Geoffrey Holder News

As part its 10th Anniversary Spring 2015 season, Baryshnikov Arts Center (BAC) proudly presents the New York Premiere of Carmen de Lavallade's As I Remember It, February 19-21 and 24 at 8PM, and February 25 at 1PM in the Jerome Robbins Theater. This intimate autobiographical performance combines movement and storytelling to weave a poignant memoir of Carmen de Lavallade's extraordinary career, highlighting the legendary artist's singular place in cultural history.

Broadway fans had plenty of reasons to celebrate this year, with dozens of shows having opened since January, hundreds of actors having made their debuts, and many more having returned to the stage for critically acclaimed performances. Not all news was good though, as we also suffered a loss of an incredible amount of talent. Below, BroadwayWorld sends a fond farewell to those who passed away in 2014.

The 26th annual edition of Gypsy of the Year, to be presented today, December 8 (4:30 PM) and tomorrow, December 9 (2 PM) at the New Amsterdam Theatre (214 West 42nd Street, NYC), will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the groundbreaking musical The Wiz and feature performances by the uber-talented 'gypsies' of 12 Broadway and Off-Broadway shows.

The 26th annual edition of Gypsy of the Year, to be presented Monday, December 8 (4:30 PM) and Tuesday, December 9 (2 PM) at the New Amsterdam Theatre (214 West 42nd Street, NYC), will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the groundbreaking musical The Wiz and feature performances by the uber-talented 'gypsies' of 12 Broadway and Off-Broadway shows.

Friday night at New York Live Arts saw the premier of Bill T Jones' Story Time #36 Kathleen Chalfant - Amble or Career. The work paired the always enigmatic Jones with Tony nominated actress Kathleen Chalfant in 70 minutes of shared histories and dance.

Today we are talking to a world famous triple-threat star of stage and screen who first shot to fame in the 1980s as the first African American Miss America and found considerable success as a recording artist and actress thereafter, the divine Vanessa Williams. Sharing sage wisdom from her life and career as well as reflecting on many of her most popular properties to date, Williams reveals some of her many secrets to success while also looking ahead to next month's hotly anticipated all-star concert presentation of legendary Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein musical SHOW BOAT, co-starring Julian Ovenden, Norm Lewis, Jane Alexander and many more along with the New York Philharmonic under the direction of Ted Sperling. Also, Williams shares her enthusiasm for setting out to create new renditions of some of SHOW BOAT's most noted selections, including 'Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man Of Mine'. Additionally, Williams opens up about her multiple musical theatre endeavors highlighting the work of Stephen Sondheim, including the Tony Award-winning 2002 Best Revival production of INTO THE WOODS and the recent original revue SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM. Plus, Williams details her ongoing participation in THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL, after having starred in the well-received Broadway production last season and now finishing up headlining the Los Angeles production before bringing the drama to Boston. All of that, KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN memories, saving Audra McDonald's wedding day and much, much more with one of Broadway's brightest stars!

Award-winning Broadway legend Andre De Shields has written a tribute to his dear friend and mentor, the inimitable Geoffrey Holder, who passed away on October 5, for American Theatre, the magazine of the American not-for-profit theatre. It will appear in the magazine's December issue but is currently available on the magazine's website here.

Today we celebrate the life of Tony Award-winning director, choreographer and artist Geoffrey Holder in honor of his death this week at the age of 84.

The Broadway community mourns the loss of Geoffrey Holder, the 1975 Tony Award -winning director and costume designer of The Wiz who died on Sunday at the age of 84. The marquees of Broadway theatres in New York will be dimmed in his memory Friday, October 10th, at exactly 7:45pm for one minute. BroadwayWorld.com's Walter McBride has culled through his photo archives to present some images of the legend.

Today, we're featuring the cast of the Annie film, circa 1982. Annie is a Broadway musical based upon the popular Harold Gray comic strip Little Orphan Annie, with music byCharles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and the book by Thomas Meehan. The original Broadway production opened in 1977 and ran for nearly six years, setting a record for the Alvin Theatre (now the Neil Simon Theatre). It spawned numerous productions in many countries, as well as national tours, and won the Tony Award for Best Musical. The musical's songs 'Tomorrow' and 'It's the Hard Knock Life' are among its most popular musical numbers.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: IT'S ONLY A PLAY opens tonight and we'll be bringing you the real-life verdict, AMAZING GRACE begins in Chicago, Lucie Arnaz returns to PIPPIN, Elaine Paige says 'farewell' and more!

The Broadway community mourns the loss of Geoffrey Holder, the 1975 Tony Awarda -winning director and costume designer of The Wiz who died on Sunday at the age of 84. The marquees of Broadway theatres in New York will be dimmed in his memory Friday, October 10th, at exactly 7:45pm for one minute.

As BroadwayWorld reported yesterday, Tony Award-winning stage director and costume designer Geoffrey Holder passed away on Sunday, October 5th in Manhattan. According to family spokesman Charles M. Mirotznik, the cause of death was complications from pneumonia. Holder was 84 years old. Below, BroadwayWorld remembers the Broadway legend with a selection of videos highlighting his diverse career.

His son, Leo Holder, just released a statement on his father's death and final days on Facebook:

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: Actresses Joely Richardson, America Ferrera, Andrea Martin and Betty Buckley all come to the stage tonight -- off-Broadway, on tour and in concert!

The New York Times reports that Tony Award-winning stage director and costume designer Geoffrey Holder has passed away at the age of 84.

The New York Dance and Performance Awards (The Bessies), NYC's premier dance awards honoring outstanding creative work in the field, announces Arthur Mitchell, founder of Dance Theatre of Harlem, as the recipient of the 2014 NY Dance and Performance Award for Lifetime Achievement in Dance and Dr. Chuck Davis of DanceAfrica! for Outstanding Service to the Field of Dance. These awards will be presented at the 30th Annual Bessie Awards ceremony at the legendary Apollo Theater on Monday, October 20.

Carmen de Lavallade's career as a dancer, choreographer, and stage and film actress spans more than six decades working with luminaries such as Lena Horne, Josephine Baker, Harry Belafonte, Alvin Ailey, and many others. She already holds the distinction of the longest Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival performing career on record, having made her Pillow debut with Lester Horton Dance Theatre in 1953 and performing at the Festival as recently as 2004 (with Paradigm), and she now extends that record by another decade. In the world premiere of her new solo show, As I Remember It, de Lavallade combines powerful movement and poignant storytelling to weave a theatrical memoir about her venerable life on stage. This exclusive engagement opens the 2014 Festival in the Doris Duke Theatre with a limited three-show run, this weekend, June 20-22.