Brian Stokes Mitchell News

The Mayo Performing Arts Center features over 100 events, concerts and performances in its 2014-2015 season. Tickets for events go on sale Monday, June 16 at 9 am online and 10 am in person and by phone (973-539-8008).

The Public Theater's free Shakespeare in the Park production of MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING began performances on Tuesday, June 3 and runs through Sunday, July 6, with an official press opening on Monday, June 16. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the production!

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, presents the company's 20th Anniversary Season opener - Kiss Me, Kate, to be presented today, June 11 through July 12 on the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage (30 Union Street).

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: HEDWIG hits the shelves, while IF/THEN holds a CD signing, THE BULLPEN and POWER PLAYS begin off-Broadway, featuring some amped up playwriting talent, and ATOMIC meets the press!

There may not have been 76 trombones, but Florence Henderson and Constantine Maroulis did excellent impersonations of librarian Marian Paroo and Harold Hill of 'The Music Man' fame, as they lead a 28 piece marching Broadway band into the Skirball Cultural Center in the new Guerin Pavilion/Herscher Hall to begin an evening of co-hosting for the Actors Fund's 18th Annual Tony Awards® Party. Check out the photos below!

The Public Theater's free Shakespeare in the Park production of MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING began performances on Tuesday, June 3 and runs through Sunday, July 6, with an official press opening on Monday, June 16. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the cast in action below!

It was like a scene from Neil Simon's "The Sunshine Boys." `I came from the people; they need to adore me /So Christian Dior me from my head to my toes.' What kind of a lyric is that?" kvetched lyricist Fred Ebb as he got into the taxi. "You remembered it," quipped his songwriting partner, composer John Kander, with a shrug. The song? "Rainbow High." The show? "Evita."

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: Actors' Equity doles out awards, off-Broadway is teaming with new shows, Patti LaBelle struts into the guest-starring role in AFTER MIDNIGHT and more!

Broadway legend, Barbara Cook, will be honored with The Julie Harris Award for Artistic Achievement at The Actors Fund's 18th Annual Tony Awards Viewing Party on June 8th, 2014.

Two legends came together today with BroadwayWorld.com in honor of this Sunday's Tony Awards. Rosie O'Donnell (while en route to Parker's graduation), who will be receiving the 2014 Isabelle Stevenson Award and Grammy, Tony, Emmy award-winner Cyndi Lauper chatted by phone (while on tour with Cher) about the Tonys, Rosie's Theatre Kids, her theatrical favorites, and of course about LAST year's big winner - KINKY BOOTS! The Isabelle Stevenson Award is presented annually to a member of the theatre community who has made a substantial contribution of volunteered time and effort on behalf of one or more humanitarian, social service or charitable organizations. If that doesn't describe Rosie, we don't know what does. O'Donnell will be presented with the 2014 Isabelle Stevenson Award for her commitment to arts education for New York City's public school children.

Tony Award nominee Tom Wopat and GRAMMY Award-winning Broadway songwriter Stephen Schwartz are joining the festivities in Broadway at Moorland, the 14th annual summer concert and fireworks display at Moorland Farm in Far Hills, NJ, a partnership between New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) and Far Hills Race Meeting Association. Wopat (Annie Get Your Gun, A Catered Affair) will join previously announced Tony-nominated and Emmy Award-winner Liz Callaway, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, five-time MAC-winning cabaret star Scott Coulter, Jessica Hendy (Broadway's Cats and Aida), and Kelli Rabke (Broadway's LES MISERABLES and in the Broadway revival of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat). Due to a scheduling conflict, Brian Stokes Mitchell will no longer perform on the bill.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: The Tony Awards are fast approaching and BWW will be bringing you an inside look at rehearsals, plus performances at the Tony Awards Pop-Up Shop today. The Interfaith Awards Gala is tonight, NAAP's all-Asian OLIVER! begins performances, Kenneth Branagh makes his NY stage debut and more!

There is little doubt who is the reigning queen of Broadway. With five Tony Awards and eight nominations in just 20 years, Audra McDonald has held that title for quite a while now. In addition to her prolific stage career, she also has found time to do turns on TV and have a recording and touring career. If Audra wins her sixth Tony this Sunday, she will become the first actor to do so in the four major acting categories.

It was like a scene from Neil Simon's “The Sunshine Boys.” `I came from the people; they need to adore me /So Christian Dior me from my head to my toes.' What kind of a lyric is that?” kvetched lyricist Fred Ebb as he got into the taxi. “You remembered it,” quipped his songwriting partner, composer John Kander, with a shrug. The song? “Rainbow High.” The show? “Evita.”

BroadwayWorld.com thought it would be interesting to go a little more 'in-depth' about the recipients, to help you better understand their being chosen and to look more closely into their lives, worlds and work. In addition, we wanted them to be interviewed by someone with whom they shared some sort of history. Next up in the special series is President & CEO of The Actors Fund, Joe Benincasa. In the video below, Joe chats with Fund Chairman Brian Stokes Mitchell, who is currently in rehearsals for Much Ado About Nothing at the Delacorte Theatre!

Ahrens and Flaherty's 'Nice Fighting You: A 30th Anniversary Celebration Live At 54 BELOW' will be released today, June 3rd, 2014.

There is always something exciting happening in Houston's theatre scene, and one of our latest additions is promising to promote education in the arts while offering exhilarating cabaret concerts as well. Recently, I caught up with locally based actor and producer Tyce Green at Empire Cafe on Westheimer Road to discuss his exciting, new Straight From New York Workshop and Concert series.

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week or you're just in the mood for a recap, BroadwayWorld's 'This Week in Pictures' is here to satisfy your end-of-the-week fix! Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to The West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more. Highlights this week include a first look at 'Just Jim Dale,' the Stars in the Alley concert, the cast of 'Submissions Only' at 54 Below, and more!

The Public Theater will begin previews on Tuesday, June 3 for MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, the first show of The Public's 2014 season of free Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte. Directed by Jack O'Brien, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING will run through Sunday, July 6, with an official press opening on Monday, June 16. Below, check out a first look at the cast, including Lily Rabe, Hamish Linklater and Brian Stokes Mitchell, in rehearsal!

Grammy award and Tony award nominee Michael McElroy and Broadway Inspirational Voices (BIV) are gearing up for their second holiday album 'Great Joy II: Around the World'. They are kicking off their fundraising with a Kickstarter campaign, running from May 15th through June 15th. BIV members and friends from the Broadway community who have supported in the campaign include BIV board president Phylicia Rashad, Mario Cantone, Lin Mañuel Miranda, Stephanie J. Block, Leslie Uggams, Angela Robinson, Billy Porter, Adriane Lenox, Alice Ripley, Gavin Creel, Shoshana Bean, Eden Espinosa, Montego Glover, Tom Kitt and many more. Watch the pitch video below!