Fela Kuti News

NEW WORKS presents Monstah Black and The Sonic Leroy: Submerged in Blue

PHÈDRE, with Helen Mirren in the title role, heralds the second season of NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE - the NT's groundbreaking initiative to broadcast live performances of plays to cinemas and performing arts venues around the world.

Before jazz had a name and 'world music' was a concept, a young trumpet player emerged from another hemisphere and landed alongside some of the greatest icons in American music. Louis Armstrong sent him a trumpet. Harry Belafonte arranged for him to come to New York City to study music. Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis took him under their wings. That man, Hugh Masekela, born out of apartheid South Africa, has consistently toured worldwide and his genre-bending dynamism has led to his own icon status. His uncategorizable sound comes to life on his October 2010 North American tour.

Tony Award nominee Sahr Nguajah played his final performance as Fela Anikulapo-Kuti on October 10, and Kevin Mambo is taking over as the title character. Mambo, who has won two Daytime Emmy Awards for his appearances on GUiding Light, has been alternating the role with Nguajah since it opened last year. Nguajah is set to star in the upcoming West End production of the show

Joe's Pub has recently added Lynn Loosier (8/12), Lindsay Mendez & the Marco Paguia Trio (8/26), Kate Havnevik (8/27), Carrie Manolakos (8/30), Jennifer Knapp (8/31), Johnnyswim w/ Special Guest Maya Azucena (9/11), Man in Black Burlesque: Because You're Mine, I Bump 'n' Grind (9/11), Heathers: The Musical (9/13), Happy Ending Music and Reading Series featuring Darin Strauss, Matthew Sharpe, Kristin Hersh & musical guest Anni Rossi (9/15), Girls Like Us feat. Melissa Hammans, Elizabeth Stanley, Carey Anderson & more! (9/19), Abigail Washburn (9/24), Portico Quartet (9/28) & Kim Richey w/ special guest Hannah Schneider (10/11). For more information about any show, please visit JOESPUB.COM.

Before jazz had a name and 'world music' was a concept, a young trumpet player emerged from another hemisphere and landed alongside some of the greatest icons in American music. Louis Armstrong sent him a trumpet. Harry Belafonte arranged for him to come to New York City to study music. Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis took him under their wings. That man, Hugh Masekela, born out of apartheid South Africa, has consistently toured worldwide and his genre-bending dynamism has led to his own icon status. His uncategorizable sound comes to life on his October 2010 North American tour.

On Tuesday, September 28, FELA! received Actors' Equity Association's Advisory Committee on Chorus Affairs (ACCA) fourth annual ACCA Award for Outstanding Broadway Chorus. The award, the only industry award of its kind, honors the distinctive talents and contributions made by the original chorus members of a Broadway musical. The award ceremony was held in the Council Room, at Equity's headquarters in the heart of Times Square on Tuesday. BroadwayWorld was on hand and brings you photo coverage below.

FELA! will receive Actors' Equity Association's Advisory Committee on Chorus Affairs (ACCA) fourth annual ACCA Award for Outstanding Broadway Chorus. The award, the only industry award of its kind, honors the distinctive talents and contributions made by the original chorus members of a Broadway musical. The award ceremony will be held in the Council Room, at Equity's headquarters in the heart of Times Square on Tuesday, September 28, 2010.

New York City Center's seventh annual Fall for Dance Festival, running September 28 - October 9, will showcase 20 national and international companies and choreographers. With ticket prices remaining at $10 for all seats, a night of dance is more affordable than a night at the movies. The festival will include world and U.S. premieres, and will feature several companies making their first U.S. appearances.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts is thrilled to announce it will be screening National Theatre Live's second season in high-definition at their beautiful theatre.

FELA! will receive Actors' Equity Association's Advisory Committee on Chorus Affairs (ACCA) fourth annual ACCA Award for Outstanding Broadway Chorus. The award, the only industry award of its kind, honors the distinctive talents and contributions made by the original chorus members of a Broadway musical. The award ceremony will be held in the Council Room, at Equity's headquarters in the heart of Times Square on Tuesday, September 28, 2010.

Multi-Grammy Award-winner and international recording superstar Patti LaBelle opened in the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Fela! last night, September 14. LaBelle will perform in Fela! through its scheduled closing on January 2, 2011.

Multi-Grammy Award-winner and international recording superstar Patti LaBelle opened in the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Fela! last night, September 14. LaBelle will perform in Fela! through its scheduled closing on January 2, 2011. BroadwayWorld was on hand for LaBelle's opening night curtain call and after party and brings you photo coverage below!

As BroadwayWorld previously speculated, producers Shawn 'Jay-Z' Carter, Will & Jada Pinkett Smith, Ruth & Stephen Hendel and Roy Gabay will welcome Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum recording artist Patti LaBelle to the cast of the hit Award-winning Broadway musical Fela! on Tuesday, September 14, when she takes over the role of Fela's mother (Funmilayo Anikulapo-Kuti) through Sunday, January 2, 2011, when the show will play its final scheduled performance. Tony Award-winner Lillias White (who received a 2010 Tony Nomination for her performance in this production) will play her final performance on September 12. Fela! received three 2010 Tony Awards, including Best Choreography, Best Costume Design and Best Sound Design. It is currently playing at Broadway's Eugene O'Neill Theatre (230 West 49th Street) where it opened to rave reviews on November 23.

Audiences will have the opportunity to grab a sneak-peek of the legendary multi-platinum recording artist Patti LaBelle in the Award-winning Broadway musical Fela! on Wednesday, September 8 and Thursday, September 9, both at 8pm.

Audiences will have the opportunity to grab a sneak-peek of the legendary multi-platinum recording artist Patti LaBelle in the Award-winning Broadway musical Fela! on Wednesday, September 8 and Thursday, September 9, both at 8pm.

This week, on August 24, Fox's So You Think You Can Dance featured a special number of FELA!'s 'Zombie,' choreographed by Tony-winner Bill T. Jones. Click below to see the performance!

The Collective and The Regulators bring pop culture to the stage. The Collective presents POP ART on Friday, August 20, 2010 at the Creative Alliance in Baltimore. The concert begins at 8:00pm. POP ART infuses The Collective's modern dance roots with elements of hip hop, swing, capoeira, and salsa to create an upbeat mix of dances that reflect pop culture. POP ART also features local nine member poppin crew The Regulators, under the direction of Talbot Johnson who will bring their formidable street dancing skills to the stage. Tickets are $15/general admission; $12/students and seniors. Tickets are available at www.creativealliance.org, by calling 410.276.1651, or at the door.

Amphora Records will release Toubab Soul, the first full-length studio recording by Barcelona's Alma Afrobeat Ensemble, on Wednesday, December 1, 2010.

As BroadwayWorld previously speculated, producers Shawn 'Jay-Z' Carter, Will & Jada Pinkett Smith, Ruth & Stephen Hendel and Roy Gabay will welcome Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum recording artist Patti LaBelle to the cast of the hit Award-winning Broadway musical Fela! on Tuesday, September 14, when she takes over the role of Fela's mother (Funmilayo Anikulapo-Kuti) through Sunday, January 2, 2011, when the show will play its final scheduled performance. Tony Award-winner Lillias White (who received a 2010 Tony Nomination for her performance in this production) will play her final performance on September 12. Fela! received three 2010 Tony Awards, including Best Choreography, Best Costume Design and Best Sound Design. It is currently playing at Broadway's Eugene O'Neill Theatre (230 West 49th Street) where it opened to rave reviews on November 23.