Tonya Pinkins News

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: PHANTOM gets a new masked man, Williamstown Theatre Festival hosts its 2015 gala and more!

On Monday, February 9 2015, the Theater People Podcast welcomes Keala Settle, Tony nominee for HANDS ON A HARDBODY, currently starring as Madame Thenardier in the Broadway production of LES MISERABLES Keala shares stories from her three years on the road as Tracy Turnblad in the national tour of HAIRSPRAY, making her Broadway debut in PRISCILLA: QUEEN OF THE DESERT, how the HARDBODY Tony nomination changed her life, and how she won the role of Thenardier having never seen a single production of LES MIS. Keala also talks about the darker side of the business, the heartache of HANDS ON A HARDBODY being a a critical failure which resulted in a swift closure,how the HAIRSPRAY tour led to her decision to step away from acting, and her cherished time working as a stagehand while she tried to figure out if she should take another stab at performing.

American Idol's Eric Anthony Lopez completes the principal list of special guest stars for Tim Realbuto's Bookseller in the Rain, a tribute to the music of legendary composer Maury Yeston. Mr. Lopez joins previously announced Golden Globe nominee Nikki Blonsky (Hairspray), Tony Award winner Tonya Pinkins (Caroline, or Change),Mara Davi ('Smash'), Jenna Leigh Green ('Sabrina, the Teenage Witch'), Joshua Colley (Les Miserables), Christine Dwyer (Wicked), Ovation Award nominee Erika Amato (Flashdance), Kimberly Faye Greenberg (Danny and Sylvia), Abigail Ludrof (The HVAC Plays), and Emily Esposito (A Christmas Story). Also present will be our guest of honor, Tony Award winning and Oscar nominated composer Maury Yeston.

The New Group continues its 20th Anniversary Season with the New York Premiere of Rasheeda Speaking, by Joel Drake Johnson, helmed by Cynthia Nixon in her directorial debut. This production features Patricia Conolly, Darren Goldstein, Tonya Pinkins and Dianne Wiest. A limited Off-Broadway engagement plays now through March 22, 2015, with Official Opening Night set for Wednesday, February 11 at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Aaron Walpole (Les Miserables), Wendi Bergamini (Doctor Zhivago), and Natalie Ballenger (Orange Blossoms) complete the list of special guest stars for Tim Realbuto's Maury Yeston tribute concert Bookseller in the Rain. Bergamini and Walpole join previously announced Golden Globe nominee Nikki Blonsky (Hairspray), Tony Award winner Tonya Pinkins (Caroline, or Change), Mara Davi ('Smash'), Jenna Leigh Green ('Sabrina, the Teenage Witch'), Laurissa Romain ('Top Five'), Joshua Colley (Les Miserables), Christine Dwyer (Wicked), Ovation Award nominee Erika Amato (Flashdance), Kimberly Faye Greenberg (Danny and Sylvia), Abigail Ludrof (The HVAC Plays), and Emily Esposito (A Christmas Story). Also present will be our guest of honor, Tony Award winning and Oscar nominated composer Maury Yeston.

?The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre, the acclaimed comedy/variety show, will return to Joe's Pub at The Public Theater on Sunday, February 15 at 9:30 PM to continue the Winter/Spring 2015 Season.

Select seats are still on sale for this exciting charity benefit reading!

The New Group continues its 20th Anniversary Season with the New York Premiere of Rasheeda Speaking, by Joel Drake Johnson, helmed by Cynthia Nixon in her directorial debut. This production features Patricia Conolly, Darren Goldstein, and as previously announced, Tonya Pinkins and Dianne Wiest. A limited Off-Broadway engagement plays tonight, January 27 - March 22, 2015, with Official Opening Night set for Wednesday, February 11 at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street).

Broadway Unplugged, the critically acclaimed annual concert event at The Town Hall, will make history once again when, tonight, January 26th, the stars of the recent revival of SIDE SHOW, ERIN DAVIE & EMILY PADGETT, sing their famous two duets for the first time in a major concert hall without the aid of any amplification. Performing 'Unplugged,' audiences will hear these two iconic songs soar with a purity they have never heard before.

On Monday January 26, 2015, the Theater People Podcast will release their 30th episode which was recorded live at Fontana's Bar in New York City as part of the NYC Podfest. For the event, Theater People welcomed back two time Tony nominee Laura Osnes (CINDERELLA, BONNIE & CLYDE) and KINKY BOOTS favorite Ellyn Marie Marsh. Laura talked about life after CINDERELLA, the roles she auditioned for but didn't get to play, starring in the upcoming CAROUSEL, raps Lin-Manuel Miranda style, and cruises hilariously through a lightening round. Ellyn Marie Marsh performs a hilarious excerpt from her sold out 54 Below debut solo show 'Inappropriate.'

