Blair Underwood News

Talk Show Listings For Wednesday, June 13

A Streetcar Named Desire stops at THEATER TALK for Tony Awards weekend, with stars Blair Underwood and Nicole Ari Parker, joined by producer Stephen C. Byrd, discussing the historic Broadway production with series co-hosts Michael Riedel of the New York Post and executive producer Susan Haskins. Also on board in a separate interview is comedian-character actor-writer Rob Bartlett, most recently seen in the revival of How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

Nationally-syndicated morning show 'LIVE! with Kelly' announces the lineup of guest co-hosts who will join Kelly Ripa during the week of June 11-15, 2012.

Yesterday, May 21, the Actor's Fund held its annual gala at the New York Marriott Marquis, honoring Tony and Emmy Award winning artist and activist Harry Belafonte, acting duo Anne Meara and Jerry Stiller, and real estate developer David Steiner. BroadwayWorld was there and brings you photo coverage below!

Richard Ridge continues his interviews with honorary co-chairs Christine Lahti, Rosemary Harris and Christian Borle, nominees Blair Underwood (A Streetcar Named Desire), Jeremy Shamos (Clybourne Park), Michael Cristofer (The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism), Mary Testa (Queen of the Mist), Alan Menken (Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award), Capathia Jenkins and Kara Lindsay, Ben Fankhauser, John Dossett, Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Harvey Fierstein and Jack Feldman (Distinguished Production of a Musical - Newsies), Jeremy Jordan (Newsies, Bonnie and Clyde), Celia Keenan-Bolger (Peter and the Starcatcher), Santino Fontana (Sons of the Prophet), Jessie Mueller (On A Clear Day You Can See Forever), Leslie Odom Jr (Leap of Faith), Annaleigh Ashford (RENT), Tracie Bennett (End of the Rainbow) and more!

The Drama League announced yesterday, May 18, the winners for the 78th Annual Drama League Awards at the Marriott Marquis Times Square. BroadwayWorld was there and brings you photos of the gentlemen who gathered for the ceremony. See below for photos of Matthew Broderick, Ricky Martin, Blair Underwood, Andrew Garfield, John Lithgow, Christian Borle, Roger Rees, Steve Kazee, Harvey Fierstein, Michael Cerveris and more!

The Drama League announced today the winners for the 78th Annual Drama League Awards: Distinguished Play, Other Desert Cities, presented by Philip Seymour Hoffman; Distinguished Revival of a Play, Death of a Salesman, presented by Christian Borle; Distinguished Production of a Musical, Once, presented by Cynthia Nixon; Distinguished Revival of a Musical, Follies, presented by Kelli O'Hara; and Distinguished Performance, Audra McDonald, presented by John Lithgow at a star-studded luncheon ceremony hosted by Stockard Channing (Other Desert Cities) and John Larroquette (Gore Vidal's The Best Man) at the Marriott Marquis Times Square.

The acclaimed Broadway production of Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire, directed by Emily Man will extend its run through August 19, 2012. Streetcar began performances on April 3 and opened on April 22 and was originally set to end its limited run on July 22 at the Broadhurst.

SECRET MILLIONAIRE is a one-hour alternative series that follows some of America's most successful business people as they spend a week in the country's poorest areas and ultimately gift deserving members of those communities with hundreds of thousands of dollars of their own money. This season, acclaimed actor Blair Underwood joins the show as narrator.

On May 5, ABC7 presented 'Broadway Backstage: Spring Preview,' a program that highlighted the 2012 Broadway Spring season. Hosted by anchor Michelle Charlesworth and Tony winner John Larroquette, the four-part special features appearances by Broadway favorites Blair Underwood, John Lithgow, Kelli O'Hara, Matthew Broderick, Linda Lavin, Harvey Fierstein, and Raul Esparza. Check out the full special below!

Earlier this morning, stage and screen stars Kristin Chenoweth & Jim Parsons announced this year's Tony nominees from the New York Public Library. In a season as rich as this past theatrical season though, there are only so many spots for nominees and some very talented shows and performers were not nominated. Below are the eligible performers and shows who were not nominatined in the major categories.

Stage and screen stars Kristin Chenoweth & Jim Parsons will announce this year's Tony nominees tomorrow morning, May 1, 8:30am EST at New York Public Library. The Antoinette Perry "Tony" Awards, which are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing, will be broadcast in a live three-hour ceremony from the Beacon Theatre, on the CBS television network on Sunday, June 10, 2012. In preparation for the big announcement, TonyAwards.com has released a Cheat Sheet that reminds you of the eligible shows/people of this season. The full Cheat Sheet is as follows:

Looking for a quick roundup of this week's events in the theatre world? Look no further - here are some of the best articles the week had to offer!

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: Easter Bonnet earns big money, FOLLIES preps for LA, six shows open, and so much more!

A Streetcar Named Desire today announced that it will offer a limited number of student rush tickets for $29.50. Tickets will be available at the box office on the day of the performance, and each current student ID is eligible for two tickets. Streetcar began performances on Tuesday, April 3, and will open on Sunday, April 22, 2012.

In every previous Broadway production of Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire, a white Blanche DuBois has complained that her sister Stella's white husband Stanley has “something downright bestial about him.”  She refers to him as “sub-human” and “ape-like.”  And depending on her co-star's performance, audience members might have agreed with her to some extent.

Earlier today, Megan Hilty, Justin Long and Raven-Symoné announced the 78th Drama League Award Nominees for Distinguished Play, Distinguished Revival of a Play, Distinguished Best Musical, Distinguished Revival of a Musical, and the much coveted Distinguished Performance Award. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you a chart that illustrates the number of Drama League nominees that were subsequently nominated for Tony Awards. Additionally, we calculated the percentage of eligible nominees that earned Tony Awards in the past five years (discounting off-Broadway nominations). Check out the chances that this years DL nominees have at a Tony nod below!

The 78th Annual Drama League Awards will be held at the Marriott Marquis Times Square on Friday, May 18, 2012 at noon. Check out the 2012 Drama League Nominees for Distinguished Production of a Play, Distinguished Production of a Musical, Distinguished Revival of a Play, Distinguished Revival of a Musical, and the much coveted Distinguished Performance Award.

A Streetcar Named Desire, starring Blair Underwood as Stanley, Nicole Ari Parker as Blanche, Daphne Rubin-Vega as Stella and Wood Harris as Mitch opened last night, April 22, on Broadway for a limited run through July 22, 2012. BroadwayWorld was at the show's starry after party and brings you photos from the event below!

A Streetcar Named Desire starring Blair Underwood as Stanley, Nicole Ari Parker as Blanche, Daphne Rubin-Vega as Stella and Wood Harris as Mitch opened last night, April 22, on Broadway for a limited run through to July 22, 2012. BroadwayWorld was at the celebratory after party and takes you inside below.