Rhonda LaChanze Sapp, better known by her stage name LaChanze (Creole: the charmed one), taken from her grandmother, was born in St Augustine, Florida.
Grew up in Connecticut, her parents nurtured her love for performing by enrolling her in high schools for the performing arts.
After high school, LaChanze studied Drama at Morgan State University, before transferring to the University of the Arts, she studied Theatre and Dance. Her first Summer job was as a tap dancer in the ensemble of out of town tryout of 'Uptown...It's Hot!.' She made her Broadway debut in the same show in 1986.
The New York Musical Festival (NYMF), previously known as The New York Musical Theatre Festival, announced today the winners of the 2016 NYMF Awards for Excellence, which were awarded on Sunday, August 7, 2016 at 42West NY (514 W. 42nd Street). Scroll down for the full list, plus photos from the event!
Broadway Download, the live, weekly digital radio show, is set to welcome Tony Award-nominee Montego Glover as well as the company directors of Staten Islands' Harbor Lights Theatre Company to its broadcast.
This summer, NYMF will be on quest to save Paradise one Scrabble tile at a time. The new musical, THE LAST WORD will be presented at the Duke on 42nd Street, a NEW 42ND STREET project (229 W 42nd St) . THE LAST WORD is written by Brett Sullivan (Billy Elliot Live Film Director) and will be directed by Michael Bello (Doctor Zhivago), choreography by Nick Kenkel(Gotta Dance, Legally Blonde) and Musical Supervisor is Conrad Helfrich (Dirty Dancing). It will begin performances on July 22 and will run through July 29, 2016. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in character below!
Just yesterday, the New York Musical Festival hosted a special preview of some of this year's shows, including: Children of Salt, Eh Dah? - Questions For My Father, Forest Boy, Icon, Nickel Mines, The First Church of Mary the Repentant Prostitute's Fifth Annual Benefit Concert, Revival, and Pot Luck Dinner; The Last Word, and Tink!
This summer, NYMF will be on quest to save Paradise one Scrabble tile at a time. The new musical, THE LAST WORD will be presented at the Duke on 42nd Street, a NEW 42ND STREET project (229 W 42nd St) . THE LAST WORD is written by Brett Sullivan (Billy Elliot Live Film Director) and will be directed by Michael Bello (Doctor Zhivago), choreography by Nick Kenkel(Gotta Dance, Legally Blonde) and Musical Supervisor is Conrad Helfrich (Dirty Dancing). It will begin performances on July 22 and will run through July 29, 2016. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in character below!
This summer, NYMF will be on quest to save Paradise one Scrabble tile at a time. The new musical, The Last Word will be presented at the Duke on 42nd Street, a NEW 42ND STREET project (229 W 42nd St) . The Last Word is written by Brett Sullivan (Billy Elliot Live Film Director) and will be directed by Michael Bello (Doctor Zhivago), choreography by Nick Kenkel (Gotta Dance, Legally Blonde) and Musical Supervisor is Conrad Helfrich (Dirty Dancing). It will begin performances on July 22 and will run through July 29, 2016. Tickets are $27.50 and can be purchased by visiting NYMF.org.
The New York Musical Festival (NYMF), previously known as The New York Musical Theatre Festival, announced today the initial slate of artists participating in NYMF 2016, taking place from July 11 through August 7 in Midtown Manhattan.
Himself and Nora, a new musical with book, music, and lyrics by Jonathan Brielleis currently in previews at the Minetta Lane Theatre. Directed by Michael Bush, produced by Cherie King and executive produced by R. Erin Craig, Himself and Nora officially opened last night, June 6th. Check out photos from the red carpet arrivals below!
Broadway's 40 theatres aren't the only places to catch performances from your favorite stars! Well after Broadway orchestras begin their overtures, ensemble members take their dance breaks, and performers belt out their eleven o'clock numbers, the party continues at various cabaret venues throughout New York City. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you some cabaret highlights for this week as picked by our theatre editors, including: Laura Michelle Kelly at 54 Below; New Musicals at 54: Funked Up Fairy Tales by Kirsten Childs; The Songs of Carner & Gregor; Barrett Foa: Grin and Barrett; and 54 Sings How to Succeed.
This May, Feinstein's/54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. Scroll down for the full lineup!
This Friday, March 25th, a private reading will be held of FIXING FRANKIE, a new musical by Joe Langworth (book and lyrics) and Steve Marzullo (music). The team, who met during the original production of RAGTIME in 1996, co-conceived this new musical comedy and it is their first full-length collaboration. Langworth will also direct with Marzullo providing musical direction.
The Dramatists Guild Fund just welcomed a slew of stars for their 2015 Gala, GREAT WRITERS THANK THEIR LUCKY STARS, which was hosted by musician and Emmy-nominated composer, Darren Criss. Directed by Leigh Silverman (Violet, The Wild Party, Chinglish) with Music Direction by Charlie Rosen, the event featured award-winning playwrights, lyricists and composers introducing the stars who brought their work to life on stage, including Stephen Schwartz, Kirsten Childs, Gretchen Cryer & Nancy Ford, Sheldon Harnick, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, Laurence O'Keefe & Nell Benjamin, Steven Sater and Benjamin Scheuer.
The Dramatists Guild Fund just welcomed a slew of stars for their 2015 Gala, GREAT WRITERS THANK THEIR LUCKY STARS, which was hosted by musician and Emmy-nominated composer, Darren Criss. Directed by Leigh Silverman (Violet, The Wild Party, Chinglish) with Music Direction by Charlie Rosen, the event featured award-winning playwrights, lyricists and composers introducing the stars who brought their work to life on stage, including Stephen Schwartz, Kirsten Childs, Gretchen Cryer & Nancy Ford, Sheldon Harnick, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, Laurence O'Keefe & Nell Benjamin, Steven Sater and Benjamin Scheuer.
The Dramatists Guild Fund welcomes a slew of stars for their 2015 Gala tonight! As previously announced, actor, musician and Emmy-nominated composer, Darren Criss will host and perform at DGF's annual gala GREAT WRITERS THANK THEIR LUCKY STARS at Gotham Hall (1356 Broadway at 36th Street) this evening, October 26 (cocktail reception at 6:30pm, dinner and celebration at 7:30pm).