Broadway's record-breaking, star-studded smash hit comedy It's Only a Play by 4-time Tony Award winner Terrence McNally, recently welcomed Martin Short, two-time Tony Award winner Katie Finneran and Screen Actors Guild Award-winning '30 Rock' alum Maulik Pancholy - in his Broadway debut - to the cast! The show transferred from the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre to the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre (242 West 45th Street). Check out photos from the special moving day red carpet event featuring stage and screen stars below!

Golden Globe nominee Nikki Blonsky (Hairspray; "Huge"), Mara Davi (A Chorus Line; Death Takes A Holiday), and Christine Dwyer (Wicked; Rent) join previously announced Tony Award winner Tonya Pinkins (Caroline, or Change), Jenna Leigh Green ("Sabrina, the Teenage Witch"), Laurissa Romain ("Top Five"), Joshua Colley (Les Miserables), Ovation Award nominee Erika Amato (Flashdance), Kimberly Faye Greenberg (Danny and Sylvia), Abigail Ludrof (The HVAC Plays), and Emily Esposito (A Christmas Story) as the special guest stars for Tim Realbuto's Maury Yeston tribute concert Bookseller in the Rain.

The Off Broadway Alliance has announced that it will again sponsor 20at20, the bi-annual celebration of Off Broadway. The popular promotion, which begins January 20th and continues through February 8th, makes $20 tickets available for 41 Off Broadway plays and musicals twenty minutes prior to curtain. Now in its 9th year, 20at20 has become one of New York's most eagerly-anticipated promotions for people who want to see exciting shows at amazing prices.

Broadway Unplugged, the critically acclaimed annual concert event at The Town Hall, will make history once again when, on Monday, January 26th, the stars of the recent revival of SIDE SHOW, ERIN DAVIE & EMILY PADGETT, sing their famous two duets for the first time in a major concert hall without the aid of any amplification. Performing 'Unplugged,' audiences will hear these two iconic songs soar with a purity they have never heard before. They will be joined by their SIDE SHOW co-star, RYAN SILVERMAN (Drama Desk Nominee for PASSION), and one of the stars of the original production of SIDE SHOW, JEFF McCARTHY. Other great stars in the cast of Broadway Unplugged are Tony Award Winners TONYA PINKINS (Caroline or Change) and CHUCK COOPER (The Life), plus Two-Time Tony Nominee MARY TESTA, Tony Nominee JOSH YOUNG (Jesus Chris Superstar), Broadway Stars ASHLEY BROWN (the original Mary Poppins on Broadway), ELIZABETH STANLEY (On The Town), KAREN MASON (MAMMA MIA!) and WILLIAM MICHALS (Emile de Beque in the Lincoln Center Production of South Pacific).

Broadway Unplugged, the critically acclaimed annual concert event at The Town Hall, will make history once again when, on Monday, January 26th, the stars of the recent revival of SIDE SHOW, ERIN DAVIE & EMILY PADGETT, sing their famous two duets for the first time in a major concert hall without the aid of any amplification.

The New Group continues its 20th Anniversary Season with the New York Premiere of Rasheeda Speaking, by Joel Drake Johnson, helmed by Cynthia Nixon in her directorial debut. This production features Patricia Conolly, Darren Goldstein, Tonya Pinkins and Dianne Wiest. A limited Off-Broadway engagement plays January 27 - March 22, 2015, with Official Opening Night set for Wednesday, February 11 at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street). Below, BroadwayWorld brings you photos of the cast in the BroadwayWorld.com series 'In The Spotlight' by acclaimed photographer Walter McBride!

Joshua Colley, who starred as Les in Broadway's Newsies, and is currently originating the role of Gavroche in the Broadway revival of Les Miserables, has just joined the lineup of special guest stars for Tim Realbuto's Maury Yeston tribute concert Bookseller in the Rain.

Tony Award winner Tonya Pinkins (Caroline, or Change) and Ovation Award nominee Erika Amato (Flashdance) have just joined the lineup of special guest stars for Tim Realbuto's Maury Yeston tribute concert Bookseller in the Rain.

The New Group continues its 20th Anniversary Season with the New York Premiere of Rasheeda Speaking, by Joel Drake Johnson, helmed by Cynthia Nixon in her directorial debut. This production features Patricia Conolly, Darren Goldstein, Tonya Pinkins and Dianne Wiest. A limited Off-Broadway engagement plays January 27 - March 22, 2015, with Official Opening Night set for Wednesday, February 11 at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street). The cast just met the press and you can check out photos from the festivities below!

For the current episode of the Theater People Podcast, host Patrick Hinds interviews Mo Brady and Nikka Graff Lanzarone, hosts of 'The Ensemblist' Podcast. The episode concludes with section of 'The Ensemblist' episode In Tech. Mo and Nikka are both Broadway performers in their own right--Mo is an THE ADDAMS FAMILY alum and Nikka was seen in WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN and as Velma Kelly in CHICAGO.