Patti LaBelle Joins FELA! Sept. 14 for Limited Run; Show to Close January 2
by Jessica Lewis - August 12, 2010
As BroadwayWorld previously speculated, producers Shawn 'Jay-Z' Carter, Will & Jada Pinkett Smith, Ruth & Stephen Hendel and Roy Gabay will welcome Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum recording artist Patti LaBelle to the cast of the hit Award-winning Broadway musical Fela! on Tuesday, September 14, when she takes over the role of Fela's mother (Funmilayo Anikulapo-Kuti) through Sunday, January 2, 2011, when the show will play its final scheduled performance. Tony Award-winner Lillias White (who received a 2010 Tony Nomination for her performance in this production) will play her final performance on September 12. Fela! received three 2010 Tony Awards, including Best Choreography, Best Costume Design and Best Sound Design. It is currently playing at Broadway's Eugene O'Neill Theatre (230 West 49th Street) where it opened to rave reviews on November 23.
TV: FELA! Plays Broadway in Bryant Park!
by Robert Diamond - August 6, 2010
The best of Broadway is being presented free on six consecutive Thursdays this summer with '106.7 Lite fm Presents Broadway in Bryant Park 2010' - a lunchtime series which began on Thursday, July 8th at 12:30pm on the Bryant Park Stage. Sponsored by Bank of America, and JCPenney 33rd & 6th, and hosted by Lite fm's on-air personalities, the tenth annual presentation of open-air, On- and Off- Broadway lunch hour performances runs through August 12th.
Fela's Son Sees FELA!; Musical to be Produced in Lagos
by Nicolas Coburn - July 14, 2010
The New York Times reports that Femi Kuti, son of Fela Anikulapo Kuti, saw FELA! while in New York on Sunday. Previously, Kuti would not see the production unless it was brought to Lagos, where his father originally built the nightclub. On Saturday, over a World Cup viewing with FELA! co-conceiver and producer Stephen Hendel, Kuti was promised the show will see a production in Lagos. Said Hendel: 'We're going to keep our word.'
Broadway in Bryant Park 2010 Kicks Off 7/8
by BWW News Desk - July 8, 2010
The best of Broadway will be presented FREE on six consecutive Thursdays this summer with '106.7 Lite fm Presents Broadway in Bryant Park 2010' - a lunchtime series beginning on Thursday, July 8th at 12:30pm on the Bryant Park Stage.
Ngaujah, Ivory, Marshall et al. to Star in London FELA!
by Abigail Arnold - July 6, 2010
Casting for the London production of FELA! has been announced, Grace Notes reports. As previously reported on BroadwayWorld, the production will star Sahr Ngaujah, who was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in the Broadway production, as Nigerian composer and activist Fela Kuti. The production will also star Paulette Ivory and Melanie Marshall.
FELA! Celebrates 250th Performance Tonight
by Gabrielle Sierra - June 30, 2010
Fela!, recipient of three 2010 Tony Awards including Best Choreography, will celebrate its 250th performance on Wednesday, June 30 @ 8pm. Produced by Shawn 'Jay-Z' Carter and Will & Jada Pinkett Smith, this critically acclaimed show based on the life and music of groundbreaking African composer, performer and activist Fela Kuti, began performances at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre (230 West 49th Street) on October 19 and opened to rave reviews on November 23.
Full Lineup Set For Broadway in Bryant Park 2010, Kicks Off 7/8
by Gabrielle Sierra - June 25, 2010
The best of Broadway will be presented FREE on six consecutive Thursdays this summer with '106.7 Lite fm Presents Broadway in Bryant Park 2010' - a lunchtime series beginning on Thursday, July 8th at 12:30pm on the Bryant Park Stage.
RIALTO CHATTER: FELA! to Play Nigeria?
by Rialto Chatter - June 17, 2010
According to contactmusic.com, FELA! has been asked by officials at the Nigerian Ministry of Culture to perform in Nigeria this October. A FELA! performance would be part of the celebration for the country's 50 years of independence.
TV: 2010 Tonys Creative Arts Awards - Robert Kaplowitz
by Robert Diamond - June 17, 2010
If you missed the online broadcast of the pre-televised 2010 Tony Awards ceremony, honoring the best in Creative Arts on Broadway in the 2009-2010 season, here is your chance to watch the award presentations! Courtesy of TonyAwards.com, BroadwayWorld is bringing you the presentations to all of the 2010 Creative Arts Tony Award winners and honorary Tony Award recipients Alan Ayckbourn, Marian Seldes, David Hyde Pierce and the Eugene O'Neill Theatre.
TV: 2010 Tonys Creative Arts Awards - Marina Draghici
by Robert Diamond - June 17, 2010
If you missed the online broadcast of the pre-televised 2010 Tony Awards ceremony, honoring the best in Creative Arts on Broadway in the 2009-2010 season, here is your chance to watch the award presentations! Courtesy of TonyAwards.com, BroadwayWorld is bringing you the presentations to all of the 2010 Creative Arts Tony Award winners and honorary Tony Award recipients Alan Ayckbourn, Marian Seldes, David Hyde Pierce and the Eugene O'Neill Theatre.
TV: 2010 Tony Winner - Bill T. Jones
by Robert Diamond - June 14, 2010
Broadway Beat was backstage at the 2010 Tony Awards talking to ALL the winners right after they won! Here, host Richard Ridge talks to Bill T. Jones, recipient of the 2010 Tony Award for Best Choreography for FELA!
STAGE TUBE: FELA! at the 2010 Tonys!
by Gabrielle Sierra - June 14, 2010
Fela was nominated for Best Musical at the 2010 Tony Awards. Although they didn't walk away this this honor, the show did win for Best Costume Design of a Musical, and Best Choreography.
Photo Coverage: FELA! Tony After-Party!
by Monica Simoes - June 14, 2010
Last night, June 13, the 64th Annual Tony Awards were held at Radio City Music Hall. Hosted by PROMISES, PROMISES star Sean Hayes and Broadcast on CBS, the evening honored movie stars (Catherine Zeta-Jones, Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Scarlett Johansson), industry vets (Katie Finneran, Michael Grandage), Broadway newcomers (Eddie Redmayne, David Bryan, Douglas Hodge) and more, including FELA!'s own director/choreographer, Bill T. Jones and costume designer Marina Draghici.