Daniel J. Watts News

The 2008 Tony and Grammy Award-winning Best Musical In The Heights welcomed platinum recording artist and 2007 'American Idol' winner Jordin Sparks on Thursday, August 19th, making her Broadway debut as Nina Rosario at Broadway's Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 West 46th Street).

BROADWAY BARES XX: 'STRIP-OPOLY' featured over 200 of New York's sexiest dancers at Broadway's hottest night in an event produced by and benefitting Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS. BROADWAY BARES was held Sunday, June 20 with two performances only (9:30 PM & Midnight) at Roseland Ballroom (239 West 52nd Street). BROADWAY BARES XX: 'STRIP-OPOLY' is produced by and benefits Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS.

Nominations for the 2010 Fred & Adele Astaire Awards were announced tonight by Emmy Award winner Richard Thomas.

Yesterday, on April 28, The Shubert Organization and the Career Transition For Dancers hosted a 'Between the Shows' get together and dinner for for Broadway dance community at Sardi's in Times Square. In attendance was Nick Adams, Kelly Bishop, Caitlin Carter, Mercedes Ellington, Priscilla Lopez, Vivian Nixon, Keith Roberts, John Selya, Judine Somerville and many more of the talented dancers that grace the Broadway stages each night. BroadwayWorld was also on hand for the celebration honoring some of Broadway's best.

Two Boots Pizza in Hells Kitchen celebrated the SLICE OF BROADWAY honoring the Broadway cast of MEMPHIS with a specialty slice entitled 'Huey's Bad Boy' - Pulled pork, red onions, Dancing Pig BBQ sauce from Memphis, and topped with homemade cole slaw. Cast members from MEMPHIS, along with BroadwayWorld, were on hand to enjoy in the tasty dedication.

The Broadway cast of MEMPHIS will join The Actors' Chapel for a Haiti benefit concert entitled 'African Saints, African Stories: An Evening of Song and Spoken Word.' The concert will feature Dr. Camille Brown, Danny Coackley, and The Amen Choir, in addition to several MEMPHIS cast members. The concert is presented by St. Malachy's - The Actors' Chapel in conjunction with The Office of Black Ministry for the NY Archdioces and will take place at St. Malachy's on February 1st at 7:00pm.

MEMPHIS, currently playing at The Shubert Theatre on Broadway starring Chad Kimball and Montego Glover, dedicates a special 8:00pm performance last night, January 17, to The Actors Fund, granting proceeds to the fund in support of their programs and services. Following the finale, MEMPHIS leading Lady, Montego Glover, addressed the crowd, thanking them for their support of The Actor's Fund.

MEMPHIS, currently playing at The Shubert Theatre on Broadway starring Chad Kimball and Montego Glover, will dedicate the January 17 performance to The Actors Fund, granting proceeds to the fund in support of their programs and services. The curtain rises on Sunday the 17th at 8:00pm.

Yesterday, January 14, MEMPHIS celebrated its 100th performance on Broadway. In honor of the event, all involved with the production, along with BroadwayWorld, celebrated at Justin Timberlake's restaurant, ‘Southern Hospitality' following the curtain.

To celebrate the 100th performance at the hit musical MEMPHIS, the first 100 people who buy tickets at the Shubert Box Office on Thursday, January 14th will get the newly released MEMPHIS Cast Album. In addition MEMPHIS will hold a lottery during the curtain call on Thursday, January 14, 2010 to invite a special member of the audience and their party to join the cast at Justin Timberlake's Manhattan hotspot Southern Hospitality. A winner will be chosen by a random seat location drawing. The lucky winner will then join David Bryan, cast and crew at the celebrity hangout Southern Hospitality. All ticket holders for the Thursday, January 14, 2010 performance are eligible.

To celebrate the 100th performance at the hit musical MEMPHIS, the first 100 people who buy tickets at the Shubert Box Office on Thursday, January 14th will get the newly released MEMPHIS Cast Album. In addition MEMPHIS will hold a lottery during the curtain call on Thursday, January 14, 2010 to invite a special member of the audience and their party to join the cast at Justin Timberlake's Manhattan hotspot Southern Hospitality. A winner will be chosen by a random seat location drawing. The lucky winner will then join David Bryan, cast and crew at the celebrity hangout Southern Hospitality. All ticket holders for the Thursday, January 14, 2010 performance are eligible.

On Thursday, January 7 The Broadway League hosted Mark Aldrich of The Happy Hour Guys and members of the casts of RAGTIME and MEMPHIS on Broadway at Virgil's for warm post-show drinks to beat the cold at Virgils in Times Square. BroadwayWorld was on hand to capture the social Broadway gathering. A good time was had by all.

MEMPHIS, currently playing at The Shubert Theatre on Broadway starring Chad Kimball and Montego Glover, will dedicate the January 17 performance to The Actors Fund, granting proceeds to the fund in support of their programs and services. The curtain rises on Sunday the 17th at 8:00pm.

A new post on the Memphis blog hints at the possibility of a film version of the musical,and a potential tour, all the while promoting the limited edition of the original Broadway cast recording.

In a special feature this week, the New York Times profiles Broadway's MEMPHIS, providing insight into the show's 6-year journey to Broadway and 900+ rewrites.

The cast of Memphis made a stop at The View on December 17, 2009. MEMPHIS stars Chad Kimball (Huey Calhoun) andMontego Glover (Felicia Farrell) with Derrick Baskin (Gator),J. Bernard Calloway (Delray Jones), James Monroe Iglehart (Bobby), Tony nominee Michael McGrath (Mr. Simmons), and Cass Morgan (Gladys Calhoun).

Montego Glover, who can currently be seen playing the role of Felicia Farrell on Broadway in the new musical MEMPHIS, will take part in the weekly talk show 'Seth's Broadway Chatterbox' on November 5th.

MEMPHIS, an original Broadway musical, opened on Monday, October 19, 2009 at the Shubert Theatre (225 W. 44th Street) following critically-acclaimed and sold-out engagements at La Jolla Playhouse and Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre. The show and its long journey to Broadway is featured on VanityFair.com.

The colorful Gypsy Robe, embellished with mementos from Broadway musicals, is presented to the cast member who has the most Broadway chorus credits. Recent Gypsy Robe honoree, BYE BYE BIRDIEs' Paula Leggett Chase passed the special Broadway garment on to John Jellison backstage before the opening night performance and BroadwayWorld.com was there to cheer him on!

MEMPHIS, an original Broadway musical, officially opened last, Monday, October 19, 2009 at the Shubert Theatre (225 W. 44th Street) following critically-acclaimed and sold-out engagements at La Jolla Playhouse and Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre, began previews Wednesday, September 23, 2009.