Debbie Allen News

Having appeared in more than seventy films so far in his distinguished career, multi-talented leading man Dermot Mulroney is playing one of strangest and most memorable characters of his career in the new independent comedy THE FAMILY TREE, which opens in select cities this weekend. Talking all aspects of shooting THE FAMILY TREE and working with co-stars Hope Davis, Jane Seymour, Chi McBride and fellow InDepth InterView participant Shad 'Bow Wow' Moss, Mulroney also sheds some light on his many beloved past roles onscreen - from MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING with Julia Roberts to GEORGIA RULE with Lindsay Lohan to KANSAS CITY directed by Robert Altman to ABOUT SCHMIDT with Jack Nicholson and Hope Davis to ZODIAC with Robert Downey, Jr. to YOUNG GUNS and far beyond. Additionally, Mulroney and I discuss his little-known musical abilities and his desire to appear on GLEE, the life of the working actor and what he is most remembered for by fans, and he also kindly clues us all in on the spate of supremely exciting new films he is currently working on or about to shoot - among them: Clint Eastwood‘s J. EDGAR starring Leonardo DiCaprio; as well as STOKER with Nicole Kidman and Matthew Goode; ABDUCTION with Taylor Lautner; THE GREY with Liam Neeson; and, of course, his recent directorial debut, LOVE, WEDDING, MARRIAGE, starring Kellan Lutz and Mandy Moore. As if all of that were not enough, Mulroney also just finished shooting Emmy-winning GLEE star Chris Colfer's feature film screenwriting debut, STRUCK BY LIGHTNING, with fellow FAMILY TREE co-star Christina Hendricks, and he shares his experience shooting that this Summer and acting alongside Colfer in it. All of that and much, much more awaits!

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Debbie Allen will direct and guest star in an episode in the upcoming season of 'Grey's Anatomy.' She will play Jackson's mother, Catherine Avery. Allen has already directed three episodes of the show.

Stephen Byrd and Alia Jones have announced that the role of 'Stella' will be played by two-time Tony Nominee Daphne Rubin-Vega and the role of 'Mitch' will be played by Wood Harris, in the upcoming Broadway production of A Streetcar Named Desire directed by Emily Mann. They will join Blair Underwood as 'Stanley' and Nicole Ari Parker as 'Blanche'. This production is slated to hit the boards, Spring, 2012. Theatre is TBA.

Broadway leading lady, Fosse featured player and, now, the star of the new Fringe Festival play SAMMY GETS MUGGED!, gypsy phenomenon Stephanie Pope Caffey has lit up Broadway stages for almost thirty years - especially memorable for her dance-heavy roles in Bob Fosse's BIG DEAL, SWEET CHARITY, DANCIN‘, CHICAGO and the Tony-winning revue FOSSE itself. We also discuss working with four other legendary directors on four classic shows in the interim - JELLY'S LAST JAM directed by George C. Wolfe, THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES directed by Tommy Tune, the hit revival of A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM directed by Jerry Zaks and KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN directed by Hal Prince (with choreography by Rob Marshall) - and far beyond. These days, Stephanie operates one of the premiere Bikram yoga studios in the country, Bikram Yoga East Harlem, and she evocatively illustrates how that is a continuation of her dance work and how beneficial the practice has been to her life. Additionally, in this career-spanning conversation we analyze the life of a gypsy dancer and what it takes to make it and rise to the top of the ranks in the best corps on Broadway, then and now - and, all applicable anecdotes that arise along the way, of course (and even some surprises). Plus, Stephanie shares all about her role in SAMMY GETS MUGGED! and reveals what drew her to the project, what to expect from the new drama/comedy, what her character is like and much, much more!

As we reported on Friday, it's now confirmed, that the role of Blanche DuBois in the upcoming Broadway production of A Streetcar Named Desire will be played by seven-time NAACP Image award nominee, Nicole Ari Parker. This production is slated to hit the boards, Spring, 2012. Theatre TBA.

According to Black Star News, Nicole Ari Parker will star opposite Blair Underwood in the upcoming Broadway revival of Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire, directed by Emily Mann. Parker will play Blanche Du Bois in the production, which is set to open in the spring of 2012.

Sparks fly when Amanda and Elyot, formerly married to each other, find themselves in adjoining hotel honeymoon suites - each with a brand-new spouse in tow. Private Lives, Noël Coward's stylish, savvy comedy about the people we can't live with - or without - opens at International City Theatre in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center on August 26.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director) announced today that the West Coast premiere of TWIST - An American Musical will play its final performance Sunday, July 24, 2011.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director) announced today that the West Coast premiere of TWIST - An American Musical will extend one week, through July 24, 2011.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director) announced today that the West Coast premiere of TWIST - An American Musical will play its final five performances this week, closing on Sunday, July 24, 2011.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director) announced a special 'Pasadena Day' offer to all persons who either reside or work in Pasadena.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director) announced today that tickets for TWIST - An American Musical, will be sponsored to host the clients and staff from Homeboy Industries at tonight's performance.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director) announced today that the West Coast premiere of TWIST - An American Musical will extend one week, through July 24, 2011.

There have been several musical plays based on Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist. The first and biggest hit was Lionel Bart's Oliver, which went on to a major film in 1968 and a multitude of Oscars. There has been a gay version as well, also titled Twist, that was nominated for Critics' prizes in New York, and now there's the interracially cast adaptation Twist in its West Coast premiere at the Pasadena Playhouse. From top to bottom the show is slick and a triumph for director/choreographer Debbie Allen. The cast is fine-tuned, and much of the music quite memorably singable. Its only flaw, for purists like me, is in the book, which does not include the charming Fagin, whose deliciously mischievous manipulation of everybody in Oliver Twist is a major highlight.

The Pasadena Playhouse just opened the west coast premiere of the new musical TWIST - An American Musical by William F. Brown and Tina Tippit (book), Tena Clark (lyrics and music) and Gary Prim (music). Golden Globe and multi-Emmy Award-winner Debbie Allen directs a cast of 31 performers led by Tamyra Gray ('American Idol,' Rent and Bombay Dreams) and Cleavant Derricks (Tony Award-winner, Dreamgirls). The five-week limited engagement performs June 14 - July 17, 2011 with the official press opening on June 26, 2011 at The Pasadena Playhouse (39 S. El Molino Avenue).

Front Row Productions has announced that the world-renowned film composer and trumpet player Terence Blanchard will compose the original musical soundscape for the upcoming Broadway revival of Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire, directed by Emily Mann, starring Blair Underwood and opening in the spring of 2012.

In honor of being selected for mainstage performance at the National Black Theatre Festival, the Billie Holiday Theatre will present encore performances of The Legend of Buster Neal, written and directed by Jackie Alexander.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director) announced today that tickets for TWIST - An American Musical, will be sponsored to host the clients and staff from Homeboy Industries at tonight's performance.

The national tour of the smash hit Broadway revival of WEST SIDE STORY comes to Boston's Colonial Theatre for a four week engagement June 14 through July 9.

The Pasadena Playhouse has announced that full casting is complete for the west coast premiere of the new musical TWIST - An American Musical by William F. Brown and Tina Tippit (book), Tena Clark (lyrics and music) and Gary Prim (music). Golden Globe and multi-Emmy Award-winner Debbie Allen directs a cast of 31 performers led by Tamyra Gray ('American Idol,' Rent and Bombay Dreams) and Cleavant Derricks (Tony Award-winner, Dreamgirls). The five-week limited engagement performs June 14 - July 17, 2011 with the official press opening on June 26, 2011 at The Pasadena Playhouse (39 S. El Molino Avenue).