Ken Billington News

Now celebrating more than twelve glorious years of girls, glitz and glamour on the Great White Way, CHICAGO is the 'razzle dazzle' hit of the town ... and it still shows no sign of ever slowing down! But you can catch it at a special price with our BWW Discount!

Producers David Richenthal and Jack Viertel have announced that the critically-acclaimed New York City Center Encores! production of Finian?s Rainbow, will transfer to Broadway's St. James Theatre, 246 West 44 Street, beginning Thursday, October 8 at 8pm, with an opening set for Thursday, October 29 at 6:45pm.

After a 48 year absence, Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) presents the first new Broadway production of Bye Bye Birdie as the inaugural production of the new Henry Miller's Theatre (124 West 43rd Street) beginning Thursday, September 10th, 2009 with an official opening on Thursday, October 15th, 2009. This will be a limited engagement through January 10th, 2010.

The Great White Way continues to heat up this summer when two-time Emmy Award nominee and celebrated TV personality Samantha Harris ('The Insider,' 'Dancing with the Stars') makes her Broadway stage debut in the starring role of Roxie Hart in the Tony Award-winning hit musical CHICAGO for a six-week limited engagement, Tuesday, July 7 through Sunday, August 16, 2009 at the Ambassador Theatre (219 W. 49th St.).

Producer John Breglio and the Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc. announced casting today for the premiere engagement at the Apollo Theater, prior to the national tour of the groundbreaking musical. Dreamgirls will introduce Moya Angela as Effie White and feature, as The Dreams, Syesha Mercado as Deena Jones, Adrienne Warren as Lorrell Robinson, and Margaret Hoffman as Michelle Morris with Chaz Lamar Shepherd as Curtis Taylor, Jr., Chester Gregory is James 'Thunder' Early, Trevon Davis as C.C. White, Milton Craig Nealy as Marty Madison in a cast of 26 that also features Tallia Brinson, Felicia Boswell, Ronald Duncan, Talitha Farrow, Brittney Griffin, James Harkness, Robert Hartwell, Eric Jackson, Chauncey Jenkins, Jared Joseph, Nikki Kimbrough, Brittany Lewis, Douglas Lyons, Kimberly Marable, Jarran Muse, Amaker Smith and Marc Spaulding.

Designed to provide theatergoers with an exclusive, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world of CHICAGO, the most recent 'Talkback Tuesdays' took place on Tuesday, June 23rd, and featured a post-show conversation with three-time Emmy Award nominee and 'Grey's Anatomy' star Chandra Wilson. She will perform in the production through Sunday, July 5, 2009 at the Ambassador Theatre (219 W. 49th St.). BroadwayWorld.com's cameras were there as she met the 'Talkback' crowd!

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Tuesday, June 23, 2009.

The Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz will hold two free post-matinee talkbacks and audience Q&A sessions with Encores! Artistic Director Jack Viertel and members of the company on Wednesday, June 24 and Wednesday, July 1 at New York City Center, 131 W. 55th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenue).

Two-Time Tony Award nominee André De Shields, who created the title role of 'The Wiz' in the original Broadway production (1975), caught the ENCORES! production of 'The Wiz' last night and visited the members of the cast backstage.

'Grey's Anatomy' star Chandra Wilson has stepped into the celebrated role of Matron 'Mama' Morton, the reigning cellblock diva of the smash hit musical CHICAGO. Chandra Wilson has joined the production for a four-week limited engagement which began, Monday, June 8th. She will perform in the production through Sunday, July 5, 2009 at the Ambassador Theatre (219 W. 49th St.). BroadwayWorld.com's cameras were there as she welcomed 'Grey's Anatomy' creator Shonda Rhimes backstage after the Monday June 22nd performance!

BroadwayWorld.com's master photographer Walter McBride covered all the 'Oz' filled action, in addition to his normal stellar photo coverage he has created a special 'In The Spotlight' series of pictures. These portraits of The Wiz cast are 'in the moment' and taken as they met the press on opening night!

After a 48 year absence, Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) will present the first new Broadway production of Bye Bye Birdie as the inaugural production of the new Henry Miller's Theatre (124 West 43rd Street) beginning Thursday, September 10th, 2009 with an official opening on Thursday, October 15th, 2009. This will be a limited engagement through January 10th, 2010.

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!

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). Easing down the road with Ashanti's Dorothy will be Joshua Henry, James Monroe Iglehart, Christian Dante White, Tichina Arnold and Dawnn Lewis. BroadwayWorld.com 'eased on down the road' to cover all the 'Oz' filled action!

The Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz, starring Ashanti, LaChanze and Orlando Jones, officially opens tonight, Thursday, June 18 at New York City Center. (Previews began June 12). Easing down the road with Ashanti's Dorothy will be Joshua Henry, James Monroe Iglehart, Christian Dante White, Tichina Arnold and Dawnn Lewis.

The Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz will hold two free post-matinee talkbacks and audience Q&A sessions with Encores! Artistic Director Jack Viertel and members of the company on Wednesday, June 24 and Wednesday, July 1 at New York City Center, 131 W. 55th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenue).

The Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz, starring Ashanti, LaChanze and Orlando Jones, will open on Thursday, June 18 at New York City Center. (Previews began June 12). Easing down the road with Ashanti's Dorothy will be Joshua Henry, James Monroe Iglehart, Christian Dante White, Tichina Arnold and Dawnn Lewis.

Gary Wilmot will join the cast of the UK National tour of the smash-hit musical 'CHICAGO' to star as ?Billy Flynn' from Monday 15 June until Saturday 21 November 2009. Emma Barton will continue to star as ?Roxie Hart'.

Emmy Award nominee and 'Grey's Anatomy' star Chandra Wilson is now Broadway's Matron 'Mama' Morton in the smash hit musical CHICAGO, for a four-week limited engagement. She joined the show last night Monday, June 8th and will appear through Sunday, July 5, 2009 at the Ambassador Theatre (219 W. 49th St.). Her famous friends and fans came out to see her and BWW was there!

Broadway heats up this summer now that three-time Emmy Award nominee and 'Grey's Anatomy' star Chandra Wilson has stepped into the celebrated role of Matron 'Mama' Morton, the reigning cellblock diva of the smash hit musical CHICAGO. Chandra Wilson joins the production for a four-week limited engagement which began last night, Monday, June 8 through Sunday, July 5, 2009 at the Ambassador Theatre (219 W. 49th St.). BroadwayWorld.com's cameras were there as she took her first bows as 'Mama' Morton!