Andre De Shields News

The Huntington Theatre Company's production of The Jungle Book played its 100th performance on Tuesday, October 8 at 7:30pm and had another reason to celebrate on October 11th, when the legendary Ben Vereen stopped by to pay a visit. He was then surprised backstage by the cast and crew singing him a Happy Birthday, check out photos below!

Huntington Theatre Company just extended the run of its world premiere adaptation of The Jungle Book - the final performance will now be Sunday, October 20. The production officially opened on September 18 at the Huntington's mainstage, the Boston University Theatre. BroadwayWorld has photos of the stars on opening night below!

Tony Award-winning director Mary Zimmerman brings her unique vision to the world premiere stage adaptation of 'The Jungle Book' now at the Huntington Theatre Company of Boston through October 13

From October 3 to 28, 2013 The Drilling Company will present an Off-Broadway run of its hit comedy from last season, 'The Norwegians' by C. Denby Swanson, directed by Elowyn Castle. Performances will be at The Drilling Company Theatre, 236 West 78th Street, featuring the original cast.

Goodman Theatre's world premiere of The Jungle Book opens on July 1 and, with a second extension week just added, now runs through August 11. Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman reimagines Walt Disney's 1967 animated hit into a wholly original new work for the stage, drawing from both the film as well as Rudyard Kipling's 1894 collection of stories set in the Indian jungle and featuring original Indian-inspired music and dance. As previously announced, 10-year-old Akash Chopra makes his Chicago debut as young 'man cub' Mowgli, who comes of age with the help of the anthropomorphic singing and dancing jungle animals; joining him in the role at select performances is Roni Akurati, who most recently appeared at the Goodman as Tiny Tim in the 2011 production of A Christmas Carol. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production shots below!

Two-time Tony Award nominee and Broadway legend Andre De Shields, has been invited to be the featured speaker at the Conference of the International Council of Fine Arts Deans (ICFAD). The prestigious conference will take place on Friday, October 25 at the Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans. De Shields' presentation topic is The Artist As Alchemist. The presentation will be attended by more than 100 Deans and administrators of fine arts colleges and universities from around the world.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'The Jungle Book' opens, Audra and Sondheim visit, Stephen Wallem's St. Louis 'Shrek,' Make Music Chicago, 'The Land Of Smiles,' the Auditorium's cabaret series, Idina in Aurora and more!

Here's a listing of the top ten places that are really burning it up in theater this summer, in Chicago and the region nearby. Seek them out, and enjoy!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. It's our annual Summer Musical Theater Guide! This week, Part One: Chicagoland. Check out 'The Jungle Book,' 'Kiss Of The Spider Woman,' 'Next To Normal,' 'The Color Purple,' 'Spelling Bee,' 'Cabaret' and a whole lot more!

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS presented a one-night, 20th anniversary performance of the landmark show THE NIGHT Larry Kramer KISSED ME last night at the Gerard W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College (524 West 59th Street, NYC). BroadwayWorld was there for the special event and you can check out photos below!

In a new entry in the Masterworks Broadway LEGENDS OF BROADWAY web series, Tony-winning director/lyricist Richard Maltby Jr. discusses the inception of the idea through to conception, casting, enaction and reception of the Fats Waller revue AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'.

Acclaimed Tony Award winning Director/Choreographer Jerry Mitchell, whose smash hit musical Kinky Boots just received a whopping 13 Tony Award-nominations, was just honored with the 2013 'Mr. Abbott' Award for his outstanding artistry and creativity and breadth of his thirty-year career.

The award was presented at a gala event at B.B. King on May 13 with four-time Tony Award-winning playwright and actor Harvey Fierstein, a frequent collaborator of Jerry Mitchell (and bookwriter of Kinky Boots), to emcee a tribute written by six-time Emmy Award winner Bruce Vilanch. Grammy Award-winner Cyndi Lauper, who wrote the music & lyrics for Kinky Boots, introduced a number from Kinky Boots included in the tribute. Director Jack O'Brien presented Mr. Mitchell with the award. Check out full photo coverage from the festivities below!

On April 3rd, the New-York Historical Society unveiled a life-size bronze sculpture of Abraham Lincoln. The event, which attracted such personalities as singers Tony Bennett and Judy Collins, writer Gay Talese, editor Nan Talese, Barnes & Noble CEO Leonard Riggio, media magnate Sumner Redstone, and Actor Andre de Shields, highlighted one of the finest sculpted likenesses of Lincoln ever produced. For Long Island, New York sculptor and educator Frank Porcu, the launch of what is arguably the beginning of a new and exciting phase in his career cannot be overstated.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Oklahoma!' opens, a new 'Porgy,' a one-night 'Tommy,' improvised Sondheim, Darren Criss, 'The Jungle Book' has been cast, two new revues, my Tony perspective and more!

The Broadway revival of Horton Foote's beloved classic, The Trip to Bountiful, opened last night, April 23, at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre (124 W 43rd St).Directed by Michael Wilson, the cast features Academy Award nominee and Emmy Award-winning actress Cicely Tyson, Academy Award winner Cuba Gooding, Jr, Emmy Award nominee and recording star Vanessa Williams, and Tony Award nominee Condola Rashad. BroadwayWorld was there for opening night and you can check out full photo coverage of the star-studded theatre arrivals below!

The Oscar-winning and Tony-nominated actress Estelle Parsons was honored at La Mama's annual benefit fundraiser, along with longtime La MaMa board member Peter Swords on last night, February 27, 2013 at the Ellen Stewart Theatre (66 E. 4 St.). Ms. Parsons, who appeared last fall at La MaMa in Marco Calvani's play THINGS OF THIS WORLD directed by Neil LaBute, and Mr. Swords, who served as a member of the La MaMa Board for 25 years, wascelebrated at the event by personal and video tributes from playwrights Warren Leight and Mr. LaBute. BroadwayWorld was there for the special night and you can check out full coverage below!

North Jersey's Bridge Studio for the Performing Arts excitedly announces the addition of Andre De Shields to their amazing lineup of performers for their 3rd annual variety show, entitle SHOWSTOPPERS. SHOWSTOPPERS will take place on Saturday, March 9th at 7:30PM at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church (344 Washington Ave., Dumont, NJ). Tickets are $30 in advance and $40 at the door. They can be purchased by visiting www.bridgestudiofortheperformingarts.com, or by calling 201-394-9697.

Legendary folk singer Judy Collins; folk pop icon Dar Williams; Broadway star André DeShields; award winning actor Stephen Lang; and The Classical Theater of Harlem will bring the words and ideas of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass to life tonight, February 13th at 6:30 p.m. in the Cooper Union Great Hall, 7 East 7th St., NYC 10003 (b/w 3rd and 4th Aves) in a special program entitled, 'The Civil War in Words and Music.'

Legendary folk singer Judy Collins; folk pop icon Dar Williams; Broadway star André DeShields; award winning actor Stephen Lang; and The Classical Theater of Harlem will bring the words and ideas of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass to life on Wednesday, February 13th at 6:30 p.m. in the Cooper Union Great Hall, 7 East 7th St., NYC 10003 (b/w 3rd and 4th Aves) in a special program entitled, 'The Civil War in Words and Music.'