Bill Cosby News

Theatre impresario and Broadway producer Shelly Gross passed away on June 19, 2009, in West Palm Beach, Florida, after a long illness. With a career that spanned over fifty years, he created an unprecedented number of theatre operations around the country, produced shows for Broadway & National Tours and presented a who's who of legendary performers including everyone from Judy Garland to Bruce Springsteen. He was 88 years old.

Original Dreamgirl Loretta Devine takes part in an invitation only reading of Unspeakable on June 25th.

Bill Cosby, one of the most influential comedians and storytellers of his generation, will give a solo stand-up comedy performance - his only scheduled New York appearance - on Saturday, October 17, 2009, at 7:00 and 9:30 p.m. at Avery Fisher Hall.

Look no further for that perfect Mother?s Day gift! Treat that special lady in your life to a delicious dinner and fun-filled variety show at NarroWay Productions. ?Tribute to Mothers,? the latest show in NarroWay?s outstanding line-up of family entertainment, promises fun for all ages. With real life kid interviews, hilarious drama and music that thrills the soul, this is a show fit for your queen.

Don Reed's EAST 14TH STREET 'Hilarious. The audience can't stop laughing...Don Reed plays all the characters with both ease and inexhaustible energy' - The New Yorker 'A graceful genial performer... It's hard not to love 1970's funk and soul and Don Reed.' - New York Times NAACP Double Nominee - Best Actor & Best Playwright!

A new musical comedy revue, 'DON'T LEAVE IT ALL TO YOUR CHILDREN!', written and directed by SAUL ILSON and starring BARBARA MINKUS ('Picon Pie'), MARCIA RODD ('The Last of the Red Hot Lovers'), STEVE ROSSI (of Allen & Rossi) and RONNIE SCHELL (Gomer Pyle), will make its New York debut on Wednesday, May 6th at off-Broadway's Actors Temple Theatre, 339 West 47th Street, NYC. Musical numbers will be staged by Rudy Tronto.

The new Baby Boomer musical comedy revue, 'DON'T LEAVE IT ALL TO YOUR CHILDREN!', written and directed by SAUL ILSON will begin previews on Wednesday, May 6th at 3 PM at off-Broadway's Actors Temple Theatre, 339 West 47th Street. The revue stars stars BARBARA MINKUS ('Picon Pie'), MARCIA RODD ('The Last of the Red Hot Lovers'), STEVE ROSSI (of Allen & Rossi) and RONNIE SCHELL (Gomer Pyle). Musical numbers will be staged by Rudy Tronto.

Julie Budd, singer and actor, will appear at The Rrazz Room, Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason, SF for three performances, April 23-25 at 8 PM. Tickets are $35- $40 and can be purchased at www.therrazzroom.com or directly through www.ticketweb.com or 866 468 3399.

Producer John Breglio and the Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc. announced today that tickets for the smash hit musical Dreamgirls at the Apollo Theater go on sale Friday, April 17 at 10am. The national tour of Dreamgirls will premiere at the legendary Apollo Theater (253 West 125 Street) for a four-week limited engagement November 7 through December 5. Performances are Tuesday though Saturday at 8pm with matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2pm and Sunday at 3pm. Ticket prices range from $35 to $106 and will be available at the Apollo Theater box office, all Ticketmaster locations and Ticketmaster.com/apollotheater. Group orders for 10 or more may be placed by calling 212-302-0995. For more information, please visit the official Dreamgirls website at www.DreamgirlsOnStage.com.

A new musical comedy revue, 'DON'T LEAVE IT ALL TO YOUR CHILDREN!', written and directed by SAUL ILSON and starring BARBARA MINKUS ('Picon Pie'), MARCIA RODD ('The Last of the Red Hot Lovers'), STEVE ROSSI (of Allen & Rossi) and RONNIE SCHELL (Gomer Pyle), will make its New York debut on Wednesday, May 6th at off-Broadway's Actors Temple Theatre, 339 West 47th Street, NYC. Musical numbers will be staged by Rudy Tronto.

Julie Budd, singer and actor, will appear at The Rrazz Room, Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason, SF for three performances, April 23-25 at 8 PM. Tickets are $35- $40 and can be purchased at www.therrazzroom.com or directly through www.ticketweb.com or 866 468 3399.

Look no further for that perfect Mother?s Day gift! Treat that special lady in your life to a delicious dinner and fun-filled variety show at NarroWay Productions. ?Tribute to Mothers,? the latest show in NarroWay?s outstanding line-up of family entertainment, promises fun for all ages. With real life kid interviews, hilarious drama and music that thrills the soul, this is a show fit for your queen.

Bill Cosby has been awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. The Kennedy Center will present the comedian with this award on October 26th at the Center's concert hall. Along with the accompanying festivities, the award ceremony will be filmed for later broadcast on PBS.

American Idol runner-up, Justin Guarini, will star in the industry only Equity staged reading of the new musical THE AWAKENING OF ANGEL DeLUNA - with book & lyrics by Judylynn Schmidt, and music & lyrics by Lee Ellis - produced by Kate Griffler on Monday, March 23rd at Theater 80 (80 St. Mark's Place) at 3:00pm & 7:00pm. Tracy Bersley directs and Barbara Anselmi acts as music director.

Recently named in the '100 Greatest Singers of All Time' list by Rolling Stone magazine, soul and gospel legend Mavis Staples possesses one of the most recognizable and treasured voices in contemporary music. From her early days sharing lead vocals with her groundbreaking family group, The Staple Singers, to her powerful solo recordings, Mavis Staples is an inspirational force in modern popular culture and music. Her last appearance at Massey Hall was with the Blind Boys of Alabama in December of 2004. This concert marks the debut of James Hunter.

Don Reed's EAST 14TH STREET 'Hilarious. The audience can't stop laughing...Don Reed plays all the characters with both ease and inexhaustible energy' - The New Yorker 'A graceful genial performer... It's hard not to love 1970's funk and soul and Don Reed.' - New York Times NAACP Double Nominee - Best Actor & Best Playwright!

Producer David Shor has announced he is developing Sleepless in Seattle-The Musical through his entity Sleepless in Seattle Management, LLC. Shor acquired the rights to produce a play based on the hit TriStar motion picture and has brought in his longtime partner Jeff Arch, who penned the film's original story and co-wrote the screenplay, sharing 1994 Oscar, BAFTA and WGA nominations with Nora Ephron and David Ward. Arch will write the book for the show.

Recently named in the '100 Greatest Singers of All Time' list by Rolling Stone magazine, soul and gospel legend Mavis Staples possesses one of the most recognizable and treasured voices in contemporary music. From her early days sharing lead vocals with her groundbreaking family group, The Staple Singers, to her powerful solo recordings, Mavis Staples is an inspirational force in modern popular culture and music. Her last appearance at Massey Hall was with the Blind Boys of Alabama in December of 2004. This concert marks the debut of James Hunter.