Marsha Norman News

Following rumors earlier today that Jennifer Hudson would be making her Broadway debut in a revival of THE COLOR PURPLE, producers have now confirmed that the Oscar winner will indeed head to the Great White Way. Beginning next fall, John Doyle's critically acclaimed Menier Chocolate Factory production of The Color Purple, the landmark musical will come to Broadway with the Grammy, Academy Award, Golden Globe and BAFTA Award winner in the role of Shug Avery, despite earlier reports that she'd be taking on the role of Celie.

The Dramatists Guild of America has announced the recipients of their annual awards, which will be presented at an awards ceremony hosted by David Henry Hwang on Monday, February 23, 2015, at The Harvard Club in New York.

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.

Houston Family Arts Center (HFAC) announces its production of THE SECRET GARDEN, withbook and lyrics by Marsha Norman, music by Lucy Simon, based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett and presented in a special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. The musical will run Feb. 6 to March 1 on the Houston Family Arts Center Garza Mainstage.

59E59 Theaters will welcome the world premiere of THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS, written by Tom Dulack and directed by Michael Parva. Produced by The Directors Company and part of the 59E59's inaugural 5A Season, THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS begins performances on Saturday, January 17 at 8 PM for a limited engagement through Sunday, March 1. Opening Night is Tuesday, January 27 at 7 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday - Thursday at 7 PM; Friday at 8 PM; Saturday at 2 PM & 8 PM; Sunday at 3 PM. Single tickets are $70 ($49 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or visit www.59e59.org.

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.

The Muny announced today the directors, choreographers and music directors for the Muny's 2015 Season, which opens on June 15 with My Fair Lady. 'This is a thrilling roster of artists,' said Muny Artistic Director and Executive Producer Mike Isaacson. 'We look forward to bringing their vision and talent to our grand stage.'

Paper Mill Playhouse has announced casting for its winter comedy, Christopher Durang's Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. This touching and wickedly hysterical Tony Award-winning best play features Broadway, television and film veterans: Philippe Bowgen (Spike), Gina Daniels (Cassandra), Carolyn McCormick (Masha), Mark Nelson (Vanya), Michele Pawk (Sonia) and Jamie Ann Romero (Nina). Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike will be directed by Don Stephenson. Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike will run eight times a week at the Millburn, New Jersey, theater from January 21 through February 15, 2015. The official press opening night is Sunday, January 25, at 7:00pm. Paper Mill Playhouse's 2014-2015 Season is sponsored by Investors Bank.

Ghostlight Records will release the two-track single by pop sensation Ariana Grande from the Broadway show 13 - The Musical. Grande made her acting debut in the 2008 Broadway production, which has music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown and book by Dan Elish and Robert Horn. Fans of the chart-topping singer can hear her earliest recorded work as the songs 'Brand New You' and 'A Little More Homework' are now available together for the first time on iTunes here. A special new lyric video of 'Brand New You' is available on YouTube here. The full original Broadway cast recording of 13 - The Musical, as well as the London cast recording, is available from Ghostlight Records. Since its Broadway premiere, the show has had over a thousand productions around the world and is being developed as a movie musical by CBS Films.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, announces Northlight's 40th Anniversary Party featuring a performance by Tony Award winner, composer and lyricist Jason Robert Brown. The event, which will also include a cocktail reception, raffle and auction, will be held at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie, tonight, December 11, 2014 at 7:00pm.

After a full season of events to celebrate their fifth anniversary season, WAM Theatre successfully concluded the year with a sold-out production and their largest gift presentation yet to a beneficiary.

Red House Arts Center will present The Color Purple with music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray and book by Marsha Norman. Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Alice Walker, this incredibly moving musical tells the story of a young woman who manages to triumph over adversity and find her own voice through the power of love. The show opens at Redhouse on December 5th and runs through December 20th.

Der Winter hat gerade erst begonnen, aber die Freilichtbuhnen in Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz blicken schon auf den nachsten Sommer. Viele der Openair-Theater in der Region fuhren auch 2015 wieder Musicals auf und haben bereits die Spielplane fur den kommenden Sommer veroffentlicht. Auf dem Programm stehen Klassiker wie Cabaret und Singin' in the Rain, aber auch Deutschlandpremieren wie Zorro und selten gespielte Musicals wie Der Geheime Garten und Das Lacheln einer Sommernacht. Vielerorts auch hat bereits der Vorverkauf begonnen. Damit ihr euch die besten Platze sichern und Ausfluge planen konnt, gibt es hier eine Übersicht uber einen Großteil der Freilicht-Musicals im Sommer 2015.

Red House Arts Center will present The Color Purple with music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray and book by Marsha Norman. Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Alice Walker, this incredibly moving musical tells the story of a young woman who manages to triumph over adversity and find her own voice through the power of love. The show opens at Redhouse on December 5th and runs through December 20th.

BroadwayWorld brings you photos of Rasche in the BroadwayWorld.com series 'In The Spotlight' by acclaimed photographer Walter McBride!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The 2014 BroadwayWorld Chicago Award nominations are announced, Lyric presents 'Porgy' and 'Carousel,' 'Camelot' opens, 'Ring Of Fire' and 'Annie' return, 'Annie' and 'Ani' hit screens, parodies of 'Guffman,' the Merman/Mormon thing, Rudolph and Tupperware, and a suburban 'Garden!'

Last night, November 10, The Lilly Awards Foundation with the Broadway at Birdland Series presented The Lilly Awards Broadway Cabaret: An evening of showstoppers written by women and performed by Broadway's Best to benefit The Lilly Awards Foundation whose mission is to promote gender parity at all levels of theatrical production, and develop and celebrate the work of women in the theater. The evening was directed by Daisy Prince, musical direction by Georgia Stitt and co-produced by Amanda Green and Georgia Stitt. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from backstage below!

The Lilly Awards Foundation with the Broadway at Birdland Series proudly presents The Lilly Awards Broadway Cabaret: An evening of showstoppers written by women and performed by Broadway's Best to benefit The Lilly Awards Foundation whose mission is to promote gender parity at all levels of theatrical production, and develop and celebrate the work of women in the theater.

Below, Prince shares with BroadwayWorld her history with the organization, what to expect from the concert and more!

Below, Stitt shares with BroadwayWorld her history with the organization, what to expect from the concert and more!