Audra McDonald News

Third Street Music School Settlement, the nation's longest running community school is pleased to announce this year's Spring Gala will honor Sting, Grammy Award winning musician and renowned philanthropist and Brenda Harris, Third Street Preschool teacher of 22 years.

Amas Musical Theatre, New York City's award-winning pioneer in diversity and multi-ethnic casting in the performing arts since 1968, celebrates its 47th Anniversary at a gala benefit tonight, Monday, March 28th, 2016 at the Baruch Performing Arts Center(East 25th Street between Lexington and 3rd Avenues). Honorary Chair for the event is Tony Award winning actress, singer and dancer Donna McKechnie.  The master of ceremonies for the evening is noted theatre journalist Peter Filichia.

All available seats for the newly-added Friday, April 1 performance of SHUFFLE ALONGhave been priced at $40. This performance ends a previously planned four-day hiatus period of the production. The producers of SHUFFLE ALONG are offering this low-priced ticket as a thank you to the musical's enthusiastic fans who lined up outside the Music Box Theatre's box office from Monday, March 21 to Thursday, March 24 for the chance to purchase same-day $40 rush tickets, but who were unable to do so since those performances were cancelled as a result of the illness of Audra McDonald, one of the musical's stars.

Audra McDonald received her very own video category on Friday night's JEOPARDY, titled 'Audra McDonald on Broadway.' The show also asked McDonald, 'Given all your successes, is there a role you still long to play?

BWW has just learned that previews for SHUFFLE ALONG, which have been cancelled this week (Monday, March 21-Thursday, March 24) due to the illness of one of its stars, Audra McDonald, will resume on Friday, March 25 at The Music Box Theatre.

Just in, Broadway's SHUFFLE ALONG has canceled a third preview performance slated for tonight, March 23rd, at the Music Box Theatre, due to the illness of Audra McDonald.

Just in, Broadway's SHUFFLE ALONG has canceled a second preview performance slated for tonight, March 22nd, at the Music Box Theatre. A notification -- without any explanation for the last-minute change -- was sent to ticket buyers.

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) has announced the cast for HADESTOWN, written by celebrated singer-songwriter Anais Mitchell and developed with and directed by the inventive two-time OBIE award-winning director Rachel Chavkin (Three Pianos; Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812).

Mark Cortale, Producing Artistic Director of The Art House in Provincetown, MA, has sprung an early spring surprise announcement of his hotly anticipated summer season for the Cape Cod destination. Since taking the helm at the venue six years ago, The Art House has presented some of Broadway and Hollywood's most talented stars. The 2016 summer season will include artists like Kristin Chenoweth, Patti LuPone, Cheyenne Jackson, the Indigo Girls, Megan Hilty and Steve Grand. This summer, the venue's marquee Broadway concert series will again encompass performances at both The Art House as well as Provincetown's Town Hall.

Maize & Blue on Broadway is a one-night-only benefit concert on May 16, 2016 at 7PM at Broadway's August Wilson Theatre (245 West 52nd Street) to celebrate the University of Michigan and its renowned Musical Theatre Department, as well as honor its longtime chair, Brent Wagner, who is retiring in May after 32 years of being the department's heart and soul.  

OWN: OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK announces its April 2016 programming highlights. New series and seasons. (P) Denotes: Premieres

The Drama League will recognize three outstanding stage luminaries at this year's 82nd Annual Drama League Awards, set for Friday afternoon, May 20, 2016 at the Marriott Marquis Times Square, it was announced today.

PFLAG National-the nation's largest organization uniting families, allies, and people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ)-today announced it will honor Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth, speaker/author Dr. Melissa Harris-Perry, and Wells Fargo at the 8th Annual Straight for Equality Awards Gala.

A gem of a musical written by The Fantasticks team of Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones with libretto by N. Richard Nash (using his own play The Rainmaker as basis) is about a con man coming into town to 'sell' rain to a drought-stricken, Depression-era Texas town, but winds up creating a miracle along the way. Schmidt and Jones' score is far superior to their tour-de-force The Fantasticks, while Nash's libretto is bit on the sugary side yet it is still a beautiful tale of miracles happening in the most unlikely of places.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its April 2016 schedule, featuring: Pharoah Sanders Quartet, Yellowjackets, Showbiz After Hours with Frank DiLella, The Birdland Big Band, Karrin Allyson, The Matt & Brian Show, Arturo O'Farrill Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more. Scroll down for details!

Jessica Walter and Susan Sullivan will star in a new revival of STEEL MAGNOLIAS and the entire original New York cast of the acclaimed 2010 off-Broadway comedy, THE DIVINE SISTER - Charles Busch, Alison Fraser, Julie Halston, Amy Rutberg, Jennifer Van Dyck and Jonathan Walker - will reprise their roles as part of Bucks County Playhouse's 2016 Summer Season.

Fifteen young singer/actors have been named as finalists for the 2016 Lotte Lenya Competition. Selected from thirty-one semifinalists, this year's finalists represent a diverse range of performers, ages 21 to 31, from across the United States, Canada, Europe and Israel. All will sing repertoire from the operatic, golden age and contemporary musical stages, and of course, the music of Kurt Weill.

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: SHUFFLE ALONG takes its first bows on Broadway and more!