Brian Stokes Mitchell News

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!

The Public Theater has announced complete casting for KING LEAR, the second show of The Public's free Shakespeare in the Park season at the Delacorte. Featuring the previously announced John Lithgow as Lear, this enduring tragedy will begin performances on Tuesday, July 22 and run through Sunday, August 17, with an official press opening on Tuesday, August 5.

Lea Michele appeared on last night's LATE SHOW to discuss her new book, BRUNETTE AMBITION, plus all of the drama surrounding her relationship with Naya Rivera on the set of GLEE. Watch the interview below!

Glee star Lea Michele's new memoir, 'Brunette Ambition,' is set for release next Tuesday, May 20. In anticipation, Michele has announced a series of book signing dates on both coasts throughout next week. Check out full details for the three signings below:

Join co-hosts Florence Henderson and Constantine Maroulis as Broadway legend, Barbara Cook, receives The Julie Harris Award for Artistic Achievement at The Actors Fund's 18th Annual Tony Awards Viewing Party on June 8th, 2014. Wells Fargo will sponsor the event, directed, produced and written by Luke Yankee.

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.

Artists in Partnership (AIP), a non-profit cultural arts organization, will host its 12th Annual Cabaret Festival today, May 15-18 at the Long Beach Public Library, 111 West Park Avenue, Long Beach, NY. All performances are FREE to the public. The festival will be a celebration of the cabaret genre honoring the Great American Songbook with performances by renowned local and New York City-based artists.

Artists in Partnership (AIP), a non-profit cultural arts organization, will host its 12th Annual Cabaret Festival today, May 15-18 at the Long Beach Public Library, 111 West Park Avenue, Long Beach, NY. All performances are FREE to the public. The festival will be a celebration of the cabaret genre honoring the Great American Songbook with performances by renowned local and New York City-based artists.

Acclaimed musical director, Sirius XM Radio and Broadway star Seth Rudetsky will hold an exclusive auditioning master class for local performers. During the workshop, participants will learn all the tricks of auditioning for musical theater productions and how to get hired on Broadway.

Action architect and revolutionary choreographer Elizabeth Streb has joined thousands of artists from around the world to celebrate public art in Art Set Free, an unprecedented global arts showcase that aims to create the world's largest collection of public art over the next year. Acclaimed for presenting hundreds of exciting, world-class cultural experiences for free to hundreds of thousands of people each year worldwide, Arts Brookfield launched Art Set Free in October 2013 in celebration of its 25th Anniversary, aiming to create the world's largest digital collection of public art. Since its launch, the Art Set Free showcase has collected over 10,000 pieces of art from artists in over 50 countries, including Australia, Brazil and India.

New York, NY

Artists in Partnership (AIP), a non-profit cultural arts organization, will host its 12th Annual Cabaret Festival May 15-18 at the Long Beach Public Library, 111 West Park Avenue, Long Beach, NY. All performances are FREE to the public. The festival will be a celebration of the cabaret genre honoring the Great American Songbook with performances by renowned local and New York City-based artists.

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, has announced casting for the company's 20th Anniversary Season opener - Kiss Me, Kate, to be presented June 11 through July 12 on the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage (30 Union Street).

The 2014 Kennedy Center Spring Gala: Camelot in Concert treated patrons to an evening of perfect vocals, stunning detail, and a wonderful tribute to departing president Michael Kaiser.

London-based choreographer and dancer Ryan Francois will appear at two New York City events celebrating the history of swing music and dancing -- and will inspire young people in Harlem to reclaim their swing dance heritage.

Artists in Partnership (AIP), a non-profit cultural arts organization, will host its 12th Annual Cabaret Festival May 15-18 at the Long Beach Public Library, 111 West Park Avenue, Long Beach, NY. All performances are FREE to the public. The festival will be a celebration of the cabaret genre honoring the Great American Songbook with performances by renowned local and New York City-based artists.

The Tony winner talks about her Brooklyn upbringing, her Broadway triumphs and her brand-new cabaret show.

The Actors Fund's annual gala yesterday raised a record-breaking $1.6 million, as a sold-out audience at the New Amsterdam Theatre witnessed stars of 20 years of Disney on Broadway in highlights from the producing powerhouse's history of award-winning shows. The evening honored the creative collaborators and staff members of Disney Theatrical Productions as they celebrate 20 years on Broadway. Formed in 1994 and operating under the direction of president and producer Thomas Schumacher, Disney received the Medal of Honor, the highest award given by the 132-year old non-profit human services organization. In addition, Fund CEO Joseph P. Benincasa received The Fund's honor for 25 years of service to the creative community.