Purlie 1970

Catch the second year of The ASCAP Foundation Musical Theatre Fest at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts from May 14 - 21.

The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts' Billy Rose Theatre Division has acquired the archive of Novella Nelson. Learn more about Nelson!

The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center will soon celebrate the theater photography of the Friedman-Abeles Studio through a unique presentation of a selection of lenticular prints.

As Purlie Victorious enters its final weekend on Broadway, BroadwayWorld is very excited to share an exclusive essay written by Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee's daughter, Hasna Muhammad, who played a key role in getting this landmark play back on Broadway. 

Host Patrick Pacheco is first joined by cast members Kara Young, Jay O. Sanders, and Heather Alicia Simms, who talk about their provocative roles in this sly and subversive comedy in which white supremacy meets its worst nightmare. Then critic Brittani Samuel and CUNY Professor Hillary Miller place Davis's groundbreaking drama.

This time, the reader question was: With Purlie Victorious returning to Broadway, what are other plays that were revived on Broadway after their musical adaptations premiered?

Looking for all the latest info on one of Broadway's hottest shows? BroadwayWorld has the full scoop on everything that you need to know about Purlie Victorious on Broadway. Check out all the details below!

NEW FEDERAL THEATRE will hold its 53rd Anniversary Celebration on October 2 at Edison Ballroom, honoring Woodie King, Jr., Gabrielle Kurlander, and Sade Lythcott. The gala is chaired by Kenny Leon and Lynn Whitfield.

Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre (NFT), led by Producing Artistic Director Elizabeth Van Dyke, will hold a 53rd Anniversary Celebration October 2, 2023 at Edison Ballroom, 240 West 47th Street.  

The first Broadway revival of the American comedy Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch by legendary Ossie Davis will officially open in September. Learn how to purchase tickets!

The ASCAP Foundation and the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts will present The ASCAP Foundation Musical Theatre Fest. See who is taking part and learn how to purchase tickets!

Tony & Grammy Award winner and Academy & Emmy Award nominee Leslie Odom, Jr. will star in the new Broadway production of the classic American comedy Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch by the legendary Ossie Davis.

Richard Wesley’s 'Black Terror' is co-produced by WACO Theater Center, which is based out of Los Angeles’ North Hollywood neighborhood. The production will be directed by WACO’s Co-Artistic Director, Richard Lawson, and will live-stream online this summer.

The criteria are that these shows have been nominated for Best Musical from the 3rd Tony Awards (the ceremony that started the Best Musical category) in 1949 to the nominations of what will now be the 74th Tony Awards in 2021. I will be determining their signs based upon their Broadway premiere date. With those rules in mind, here we go!

Melba Moore has been a success on Broadway, on television, in movies, and music for over 50 years. In an all new segment for 50PlusPrime.com, Moore meets talks about her commitment to helping young entertainers live their dreams, and shares a backstage visit as she prepares to rock New York City.

Women of Color on Broadway, a non-profit dedicated to supporting women of African, Latin, and Asian descent pursuing careers in musical theater, will present its Purple Crystal Honorary Awards in The Cooper Union's Great Hall on February 10, 2020. This year's honorees are Tony-award winners LaChanze and Melba Moore. The award celebrates the heroines of African, Latin, and Asian descent who paved the way for the next generation of women of color in theater.

Women of Color on Broadway is set to honor Tony Award-winners Melba Moore and LaChanze on February 10, 2020 at at The Great Hall in NYC.

 Lotus Music & Dance will celebrate its 30th Anniversary in 2019 with a benefit dinner and performance on Monday, March 25th. This year also marks the 100th Birth Anniversary of bharata natyam dance guru, T. Balasaraswati ("Bala"). They will honor legendary choreographer, George Faison with the inaugural Bala Award for Excellence . Other Honorees include Manhattan Borough President, Gale Brewer for her support of cultural diversity in the performing arts.

Lotus Music & Dance will celebrate its 30th Anniversary in 2019 with a benefit dinner and performance on Monday, March 25th. This year also marks the 100th Birth Anniversary of bharata natyam dance guru, T. Balasaraswati (“Bala”). They will honor legendary choreographer, George Faison with the inaugural Bala Award for Excellence . Other Honorees include Manhattan Borough President, Gale Brewer for her support of cultural diversity in the performing arts.

Producer/Executive Producer, Elynn Diamond will present Tony Award Winner, four-time Grammy Nominee, and R&B Hall Of Fame inductee, MELBA MOORE In Concert. Elynn's Co-Producer is Emmy Award-Winner Rick Traum. Ms. Moore will perform at the iconic Woodstock Playhouse on Saturday, March 30, 2019.

Purlie played by Ronald Edwards is a newfangled preacher man extolling the gospel of freedom. Tanasha West partners with him in the lead as love struck Lutiebelle and the key to Purlie's plan to win back Big Bethel - the family's symbol of freedom. Crystalyn Monet joins the cast as Aunt Missy apprehensive yet committed to Purlie's ambitious plan. While, Terry Kiser embodies the realist Gitlow, 'Deputy of the Color People', Missy's husband and Purlie's brother. Brian Christopher Roberson arrived in Atlanta just in time to portray Charlie Cotchipee who openly challenges the racist ideas of the old south which drives his plantation owning, Jim Crow believing father, Ol' Cap'n Cotchipee played by Ian Scott, also a newcomer to metro Atlanta, crazy. DeEtta West, sister to Cleavon Little who won the Tony for his role as Purlie in 1970, rounds out the cast as discrete yet alert Idella Landy, Charlie's childhood nurse and a former slave.

DeEtta West is featured in the role of Idella Landy in the production of Purlie, opening at the Orange Box Theater on September 29. DeEtta accepted the role as a personal tribute to her late brother, Cleavon Little, winner of the Tony Award in 1970 for his performance as Purlie in the hit show. The show runs through October 7, 2018 (Orange Box Theater @ Mark SQuared Studios, 1804 Montreal Court, Ste B, Tucker, GA 30084)

Melba Moore - the Tony Award Winning Singer & Actress headlines A Benefit Concert For The Caribbean featuring R&B and Caribbean artists who come together to sing, speak out and raise funds and awareness for Hurricane Relief In the U.S. Virgin Islands and other parts of the Caribbean.

BroadwayWorld has learned that acclaimed actress and Broadway vet Novella Nelson died on Friday, September 1st at the age of 77. 

FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW will be hosting a Reunion Concert of the 1971 Broadway musical, INNER CITY. The original Broadway production, directed by Tom O'Horgan, featured music by Helen Miller and lyrics by Eve Merriam.  The show was based on Merriam's book "The Inner City Mother Goose," a collection of updated nursery rhymes reflecting life of the disenfranchised inhabitants of America's urban inner cities circa 1970. The production ran at Broadway's Barrymore Theater from December 1971 to March 1972. Featured cast member, Linda Hopkins, was awarded a 1972 Tony Award for her performance.