Wilkie Ferguson

In FETCH CLAY, MAKE MAN, Will Power investigates the friendship as a fascinating dual study in individual character and cultural identity. Under Debbie Allen’s rocking direction at the Douglas, the play is as exciting as it is thoughtful.  THE BEAR’s Edwin Lee Gibson and Ray Fisher act the daylights out of it.

Will Power’s Fetch Clay, Make Man (a co-production of Center Theatre Group and The SpringHill Company) will open June 18, 2023, at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. Debbie Allen, in her CTG directorial debut, directs this account of the unlikely (but real life) friendship between the great Cassius Clay and the controversial Stepin Fetchit; with the cast of Ray Fisher, Edwin Lee Gibson, Wilkie Ferguson II, Alexis Floyd and Bruce Nozick. I managed to spar with Will over a few behind-the-scenes queries.

2022 Golden Globe nominee and Obie Award winner Edwin Lee Gibson (The Bear) will star as Stephin Fetchit (a stage name for Lincoln Perry) in Will Power's Fetch Clay, Make Man at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City, California via the Centre Theatre Group and LeBron James' The SpringHill Company.

Drama Desk nominee Ray Fisher will put his gloves on again to play the role of heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali in Will Power’s “Fetch Clay, Make Man,” after previously performing the role Off-Broadway.

Ebony Repertory Theatre (ERT) will begin their 15th anniversary season with the Tony Award winning Ain’t Misbehavin’ opening May 4, 2023.  ERT’s producing artistic director Wren T. Brown directs the cast of Yvette Cason, Wilkie Ferguson III, Connie Jackson, Marty Austin Lamar and Natalie Wachen. Wren found some time from his many ERT duties to answer a few of my queries.

Ebony Repertory Theatre will present the Tony Award-winning musical AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ as its 15th Anniversary Season Opening Production. 

Endearing and earnest, MTW’s new production of 9 TO 5 - THE MUSICAL---which continues performances at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach through February 26---is a pleasing musical comedy (adapted from the hit film) filled with hilarious dialogue, outrageous silliness, and, of course, really catchy tunes via Dolly Parton.

Musical Theatre West's production of 9 to 5, The Musical, which debuted in Long Beach, CA this last weekend with three performances, including a dazzling Dollywood red-carpet event for the official opening night.

Fifteen years after it made its original appearance in the Los Angeles theater scene, 9 to 5, The Musical is debuting on the Musical Theatre West stage! Musical Theatre West will bring some of Dolly Parton’s award-winning music to life for its first show of the 2023 season.

Fifteen years after it made its original appearance in the Los Angeles theater scene, 9 to 5, The Musical is debuting on the Musical Theatre West stage! Musical Theatre West (MTW), Long Beach's premier theater company, will bring some of Dolly Parton's award-winning music to life for its first show of the 2023 season.

Like Cinderella, KINKY BOOTS the musical playing at Moonlight through October 1st knows that a good pair of shoes can change your life. This high-energy and heartwarming musical brings plenty of laughs and may have you shopping for some new shoes by the end.

“Seize the Day” beginning Friday, July 15, 2022 at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center!

5-STAR THEATRICALS has announced the third show of its 2021-2022 season, the regional premiere of Disney’s NEWSIES, book by Harvey Fierstein, music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman, musical conductor and direction by Wilkie Ferguson, associate director & choreography Anthony Raimondi and directed & choreographed by Richard J. Hinds.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announces the cast and creative team for Show Way The Musical, a Kennedy Center–commissioned world premiere for young adults based on the Newbery–winning book from Kennedy Center Education Artist-in-Residence Jacqueline Woodson. This inspiring new musical, running May 13–29, 2022 in the Kennedy Center's Family Theater, features music by Tyrone L. Robinson, direction by Schele Williams, and choreography by Tiffany Quinn.

Musical Theatre West will welcome a familiar face to take on the iconic role of King George for the final weekend of Spamilton: An American Parody.

Musical Theatre West’s production of Spamilton: An American Parody debuted in Long Beach, CA this last weekend with a preview performance on Friday, March 25th, and a dazzling red-carpet event on Saturday, March 26th.

Get your tickets for a night of side-splitting satire! Musical Theatre West is excited to announce that the highly-anticipated cameo role of King George will be played by Broadway and musical theatre star Jason Graae in the Long Beach premiere of Spamilton: An American Parody.

Musical Theatre West has announced the Long Beach premiere of Spamilton: An American Parody written and created by Gerard Alessandrini (Forbidden Broadway), directed and choreographed by Gerry McIntyre, with music direction by Wilkie Ferguson III.

The second play in First Stage's fall 2021 Amplify -BIPOC Short Play Series will be STEP KIDS, a new one-act musical by Tyrone L. Robinson and Postell Pringle with orchestrations by Wilkie Ferguson and drums by Deonte Malique Ellis.

Shane Scheel and his live show production company For The Record Live has found their new Hollywood home in The Bourbon Room. With their official re-opening, featuring Shoshana Bean, an impressive success (obvious from the love and applause flowing forth from The Bourbon Room audience.), FTR will follow up with be a concert from Alisan Porter (August 1st), and their new and improved production of TARANTINO LIVE, now TARANTINO LIVE: FOX FORCE FIVE & THE TYRANNY OF EVIL MEN (beginning August 5th). Had the chance to chat with Shane, FTR’s executive producer, on FTR staying connected during the pandemic, and their already planned shows and those hoped for scheduling.