Jim Lewis News

Music superstar Beyonce recenlty participated in a photo shoot with L'Officiel Paris in which she channeled Fela Anikulapo-Kuti- on whom the recent Broadway musical was based. Beyonce went as far as using blackface and tribal paint in the photoshoot, and the result has certainly sparked controversy.

'KINGS: THE SIEGE OF TROY'- Three theaters team up to present new stage version of 'The Iliad of Homer, Books I & II' as adapted by famed English poet Christopher Logue. Production is adapted for the stage and directed by Jim Milton.

The Laurence Olivier Awards - the most prestigious awards in London's Theatreland - will be held this year in a revamped ceremony at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on Sunday 13 March. Follow full coverage of the event on www.olivierawards.com.

The nominations for this year's awards are being announced this morning - follow all the news with us!

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts is thrilled to announce the fourth production of National Theatre Live's second season - broadcast live from London's National Olivier Theatre, the musical sensation and Tony nominee for Best Musical, FELA!

The National Theatre's production of FELA! has received an extraordinarily popular and critical reception. Stephen and Ruth Hendel are proud to announce that the first European engagement signed for the international tour is a return to London for a six-week run at the prestigious Sadler's Wells Theatre.

An intimate evening of talk and song celebrating the male roles from the musical songbook of 5-time Tony nominated composer, Michael John LaChiusa, whose works include Little Fish, Marie Christine, See What I Wanna See, Hello Again, and The Wild Party, will be presented at a one-night-only event on Monday, January 10 at 7 PM at Playwrights Horizon.

Fela! may soon be headed to Nigeria, according to the New York Times. The move was originally reported in June, when it was announced that FELA! has been asked by officials at the Nigerian Ministry of Culture to perform in Nigeria in October.

On January 2, Fela!, the multi-Tony Award-winning Broadway musical about the music and life of the revolutionary musician and activist Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, ended it's run at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre. The critically acclaimed musical began performances on Broadway on October 19 of 2009 and opened to rave reviews on November 23, 2009. Check out photos from the final performance below!

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) on November 23, 2009. BroadwayWorld and Broadway Beat were on hand and bring you these explosive clips and interviews with the cast and creative!

BroadwayWorld offers highlights of the several productions which will complete their Broadway runs in January.

An intimate evening of talk and song celebrating the male roles from the musical songbook of 5-time Tony nominated composer, Michael John LaChiusa, whose works include Little Fish, Marie Christine, See What I Wanna See, Hello Again, and The Wild Party, will be presented at a one-night-only event on Monday, January 10 at 7 PM at Playwrights Horizon.

Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter and Will & Jada Pinkett Smith present Fela!, the multi-Tony Award-winning Broadway musical about the music and life of the revolutionary musician and activist Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, now playing at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre (230 West 49th Street) through January 2, 2011.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts is thrilled to announce the fourth production of National Theatre Live's second season - broadcast live from London's National Olivier Theatre, the musical sensation and Tony nominee for Best Musical, FELA!

Fela!, recipient of three 2010 Tony® Awards including Best Choreography, will celebrate its One Year Anniversary on Broadway on Tuesday, November 23 @ 7pm at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre (230 West 49th Street) where it opened a year ago to rapturous reviews.

Directed and choreographed by Tony®Award-winner Bill T. Jones, FELA! opened in LonDon Starring Sahr Ngaujah, who originated the role and currently appears in the Broadway production. Kevin Mambo, who shares the role with Mr. Ngaujah in NYC, will also join the otherwise all-British cast for a limited run. The Broadway production will continue its open-ended run.

The National Theatre, one of the world's most prestigious venues, opens FELA!, this season's most heralded new musical on Broadway, on November 16 at The National's Olivier Theatre. Directed and choreographed by Tony®Award-winner Bill T. Jones, FELA! will open in LonDon Starring Sahr Ngaujah, who originated the role and currently appears in the Broadway production. Kevin Mambo, who shares the role with Mr. Ngaujah in NYC, will also join the otherwise all-British cast for a limited run. The Broadway production will continue its open-ended run.

According to USA Today, Charles Moore, author of a book about Fela Kuti, has sued the producers of the Broadway musical Fela!. As presented to federal court in Manhattan today, Novemmber 8, Moore claims that producers of the show 'stole his work', and wants performances of the show to stop. Moore, who reportedly declined an offer of $4,000 in 2007 from the show's producers, is seeking at least $5 million.

The conference entitled "Musical Theatre in the USA: American Musical Elements - From Page to Stage" will take place within the International Festival for Musical Performing Arts "Life is Beautiful" in Bucharest, Romania.

Fela!, recipient of three 2010 Tony® Awards including Best Choreography, will celebrate its 400th performance on Tuesday, November 8 @ 7pm.