Charles Randolph-Wright News

Larry Hart's 'Praise!' benefit concert will play one night only on Sunday, October 28th, 2012 at 6 p.m. at Middle Collegiate Church.

Producers Kevin McCollum, Doug Morris and Berry Gordy have just announced a nationwide open call audition tour for African American singers for the Broadway world premiere of MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL, based on the life of legendary Motown founder Berry Gordy.

MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL, based on the life of legendary Motown founder Berry Gordy, will open on Broadway at The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46 Street) on April 14, 2013. Preview performances will begin March 11, 2013. A couple of weeks ago, the show held a launch event for the anticipated world premiere at Lunt Fontanne Theatre, and you can check out photos from inside the event below!

The stars came out for Andre De Shields' SRO return Friday night Oct 5 to the Laurie Beechman theatre (downstairs at the West Bank Cafe). De Shields will perform his new theatrical concert, I PUT A SPELL ON YOU, for one more show this Friday Oct. 12 at 11PM.Tickets are available atwww.smarttix.com or by calling 212-868-4444.

MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL, based on the life of legendary Motown founder Berry Gordy, will open on Broadway at The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46 Street) on April 14, 2013. Preview performances will begin March 11, 2013. Last night, the show held a launch event for the anticipated world premiere at Lunt Fontanne Theatre. In the video below, check out highlights from the special event, including a sneak peek at some of the performances!

MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL, based on the life of legendary Motown founder Berry Gordy, will open on Broadway at The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46 Street) on April 14, 2013. Preview performances will begin March 11, 2013. Last night, the show held a launch event for the anticipated world premiere at Lunt Fontanne Theatre. BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was there for the festivities, where he chatted with the cast and creative team. Check out what they had to say and catch an exclusive interview with music legend Aretha Franklin Below!

MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL, based on the life of legendary Motown founder Berry Gordy, will open on Broadway at The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46 Street) on April 14, 2013. Preview performances will begin March 11, 2013. Last night, the show held a launch event for the anticipated world premiere at Lunt Fontanne Theatre. BroadwayWorld was there for the festivities, and you can check out full photo coverage below!

MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL, based on the life of legendary Motown founder Berry Gordy, will open on Broadway at The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46 Street) on April 14, 2013. Preview performances will begin March 11, 2013. Last night, the show held a launch event for the anticipated world premiere at Lunt Fontanne Theatre. BroadwayWorld was there for the festivities, and you can check out a preview below! Be sure to check back later for full coverage!

Multi-talented actress, singer, television host, playwright, songwriter and author Kathie Lee Gifford hosted this year's Broadway on Broadway this morning, Sunday, September 9th, presented by United Airlines and The New York Times. The event kicked off the 2012-2013 Broadway season with star performances from new shows and long-running favorites, accompanied by a live 30-piece live orchestra directed by Alex Lacamoire. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you photos of the casts that participated in the event!

It was a starry week at 54 BELOW with performances from Faith Prince and Jason Graae, Maurice Hines and Tonya Pinkins. Among the celebrities who came out for their opening night performances were Elaine Stritch, S. Epatha Merkerson, La Chanze, Liiliane Montevecchi, Donna McKechnie, Ron Raines, Nona Hendryx, Andre de Shields, Adriane Lenox, Jeanine Tesori, Phillip Boykin, Jeff Calhoun, Mary Rodgers, George C. Wolfe, George Faison, Billy Porter, Brenda Braxton, Adrian Bailey, Mark Nadler, Stanley Wayne Mathis, Charles Randolph-Wright and Julie Budd. Check out photos from the events below!

According to the New York Times, MOTOWN The Musical, based on the life of iconic Motown founder Berry Gordy, will start previews at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater on March 11, with opening night set for April 14. The cast will be led by Brandon Victor Dixon (The Color Purple) as 'Berry Gordy Jr.' and Valisia LeKae (Ragtime, The Book of Mormon) as 'Diana Ross.' Additional casting has not yet been announced.

Roundabout Theatre Company announced the full cast this July for the new Broadway production of Rupert Holmes' Tony Award-winning musical comedy The Mystery of Edwin Drood. The show is set to open on November 13, 2012 and will star Stephanie J. Block as Edwin Drood. Meet the whole cast in the video and bios below!

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces that Obie Award-winning playwright Samuel D. Hunter will join the American Voices New Play Institute (AVNPI) as a yearlong resident playwright in 2013.

According to an Equity casting notice, MOTOWN The Musical, which is set to open on Broadway in the Spring of 2013, will hold a workshop September 10-30. The show is set to begin Broadway rehearsals in January, with previews set for March 11.

Producers Kevin McCollum (Rent, Avenue Q, In the Heights, The Drowsy Chaperone), Doug Morris (Chairman and CEO of SONY Music Entertainment) and Berry Gordy will present MOTOWN The Musical, based on the life of iconic Motown founder Berry Gordy, will open in the Spring of 2013 on Broadway at a Nederlander Theatre to be announced. Music legend Berry Gordy is looking for a super-talented African-American young man (age 8-11) to play the multiple roles of young MICHAEL JACKSON, little STEVIE WONDER and pre-teen BERRY GORDY in MOTOWN The Musical, coming to Broadway in 2013.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater's Artistic Director Molly Smith has announced that this July 2012 D.C.-area arts manager and artist David Snider will become the company's Director of Artistic Programming. Snider will be leaving Young Playwrights' Theater (YPT), where he has served since 2005 as producing artistic director and CEO, to bring his multi-faceted, award-winning talents to the artistic team of Arena Stage.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces that the documentation and dissemination activities of the American Voices New Play Institute (AVNPI) will be relocated to Emerson College's Office of the Arts beginning July 1, 2012 in order to provide the research and academic setting these programs now need for their continued growth.

Producers Kevin McCollum, Doug Morris and Berry Gordy have announced that MOTOWN The Musical, based on the life of legendary Motown founder Berry Gordy, will open in the Spring of 2013 on Broadway at a Nederlander Theatre to be announced.

Original Broadway cast member Jared Gertner will star as Elder Cunningham in the First National Tour of THE BOOK OF MORMON, launching in Denver from August 14-September 2 at The Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Gertner will join previously announced Gavin Creel as Elder Price. Samantha Marie Ware joins as Nabulungi, as well as Grey Henson as Elder McKinley and Kevin Mambo as Mafala Hatimbi.

Broadway actors Linda Hart (Hairspray, Anything Goes, and Catch Me if You Can), Matt Cavenaugh (West Side Story and Urban Cowboy), Jenny Powers (Grease and Little Women), Angela Grovey (Leap of Faith), Grammy-nominated singer Ryan Shaw (Real Love and It Gets Better), and members of the Middle Church artists community lend their voices to Larry Hart's Praise!: An Irreverently Reverent Gospel Experience today, June 17 at 6 pm at Middle Collegiate Church (112 Second Avenue near E. 7th Street). Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright, the high-energy music of Praise! is inspired by The Common themes shared in world religions.