Ayodele Casel News

Following the sold-out success of COVID SUX: The Musical at Cumston Hall, Chris Henry, and Mark Falconer have written a new sequel to their previous original musical comedy about the pandemic featuring parodies of hit Broadway songs from shows like Hamilton, Les Miserables, Tick Tick Boom, West Side Story, Chicago, and Annie.

Winners for the 66th Annual Drama Desk Awards were announced today. See the full list here! This year’s Drama Desk Awards will take place at Sardi’s Restaurant on June 14th. See who was honored from Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off Broadway.

Bryant Park Picnic Performances presented by Bank of America season of free, live performances this summer will continue with Carnegie Hall Citywide series, five nights of genre-spanning music on each Friday in July.

Bryant Park Picnic Performances presented by Bank of America will continue on June 17 with New York City Opera’s annual celebration Pride in the Park. City Opera will also be joined by the LaGuardia High School Choir, directed by Jeanne Cascio.

On Monday, May 23, Birdland Theater presenting dancer/singer/choreographer John Manzari in “The First Set,” a high-energy show highlighting the influence of tap dance on African American music through songs by Ahmad Jamal, Gregory Porter, Bill Evans, and others.

BIRDLAND JAZZ CLUB will present a historic evening with two legendary Broadway stars Anita Gillette and Lee Roy Reams for the first time on Monday, June 13 at 7:00 PM.

Little Island, New York City’s new public park in Hudson River Park by W. 13th Street, announced today the 2022 line-up of ticketed events in The Amph, just days ahead of their one-year anniversary.

Bryant Park Picnic Performances presented by Bank of America season of free, live performances this summer will continue with eight esteemed New York City-based dance companies showcasing their work on the Bryant Park stage.

BIRDLAND THEATER will present pop/jazz vocalist and songwriter Liam Forde – celebrating the release of his first album Great to Be Here – on Monday, June 13 at 8:30 PM.

Nominations for the 66th Annual Drama Desk Awards were announced today, and the full list of nominees is available here as well as information on who was eligible.

Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company will perform with Les Ballet Afrik and Ayodele Casel at Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage in a co-presentation with ALL ARTS on Friday, July 15, 2022 at 6pm at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens.

Bryant Park Picnic Performances presented by Bank of America will officiall kick off its 2022 season on May 27 with New York City Opera’s staged and costumed production of Rossini’s The Barber of Seville. 

BIRDLAND THEATER will present John Manzari – the acclaimed dancer, singer, actor, and choreographer currently appearing on Broadway in Funny Girl – in a special event on Monday, May 23 at 8:30 PM.

The Tony Awards Administration Committee has been meeting all year to discuss the eligibility of the 2021-22 Broadway productions all leading up to Monday's big announcement... the Tony nominations. Need a recap before the nominations announcement? Below, we've rounded up all rulings from all four meeting. Apart from these specific decisions, all other eligibility rulings were consistent with opening night billing.

The Tony Awards Administration Committee met today to confirm the eligibility status of fifteen Broadway productions for the 2021-2022 season.  This was the third and final time the Tony Awards Administration Committee met to decide the eligibility for the 75th Annual Tony Awards.

Bryant Park Corporation announces the lineup for its summer performing arts series, Bryant Park Picnic Performances presented by Bank of America. Twenty-six live music, dance, and theater events – all starting at 7pm – will take place at Midtown Manhattan's Bryant Park between late May and September. 

BIRDLAND JAZZ CLUB will present Nashville vocalist Wendy Moten – best known for her 2021 run on NBC’s “The Voice” – in a special concert on Monday, May 16 at 7:00 PM. Her show will include songwriter Richard Whiting hits including “He’s Funny That Way,” “My Ideal,” “Miss Brown,” and “Too Marvelous For Words.”

Linda Shelton, Executive Director of The Joyce Theater Foundation, announced today that Aaron Mattocks, the organization’s Director of Programming, will step down effective July 15, 2022.

FUNNY GIRL opened last night, Sunday, April 24 at the August Wilson Theatre and BroadwayWorld was on hand for the star-studded red carpet arrivals. Check out the photos below of the stars who came to see the show!

FUNNY GIRL is currently in previews and officially opens on Sunday, April 24 at the August Wilson Theatre (245 West 52nd Street). Check out all new production photos of the Broadway cast here!