Leslie Uggams News

On the heels of their one-year wedding anniversary, distinguished entertainers Christine Reisner-Rebic (an international cabaret chanteuse and dancer) and Don Rebic (Broadway and cabaret musical director and composer) will join forces for the New York City debut of their first full-length cabaret act as a duo. 'Look Who's in Love' features their original songs as well as songs by veteran Broadway composer Albert Hague (Christine's uncle) and timeless jazzy standards by Irving Berlin, Jule Styne, Jimmy Van Heusen, Betty Comden and Adolph Green. The show is directed by Michael Bush.

Nothing Like a Dame: Conversations with the Great Women of Musical Theater, a new book by Eddie Shapiro featuring interviews with 20 female musical theatre stars, launched earlier this week at the headquarters of Oxford University Press at 198 Madison Avenue. Attendees got to meet some of the dames of Dames including Laura Benanti, Judy Kaye, Debra Monk, Donna McKechnie, Donna Murphy, Lillias White and Karen Ziemba. BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was there to chat with the ladies about their stories and you can check out what they had to say below!

Nothing Like a Dame: Conversations with the Great Women of Musical Theater, a new book by Eddie Shapiro featuring interviews with 20 female musical theatre stars, launched last night at the headquarters of Oxford University Press at 198 Madison Avenue. Attendees got to meet some of the dames of Dames including Laura Benanti, Judy Kaye, Debra Monk, Donna McKechnie, Donna Murphy, Lillias White and Karen Ziemba. Check out photos from the special event below!

Amas Musical Theatre, New York City's award-winning pioneer in diversity and multi-ethnic casting in the performing arts since 1968, will celebrate its 45th Anniversary at a gala benefit on Monday, March 31st, 2014 at the Baruch Performing Arts Center (East 25th Street between Lexington and 3rd Avenues). Honorary Chair for the event is veteran Broadway virtuoso Maurice Hines.

Bucks County Playhouse (BCP) has announced the launch of a 2014 winter concert series, kicking off with the World Premiere of JUSTIN GUARINI LOVESICK, a new show from Justin Guarini and directed by Gordon Greenberg.

Today in 1931, Broadway veteran James Earl Jones was born. He has won Tony awards in 1969 for The Great White Hope and in 1987 for Fences. He has acted in many Shakespearean roles: Othello, King Lear, Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Abhorson in Measure for Measure, and Claudius in Hamlet. On April 7, 2005, James Earl Jones and Leslie Uggams headed the cast in an African-American Broadway revival version of On Golden Pond, directed by Leonard Foglia and produced by Jeffrey Finn. In February 2008, he starred on Broadway as Big Daddy in a limited-run, all-African-American production of Tennessee Williams's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, directed by Debbie Allen and mounted at the Broadhurst Theatre. In October 2010, Jones returned to the Broadway stage in Alfred Uhry's Driving Miss Daisy along with Vanessa Redgrave at the Golden Theatre. In November 2011, Jones starred in Driving Miss Daisy in London's West End, and on November 12 Jones received his honorary Oscar in front of the audience at the Wyndham's Theatre, which was presented to him by Ben Kingsley.

TONY and EMMY Award winner Leslie Uggams has replaced Faith Prince for the performance of 4 Girls 4 at the State Theatre in Easton on Friday, April 4. The announcement was made by the show's producer. Uggams will appear with Andrea McArdle, Maureen McGovern and Donna McKechnie. John McDaniel is the Music Director.

The book launch for Nothing Like a Dame: Conversations with the Great Women of Musical Theater, a new book by Eddie Shapiro featuring interviews with 20 female musical theatre stars, will take place January 27, 2014 from 6-8 pm at the headquarters of Oxford University Press at 198 Madison Avenue.

Stars from Mike Tyson, Phylicia Rashad and Alicia Keys to Spike Lee, Danny Glover and Ruby Dee show their love for New York City's acclaimed New Federal Theatre by voicing personalized Valentine's Day messages for fans in this fun, fund-raiser. The "Love for New Federal Theatre" personalized celebrity messages are a $249 donation to the New Federal Theatre and can be purchased from January 12- February 5, 2014 through the website at www.lovefornewfederaltheatre.com.

Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress, singer, and recording artist Leslie Uggams (Roots, King Headley II, Hallelujah, Baby!) is ringing in the holidays with the release of a new single 'Wishing You a Happy New Year' written by renowned film, television, and concert composer-orchestrator Curtis McKonly. Available online at iTunes, Amazon.com, CD Baby and other major digital music outlets, this elegant new tune features the 41-piece Curtis McKonly Orchestra. Click below to watch a behind-the-scenes video of Uggams in the recording studio!

Last night, December 19, Town Hall overflowed with the musical joys of the season when three extraordinary talents, Leslie Uggams, Marilyn Maye and Christine Andreas took the stage for Holiday Belles. These award-winning singers brought their unique and diverse talents to the celebration, performing songs from the musical theater and the American Songbook, as well as holiday favorites. The concert, conceived and directed by Michael Bush, featured each singer performing her own individual set, and then brought them together for a very merry finale of holiday melodies. Check out photos from the concert below!

A stirring new single and promotional music video for 'Wishing You A Happy New Year' by legendary stage and screen star Leslie Uggams are now available to sample and download, just in time for the holidays.

Artful Events, parent company of Orlando's downtown venues The Abbey and The MEZZ, announces the creation of the Downtown Broadway Cabaret Series, and the addition of two more amazing performers to the series.

A VIP screening of the new American Masters documentary, Marvin Hamlisch: What He Did For Love is set for The Paley Center for Media today, December 9th at 6:15 PM. The new documentary is the American Masters series' Season 27 finale, premiering nationally Friday, December 27, 2013, 9-10:30 p.m. on PBS (check local listings) and available on DVD January 14, 2014 via PBS Distribution.

The 'American Masters' documentary 'Marvin Hamlisch: What He Did For Love' premieres Dec. 27 on PBS. Below, watch three new film extras, featuring interviews with Leslie Uggams, Christopher Walken, Raul Esparza, Kelli O'Hara, Kevin Cole and more!

A VIP screening of the new American Masters documentary, Marvin Hamlisch: What He Did For Love is set for The Paley Center for Media on Monday, December 9th at 6:15 PM. The new documentary is the American Masters series' Season 27 finale, premiering nationally Friday, December 27, 2013, 9-10:30 p.m. on PBS (check local listings) and available on DVD January 14, 2014 via PBS Distribution.

Join The Philhallmonics swingin' and singin' their way through holiday favorites in 'Man With The Bag' presented by The Lincoln Center Library for the Performing Arts and The PhilHallmonics (www.philhallmonics.com) today, December 7, 2013, 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. at the Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center (entrance at 65th St & Amsterdam). The PhilHallmonics is led by founder, Broadway conductor and composer, Phil Hall and directed by Broadway choreographer Sharon Halley.

Urban Stages, in association with producer/director/lyricist Peter Napolitano have announced additions to WINTER RHYTHMS 2013 performer line-up now running throughSunday, December 15, 2013 at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street). Tickets are $30 per show (unless otherwise noted).Tickets may be purchased on www.smarttix.com or 212 868-4444.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond: