Ethel Waters News

Actress/singer ValLimar Jansen beautifully becomes Ethel Waters, body and soul, in Sweet Mama String Bean. The story concerns the first half of Waters' life, which may be little known to many: how she rose from illegitimacy to radio, club and Broadway super-stardom by the 1940s, before becoming the well-known Emmy and Oscar nominated actress.

The Peccadillo Theater Company presents The Plays-You-Should-Know-And-Probably-Don't Reading Series: Carson McCullers' THE MEMBER OF THE WEDDING

The Peccadillo Theater Company presents The Plays-You-Should-Know-And-Probably-Don't Reading Series: Carson McCullers' THE MEMBER OF THE WEDDING

Fresh off its acclaimed hit August Wilson's Women, Juneteenth Legacy Theatre continues to highlight the African-American female experience with the Juneteenth Blues Cabaret, a tribute to five very special 'Queens of the Blues.'

Fresh off its acclaimed hit August Wilson's Women, Juneteenth Legacy Theatre continues to highlight the African-American female experience with the Juneteenth Blues Cabaret, a tribute to five very special 'Queens of the Blues.'

The New York Musical Theatre Festival is pleased to announce the world premiere production of TRAV?LIN by Gary Holmes and Allan Shapiro, with musical direction by John Dipinto and choreographed and directed by Paul Stancato. TRAV'LIN will play a limited engagement at TBG Theatre, (312 West 36th Street, NY, NY 10018). Performances begin Monday, October 11 and continue through Sunday, October 17.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival is pleased to announce the world premiere production of TRAV?LIN by Gary Holmes and Allan Shapiro, with musical direction by John Dipinto and choreographed and directed by Paul Stancato. TRAV'LIN will play a limited engagement at TBG Theatre, (312 West 36th Street, NY, NY 10018). Performances begin Monday, October 11 and continue through Sunday, October 17.

Today we kick off our series on the 2010 New York Musical Theater Festival with the warm and fuzzy memories - as well as some less than fond remembrances - of the life and career of Broadway triple-threat leading lady Brenda Braxton. From the original company of DREAMGIRLS on Broadway under the direction of Michael Bennett to CATS and LEGS DIAMOND and George C. Wolfe's JELLY'S LAST JAM all the way up to her many stints in the Broadway revival of CHICAGO - as well as directing and recreating the original Bennett/Avian/Peters choreography for the post-9/11 star-studded DREAMGIRLS concert starring Audra McDonald, Lillias White and Heather Headley - we talk it all, plus all the exciting new musicals she is participating in - such as her NYMF starrer TRAVELIN' and another new musical reading, as well as projects of her own creation - both onstage and, now, behind-the-scenes! Ms. Braxton was generous enough to spend some time on a rainy afternoon earlier this week to discuss her career, the state of Broadway, the necessity of new musical theatre voices, working with Michael Bennett, and all the details on the new musical she is starring in that premieres this Friday at the NYMF, TRAVELIN' as well as some exciting news of what lies ahead!

The New York Musical Theatre Festival is pleased to announce the world premiere production of TRAV?LIN by Gary Holmes and Allan Shapiro, with musical direction by John Dipinto and choreographed and directed by Paul Stancato. TRAV'LIN will play a limited engagement at TBG Theatre, (312 West 36th Street, NY, NY 10018). Performances begin Monday, October 11 and continue through Sunday, October 17.

San Jose Repertory Theatre kicks off its 30th Anniversary Season with the West Coast Premiere of Black Pearl Sings!, penned by Frank Higgins and directed by the Rep's Artistic Director Rick Lombardo.

Bristol Riverside Theatre concludes its Summer Musicale series with Broadway Rocks on August 12-22. This homage to Broadway showstoppers features Demetria Joyce Bailey, Justin Gabriel Ballasy, Lois Sach Binder, Anthony D'Amato, Jennie Eisenhower and John D. Smitherman performing some of Broadway's most popular songs by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Elton John, Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein.

San Jose Repertory Theatre kicks off its 30th Anniversary Season with the West Coast Premiere of Black Pearl Sings!, penned by Frank Higgins and directed by the Rep's Artistic Director Rick Lombardo.

San Jose Repertory Theatre is proud to present the cast of the West Coast Premiere of the musical drama: Black Pearl Sings! Jannie Jones, in the title role, will belt out soul-stirring spirituals and African American folk songs, including 'Kum Ba Yah,' 'Little Sally Walker,' 'This Little Light of Mine,' and 'The Wabash Cannonball,' while Jessica Wortham plays Susanna Mullally, a song collector for the Library of Congress who travels the country seeking little-known melodies. Music unites the strangers in a powerful story that illuminates America's racial divisions and the attempts of the two women to bridge them. Performances begin September 2nd and continue until September 26th. Pay What You Will performance is on Thursday, September 2 at 8:00 p.m. Press Opening Night is on September 8 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are available at the San Jose Rep Box Office at 101 Paseo de San Antonio or can be purchased online at www.SJRep.com or by calling 408.367.7255. Ticket prices range from $35 to $74.

Five additional performances are added to the performance schedule of 'Sweet and Hot: The Songs of Harold Arlen,' produced by Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre in association with Michael James. Originally scheduled to close August 8, the show will now close August 15.

Bristol Riverside Theatre concludes its Summer Musicale series with Broadway Rocks on August 12-22. This homage to Broadway showstoppers features Demetria Joyce Bailey, Justin Gabriel Ballasy, Lois Sach Binder, Anthony D'Amato, Jennie Eisenhower and John D. Smitherman performing some of Broadway's most popular songs by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Elton John, Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein.

Bristol Riverside Theatre concludes its Summer Musicale series with Broadway Rocks on August 12-22. This homage to Broadway showstoppers features Demetria Joyce Bailey, Justin Gabriel Ballasy, Lois Sach Binder, Anthony D'Amato, Jennie Eisenhower and John D. Smitherman performing some of Broadway's most popular songs by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Elton John, Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein.

'Civil War Voices' a musical remembrance by James R. Harris will be performed at the June Havoc Theatre at the Abingdon Complex, 312 West 36th Street. Featuring the songs of the period with arrangements by Mark Hayes and it is directed by Dennis Courtney. The musical director is Laura Bergquist.

'Civil War Voices' a musical remembrance by James R. Harris will be performed at the June Havoc Theatre at the Abingdon Complex, 312 West 36th Street. Featuring the songs of the period with arrangements by Mark Hayes and it is directed by Dennis Courtney. The musical director is Laura Bergquist.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) has announced the full slate of 27 musical productions, a developmental reading series and special events for their seventh annual festival. This year's Festival will begin September 27th and continue through October 17th. A full breakdown of this year's performances follows.

'Civil War Voices' a musical remembrance by James R. Harris will be performed at the June Havoc Theatre at the Abingdon Complex, 312 West 36th Street. Featuring the songs of the period with arrangements by Mark Hayes and it is directed by Dennis Courtney. The musical director is Laura Bergquist.