Tonya Pinkins News

The stars came out on Thursday as The Public Theater celebrated the completion of the $40 million revitalization of its downtown home at Astor Place with a special rededication ceremony. The event featured the "throwing out of the first lines" of Shakespeare by city officials and artists with ties to The Public, followed by a special performance from the cast of Hair, which had its world premiere at The Public when it opened in 1967.

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) has announced final casting for the 24th Annual Festival of New Musicals on Thursday, October 11 and Friday, October 12 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - the acclaimed gay comedy/variety show - will open its fourth season tonight, September 20, 2012 at The Duplex in New York's West Village. Each edition of The Meeting* honors a different gay icon; the September show will pay tribute to Disco chart-topper Sylvester with special guests Bridget Everett, Ben Rimalower and Xavier. Musical Director is Brandon James Gwinn.

THE NEW BLACK FEST, a festival of theater, music and discussion from the African Diaspora will launch its 3rd season in October at various locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn. With support from TimeWarner and a partnership with 651 ARTS, the Festival will take place October 8 - 13 at various locations, including the National Black Theatre, Mark Morris Dance Center, the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Education Center. All of the events are Free and open to the public.

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - the acclaimed gay comedy/variety show - will open its fourth season on September 20, 2012 at The Duplex in New York's West Village. Each edition of The Meeting* honors a different gay icon; the September show will pay tribute to Disco chart-topper Sylvester with special guests Bridget Everett, Ben Rimalower and Xavier.

James Barry of Broadway's BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON opens in Arden Theatre's NEXT TO NORMAL as husband and father Dan. He muses on his unexpected musical theatre career and the importance of Yorkey's writing.

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - the acclaimed gay comedy/variety show, will open their fourth season on September 20, 2012 at The Duplex in New York's West Village.

It was a starry week at 54 BELOW with performances from Faith Prince and Jason Graae, Maurice Hines and Tonya Pinkins. Among the celebrities who came out for their opening night performances were Elaine Stritch, S. Epatha Merkerson, La Chanze, Liiliane Montevecchi, Donna McKechnie, Ron Raines, Nona Hendryx, Andre de Shields, Adriane Lenox, Jeanine Tesori, Phillip Boykin, Jeff Calhoun, Mary Rodgers, George C. Wolfe, George Faison, Billy Porter, Brenda Braxton, Adrian Bailey, Mark Nadler, Stanley Wayne Mathis, Charles Randolph-Wright and Julie Budd. Check out photos from the events below!

Tony Award-winner Faith Prince (Guys & Dolls, A Catered Affair) and Jason Graae (Falsettos, Ragtime, Forever Plaid), Tony Award-winner Tonya Pinkins (Caroline or Change, Jelly's Last Jam, The Wild Party), Tituss Burgess (Disney's The Little Mermaid, Guys & Dolls), and Eden Espinosa Wicked, Rent, Brooklyn) gave a special press preview from some of the upcoming engagements at 54 Below last week. BroadwayWorld's own Randy Rainbow was on the scene to chat with them about their shows, and you can check out what they had to say by clicking below!

Daniel Nardicio will present a special show by Justin Sayre, host of The Meeting* at the Ice Palace as part of the Icon Series (also featured this summer have been Liza Minnelli, Sandra Bernhard, Margaret Cho and more) tonight, August 25 at 10:00 PM.

Today we are talking to a Tony Award-winning star known for her many impressive appearances on Broadway in JELLY'S LAST JAM, PLAY ON!, THE WILD PARTY and her tremendous title turn in the towering CAROLINE, OR CHANGE - the one and only Tonya Pinkins. Opening up about her career and many of her most memorable roles, Pinkins lets us in to her world and shares experiences of working with some of the most noted names in theatre - George C. Wolfe, Harold Prince, August Wilson, Stephen Sondheim, Lloyd Richards, Daniel Sullivan, David Esbjornson and many more among them - on everything from MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, her Broadway debut, to her many musical roles to August Wilson's THE PIANO LESSON and RADIO GOLF all the way to last season's Shakespeare In The Park double-header of THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR and MEASURE FOR MEASURE. Most importantly, Pinkins fills us in on all the details about her upcoming Ethel Waters tribute at 54 Below and what we can expect from one of musical theatre's most dynamic divas taking on the song catalog of an entertainment pioneer in this New York premiere of the in-development new musical solo spotlight showcase. Additionally, Pinkins shares some candid reminiscences about some of her most fondly remembered film and television roles - such as ABOVE THE RIM, BEAT STREET, ROMANCE & CIGARETTES, ENCHANTED and others - as well as offers her thoughts on the ever-changing world of soaps, having appeared in major roles on both AS THE WORLD TURNS and ALL MY CHILDREN. All of that, comments on her two upcoming feature films - HOME and NEWLYWEEDS - and much, much more!

Tony Award-winner Faith Prince (Guys & Dolls, A Catered Affair) and Jason Graae (Falsettos, Ragtime, Forever Plaid), Tony Award-winner Tonya Pinkins (Caroline or Change, Jelly's Last Jam, The Wild Party), Tituss Burgess (Disney's The Little Mermaid, Guys & Dolls), and Eden Espinoza Wicked, Rent, Brooklyn) gave a special press preview from some of the upcoming engagements at 54 Below earlier today. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the special event below!

Daniel Nardicio will present a special show by Justin Sayre, host of The Meeting* at the Ice Palace as part of the Icon Series (also featured this summer have been Liza Minnelli, Sandra Bernhard, Margaret Cho and more) on Saturday, August 25 at 10:00 PM.

Award-winning producers Michael & Barbara Ross were scheduled to present Tony Award-winning actress Tonya Pinkins in Larry Parr's Ethel Waters: HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW at Luna Stage in West Orange, New Jersey, for a limited run, tonight, August 16 - September 2, 2012. The production was to be directed by award-winning director Dennis Courtney, with musical direction by Barry Levitt.

Award-winning producers Michael & Barbara Ross will present Tony Award-winning actress Tonya Pinkins in Larry Parr's ETHEL WATERS: HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW at Luna Stage in West Orange, New Jersey, for a limited run, tonight, August 16 - September 2, 2012. The production will be directed by award-winning director Dennis Courtney, with musical direction by Barry Levitt.

Check out photos of the show's opening night guests on the red carpet!

Award-winning producers Michael & Barbara Ross will present Tony Award-winning actress Tonya Pinkins in Larry Parr's ETHEL WATERS: HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW at Luna Stage in West Orange, New Jersey, for a limited run, August 16 - September 2, 2012. The production will be directed by award-winning director Dennis Courtney, with musical direction by Barry Levitt.

Last week, the stars came out to 54 BELOW to catch Jenifer Lewis with Marc Shaiman, Andrea McArdle and Lea Delaria. Visitors included Academy Award winner Whoopi Goldberg, the legendary Bette Midler, Tony Award winners Nathan Lane, Tommy Tune, Dick Latessa and Cady Huffman, Emmy Award winner John Turturro, star of Broadway's Gore Vidal's The Best Man Cybill Shepherd, Dreamgirls and SIde Show composer Henry Krieger, Miss Abigaiil's Guide and 'The Brady Bunch' star Eve Plumb, McArdle's Annie successor Shelley Bruce, and star of the upcoming Broadway production of Rebecca Karen Mason.