Phylicia Rashad News

Grammy award and Tony award nominee Michael McElroy and Broadway Inspirational Voices (BIV) are gearing up for their second holiday album 'Great Joy II: Around the World'. They are kicking off their fundraising with a Kickstarter campaign, running from May 15th through June 15th. BIV members and friends from the Broadway community who have supported in the campaign include BIV board president Phylicia Rashad, Mario Cantone, Lin Mañuel Miranda, Stephanie J. Block, Leslie Uggams, Angela Robinson, Billy Porter, Adriane Lenox, Alice Ripley, Gavin Creel, Shoshana Bean, Eden Espinosa, Montego Glover, Tom Kitt and many more. Watch the pitch video below!

Jujamcyn Theaters and True Colors Theatre Company (Kenny Leon, Co-Founding Artistic Director) have announced that Ashley Herbert from Boston has won first place at the 6th Annual August Wilson Monologue Competition held on Monday, May 5th at the August Wilson Theatre (245 West 52nd Street). Robert Upton from Chicago was the runner-up, and an honorable mention went to Atiauna Grant from Atlanta. Denzel Washington surprised the audience with a special appearance during the awards ceremony, and greeted all of the contestants afterwards. The event, which was free and open to the public, featured high school students from Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh, Portland and Seattle performing monologues by the late, legendary American playwright. Scroll down for photos from the competition!

According to Deadline, FOX has given a series order to Lee Daniels and Danny Strong's hip-hop drama EMPIRE, starring Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard. Howard recently starred in the pair's 2013 drama THE BUTLER.

Jujamcyn Theaters and True Colors Theatre Company present 6th Annual August Wilson Monologue Competition tonight, May 5th at 7:00 p.m. at the August Wilson Theatre (245 West 52nd Street). The event, which is free and open to the public, features high school students from Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh and Seattle performing monologues by the late, legendary American playwright.

Nevada Ballet Theatre (NBT) announced today that it will honor dancer, choreographer, actress, producer, director and author Debbie Allen as Woman of the Year for the 31st Annual Black & White Ball. The recipient of numerous awards, including a Tony Award, Golden Globe and three Emmy Awards among others, Allen's many contributions to the performing arts and entertainment industry will be celebrated on Saturday, January 24, 2015 at ARIA Resort & Casino, CityCenter.

'The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess,' winner of the 2012 Tony Award for Best Musical Revival, opens at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre tonight, April 23 and play through June 1, 2014.

Yale Repertory Theatre, in a co-production with Berkeley Repertory Theatre, presents the world premiere of The House that will not Stand by Marcus Gardley, directed by Patricia McGregor. The House that will not Stand will be performed at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street) today, April 18-May 10. Opening Night is Thursday, April 24.

Jujamcyn Theaters and True Colors Theatre Company have announced the judges for the 6th Annual August Wilson Monologue Competition on Monday, May 5th at 7:00 p.m. at the August Wilson Theatre (245 West 52nd Street). The event, which is free and open to the public, features high school students from Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh and Seattle performing monologues by the late, legendary American playwright.

Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner James Franco and Chris O'Dowd make their Broadway debuts in Of Mice and Men, a new production directed by Tony Award winner Anna D. Shapiro. Of Mice and Men, one of the greatest and most enduring American classics, has not been seen on Broadway in 40 years.

Broadway's biggest stars gathered at the Circle in the Square Theatre yesterday for opening night of Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill, starring five-time Tony Award-winner Audra McDonald and directed by Lonny Price. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the star-studded red carpet below!

Well, you know what they say: if you don't have anything nice to say about anybody, come sit by me!

According to Deadline, Oscar winner Terrence Howard has signed on to join Vince Vaughn and Hailee Steinfeld in the upcoming thriller TERM LIFE. Peter Billingsley will direct the film, scripted by A.J. Lieberman, and based on Nick Thornborrow's novel.

Salon/Sanctuary Concerts presents Exodus: Dreams of the Promised Land in Antebellum America featuring The Western Wind Vocal Ensemble with guest actors Rosalyn Coleman Williams and Jennifer Rau. The Script and Stage Direction is by Erica Gould and Jessica Gould did the program concept and dramaturgy.

REG E. CATHEY (House of Cards, The Wire) joins the cast of EXODUS: DREAMS OF THE PROMISED LAND IN ANTEBELLUM AMERICA, playing multiple roles including Solomon Northrup (Twelve Years a Slave) and the Abolitionist Frederick Douglass. The cast also includes ROSALYN COLEMAN WILLIAMS (The Mountaintop, Seven Guitars, The Piano Lesson) in multiple roles including Elizabeth Keckley (familiar to audiences from the movie Lincoln), JENNIFER RAU as Abolitionist Angelina Grimke, and the noted vocal ensemble THE WESTERN WIND. Conceived by Salon/Sanctuary's Founding Artistic Director Jessica Gould to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, EXODUS was originally presented last year in a sold-out performance staged at the historic Fraunces Tavern, the oldest structure in Manhattan.

Yale Repertory Theatre, in a co-production with Berkeley Repertory Theatre, presents the world premiere of The House that will not Stand by Marcus Gardley, directed by Patricia McGregor. The House that will not Stand will be performed at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street) April 18-May 10. Opening Night is Thursday, April 24.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: A RAISIN IN THE SUN, starring Denzel Washington, opens tonight on Broadway, and GUYS AND DOLLS plays in concert with an all-star cast at Carnegie Hall!

The 2012 Tony Award-winning Best Musical Revival opening at the Ordway Center for Performing Arts has a lot of fans, starting with the cast. Actor Alvin Crawford heaps the praise on this area premiere.

BET Networks has acquired this year's #1 new talk show, Sony Pictures Television's The Queen Latifah Show, to air beginning Monday, March 31.

From a field of 12 local high school students, Jonah Gould, Mykaela Sterris and LeafRickard have been selected as the winners of the 2014 August Wilson Monologue Competition Los Angeles Regional finals. Contestants this year featured high school students from nine Southern California cities, who performed in the regional finals at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum, Tuesday night, March 11, 2014. The top three student performers received scholarships and the opportunity to perform again in New York City. The August Wilson Monologue Competition is presented by the Center Theatre Group Affiliates, a volunteer organization that supports Center Theatre Group's education and community partnerships programs.

REG E. CATHEY (House of Cards, The Wire) joins the cast of EXODUS: DREAMS OF THE PROMISED LAND IN ANTEBELLUM AMERICA, playing multiple roles including Solomon Northrup (Twelve Years a Slave) and the Abolitionist Frederick Douglass. The cast also includes ROSALYN COLEMAN WILLIAMS (The Mountaintop, Seven Guitars, The Piano Lesson) in multiple roles including Elizabeth Keckley (familiar to audiences from the movie Lincoln), JENNIFER RAU as Abolitionist Angelina Grimke, and the noted vocal ensemble THE WESTERN WIND. Conceived by Salon/Sanctuary's Founding Artistic Director Jessica Gould to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, EXODUS was originally presented last year in a sold-out performance staged at the historic Fraunces Tavern, the oldest structure in Manhattan.