Gayle King News

Fela!, the new musical based on the life and music of groundbreaking African composer, performer and activist Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, opened on Broadway at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre (230 West 49th Street) last night, November 23, 2009.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) launched its 31st season with the New York premiere of Anna Deavere Smith's LET ME DOWN EASY. Conceived, written, and performed by Ms. Smith and directed by Leonard Foglia, LET ME DOWN EASY began preview performances on Tuesday, September 15 and officially opened on Wednesday, October 7th.

'Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire' won the top award at the Toronto International Film Festival today, Saturday, September 19th. 'Precious' captured the festival's People's Choice award, which is voted on by filmgoers. Last year it went to 2009 Best Picture Oscar winner 'Slumdog Millionaire.'

Julie & Julia is the new comedy-drama, written and directed by Nora Ephron, depicting events in the life of famed chef Julia Child. Ephron's screenplay is adapted from two books: My Life in France, Child's autobiography, written with Alex Prud'homme, and a memoir by Julie Powell. The film had a New York City premiere on Wednesday, July 30th, 2009 at the Ziegfeld Theatre. BroadwayWorld.com cameras were there as the stars arrived!

The Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz, starring Ashanti, LaChanze and Orlando Jones, officially opened last night, Thursday, June 18 at New York City Center. (Previews began June 12). Ashanti's Dorothy is joined by Joshua Henry, James Monroe Iglehart, Christian Dante White, Tichina Arnold and Dawnn Lewis. BroadwayWorld.com's cameras celebrated along with the cast after the curtain came down!

Music Theatre Louisville (MTL) is rolling out the 2009 summer season at The Kentucky Center's Bomhard Theater! We may have a new home, but one thing hasn't changed...the quality, the affordability, and the fun! This summer, MTL is presenting 3 Tony award winning Broadway productions, Mame, Singin' In the Rain, and Hairspray!

Richard Parsons, Chairman, Time Warner; Timothy Greenfield-Sanders director and portrait photographer; Elvis Mitchell, award-winning journalist and producer; Sheila Nevins, president, HBO Documentary Films, special guests including Rev. Al Sharpton, Martha Stewart, Graydon Carter, Gayle King, Bill T. Jones, Faye Wattleton, Alan Cumming and Phylicia Rashad amongst many others.

Zonya Love made her Broadway debut as Celie, alongside recording-stars Chaka Khan as Sofia and BeBe Winans as Harpo yesterday, Wednesday January 9, 2008, in the smash hit musical 'The Color Purple' with LaKisha Jones, and produced by Oprah Winfrey.

Zonya Love made her Broadway debut as Celie, alongside recording-stars Chaka Khan as Sofia and BeBe Winans as Harpo yesterday, Wednesday January 9, 2008, in the smash hit musical The Color Purple.

Film, TV and theatre luminaries attended the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity Award Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel on May 20th.

A party celebrating the Broadway debut of 'American Idol' star Fantasia Barrino in the hit musical The Color Purple was held at Spotlight Live in Times Square on April 22nd.

Dreamgirls, the highly anticipated film version of the classic Broadway musical, had a star-studded premiere at New York's Ziegfeld Theatre on December 4th

Five-time Grammy Award-winning R&B star Usher joined the cast of Chicago as Billy Flynn on August 22nd

The highly-anticipated opening night of Three Days of Rain starring Julia Roberts, Paul Rudd and Bradley Cooper took place on April 19th and BroadwayWorld was there!

The Color Purple, began previews at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway at 53rd St.) on November 1st and opened on Thursday, December 1, 2005. BroadwayWorld was there to capture all the night's excitement!