Tonya Pinkins News

Two-time Tony winner Bernadette Peters, a Broadway legend and one of Sondheim's most iconic leading ladies, will host a Q&A with director Lonny Price at one of the first public screenings of his new documentary, Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened - a thrilling, behind-the-scenes look into the 'then' and 'now' of perhaps Stephen Sondheim's most beloved work, Merrily We Roll Along.

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - the monthly gathering of the International Order of Sodomites, the centuries-old organization which sets the mythic Gay Agenda - will return to OASIS (298 Eleventh Street, San Francisco CA) for a fifth appearance on Saturday, November 5 at 7:00 PM. The performance will celebrate the release of Sayre's debut comedy album  The Gay Agenda, which is available on iTunes, the show's website and at upcoming appearances. The New York run of The Meeting*, which just opened its eights and final season at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater, has been sold out since the New York Times "Arts & Leisure" piece ran September 2014. Special musical guests for the Oasis performance will be Matthew Martin and Intensive Claire. Tickets are $20 and are available at SFOasis.com.

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - the monthly gathering of the International Order of Sodomites, the centuries-old organization which sets the mythic Gay Agenda - will return to OASIS (298 Eleventh Street, San Francisco CA) for a fifth appearance today, November 5 at 7:00 PM. 

Tickets are now on sale for the 2016 TRU Love Benefit, Embracing the Unlimited: A Celebration of Inclusion in the Arts, now being co-hosted by film/TV/theater star Joe Morton, Emmy Award winner for Scandal, fondly remembered for TV's Eureka and the acclaimed off-Broadway's Turn Me Loose. He joins Tony nominated Valisia LeKae (Motown the Musical) and previously announced performers, including Jay Armstrong Johnson and Tony winner Tonya Pinkins.

On Monday, Theater People podcast welcome's HAMILTON'S Mandy Gonzalez. She made her Broadway debut in 2000 in AIDA as the Amnneris standby. She eventually took the role over full-time. She went on to originate roles in DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES and LENNON before winning her breakout role as Nina in Lin-Manuel Miranda's IN THE HEIGHTS, a role she originated in the show's pre-Off Broadway days. She went on to take over the role of Elphaba in WICKED and can now be seen eight times a week in the hottest show on Broadway, HAMILTON.

Just last night, host committee members Betty Buckley, Misty Copeland, Kelli O'Hara, Bernadette Peters, and Janice Reals Ellig presented the 20th Anniversary of Nothing Like a Dame at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 W. 47th Street).

Tickets are now on sale for the 2016 TRU Love Benefit, Embracing the Unlimited: A Celebration of Inclusion in the Arts, and an initial lineup of top performers for the event have been announced, led by Hamilton's Brandon Victor Dixon, Jay Armstrong Johnson and Tony winner Tonya Pinkins.

Today's big news: Jake Gyllenhaal leads SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE tonight at City Center!

Emily Goglia (TV's 'Grease Live!', Rent at La Mirada) will join nine other performers to help songwriter/pianist Brandon Sturiale celebrate the release of his album So Much More at the Beechman Theatre on Sunday night, Oct. 23rd at 7:30pm.

Wes Hart (West Side Story, Jersey Boys nat'l tour), Robby Haltiwanger (Ghost nat'l tour), and Marquis Johnson (Beauty and The Beast nat'l tour) will join previously announced singers Lored Allred ('The Voice'), Jessica Crouch (We Will Rock You nat'l tour), Bryan Fenkart (Memphis), Dionne Figgins (Motown), Desi Oakley (Les Miserables, Wicked), Sharone Sayegh (Mamma Mia!), and Ari Wilford (Once) in a celebration of songwriter/pianist Brandon Sturiale's new album So Much More.

On Monday, October 17 the Theater People podcast welcome's Broadway favorite Jay Armstrong Johnson. Armstrong made his Broadway debut in 2009 in HAIR. He next stood-by for Aaron Tveit in CATCH ME IF YOU CAN. He originated the role of Greg Wihote in the 2013 Broadway production of HANDS ON A HARDBODY and then starred as chip in the critically acclaimed 2014 revival of ON THE TOWN. For the episode, Johnson talks about how discovering theater at a young age changed his life for the better, how he was able to make Broadway producers take him seriously as a leading man, and shares some of the music from his new album 'Jay Armstrong Johnson: Live at Feinstein's / 54 Below.'

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - the monthly gathering of the International Order of Sodomites, the centuries-old organization which sets the mythic Gay Agenda - will continue its eighth and final season on Sunday, October 23 at 9:30 PM at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater. The October 2016 edition will both celebrate 'The Gay Agenda' - the debut comedy album from Justin Sayre - and pay homage to Bette Midler. Special guests include Beth Malone, Nathan Lee Graham, Katie Thompson and Amber Martin.

Songwriter/pianist Brandon Sturiale will be joined onstage by Lored Allred ('The Voice'), Jessica Crouch (We Will Rock You nat'l tour), Bryan Fenkart (Memphis), Dionne Figgins (Motown), Desi Oakley (LES MISERABLES, Wicked), Sharone Sayegh (Mamma Mia!), Ari Wilford (Once), and more names soon to be announced, as he celebrates the release of his new album So Much More: The Songs of Brandon Sturiale.

On Monday, October 3rd, Theater People podcast welcomes three-time Tony nominee Rebecca Luker. For the episode, Luker shares stories from her nearly three decades on Broadway, offers advice for actors just starting out, and offers her thoughts on 2016 Presidential election.

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - the monthly gathering of the International Order of Sodomites, the centuries-old organization which sets the mythic Gay Agenda - will return to OASIS (298 Eleventh Street, San Francisco CA) for a fifth appearance on Saturday, November 5 at 7:00 PM. 

Host committee members Betty Buckley, Misty Copeland, Kelli O'Hara, Bernadette Peters, and Janice Reals Ellig present the 20th Anniversary of Nothing Like a Dame on Monday, October 24, 2016 at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 W. 47th Street).

Today's big news: FALSETTOS begins previews, THE ENCOUNTER opens, TRIAL OF AN AMERICAN PRESIDENT skewers Bush, the PUFFS Potter parody starts, and a HOCUS POCUS musical parody begins tonight in L.A.!

Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce St.) will present its second annual week-long education program, CHERRY LANE SCHOOL - featuring panel discussions and workshop sessions with leading figures in the professional theatre - from October 24 to 28 at Cherry Lane Theatre. 

Last week, legendary playwright Edward Albee passed away in his sleep at his home in Montauk, LI at the age of 88.  See photos of the Albee throughout his distinguished career as BroadwayWorld remembers the life and works of the theatre's most revered figures. 

Atlas Media has just announced its upcoming feature-length documentary, Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened -- a thrilling, behind-the-scenes look into the 'then' and 'now' of perhaps Stephen Sondheim's most beloved work, Merrily We Roll Along -- has been acquired for theatrical distribution by Abramorama, the industry's preeminent distributor of independent cinema. Check out the official trailer for the film below!