Blair Underwood News

Due to early ticket demand, Court Theatre and American Blues Theater announce an extension to the world premiere of American Blues Ensemble Member Nambi E. Kelley's new adaptation of Richard Wright's classic novel, Native Son, directed by Seret Scott. Native Son will now run September 11 - October 19, 2014 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue.

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: THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL makes its West Coast debut starring Cicely Tyson, TO THE BONE opens off-Broadway, Bridget Everett opens her show at the Public and AMERICA'S GOT TALENT welcomes stage stars for its finale this evening!

The Center Theatre Group engagement of the Tony-nominated Broadway revival of Horton Foote's American masterpiece 'The Trip to Bountiful,' begins performances at the Ahmanson Theatre tonight, September 17, and continues through November 2, 2014. The opening is September 26.

Today we are shining a light on this week's Fathom Events presentation of the new West End revival of Tennessee Williams's classic drama A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE starring Gillian Anderson and Ben Foster.

The Pasadena Playhouse announces the cast of STOP KISS, the second production of its 2014-2015 Season. Written by Diana Son and directed by Pasadena Playhouse Associate Artistic Director Seema Sueko, STOP KISS stars Sharon Leal (Bill Condon's Dreamgirls, Fox's "Boston Public," and Lionsgate's Addicted), Angela Lin (Broadway's Chinglish), John Sloan (Fox's "Happy Hour"), Brandon Scott (ABC's "Grey's Anatomy"), Amanda Carlin (Liar Liar), and Jeff De Serrano (A&E's "Longmire"). The production is performed November 4 - 30, 2014 with the official press night on Wednesday, November 9, 2014.

The full casting has been announced for the Center Theatre Group engagement of the Tony-nominated Broadway revival of Horton Foote's American masterpiece "The Trip to Bountiful," which begins performances at the Ahmanson Theatre on Wednesday, September 17, and continues through November 2, 2014. The opening is September 26.

Keke Palmer makes her Broadway debut by stepping into the title role of Rodgers + Hammerstein's CINDERELLA tonight, September 9, 2014, thus making history as the first African-American Cinderella on Broadway. Sherri Shepherd also joins the production as 'Madame' this evening.

Keke Palmer will be a guest on ABC's GOOD MORNING AMERICA on Tuesday, September 9th. The actress and singer will discuss her new role in Broadway's 'Cinderella.'

Ms Tyson spoke exclusively to The Hollywood Reporter about her award-winning role, which she shared was one she always wanted to take on.

Keke Palmer spoke from her home in LA about her upcoming role.

Producers of the Tony Award winning musical Rodgers + Hammerstein's CINDERELLA, Robyn Goodman, Jill Furman and Stephen Kocis, announce that actress, talk show host and recording artist Keke Palmer will make her Broadway debut by stepping into the title role on September 9, 2014, thus making history as the first African-American Cinderella on Broadway. Actors Equity honored CINDERELLA with their award "Extraordinary Excellence in Diversity on Broadway" in 2013.

The Old Globe today announced the creation of an exciting new producing platform, Globe for All. This free-of-charge tour of a professional production of Shakespeare will allow the theatre to serve more communities throughout San Diego by collaborating with a diverse range of local organizations. Old Globe Artistic Director Barry Edelstein will direct the first production, Shakespeare's fascinating romance All's Well That Ends Well. He plans to cast local professional actors, including recent graduates of the Old Globe/University of San Diego M.F.A. Program in classical acting. The first Globe for All free Shakespeare tour will begin October 28 and will culminate in three low-cost performances in the Globe's Hattox Hall November 7-9.

New York City is the place where stars flock to take their turns on the grandest stages in the world. Throughout the past year, Broadway has welcomed such film and television stars as Daniel Radcliffe, Patrick Stewart, Bryan Cranston, Debra Messing and Ian McKellen, as well as a slew of celebrated Broadway favorites such as Sutton Foster, Audra McDonald, Neil Patrick Harris and many more. The Great White Way isn't the only place for stars to shine on stage though. During the summer months, many cherished performers travel to regional theatres around the country to share their extraordinary talents with the rest of America. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you a roundup of this summer's starriest productions at a theatre near you!

