Wayne Brady News

In 1995, a group of writers, directors and actors gathered on Manhattan's Lower East Side for what was supposed to be a one-time only event: write, direct, produce and perform new plays within the span of 24 hours. Twenty-four years later, The 24 Hour Plays and The 24 Hour Musicals are regularly performed around the world, touching everyone from celebrities to student artists and raising millions of dollars for charities. Today, The 24 Hour Plays announced that they'll mark their anniversary with an intimate production of The 24 Hour Musicals on Monday, June 17th at 8 PM on the Irene Diamond Stage at the Pershing Square Signature Center.  

SoulPancake, the Participant Media (Spotlight, The Help) owned media and entertainment company originally founded by Rainn Wilson (The Office, The Meg), today announced the launch of “The Beautiful Mind” campaign, a multi-platform programming initiative, in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month in May.  The month-long campaign will feature a mix of original video and social content, celebrity talent integrations and live events, anchored by It's Not That Funny, a documentary produced in partnership with Funny or Die.

The Off-Broadway League today announced nominations in 19 categories - and bestowed one special award - for the 34th Annual Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway. The Awards will be handed out on Sunday, May 5, 2019 at NYU Skirball Center for Performing Arts, beginning at 7:00pm EST. The Lucille Lortel Awards are produced by the Off-Broadway League by special arrangement with the Lucille Lortel Theatre Foundation. Additional support is provided by TDF. Beloved and celebrated entertainer, Wayne Brady, will emcee the ceremony.

CBS, which has been the #1 network in daytime for 32 consecutive years, will be returning its entire top-rated roster for the 2019-2020 television season. The lineup, which is nominated for an industry-leading 56 Daytime Emmy Awards, includes LET'S MAKE A DEAL, THE PRICE IS RIGHT, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL and THE TALK.

Previous Lucille Lortel Award winner and multiple nominee, Mike Birbiglia, has been announced as host of the 2019 Lucille Lortel Awards, set to take place Sunday, May 5, at the NYU Skirball Center.

From a Grammy Award nomination for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance to hosting "Let's Make A Deal" on TV, to multiple sitcom characters and appearances, to Kinky Boots on Broadway, six-time Emmy Award-winner Wayne Brady is a true renaissance man.

The Stuttering Association for the Young (SAY.org) will host its 17th Annual Benefit Gala, honoring long-time SAY supporter and Tony Award-winning director Thomas Kail with the Budd Mayer Advocacy Award, and inducting SAY's Musical Director Everett Bradly into the SAY Hall of Fame. Hosted by Broadway's Tony-Award-winning, past SAY Honoree Kelli O'Hara, the benefit gala will take place on Monday, May 13th, 2019 at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts (566 LaGuardia Place), followed by a Chef's Tasting Event at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers.

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, the Tony Award-winning, record-shattering Broadway production of Kinky Boots will play its final performance on April 7, 2019. At the time of its closing, the musical will be the 25th longest-running production in Broadway history, having played 2,507 regular performances and 34 previews.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! We've got your top stories from around the Broadway world!

The Off-Broadway League today announced nominations in 19 categories - and bestowed one special award - for the 34th Annual Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway. The Awards will be handed out on Sunday, May 5, 2019 at NYU Skirball Center for Performing Arts, beginning at 7:00pm EST. The Lucille Lortel Awards are produced by the Off-Broadway League by special arrangement with the Lucille Lortel Theatre Foundation. Additional support is provided by TDF. Beloved and celebrated entertainer, Wayne Brady, will emcee the ceremony.

Today BET Networks announced second season pick-ups for both its half-hour subversive, smart, serialized comedy series 'BOOMERANG,' and the critically-acclaimed period drama based on the untold rise of the iconic music and dance program 'Soul Train,' 'AMERICAN SOUL.' BET is investing in partnerships with leading Black content creators with unique creative voices to bring viewers elevated storytelling and premium programming.