Tracie Thoms News

STICK FLY, the hit Broadway play by Lydia R. Diamond and directed by Kenny Leon, will play its final performance at Broadway's Cort Theatre (138 W. 48th Street) on Sunday, February 26, 2012 after 24 previews and 92 regular performances. In the video below, the cast chats about what the show is about. Click below to check it out!

STICK FLY, the hit Broadway play by Lydia R. Diamond and directed by Kenny Leon, will play its final performance at Broadway's Cort Theatre (138 W. 48th Street) on Sunday, February 26, 2012 after 24 previews and 92 regular performances.

On June 27, Broadway stars teamed up to bring audiences a special concert filled with music from classic movies in FOR THE RECORD: John Hughes.

The producers of STICK FLY just announced that the on sale period has been extended by popular demand and tickets are now available through April 8, 2012, with special Spring Break Wednesday matinees in March through April 4. Grammy® Award-winning singer/songwriter Alicia Keys is proud to present and write original music for the Broadway premiere of Lydia R. Diamond's critically-acclaimed new play STICK FLY, directed by Kenny Leon. The production is now in performances at the Cort Theatre (138 W. 48th Street).

Tomorrow's talkback, following the 8 PM performance, will be hosted by VH1 reality star La La Anthony ('La La's Full Court Life').

Due to popular demand, four new dates have been added to the discussion series with Grammy® Award-winning singer/songwriter and Broadway producer Alicia Keys following the STICK FLY performances on Saturday, January 7 at 8PM, Monday February 6 at 7PM, Thursday, February 16 at 7PM and Sunday, February 26 at 7:30PM at the Cort Theatre (138 W. 48th Street).

2011 was nothing if not fruitful for Broadway's famous females. Sutton Foster won her second Tony. Brooke Shields, Kim Cattrall, Tyne Daly and more found their way back to the Great White Way after being gone too long. UK's First Lady of Musical Theatre, Elaine Paige, graced Broadway for only the second time in her career as the fearless 'Carlotta Campion' in Follies. And, music icon Alicia Keyes fully initiated herself as the newest A-lister on the block.

As the clock ticks towards 2012, BroadwayWorld caught up with 100 of your Broadway favorites and industry supporters about their hopes for themselves and those they love in the new year.

Call me envious, but the genre of plays that feature smart, educated, financially well-off characters screwing up their lives under the knowing smirks of the maid serves as a kind of comfort food for me.  And while the discomfort in class, racial and gender issues experienced by the LeVay family in Lydia R. Diamond's funny and quite heated family drama, Stick Fly, may seem a bit too familiar at times, director Kenny Leon and his terrific ensemble help deliver a lively evening.

While you probably wouldn't expect period recordings of 'Let's Do It' and 'St. Louis Woman' to be part of the pre-show soundtrack for a family friendly production of Snow White, director/choreographer Austin McCormick's Company XIV has never been a group to provide the expected.

Controversy is never too far offstage in any Simon Cowell production - manufactured, actual or otherwise - and the debut season of the US edition of his international smash reality singing competition THE X FACTOR on Fox has been overloaded with drama, meltdowns, breakdowns and buckets of tears. Stars have been made and dreams have been broken - par for the course, as always, on a singing show like this. Yet, no one on the show, whether judge or participant - no, not even Paula Abdul, Rachel Crow or the flasher himself - has been met with the irate hate and all-around ire of fans and critics alike quite like new judge Nicole Scherzinger. Sure, Simon cajoles her and criticizes her too much - to much winning effect - amping up the competition amongst the four judges, as is his wont - and, really, that's the whole hook of the show, anyway. The ex-Pussycat Dolls front-woman (remember 'Don't Cha'?), Scherzinger has had middling success in her solo career post-Pussycats in the US, yet she has racked up #1 hits overseas, and, had her last album not been plagued with stateside release issues, perhaps there would be a larger audience more aware of her repertoire and irreproachable talent here on these shores. Alas, many are meeting her for the first time in her new role as an X FACTOR judge - responsible for the most difficult category, no less; the Over 30s - and perhaps that is not the best light to make first impressions under. No matter what her judging abilities are, the girl can clearly sing - and sing well - which is more than can be said of many in similar roles on other singing-centered shows (or even this one). In addition to that, she has shown a remarkable stage presence - particularly in her essaying of the role of Maureen (made famous in the original Broadway cast by WICKED Tony Award winner Idina Menzel) in RENT at the Hollywood Bowl, directed by Neil Patrick Harris - and, even more recently, has displayed her legit side with her stunning performance of the title song from Andrew Lloyd Webber's PHANTOM OF THE OPERA - alongside four famous Phantoms - at the Royal Variety Performance last week for the queen. Just last night, Scherzinger took center stage on the X FACTOR's results show to sing her surprisingly strong new single, 'Pretty' - an episode which also saw the final remaining contestant under her tutelage remaining in the competition, Josh Krajcik, survive another week and make it into the Top 4 - and proceeded to positively set the night alight. Haters can hate, but Scherzinger undoubtedly proved any naysayers wrong insofar as her fierce talent and reason for appearing on the show as a judge is concerned - no question. Post-Pussycat Dolls, Scherzinger seems to be flying high - lest we forget: she also won DANCING WITH THE STARS early last year - and the stages of New York and London seem a perfect place for her to show off her considerable triple-threat abilities in the future, whether near or far. Plus, if she can make it in show business with that last name, you have to at the very least appreciate her striving for authenticity at all times - like it or not. Scherzinger not only sings like an angel, she looks like one, too. She is the whole package and definitely possesses the X factor - and maybe a Y and Z, too.

Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter and Broadway producer Alicia Keys will host talkback discussions following the STICK FLY performances next week on Monday, December 19th and Thursday, December 22nd at the Cort Theatre (138 W. 48th Street). STICK FLY is written by Lydia R. Diamond and directed by Kenny Leon.

STICK FLY, written by Lydia R. Diamond, directed by Kenny Leon, and produced and with original music by Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Alicia Keys, was featured this morning on ABC's 'Good Morning America.' Host Robin Roberts visited Alicia Keys and the cast at the Cort Theatre (138 W. 48th Street) to talk about this exciting new production that opened last week. Click here to watch the full interview. STICK FLY producers also announced today that a new block of tickets has been made available for purchase. The show is now on sale through February 28th.

Last week, December 8, Lydia R. Diamond's STICK FLY opened at the Cort Theatre. Grammy® Award-winning singer/songwriter Alicia Keys presents and writes original music for the Broadway premiere of STICK FLY, directed by Kenny Leon. Broadway Beat was on hand for the celebratory opening night party and takes you inside below!

ION Television has acquired all seven seasons (156 episodes) of the hit crime drama 'Cold Case,' in a deal with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution. The series will join the ION Television lineup in Q1 2012, adding to the network's continued focus on building a strong foundation of high-quality syndicated series.

Looking for a quick roundup of this week's events? Look no further - here are some of the best articles the week had to offer!

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week, or you're just in the mood for a recap of everything theatre, BroadwayWorld's feature, 'This Week in Pictures' is here to satisfy your end of the week fix. Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to the West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more! For last week's biggest events: visit THIS WEEK IN PICTURES: November 26- December 2.

Last night, December 8, Lydia R. Diamond's STICK FLY opened at the Cort Theatre. Grammy® Award-winning singer/songwriter Alicia Keys presents and writes original music for the Broadway premiere of STICK FLY, directed by Kenny Leon. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the starry theater arrivals and brings you photo coverage of the red carpet below!