Cynthia Erivo News

Just In! The Outer Critics Circle, the organization of writers and commentators for media covering New York theatre announced today its award winners for the 2015-16 season in 25 categories.

BroadwayWorld is thrilled to announce that THE COLOR PURPLE's Carrie Compere is taking over our Twitter account @BroadwayWorld tomorrow (May 7th) to give our readers a behind the scenes look at a two show day on Broadway! Live from inside The Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, Compere will be tweeting photos, videos, and fun facts all about the show!

Who really cares about spring? Awards season has arrived- the only time of the year that really matters to Broadway fans everywhere. The 2016 Tony nominees were announced earlier this week, with a record 16 nods going to HAMILTON, and show like SHUFFLE ALONG, SHE LOVES ME and LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT also picking up a considerable amount of recognition. Just yesterday the nominees flocked to the Paramount Hotel, where they met with the press for the first time since getting the big news. BroadwayWorld will be bringing you coverage from the epic day over the next month (so watch out for lots more), but for now, hold yourself over with some beautiful portraits of the nominees as captured by Walter McBride.

On this morning's TODAY, actress Cynthia Erivo and the cast of Broadway show THE COLOR PURPLE are in the studio just in time to celebrate the news that Erivo and the show itself have just received Tony nominations!

The Theatre World Awards, Inc. Board of Directors (Dale Badway, President) has announced the 2016 Theatre World Award Honorees for Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut Performance who will be celebrated at the 72nd Annual Theatre World Awards Ceremony on Monday evening, May 23, 2016 beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Circle in the Square Theatre (West 50th Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenue), home of the current 2015 Tony® Award-winning Best Musical, Fun Home.   

The 2016 Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway were handed out last night to recipients in 18 categories, with two special awards and two honorary awards also bestowed. The Lortel Awards were distributed in a ceremony at NYU Skirball Center hosted byZachary Levi, star of Broadway's She Loves Me. This year's event was once again a benefit for The Actors Fund. BroadwayWorld is taking to backstage with the evening's winners and presenters below!

The 2016 Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway were handed out last night to recipients in 18 categories, with two special awards and two honorary awards also bestowed. The Lortel Awards were distributed in a ceremony at NYU Skirball Center hosted by Zachary Levi, star of Broadway's She Loves Me. This year's event was once again a benefit for The Actors Fund. BroadwayWorld is taking you to the red carpet below!

Second Stage Theatre, in association with Stacey MindichProductions, just last night opened the new musical, Dear Evan Hansen, featuring Ben Platt as the title character. Also reprising their performances from the 'splendid (Marks, Washington Post) DC cast are Laura Dreyfuss as Zoe, Mike Faist as Connor, Rachel Bay Jones as Heidi, Will Roland as Jared, Jennifer Laura Thompson as Cynthia. New cast members John Dossett (Larry) and Kristolyn Lloyd (Alana) complete the company.

At 8:30 AM tomorrow morning will be the announcement of the nominations for this year's Tony Awards! The announcements will be made by Tony nominee Andrew Rannells (The Book of Mormon; HBO's Girls) and Tony Award winner Patina Miller (Pippin; CBS' Madam Secretary). You can watch the first part of the announcement on CBS This Morning as well as a live webcast of the whole thing at TonyAwards.com.

She's one of Broadway's sassiest new stars and she's making a splash this season as 'Sofia' in the critically acclaimed revival of THE COLOR PURPLE. Danielle Brooks just told us all about her journey to TV and and Broadway in  SAG-AFTRA Foundation and BroadwayWorld.com's Conversations Q&A series, celebrating the vibrant theatre community in New York City and the actors who aspire to have a career on the stage and screen. Below, watch as she explains to Richard Ridge how this role has changed her life- in more ways than one!

Below, check out how each show fared individually in BWW's list of nominations by show.

Drama Desk, Tony®, and Emmy® Award nominee and Theater World Award and NAACP Image Award winner Vanessa Williams (Into The Woods, The Trip to Bountiful, 'Ugly Betty') and Drama Desk, Tony®, Emmy, Golden Globe, and Drama League Award Nominee and SAG & TV Land Award winner Matthew Morrison (Finding Neverland, Hairspray, The Light in the Piazza, 'Glee') just announced the nominations for the 61st Annual Drama Desk Awards.

Produced by and benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, this year's Easter Bonnet Competition (#BroadwayBonnets) was held at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre (200 West 45th Street), home to Disney's The Lion King. Featuring performances by more than 230 Broadway and Off-Broadway singers and dancers, the Broadway Inspirational Voices and a stellar lineup of Broadway favorites, this year's fundraising total was a whopping $5,528,568! 

Five-time Emmy Award nominee Jesse Tyler Ferguson ('Modern Family,' The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) makes his highly anticipated return to Broadway as nearly 40 outrageous characters in the smash hit comedy, FULLY COMMITTED by Becky Mode, directed by Tony nominee Jason Moore (Avenue Q, Pitch Perfect, Sisters). FULLY COMMITTED began performances on April 1 and just opened last night, April 25, 2016 on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the big night and you can check out photo coverage from the red carpet theatre arrivals below!

Scott Alan has been giving music theater performers vividly emotionally and stirring songs to perform ever since 2007. Cynthia Erivo captured the hearts of many as Celie in THE COLOR PURPLE. Oliver Tompsett is best known for playing Fieryo in the West End production of WICKED. The three artists joined forces for Alan's most spellbinding album yet, Cynthia Erivo and Oliver Tompsett Sing Scott Alan.

The Broadway star graciously explains how maintaining her health must take priority over signing autographs.

Check out the 2016 Tony Award nominees below and follow us throughout the day for exclusive nominee interviews, special coverage and lots more!

We've caught Tony fever here at BroadwayWorld.com, and it's spreading! Follow us on BWW throughout the day, as we'll bring you Tony nominee reactions, exclusive reports, surprises, behind the scenes coverage and oh, so much more!

The 2016 Tony nominations were announced this morning. Below, check out some fun facts about this year's nominees!

The 30th annual edition of Easter Bonnet Competition will feature performances by more than 230 Broadway and Off-Broadway singers and dancers, the Broadway Inspirational Voices and a stellar lineup of Broadway favorites, all celebrating six weeks of fundraising efforts by company members of Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring productions.