Jared Grimes News

Roundabout Theatre Company will soon present the first Broadway production of Charles Fuller's award-winning drama A Soldier's Play, directed by Kenny Leon. A Soldier's Play will star David Alan Grier as 'Sergeant Vernon C. Waters,' Blair Underwood as 'Captain Richard Davenport,' Nnamdi Asomugha as 'Private First Class Melvin Peterson,' Jerry O'Connell as 'Captain Charles Taylor,' McKinley Belcher III as 'Private Louis Henson,' Rob Demery as 'Corporal Bernard Cobb,' Jared Grimes as 'Private Tony Smalls,' Billy Eugene Jones as 'Private James Wilkie,' Nate Mann as 'Lieutenant Byrd,' Warner Miller as 'Corporal Ellis,' J. Alphonse Nicholson as 'Private C. J. Memphis' and Lee Aaron Rosen as 'Captain Wilcox.'

Now in its fourth decade, the Chicago Human Rhythm Project (CHRP) presents performance, education and community development programs throughout the city throughout the year.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director/CEO) has just announced complete casting for the first Broadway production of Charles Fuller's award-winning drama A Soldier's Play, directed by Kenny Leon.

Joshua Bergasse is in town making time for master class, discovering local talent and watching homemade flying contraptions dive into the Mississippi, as well as letting us in on a little secret that may or may not happen but is pretty fun to think about. Oh, and he choreographed and directed SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE, too.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series was proud to present singer/dancer Jared Grimes, who brought an evening of high energy, non-stop, genre-fusing music and dance to the Birdland stage. The band included Mark Meadows on piano, DeWitt Fleming on drums, Bret Puchir on guitar and Brent Birckhead on sax.

Birdland will kick-off their great week of programming with the following acts:

Going into the new updated version of 42nd Street at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts on Friday wasn't as fresh to me as it was to othersa??because I hadn't seen the show before. That's right, another classical Broadway show was crossed off my list. Since it was announced last year, the Ordway has touted this project as a new reimagined version with a?oerevisions, updates, and some new twists that are totally unique to [their] production,a?? according to the Ordway's Producing Artistic Director, Rod Kaats. However, you can only make a first impression once so this will forever be my version and experience with this musical and I'll say that it was a pretty good first experience to have with it. 

A tap dancing revival hits the Ordway stage and lead Kimberly Immanuel provides some insights to this reimagined classic musical that has the box office buzz for a mixture of new and old.

42nd Street is now open at the Ordway! What did the critics have to say? Read all the reviews!

The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts is thrilled to announce the final casting for the Ordway Original production of “42nd Street” which begins performances on July 23 and continues for 24 performances through Aug. 11.

Birdland will kick-off their exciting month of programming with John Pizzarelli: A Tribute to Benny Goodman, Dee Dee Bridgewater, David Matthews Trio, The Count Basie Orchestra, Charlie Parker Birthday Celebration, Chris Byars Original Sextet, Nicki Parrott, Gunhild Carling, Ken Peplowski and Diego Figueiredo, Birdography: Celebrating Charlie Parker, Lorin Cohen, Sam Behr, Laila Biali, Carole J. Bufford, The Lineup with Susie Mosher, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more!

The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts is thrilled to announce the final casting for the Ordway Original production of '42nd Street' which begins performances on July 23 and continues for 24 performances through Aug. 11.

Bridesmaids: A Dance Narrative is set to premiere this August in NY. Directed/Choreographed by Steven Paul Blandino, this production will follow the lives of five Bridesmaids, a Bride, a Groom, as well as an Ensemble on a journey of love, jealousy, and everything in between. Bridesmaids: A Dance Narrative will try out a NY Premiere performance at Dixon Place, additional details to follow.

Today's subject, Kevin McAllister, always has dynamic stage presence no matter the production. Currently he is living his theatre life onstage at Signature Theatre singing the Ken Page track in Ain't Misbehavin'. The production runs through March 10th in Signature Theatre's MAX space.

Director Patricia McGregor returns to the Geffen Playhouse after her successful directorial stint of Dominique Morriseau's SKELETON CREW last year. This time, Patricia directs the west coast premiere of LIGHTS OUT: NAT 'KING' COLE (now, already in previews), co-written by herself and Coleman Domingo. Patricia took some time after a long day of rehearsals to chat with me over the phone.

It's hard to believe that it's been over 40 years now since a little revue that started at New York's Manhattan Theatre Club took Broadway by storm. The show was Ain't Misbehavin' and if you didn't know who composer Thomas “Fats” Waller was before, you did after seeing this show. It also made Nell Carter a star and garnered her a television series called Gimme a Break. Besides Carter the cast was comprised of Charlaine Woodard, Armelia McQueen, Andre De Shields, and Ken Page. When the original cast returned for a Broadway revival of the show in the 80's, Nell Carter received star billing even though the show is truly an ensemble piece. Ah, the power of television.

Signature Theatre presents Ain't Misbehavin': The Fats Waller Musical Show directed by Signature Theatre's Director of New Works Joe Calarco (Signature's The Scottsboro Boys, Jesus Christ Superstar) and choreographed by Jared Grimes (Signature's The Scottsboro Boys, Jelly's Last Jam). Signature's MAX Theatre will be converted into a 1930s Harlem night club for this tribute to the music of Thomas 'Fats' Waller. This Tony Award®-winning musical includes the beloved tunes 'The Joint is Jumpin',' 'Honeysuckle Rose,' 'Handful of Keys' and more. Ain't Misbehavin'runs from January 23 - March 10, 2019.

Signature Theatre presents Ain't Misbehavin': The Fats Waller Musical Show directed by Signature Theatre's Director of New Works Joe Calarco (Signature's The Scottsboro Boys, Jesus Christ Superstar) and choreographed by Jared Grimes (Signature's The Scottsboro Boys, Jelly's Last Jam).

Known as "Mr. Entertainment," Sammy Davis, Jr., had the kind of career that was indisputably legendary, vast in scope and scale: song-and-dance man, Rat Pack member alongside Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, Tony-nominated actor…. And yet, his life was complex, complicated and contradictory, as he strove to achieve the American Dream in a time of racial prejudice and shifting political territory.

Go inside the rehearsal room with the incredible cast of AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' at Signature Theatre. Performances begin January 23.