Annaleigh Ashford News

Original KINKY BOOTS cast member and two-time Tony nominee Stark Sands gives his final performance in the Cyndi Lauper, Harvey Fierstein, and Jerry Mitchell's Broadway hit, today, Jan. 26. Sands will be suceeded by Andy Kelso as 'Charlie Price' on Jan. 28.

Tony nominee Annaleigh Ashford (Kinky Boots, Rent, Dogfight, Wicked, Legally Blonde, and Showtime's 'Masters of Sex.'), Tony nominee Brenda Braxton (Smokey Joe's Cafe, Chicago, Dreamgirls), Multi-million selling recording artist, actor, author Sam Harris (Grease!, The Life, author of the new book HAM: Slices of a Life), and Emmy and Tony nominee Michele Lee (Broadway's Seesaw, How to Succeed..., and TV's 'Knots Landing') recently gathered at 54 Below to preview their upcoming shows at the venue. Randy Rainbow was on the scene to chat with the performers and you can check out a sneak peek of their concerts below!

Friends in Theater Company will soon present Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty's Once on this Island, one-night-only production benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro New York and Western New York onMonday, January 20, 2014 at 7:30pm at the Lucille Lortel Theater (121 Christopher Street New York, NY 10014). In the video below, Billy Porter, Stark Sands, Annaleigh Ashford, Ann Harada, Santino Fontana, Ryan Steele and more show their support for the cause!

Tony Award nominee Annaleigh Ashford and Will Van Dyke will release a single of 'Another Time' on iTunes, and wherever digital music is sold, today, January 14th.

Tony nominee Annaleigh Ashford (Kinky Boots, Rent, Dogfight, Wicked, Legally Blonde, and Showtime's 'Masters of Sex.'), Tony nominee Brenda Braxton (Smokey Joe's Cafe, Chicago, Dreamgirls), Multi-million selling recording artist, actor, author Sam Harris (Grease!, The Life, author of the new book HAM: Slices of a Life), and Emmy and Tony nominee Michele Lee (Broadway's Seesaw, How to Succeed..., and TV's 'Knots Landing') gathered at 54 Below today to preview their upcoming shows at the venue. BroadwayWorld was there for the special event and you can check out photo coverage below!

CUNY TV's ARTS IN THE CITY, hosted by New York entertainment reporter Pat Collins, goes on location to Sardi's Restaurant in Times Square to assemble key principals responsible for the success of Broadway's 'Kinky Boots.' In Kinky Boots - The Road to Broadway, premiering Friday, January 10 (2014) on CUNY TV, the cast and creators recount the musical's genesis - from a 2005 indie film to a winner of six Tony Awards, including 'Best Musical.'

This January and February at 54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street.

Broadway veterans James Moye and Victor Hawks will team with Tony nominee Annaleigh Ashford (Kinky Boots) and other top Broadway performers at the annual New Year's Eve extravaganza at Tony's DiNapoli at Times Square tonight.

In 2013, I turned 28, which apparently is one of several years at the end of your 20s where basically your life hits the fan and sudden changes surround you. I looked around, and everyone else seemed so happy. Then, I breathed and realized that I have plenty to be happy about. In 2013 I became BroadwayWorld.com's official theatre recording critic and have been exposed to some incredible albums since accepting that title. Some I have loved; others I have not. Regardless of my feelings towards the albums themselves, these are the top 20 songs from 2013 I simply cannot get out of my mind.

Today, check out part one of this year's curtain call highlights 2013, and catch up on anything that you might have missed within the last 12 months!

Producers Daryl Roth and Hal Luftig have announced new leads for their smash hit musical Kinky Boots; Andy Kelso, who currently plays 'Harry', will take over the role of 'Charlie Price' on January 28, 2014 following Stark Sands' January 26 departure. Jeanna de Waal will join the cast as 'Lauren,' beginning March 4, 2014 (replacing Annaleigh Ashford, who leaves to join the cast of Showtime's 'Masters of Sex'), and Jake Odmark joins the ensemble in the roles previously played by Andy Kelso. As previously announced, Billy Porter, this year's Tony Award-winner for Best Actor in a Musical, will remain with Kinky Boots.

Highlights this week include the opening of STEPHEN WARD, Kate Baldwin's portrait unveiling at Sardi's, and the Kennedy Center Honors, and more!

Kinky Boots stars Billy Porter, Stark Sands and Annaleigh Ashford and more joined the show's Tony Award-winning composer Cyndi Lauper for a special one-night-only True Colors Cabaret, last night, December 16th at Birdland (315 W 44th St). Lauper joined the cast of Kinky Boots to perform an eclectic array of standards, pop hits and other songs, with musical direction by the show's Tony Award-winning orchestrator Stephen Oremus.

Kinky Boots stars Billy Porter, Stark Sands and Annaleigh Ashford and more joined the show's Tony Award-winning composer Cyndi Lauper for a special one-night-only True Colors Cabaret, last night, December 16th at Birdland (315 W 44th St). Lauper joined the cast of Kinky Boots to perform an eclectic array of standards, pop hits and other songs, with musical direction by the show's Tony Award-winning orchestrator Stephen Oremus.

Kinky Boots producers Daryl Roth and Hal Luftig, along with the True Colors Fund, recently announced that cast members from Kinky Boots, including stars Billy Porter, Stark Sands and Annaleigh Ashford, will join the show's Tony Award-winning composer Cyndi Lauper for a special one-night-only True Colors Cabaret, set for tonight, December 16th at 7:00 PM at Birdland (315 W 44th St).

Annaleigh Ashford will bring her solo show 'Lost in the Stars' to 54 Below on February 3, 2014 at 7 and 9:30 p.m.

Highlights this week include a HIT LIST concert at 54 Below, the 2013 Hammerstein Awards, the opening of A CHRISTMAS STORY, and more!

Now starring in the title role of the national touring company of EVITA, genuine triple-threat Caroline Bowman embodies the Dior-clad role of Argentina's once shining real-life jewel Eva Peron, and has been winning over audiences and critics alike with her powerful vocals and grounded acting. Right before she and her cast-mates invaded Segerstrom Center for the Arts for its two-week tour stop (ending December 22), Bowman agreed to answer a few silly questions from BroadwayWorld's Michael Lawrence Quintos.

This season features a slew of stars originating roles, and plenty more making an existing one their own -- but regardless of the breadth of their repertoire, these divas prove they're the top when it comes to getting away with murder in 1920s Chicago, or running a derelict orphanage -- all while hitting their marks night after night.

The beloved Broadway tradition continues as Sardi's just added caricatures of the Kinky Boots players to its legendary walls yesterday. Kinky Boots stars Billy Porter, Stark Sands, Annaleigh Ashford, and director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell were honored with portraits and you can check out full photo coverage from the festivities below!