Fela Kuti News

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, beloved as one of the world's most popular dance companies and New York City Center's Principal Dance Company, returns for the 41st consecutive year to the New York City Center stage from November 28, 2012 - December 30, 2012 with exciting performances that have become a joyous holiday tradition.

Lac La Belle is set to release their new album, BRING ON THE LIGHT, today July 31, 2012.

Is the Public's Shakespeare in the Park production of INTO THE WOODS headed for 45th Street? The New York Post's Michael Riedel says today that the show is raising money and looking toward the Hirschfeld Theatre, which currently houses a limited return run of FELA!; the Fela Kuti-inspired musical closes August 4 and no other show is lined up as of yet.

Lac La Belle is set to release their new album, BRING ON THE LIGHT, on July 31, 2012.

Shawn 'JAY Z' Carter, Will & Jada Pinkett Smith, Ruth & Stephen Hendel, Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson and The National Theatre of Great Britain present the return of the critically acclaimed, award-winning Broadway and National Theatre of Great Britain production of Fela!, which just opened last night, July 12, for a limited run of 32 performances only at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street). BroadwayWorld was there for the big openeing night, and we bring you photos from the first curtain call below!

Shawn 'JAY Z' Carter, Will & Jada Pinkett Smith, Ruth & Stephen Hendel, Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson and The National Theatre of Great Britain present the return of the critically acclaimed, award-winning Broadway and National Theatre of Great Britain production of Fela!, which just opened last night, July 12, for a limited run of 32 performances only at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street). BroadwayWorld was there for the big openeing night, and we bring you photos from the star-studded arrivals below!

Ronald K. Brown and Evidence, A Dance Company return to The Joyce Theater for their annual New York season tonight, July 9 through July 14, 2012 with four new company members, new works and new collaborators. This frisson of excitement is the hallmark of the season, which will include two programs.

Ronald K. Brown and Evidence, A Dance Company return to the Joyce Theater for their annual New York season July 9-14, 2012 with four new company members, new works and new collaborators. This frisson of excitement is the hallmark of the season, which will include two programs.

The Broadway run of Fela! this summer at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre begins previews for its limited four-week run on Monday, July 9, with an official opening set for July 12, and will play through Saturday, August 4, 2012. The marquee is up! See below for a first look.

Tickets for the Broadway run of Fela! this summer at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre will go on sale to the general public on Saturday June 16 via telecharge.com and phone (212) 239-6200.

Now that the 2012 awards season has come to a close, BroadwayWorld is looking ahead to an exciting season coming up. This summer/fall Broadway will welcome a plethora of productions - from star-studded revivals to exciting new musicals. Below, we bring you the line-up of officially announced upcoming shows (still subject to change). Don't forget to stay tuned for more even more opening announcements expected soon!

Producers Shawn 'JAY Z' Carter, Will & Jada Pinkett Smith, Ruth & Stephen Hendel, Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson and The National Theatre of Great Britain today announced the return of the critically acclaimed, award-winning production of Fela!, currently on a multi-city world tour, for a limited run of 32 performances ONLY at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street) from July 9 - August 4. Exploring the extravagant world of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, this provocative hybrid of dance, theatre, music, biography and a party like no-other is directed and choreographed by Tony® Award-winner Bill T. Jones, with a book by Jim Lewis and Bill T. Jones. The world renowned Antibalas and other members of the NYC Afrobeat community, under the direction of Aaron Johnson, again perform Kuti's rousing music live onstage. Recipient of three 2010 Tony Awards (Best Choreography, Best Costumes, Best Sound Design), Fela!, featuring the music and lyrics by Fela Kuti, was conceived by Bill T. Jones, Jim Lewis and Stephen Hendel, features additional lyrics by Jim Lewis, and additional music by Aaron Johnson and Jordan McLean. The musical is inspired by the authorized biography Fela: This Bitch of a Life by Carlos Moore. The press opening for this engagement is scheduled for Thursday, July 12 at 7 PM.

On Twitter Watch, Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson wrote 'BREAKING NEWS! (best ever!) come july NYC you get ONE MORE CHANCE to see the return of @felamusical!!!!!! #itsback on #broadway #dontsleep FELA! will play the Oriental Theatre (24 W. Randolph St.) through April 15, 2012. It is directed by Bill T. Jones, is a provocative hybrid of dance, theatre and music exploring the extravagant world of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti. The show has become an international sensation having been performed in three continents. Olivier and Tony Award-nominated actor Sahr Ngaujah will lead the cast of FELA! He is joined by Melanie Marshall and Paulette Ivory, who co-starred with Ngaujah in the Olivier-nominated Royal National Theatre production. This touring production is a once in a lifetime experience, a glorious amalgam of the original casts of both Broadway and London's Royal National Theatre. A triumphant tale of courage, passion and love, FELA! is the true story of Kuti, who created a type of music, Afrobeat, and mixed these pounding eclectic rhythms (a blend of jazz, funk and African rhythm and harmonies) with incendiary lyrics that openly attacked the corrupt and oppressive military dictatorships that rule Nigeria and much of Africa. Featuring many of Fela Kuti's most captivating songs and Bill T. Jones's visionary staging, FELA! reveals Kuti's controversial life as an artist and political activist and celebrates his pioneering music. The production received its world premiere Off-Broadway in September 2008, and won the Lucille Lortel Award for Best Musical, before transferring to Broadway's Eugene O'Neill Theatre in November 2009 where its accolades included three 2010 Tony Awards, for Best Choreography, Best Costume Design, Best Sound Design, and an Astaire Award for Bill T. Jones' choreography. FELA! is directed and choreographed by Bill T. Jones, with a book by Jim Lewis and Bill T. Jones, and music and lyrics by Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. Conceived by Bill T. Jones, Jim Lewis and Stephen Hendel, the design and Tony Award winning costumes are by Marina Draghici, lighting design by Robert Wierzel and the Tony Award winning sound design by Robert Kaplowitz. FELA! is produced in association with Shawn 'Jay-Z' Carter, Will & Jada Pinkett Smith, Ruth & Stephen Hendel, Roy Gabay, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Edward Tyler Nahem, SlavaSmolokowski, Chip Meyrelles/Ken Greiner, Douglas G. Smith, Steve Semlitz/Cathy Glazer, Daryl Roth/True Love Productions, Susan Dietz/Mort Swinsky, Knitting Factory Entertainment and with Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson.'

Houston's Society for the Performing Arts presentation of the three time Tony award winning musical FELA! is a high-energy, powerhouse of a show. Its structure is reminiscent of the Kander & Ebb classic, Cabaret, yet as Fela himself says in the show, this is purely "original no artificiality!"

Broadway In Chicago's FELA! ends its extended run tonight, April 15.

Currently playing at the Oriental Theatre, FELA! has entered its final week of performances with Broadway in Chicago. Two of the lead actors from the touring production of the Broadway musical stopped by at ABC 7's studios for a special performance. Watch the video of the performance below!

FELA! plays at the Oriental Theatre (24 W. Randolph St.) for two-weeks only through April 8, 2012.