog prince who desperately wants to be human again.

Walt Disney Pictures will present a return to the studio's traditionally-animated musical films with 'The Princess and the Frog', which will be released nationwide on December 11th, 2009.

On Monday, Broadway's best singers gathered on the Town Hall stage to perform some of the funniest, most dramatic, most rousing and most poignant showstoppers from musicals. Ably directed by Scott Thompdon and musically guided by musical director Fred Barton (who must surely have an aging portrait locked in at attic somewhere, and who performed mere days after sustaining injuries in a car accident), the evening represented songs ranging from jazz standards by Eubie Blake to this year's Tony winner for best score, Next to Normal.

The Town Hall continues to present acclaimed Broadway concerts this July with its 3rd Annual Summer Broadway Festival. Presented on three consecutive Monday nights at 8PM, The Town Hall's 3rd Annual Summer Broadway Festival began with Broadway Winners: The Award-Winning Music of Broadway! on Monday, July 13th at 8PM.

Casting has just been announced for Vassar & New York Stage and Film Powerhouse Theater's three musicals of the 25th anniversary season.

Tarell Alvin McCraney and Will Power, two award-winning playwrights with longstanding relationships with McCarter Theatre Center, have both received national attention for their contributions to the American theatrical culture. The Advocate has selected McCraney for its special 'Forty Under 40' issue, while Power is featured in American Theatre magazine's 25th Anniversary issue.

Disney has released the full trailer for The Princess and the Frog, here's hoping for a smash success. Because, if this film can succeed in drawing out audiences, old and young alike, then there remains hope that Disney will keep up the great tradition that Walt capitalized on all those years ago...

James Earl Jones and Phylicia Rashad are set to reprise their recent Broadway roles of Big Daddy and Big Mama in the West End production of Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Debbie Allen will once again direct and acclaimed UK actor Adrian Lester will play the role of Brick. The production will begin December 1st at a theater yet to be announced.

On Monday, April 27, at 7:00pm in Carnegie Hall, The New York Pops honored Feinstein's at Loews Regency on its tenth anniversary and congratulates Michael Feinstein and Jonathan Tisch for leading this great New York institution.

Legendary cabaret and jazz entertainer talks about preserving the Great American Songbook and today's honor by the New York Pops.

The concert will feature The New York Pops conducted by Steven Reineke, Music Director-Designate. The most recent additions to the program are Barbara Cook, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Tony Martin, who join a star-studded lineup of performers that includes Cheyenne Jackson, Brian d'Arcy James, Idina Menzel, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Anika Noni Rose, Ashford & Simpson, and Michael Feinstein.

On Monday, April 27, at 7:00pm in Carnegie Hall, The New York Pops honors Feinstein's at Loews Regency on its tenth anniversary and congratulates Michael Feinstein and Jonathan Tisch for leading this great New York institution.

On Monday, April 27, at 7:00pm in Carnegie Hall, The New York Pops honors Feinstein's at Loews Regency on its tenth anniversary and congratulates Michael Feinstein and Jonathan Tisch for leading this great New York institution.

The Tony-winning composer talks about his new composition that will premiere next week.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) is proud to announce that A.C.T.?s 2008?09 season gala, Illuminate the Night, raised $715,000 to benefit A.C.T?s acclaimed conservatory programs. The elegant gala event, co-chaired by Carla Crane and Chandra Geiger Gordon, was attended by over 300 of San Francisco?s cultural, corporate, and philanthropic communities, as well as alumni of A.C.T.?s Master of Fine Arts Program such as Tony Award?winning actor Anika Noni Rose. The black tie event took place Sunday, April 19, 2009, at San Francisco?s Four Seasons Hotel and featured an exclusive performance by Judy Kaye, Tony Award?winning star of A.C.T.?s Sweeney Todd and Souvenir. Students from A.C.T.?s own Master of Fine Arts Program and Young Conservatory also performed in musical numbers directed by John Carrafa, the Tony Award?nominated choreographer of Urinetown, the Musical. Along with a cocktail hour and elegant dinner, Illuminate the Night featured a live auction, a paddle raise, and a special raffle drawing for a Smart Car with an exclusive parking spot in front of the American Conservatory Theater all year long.

The concert will feature The New York Pops conducted by Steven Reineke, Music Director-Designate. The most recent additions to the program are Barbara Cook, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Tony Martin, who join a star-studded lineup of performers that includes Cheyenne Jackson, Brian d'Arcy James, Idina Menzel, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Anika Noni Rose, Ashford & Simpson, and Michael Feinstein.