BroadwayWorld has just learned that six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald, who will star next spring in Shuffle Along Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed, will take a break from the show next summer. An official show rep commented: 'Due to a pre-existing commitment, Audra McDonald will not appear in Shuffle Along from Tuesday, June 21 to Sunday, September 25, 2016. Miss McDonald will return to Shuffle Along beginning Tuesday, September 27 and is currently contracted to stay with the production through Sunday, June 11, 2017.'
Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: CHICAGO gets a new 'Roxie', Gloria Estefan 'congas' for Viva Broadway, Nicole Kidman takes the stage in London and more!
On Monday, September 13, the Theater People podcast welcomes Tony-winner Laura Benanti. This is the first of two interviews in which Benanti will be featured on the podcast, The second part of will be released in two weeks!
Tickets go on sale tomorrow, Saturday, September 12 for SHUFFLE ALONG Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed, the striking new production that presents both the landmark 1921 musical itself, and additionally details the events that catalyzed the songwriting team of Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake, and librettists F.E. Miller and Aubrey Lyles to create this ground-breaking work.
On Monday, September 9, the Theater People podcast welcomes Tony-winning director Michael Mayer and writer/lyricist Dick Scanlan. For the episode, Mayer and Scanlan discuss their new collaboration, WHORL INSIDE A LOOP which Scanlan co-wrote with Sherie Rene Scott and which Mayer and Scanlan co-directed. The play, currently running Off-Broadway at Second Stage Theater, is loosely based on Scanlan and Scott's experience working with prison inmates on putting together a show based on monologues written by the inmates about the circumstances that landed them in jail.
On Monday, August 31st, the Theater People podcast welcomes the Tony-nominated HAND TO GOD star Geneva Carr. In making her Broadway debut with HAND TO GOD, Carr gave one of last season's most critically acclaimed performances in the role of Margery, the protagonist's mother.
FIVE POINTS: an American musical, with book by Harrison David Rivers, lyrics by Douglas Lyons and music by Douglas Lyons and Ethan Pakchar, has been in residence at the Musical Theatre Factory August 4th-10th. The residency will culminate in a development sharing on August 10th with a cast that features Mike Backes ('Orange is the New Black'), Seth Eliser, RB Embleton, Alexa Green (Wicked), Katie Lee Hill (Claudio Quest), Amber Iman (Soul Doctor), Frank Manda, T. Oliver Reid (After Midnight), Noah J. Ricketts (Beautiful), Eric Stephenson, Katie Thompson (Giant), Morissa Trunzo and Kevin Worley (On the Town). FIVE POINTS is directed by Mark Schneider (Beautiful, Annie, Billy Elliot) with music direction by Madeline Smith (The Light Princess, An Octoroon).
On Thursday, July 16, the Theater People Podcast welcomes Broadway vet and ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK star Lea Delaria. On the episode, DeLaria shares stories from her nearly 35-year career as a stand-up comic, jazz musician, Broadway leading lady, and film and television actor.
On Monday, June 6th the Theater People Podcast welcomes two-time Tony winner Michael Cerveris. The star of stage and screen won his second Tony Award last month for his turn as Bruce Bechdel in FUN HOME. Cerveris shares stories of his over two-year journey with the show, which won this year's Tony for Best New Musical. He discusses his decision not to read the graphic memoir on which the show is based, and his experience of visiting the real life Bechdel home where most of the show takes place.
Today, June 26th the Labyrinth Theatre Company will host a private industry reading of Five Points: An American Musical. Directed by Dan Knechtges, Five Points features a book by Harrison David Rivers, music by Douglas Lyons and Ethan Pakchar and lyrics by Douglas Lyons.
On June 26th the Labyrinth Theatre Company will host a private industry reading of Five Points: An American Musical. Directed by Dan Knechtges, Five Points features a book by Harrison David Rivers, music by Douglas Lyons and Ethan Pakchar and lyrics by Douglas Lyons.
On Monday June 22, 2015 Theater People Podcast welcomes Tony nominee Kerry Butler. Currently starring as Hillary Clinton in CLINTON THE MUSICAL at New World Stages, Butler made her Broadway debut in BLOOD BROTHERS before replacing as Belle in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.