Date: Saturday July 12, 2014 Time: 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. ET Call in: 646-929-0368 URL: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/joykeys/2014/07/12/joy-keys-chats-with-author-kimberla-lawson-roby-about-the-prodigal-son New York Times Bestselling Author Kimberla Lawson Roby has published 20 novels which include "The Prodigal Son," "A House Divided," "The Perfect Marriage," "The Reverend's Wife," "Secret Onsession," "Love, Honor, and Betray," and "Be Careful What You Pray For." She has sold more than 2,000,000 copies of her novels, and they have frequented numerous bestseller lists, including The New York Times, USA Today, The Washington Post, Publishers Weekly, Essence Magazine, Upscale Magazine, and Emerge Magazine, just to name a few. Kimberla is a recipient of numerous awards including: 2013 NAACP Image Award Winner for Outstanding Literary Work - Fiction, the recipient of the 2013 Author of the Year - Female award presented by the African-American Literary Award Show in New York, and the recipient of the2014 AAMBC Award for Female Author of the Year. Each of Kimberla's novels deal with very real issues, including corruption within the church, drug addiction, gambling addiction, infidelity, social status, single motherhood, infertility, sibling rivalry and jealousy, domestic violence, sexual abuse, mental illness, care-giving of a parent, racial and gender discrimination in the workplace, sexual harassment, and overweight issues to name a few. The Prodigal Son: The Reverend Curtis Black hasn't spoken to his son, Matthew, in over a year-not since Matthew dropped out of Harvard to marry his girlfriend, Racquel, and be a full-time father to their infant son. Curtis knows that it was he and his wife, Charlotte, who drove Matthew away, but he prays that one day his son will forgive them and come home. Then, there's Dillon Whitfield-Curtis's long-lost-son-who has settled in as a member of the Black family. Yet the transition has been anything but easy. Charlotte, convinced he's only after Curtis's money, wishes he would move back to where he came from. Dillon, however, has no intention of going anywhere. After a lifetime in the shadows, he's determined to take his rightful place as Curtis's first-born son and heir, and he'll do whatever it takes to win his father's affection-even if it means playing dirty... 'Saturday Mornings with Joy Keys' is an interactive, live Internet talk-radio show that focuses on providing people with tools to enrich and advance their lives mentally, physically and emotionally. You can listen to archives of previous shows by going to http://www.blogtalkradio.com/joykeys. Check out the podcasts with Journalist Soledad O'Brien, Actress Angela Bassett, Actor Blair Underwood, Singer Tyrese, Singer Ledisi, Activist Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Singer Lira, Poet Rita Dove, Poet Sonia Sanchez, Author Isabel Wilkerson, Author Michelle Alexander, Former CBS Anchor Mark McEwen and Stroke, Singer Charlie Wilson and Prostate Cancer, Lupus, Breast Cancer, Celiac Disease and many more. For more information about 'Saturday Mornings with Joy Keys' call: 267-288-7386 or email: saturdayswithjoykeys (at) hotmail.com. Become a fan on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/saturdaymorningswithjoykeys Follow on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/joykeys. Follow on Instagram: @saturdayswithjoykeys.

There is no redemption in OTHELLO. Shakespeare has provided no late opportunity to undo what has been done, no chance to make amends for the terrible wrongs lavished upon the innocent, and no way for the audience to feel anything but horror for the treachery that has filled the stage for two and a half hours.

The Old Globe presents Shakespeare's classic tragedy OTHELLO, directed by Old Globe Artistic Director Barry Edelstein and the first show of the Globe's 2014 Summer Shakespeare Festival. Joining Blair Underwood in the title role are Richard Thomas as Iago, and Kristen Connolly as Desdemona are Broadway and Globe veterans Noah Bean(Michael Cassio; Yellow Face, 'Damages'), Jonny Orsini(Roderigo; The Nance), Mark Pinter (The Duke of Venice; the Globe's Hamlet and Charley's Aunt), Angela Reed (Emilia; Rock 'n' Roll, the Globe's August: Osage County), and Mike Sears (Brabantio, Gratiano; La Jolla Playhouse's Sideways and His Girl Friday). Scroll down for photos from the show's opening night festivities!

What to watch this weekend in San Diego theatre? Here are some options!

The Old Globe presents Shakespeare's classic tragedy Othello, directed by Old Globe Artistic Director Barry Edelstein and the first show of the Globe's 2014 Summer Shakespeare Festival. Joining Blair Underwood in the title role are Richard Thomas as Iago, and Kristen Connolly as Desdemona are Broadway and Globe veterans Noah Bean(Michael Cassio; Yellow Face, 'Damages'), Jonny Orsini(Roderigo; The Nance), Mark Pinter (The Duke of Venice; the Globe's Hamlet and Charley's Aunt), Angela Reed (Emilia; Rock 'n' Roll, the Globe's August: Osage County), and Mike Sears (Brabantio, Gratiano; La Jolla Playhouse's Sideways and His Girl Friday).

The Old Globe presents Shakespeare's classic tragedy Othello, directed by Old Globe Artistic Director Barry Edelstein and the first show of the Globe's 2014 Summer Shakespeare Festival. Joining Blair Underwood in the title role are Richard Thomas as Iago, and Kristen Connolly as Desdemona are Broadway and Globe veterans Noah Bean (Michael Cassio; Yellow Face, 'Damages'), Jonny Orsini (Roderigo; The Nance), Mark Pinter (The Duke of Venice; the Globe's Hamlet and Charley's Aunt), Angela Reed (Emilia; Rock 'n' Roll, the Globe's August: Osage County), and Mike Sears (Brabantio, Gratiano; La Jolla Playhouse's Sideways and His Girl Friday).

The Broadcast Television Journalists Association (BTJA) presents the 4th annual Critics' Choice Television Awards, which are being broadcast live on The CW from the Beverly Hilton Hotel tonight, June 19, 2014 (8:00pm ET/8:00pm PT) and hosted by actor/comedian Cedric the Entertainer. Cedric is currently the star, co-creator and executive producer of the hit comedy series The Soul Man on TV Land as well as one of the stars of The Original Kings of Comedy. Scroll down for the full list of winners!