Tonya Pinkins News

The New Group has announced complete casting for the world premiere of STEVE, a new play by Mark Gerrard.  Directed by Cynthia Nixon, this production features Ashlie Atkinson and Francisco Pryor Garat, and as announced, Mario Cantone, Jerry Dixon, Malcolm Gets and Matt McGrath. A limited Off-Broadway engagement plays November 3 - December 27 at The Pershing Square Signature Center (The Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre, 480 West 42nd Street), with Official Opening Night set for Wednesday, November 18.

Deaf West Theatre's acclaimed production of Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik's SPRING AWAKENING, directed by Michael Arden and choreographed by Spencer Liff, opened just last night, September 27, at Broadway's Brooks AtkinsonTheatre (256 West 47th Street). SPRING AWAKENING's strictly limited 18-week-only engagement started previews on September 8. BroadwayWorld was there for the big night and you can check out red carpet coverage below!

On Monday, September 28, the Theater People podcast welcomes back Tony-winner Laura Benanti for part 2 of her interview. The first part of the interview launched earlier this month. In this episode, Benanti discusses her work in the short-lived WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN for which the actress received her fourth Tony nomination. Benanti also discusses her television work including the hugely popular SOUND OF MUSIC LIVE!, NASHVILLE, and the upcoming SUPERGIRL. Additionally, she discussed working with the Radio City Rockettes in last year's SPRING SPECTACULAR, and writing her first book.

SPARKLE & CIRCULATE with JUSTIN SAYRE - the official monthly podcast of the International Order of Sodomites - has posted its eleventh episode, which features an interview with Brendan Maclean, the acclaimed Australian singer and songwriter. Maclean - hailed as "infectious and hypnotic" by BuzzFeed - discusses his new EP Thought I'd Cry For You Forever, his role in Baz Luhrmann's film The Great Gatsby, his upcoming album with RuPaul's producer Lucian Piane and collaborating with Neil Gaiman on a new song. Also, Justin gives the back story behind his debut novel Husky, released this month from Penguin Books. The show is available on iTunes here.  

A quick review of the 10 plays Denzel Washington will be producing for HBO.

Just yesterday, Actors' Equity President Kate Shindle and Executive Director Mary McColl toasted the 2015-2016 Broadway Season with a celebration at Haven Rooftop at the Sanctuary Hotel (132 West 47 Street). BroadwayWorld was there for the special day and you can check out photos below!

THE MEETING* hosted by Justin Sayre, the acclaimed comedy/variety show, will return to JOE'S PUB at The Public Theater on Sunday, September 27 at 9:30 PM to open the Fall 2015 Season. The September 2015 show will feature a celebration of Whitney Houston, with special guests Darius de Haas, Natalie Joy Johnson, Jaime Cepero, Inyang Bassey and others to be announced. Tracy Stark serves as the show's Music Director.

On Monday, September 13, the Theater People podcast welcomes Tony-winner Laura Benanti. This is the first of two interviews in which Benanti will be featured on the podcast, The second part of will be released in two weeks!

THIRTEEN will once again present a selection of provocative and entertaining Off-Broadway plays, captured live on-stage, in THIRTEEN's signature 'up-close' style.

AMERICAN IDOL's Eric Anthony Lopez (currently in THE JACKIE MASON MUSICAL Off-Broadway) and Mary Michael Patterson (most recently in THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA on Broadway) have teamed up to record Lopez's original song 'Angels Sing' as a tribute to those who have lost there lives in the September 11th attacks.

On Monday, September 9, the Theater People podcast welcomes Tony-winning director Michael Mayer and writer/lyricist Dick Scanlan. For the episode, Mayer and Scanlan discuss their new collaboration, WHORL INSIDE A LOOP which Scanlan co-wrote with Sherie Rene Scott and which Mayer and Scanlan co-directed. The play, currently running Off-Broadway at Second Stage Theater, is loosely based on Scanlan and Scott's experience working with prison inmates on putting together a show based on monologues written by the inmates about the circumstances that landed them in jail.

On Monday, August 31st, the Theater People podcast welcomes the Tony-nominated HAND TO GOD star Geneva Carr. In making her Broadway debut with HAND TO GOD, Carr gave one of last season's most critically acclaimed performances in the role of Margery, the protagonist's mother.

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Ben Thompson in his solo show debut for a one-night-only performance, Tuesday, August 25th, at 9:30 PM.  Thompson will take the audience on a genre-bending sonic journey through some of his favorite songs - spanning rock, rap and punk, to Broadway, jazz and even some original tunes. 

The New Group presents the Off-Broadway premiere of Philip Ridley's Mercury Fur, which launched the company's 2015-16 season last night, August 19, 2015 (previews began August 5). MERCURY FUR by Philip Ridley is directed by Scott Elliott and runs at The Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre (480 West 42nd Street).

Signature Theatre presents John, written by Pulitzer Prize winner-Annie Baker (The Flick) and directed by Tony Award-winner Sam Gold (Fun Home). The production, which kicks off Signature's 25th Anniversary Season, will now play through Sunday, September 6. John began performances on July 22 and opens tonight, August 11, in The Irene Diamond Stage at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues).

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre, the acclaimed comedy/variety show, will return to JOE'S PUB at The Public Theater on Sunday, September 27 at 9:30 PM to open the Fall 2015 Season.

SPARKLE & CIRCULATE with JUSTIN SAYRE - the official monthly podcast of the International Order of Sodomites - has posted the ninth episode, which features an in-depth conversation with James Gavin, author of the acclaimed biography 'Is That All There Is? The Strange Life of Peggy Lee' and previous books on Lena Horne, Chet Baker and New York nightlife. The show is available on iTunes here. Previous episodes- featuring interviews with Randy Harrison, Justin Vivian Bond, Michael Musto, Frank DeCaro, Kim David Smith, Jeffery Self and R&B legend Sarah Dash - are also available. SPARKLE & CIRCULATE is produced by Dan Fortune and Tyrus Emory.

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre, the acclaimed comedy/variety show, will return to OASIS (298 Eleventh Street, San Francisco CA) tonight, August 1 at 7:00 PM after a sold out debut show in April.

Following a sold-out run at Dixon Place, the limited 12- week engagement of the critically-acclaimed new play The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey officially opened last night, July 27, 2015, at theWestside Theatre (407 West 43 Street). THE ABSOLUTE BRIGHTNESS OF LEONARD PELKEY, the much talked-about new play written and performed by James Lecesne, will have scenic design by Jo Winiarski, lighting design by Matt Richards, sound design by Christian Frederickson, projection design by Aaron Rhyne, original animation & photography by Matthew Sandager, and costumes by Paul Marlow. BroadwayWorld was there for opening night and you can check out photos below!