Phylicia Rashad News

According to Deadline.com, a live broadcast of The Sound of Music, produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (Smash), will likely air during the Christmas season in 2013.

Voting is now underway for the Connecticut Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the live standings below!

Over 3,300 students and teachers from schools across Connecticut, as well as New York City and Springfield, Massachusetts, will see Lorraine Hansberry's landmark drama, "A Raisin in the Sun," directed by Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad at Westport Country Playhouse, during a series of six sold-out student matinee performances from Tuesday, October 23 through Friday, November 2. Students range from grades five through 12. As part of the Playhouse's commitment to make live theater more accessible to young people, one-quarter of the seats in the theater for every student matinee have been made available to schools that need assistance in bringing their students to the Playhouse.

Yesterday, October 21, Grammy Award-winning, Tony Award-winning actress Audra McDonald was honored with a Pipe Night at THE PLAYERS. McDonald is the 100th recipient (since 1901) of such a night and the first since 2010 (Sir Roger Moore).

Phylicia Rash­ad just may have directed the definitive version of Lorraine Hansbury's A Raisin in the Sun.

The Flea Theater in association with Four Arts Media will present a groundbreaking new dramatic series comprised of original plays for radio and mobile media. Each of the 13 one-hour-long episodes will explore American life decade by decade from the early 20th century to the present. Says series creator, Arthur Yorinks, 'Each stand-alone play will be modern, edgy, raw and compelling.'

The National Theatre Conference (NTC), an organization founded in 1925 that meets annually in New York to discuss relevant issues in today's theatre community and to celebrate outstanding achievement in the American theatre, has named the recipients of its 2012 awards. Broadway producer Elizabeth McCann has been named Person of the Year; the New Federal Theatre, under the direction of its founder, Woodie King, Jr., is the recipient of the Theatre of the Year Award; and playwright Dominique Morisseau has been selected as the winner of the Barrie and Bernice Stavis Playwright Award. All three will be presented with their awards and honored at the Players and at Signature Theatre during NTC's annual conference in New York October 26-28, 2012.

Westport Country Playhouse presents Lorraine Hansberry's landmark drama, "A Raisin in the Sun," directed by Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!

Westport Country Playhouse announces a $100,000 "Theater Worth Supporting" Challenge that asks ticket buyers, subscribers, and others in the community to raise an equivalent sum between now and November 3, coinciding with the run of the current production, "A Raisin in the Sun," the landmark drama written by Lorraine Hansberry and directed by Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad. The Challenge donors, Maureen and Edwin Schloss of Darien, have requested that their call to action be matched specifically by new and increased gifts.

About Face Theatre will present a special concert event of the new neo-soul musical CLEAR by AFT Artistic Associate Paul Oakley Stovall, with additional music by STEW (Passing Strange), directed by Krissy Vanderwarker, playing tonight, October 11 - 13, 2012 at 7 pm at The Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago's Millennium Park. Featuring a seven-piece band, performers include Yassmin Alers, Dietrich Gray, Celisse Henderson, Tyshaun Lang, Jesse McQuarters, Leenya Rideout, Brad Simmons, Paul Oakley Stovall and Jon Patrick (JP) Walker. Admission is free. Reservations can be made at www.aboutfacetheatre.com or by calling (773) 784-8565 ext. 111.

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 Equity Jeffs, 'Sunday' at Chicago Shakes, 'Hoodoo Love,' the new musicals 'Clear' and 'The Verona Project,' concerts of operetta and cabaret, a Chicago original cast album and more!

The Lifetime Original Movie Steel Magnolias, a television adaptation of the iconic play and 1989 film, reached new heights for the network, averaging 6.5 million Total Viewers in its world premiere last night, becoming Lifetime's third most-watched original telecast ever -- posting its best delivery since 2006 (Life is Not a Fairy Tale: The Fantasia Barrino Story) -- and the number one cable movie among Total Viewers since 2007 (excluding miniseries).

The world-premiere of the highly anticipated Lifetime Original Movie Event, STEEL MAGNOLIAS, is set to debut tonight, October 7 at 9pm ET/PT on Lifetime.

The Flea Theater in association with Four Arts Media will present a groundbreaking new dramatic series comprised of original plays for radio and mobile media. Each of the 13 one-hour-long episodes will explore American life decade by decade from the early 20th century to the present. Says series creator, Arthur Yorinks, 'Each stand-alone play will be modern, edgy, raw and compelling.'

The original movie ABDUCTED: THE CARLINA WHITE STORY, starring Aunjanue Ellis (The Help), Keke Palmer (True Jackson, VP), and Emmy(R) Award winner Sherri Shepherd (The View), will make its world premiere tonight, October 6, at 8 pm ET/PT on Lifetime.

The NAACP Beverly Hills/Hollywood Branch announced the complete list of honorees for the 22(nd) Annual NAACP Theatre Awards. The show will be held on Monday, November 5, 2012 at the Directors Guild of America in Hollywood and will feature performances by Tichina Arnold (Everyone Hates Chris) and Shoshana Bean (Wicked).

The cast of Lifetime's upcoming remake of STEEL MAGNOLIAS, including Tony Award-winner Phylicia Rashad, Tony nominee Condola Rashad, Oscar nominees Queen Latifah and Alfre Woodard, and Grammy Award winner Jill Scott appeared on ABC's 'The View' yesterday. The actresses spoke about how the idea of an all-black remake of the classic film came to fruition. Check out their appearance below!

Westport Country Playhouse will present "A Day for Community," on Sunday, October 28, when all tickets will be $15 for the 3 p.m. matinee performance of Lorraine Hansberry's landmark drama, "A Raisin in the Sun," directed by Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Miley Cyrus is in talks to lead Craig Zadan and Neil Meron's upcoming Bonnie & Clyde miniseries. Penned by Rice and Batteer, the series will air on the History Channel.

Cast members Queen Latifah, Phylicia Rashad, Jill Scott, Alfre Woodard, Adepero Oduye and Condola Rashad of the highly anticipated Lifetime original movie STEEL MAGNOLIAS will appear on ABC's daytime talk show THE VIEW on Wednesday, October 3. The movie is set to debut on Lifetime Sunday, October 7 at 9pm ET/PT.