His story inspired a nation. His music inspires the world. FELA! tells the true story of the legendary Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, whose soulful Afrobeat rhythms ignited a generation.
Motivated by his mother, a civil rights champion, he defied a corrupt and oppressive military government and devoted his life and music to the struggle for freedom and human dignity.
FELA! is a triumphant tale of courage, passion and love, featuring Fela Kuti's captivating music and the visionary direction and choreography of Tony Award winner Bill T. Jones.
EVERYBODY SAY YEAH YEAH!
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.
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.
Photographer Marilyn Nance is suing the musical FELA! for unauthorized use of one of her photographs, the New York Post reports.
The cast and crew of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Fela!, based on the life and music of groundbreaking African composer, performer and activist Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, will be honored by New York City Council Members Jimmy Van Bramer and Julissa Ferreras on the Steps of City Hall on Thursday, July 29.
The work of Bill T. Jones, eminent choreographer, Tony Award-winner, director, and recipient of the Jacob's Pillow Dance Award, is celebrated throughout the Pillow's 2010 Festival.
Tickets are on sale now for Lincoln Center's 22nd season of Midsummer Night Swing which will take place every Tuesday through Saturday, June 29-July 17 (except July 13, which will be replaced with a night of dancing on Monday, July 12th). The program will take place in Swing's home, Lincoln Center's Damrosch Park, on West 62nd Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues.
Michael Riedel reports in the New York Post this morning that songbird Patti LaBelle will be joining the Broadway cast of FELA! in September as Fela's mother. She will be filling in for Lillias White, who has concert obligations in Australia that month.
Bringing the Great White Way downtown to Castle Clinton National Monument, the Alliance for Downtown New York will present three nights of free outdoor concerts featuring Broadway-themed performances by Madeleine Peyroux, Duncan Sheik, and Antibalas as part of the River To River Festival.
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.'
The work of Bill T. Jones, eminent choreographer, Tony Award-winner, director, and recipient of the Jacob's Pillow Dance Award, is celebrated throughout the Pillow's 2010 Festival.
The noise coming from Damrosch Park is the roar of dancing feet as Midsummer Night Swing draws to a thunderous close with Week Three. Afrobeat star Femi Kuti & The Positive Force takes over on July 12th, with the associate choreographer from FELA! sweating out the relentless beats and a pre-show DJ set by Jump n' Funk's Rich Medina with Sahr from the cast of FELA! On July 14th songstress Catherine Russell and Cat & The Hounds Swing Band takes over, with a bluesy, jazz-tinged night of swing.
Tony Award winning Sound Designer Robert Kaplowitz is responsible for the sound system and sound content of a production. In a play, that content includes both music and sound effects. His primary skills are listening and the ability to understand a play and help an audience connect to the text. Kaplowitz demonstrates creating sound effects and score. In a musical such as Fela!, he brings the existing music to the audience to create an immersive aural environment. Kaplowitz shares how he began his career and why he loves being a sound designer.
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!, 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.
This month, as part of our 'Debut of the Month' series, BroadwayWorld is shining the spotlight on actor Kevin Mambo who is making his Broadway debut as legendary Nigerian musician Fela Anikulapo-Kuti in the Broadway musical Fela! The musical earned three Tony Awards: Best Choreography, Best Sound Design, and Best Costume Design.
Tickets are on sale now for Lincoln Center's 22nd season of Midsummer Night Swing which will take place every Tuesday through Saturday, June 29-July 17 (except July 13, which will be replaced with a night of dancing on Monday, July 12th). The program will take place in Swing's home, Lincoln Center's Damrosch Park, on West 62nd Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues.
The noise coming from Damrosch Park is the roar of dancing feet as Midsummer Night Swing draws to a thunderous close with Week Three. Afrobeat star Femi Kuti & The Positive Force takes over on July 12th, with the associate choreographer from FELA! sweating out the relentless beats and a pre-show DJ set by Jump n' Funk's Rich Medina with Sahr from the cast of FELA! On July 14th songstress Catherine Russell and Cat & The Hounds Swing Band takes over, with a bluesy, jazz-tinged night of swing.
Emmy-winning actor, Kevin Mambo, who stars in the title role in the Broadway production of the of Tony winning musical 'Fela!' has joined the roster of artists scheduled to perform at the Second Annual Tommy Awards on Monday, June 28 at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at NYU. Produced by the USC Alumni Club of New York with the support of the USC Alumni Association and other university partners, the Tommy Awards- named for Tommy Trojan, the University of Southern California's collegiate symbol - honors extraordinary contributions made by USC alumni to New York's business, cultural, sports and philanthropic communities.
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.
Bringing the Great White Way downtown to Castle Clinton National Monument, the Alliance for Downtown New York will present three nights of free outdoor concerts featuring Broadway-themed performances by Madeleine Peyroux, Duncan Sheik, and Antibalas as part of the River To River Festival.
Emmy-winning actor, Kevin Mambo, who stars in the title role in the Broadway production of the of Tony winning musical 'Fela!' has joined the roster of artists scheduled to perform at the Second Annual Tommy Awards taking place Monday, June 28 at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at NYU.
Offering something for everyone, the ninth annual River To River® Festival today unveiled a stellar line-up of free music, dance, and cultural events that firmly establishes Lower Manhattan as the city's summer arts capital.
Creative Alliance's On the Avenue/Por la Avenida & the Baltimore Resettlement Center present
Afro Beat Dance Party w/ Elikeh & Traditional African Dinner! Sat June 19
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.
Stephen Hendel, producer of Fela!, and Richard Willis, producer of Next Fall, have stated they intend for their shows to have extended runs on broadway, despite a lack of wins at this year's Tony Awards.
2008 | Off-Broadway |
World Premiere Off-Broadway |
2009 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
2010 | West End |
Royal National Theatre Production West End |
2011 | US Tour |
National Tour US Tour |
2012 | Broadway |
Broadway Return Engagement Broadway |
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