James Earl Jones News

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Into The Woods' finally opens tomorrow! Plus Porchlight's Sondheim season continues, TMTC's 'Allegro' at Ravinia, Laura Osnes is coming to town, 'Galavant' and the BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards arrive in early January, followed by 'Tommy' in Aurora, 'First Date' at the Royal George, 'The Full Monty' at Theater Wit and more!

This January on THIRTEEN and WLIW, three-time Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown makes his broadcast television debut in a high-powered concert with Tony winner Anika Noni Rose. Recorded in 2011 at New York City's historic Abrons Art Center, Brown and Rose and a band of some of Broadway's greatest musicians perform Brown's best-known and most-loved selections from The Last Five Years, Parade, Songs for a New World, 13, Wearing Someone Else's Clothes and his new Broadway smash Honeymoon In Vegas! Also tune in to hear the world premiere of four new songs from Brown's forthcoming second solo CD.

James Earl Jones is set to host a new 'In America' segment that will cover the current state of investing, including stocks and bonds, mutual funds, and commodities.

There's something refreshing about bringing your family to see Broadway shows that inherently and organically appeal to modern day kids. Not that I'm not a huge supporter of bringing your kids to see ALADDIN or LION KING! It's natural to reserve our precious ticket-buying dollars for musicals that are designed for families, and any junior Broadway fan would be lucky to enjoy those kinds of shows. But rarely do parents have an opportunity to bring their kids to a classic American comedy that brings to the stage a bit of theatrical history and a story that can entertain kids and parents alike without pandering to the family market.

Goodman Theatre, in collaboration with Chicago's various off-Loop theaters and Northwestern University, unveils partial programming in its spring 2015 citywide "August Wilson Celebration" -- an extensive retrospective of the late playwright's life, artistry and influence on American culture. The seven-week Celebration takes place in March and April 2015 on dual landmark occasions: the 70th anniversary of the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright's birth and the 10th anniversary of his death.

Geoffrey Bradfield, Barbara and Donald Tober, Gillian and Sylvester Miniter, Eleanora and Michael Kennedy and Ambassador John Loeb and Sharon Handler Loeb co-hosted a special VIP Preview of acclaimed celebrity and society photographer Annie Watt's Impromptu Portraits at the prestigious Galerie Dumonteil on Park Avenueand 57th Street on Tuesday to benefit the American Heart Association. The incisive images of celebrities, political figures, designers and society's elite filled the walls of the elegant gallery. The images were presented in a variety of sizes and formats, classic 8 x 10, Oversize and snappy Polaroids and many were scooped up by the attendees.

Angela Lansbury recently stopped by PBS' TAVIS SMILEY to talk with the host on her career and returning, at age 89, to the role that won her a Tony in BLITHE SPIRIT. Check out her interview below!

Porchlight Music Theatre has announce dthe second production in its 20th Anniversary Season of Sondheim, the Chicago premiere of Sondheim on Sondheim, February 6 - March 15, 2015, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, conceived by James Lapine, direction by Nick Bowling with music direction by Porchlight Artistic Associate Austin Cook at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave.

Acclaimed and much loved celebrity and society photographer Annie Watt, a familiar face in the New York social and commercial art scenes will unveil her first solo exhibition at the Galerie Dumonteil, at 475 Park Avenue in New York City, from today, December 10th 2014 to January 10th 2015.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: AN AMERICAN IN PARIS opens in Paris, THE AMBASSADOR comes to BAM and more!

The American Theatre Wing is pleased to announce that its annual Gala, to be held on Monday, September 28, 2015 at The Plaza Hotel (Fifth Avenue at Central Park South), will honor legendary actor James Earl Jones. Mr. Jones is a two-time Tony Award winner, two-time Obie Award winner and alumnus of the American Theatre Wing Professional School. CeCe Black, Anki Leeds, and Marva Smalls will serve as Gala Chairs.

Following the internationally acclaimed production with sold-out engagements on Broadway and in London's West End, television legend, Oscar recipient and five-time Tony Award-winner Angela Lansbury returns to the stage in Noel Coward's smash-hit comedic play 'Blithe Spirit' in an exciting North American tour to be launched at Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre.

The Public Theater announced the return of Public Forum's holiday tradition, a one-night-only Drama Club reading and discussion of THE LONG CHRISTMAS DINNER on Sunday, December 14 at 7:00 p.m. at Joe's Pub at The Public. Just in time for the holidays, this exciting evening will feature a reading of Thornton Wilder's 1931 one-act featuring Tarell Alvin McCraney, Ethan Lipton, Andrew Solomon, and Tappan Wilder. Wilder's ingenious, heartbreaking play traces 90 years in the life of an American family, and will spark a discussion about family and storytelling in a society that's rapidly accelerating.

Hugh Jackman stopped by ABC's THE VIEW and spoke about literally leaving blood, sweat and tears on the stage every night in his new Broadway play THE RIVER.

Maureen Lipman will be joining James Dreyfus in Lindsay Posner's new production of Mary Chase's Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy HARVEY, which will open at Birmingham Repertory Theatre on 6 February, running until 21 February, prior to a UK Tour and the West End. Maureen Lipman will be playing Veta, who tries to get her brother, Elwood P. Dowd played by James Dreyfus, committed rather than risk the family's reputation.

Anna Chlumsky will take over for Rose Byrne in the hit Broadway revival of YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU. The two-time Emmy nominated actress will be joined by Richard Thomas, who will replace Mark Linn-Baker.

Acclaimed and much loved celebrity and society photographer Annie Watt, a familiar face in the New York social and commercial art scenes will unveil her first solo exhibition at the Galerie Dumonteil, at 475 Park Avenue in New York City, from December 10th 2014 to January 10th 2015.

Tony Award-nominee Annaleigh Ashford will bring her unique brand of humor and talent back to 54 Below for three December shows of Annaleigh Ashford - Lost in the Stars, which will run consecutively on Monday nights beginning tonight, December 1, 2014 at 9:30pm.

When Crumpet (the character's 'elf name') gets annoyed with the other elves, the children, and their parents, Pierce doesn't get bitchy; he goes into full Shakespearean revenge mode, plotting his vengeance like Iago, and it's all the funnier for that.

More than 400 women -- leaders of industry, media, government and the arts -- attended the Citymeals-on-Wheels 28th Annual 'Power Lunch for Women' at The Plaza Hotel on November 21, 2014. This by-invitation-only benefit, emceed by Emmy-winning co-hosts of the 4th Hour of The Today Show Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb, raised $1.26 million -- enough to provide 196,000 meals for New York's homebound elderly. BroadwayWorld has photos from the event below!