Michael Riedel reports in the New York Post this morning that songbird Patti LaBelle will be joining the Broadway cast of FELA! in September as Fela's mother. She will be filling in for Lillias White, who has concert obligations in Australia that month.
The New York Times reports that Femi Kuti, son of Fela Anikulapo Kuti, saw FELA! while in New York on Sunday. Previously, Kuti would not see the production unless it was brought to Lagos, where his father originally built the nightclub. On Saturday, over a World Cup viewing with FELA! co-conceiver and producer Stephen Hendel, Kuti was promised the show will see a production in Lagos. Said Hendel: 'We're going to keep our word.'
Monday night's premiere of TNT's new original series Rizzoli & Isles now claims the record as cable's #1 commercial-supported series launch of all time, with 7.6 million viewers. The series, starring Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander, raced out of the starting gate after an equally strong performance for the sixth-season premiere of The Closer, which delivered 7.7 million viewers, up 7% over its fifth-season premiere on June 8, 2009. Both premieres also rank as ad-supported cable's top series telecasts for the year-to-date among viewers and households.
A new multi-million-dollar headquarters and an internal political struggle over who will become the next police chief add a whole new set of challenges for Deputy Police Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson as TNT presents the sixth season of ad-supported cable's #1 series of all time - THE CLOSER. Golden Globe(R) winner and four-time Emmy(R) nominee Kyra Sedgwick returns as Johnson, who heads up the LAPD's Major Crimes Division.
Casting for the London production of FELA! has been announced, Grace Notes reports. As previously reported on BroadwayWorld, the production will star Sahr Ngaujah, who was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in the Broadway production, as Nigerian composer and activist Fela Kuti. The production will also star Paulette Ivory and Melanie Marshall.
Fela!, recipient of three 2010 Tony Awards including Best Choreography, will celebrate its 250th performance on Wednesday, June 30 @ 8pm. Produced by Shawn 'Jay-Z' Carter and Will & Jada Pinkett Smith, this critically acclaimed show based on the life and music of groundbreaking African composer, performer and activist Fela Kuti, began performances at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre (230 West 49th Street) on October 19 and opened to rave reviews on November 23.
Last night, June 13, the 64th Annual Tony Awards were held at Radio City Music Hall. Hosted by PROMISES, PROMISES star Sean Hayes and Broadcast on CBS, the evening honored movie stars (Catherine Zeta-Jones, Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Scarlett Johansson), industry vets (Katie Finneran, Bill T. Jones, Michael Grandage), Broadway newcomers (Eddie Redmayne, David Bryan, Douglas Hodge) and more!
Last night, June 13, the 64th Annual Tony Awards were held at Radio City MusicAl Hall. Hosted by PROMISES, PROMISES star Sean Hayes and Broadcast on CBS, the evening honored movie stars Catherine Zeta-Jones, Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Scarlett Johansson, industry vets Katie Finneran, Bill T. Jones, Michael Grandage, Broadway newcomers Eddie Redmayne, David Bryan, Douglas Hodge, and more!
Last night, June 13, the 64th Annual Tony Awards were held at Radio City Music Hall. Hosted by PROMISES, PROMISES star Sean Hayes and Broadcast on CBS, the evening honored movie stars (Catherine Zeta-Jones, Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Scarlett Johansson), industry vets (Katie Finneran, Michael Grandage), Broadway newcomers (Eddie Redmayne, David Bryan, Douglas Hodge) and more, including FELA!'s own director/choreographer, Bill T. Jones and costume designer Marina Draghici.
The American Theatre Wing's 64th Annual Antoinette Perry 'Tony' Awards were held at Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, June 13, 2010 and broadcast on the CBS Television Network. For more information visit tonyawards.com.
The premiere of the 2010 CMT MUSIC AWARDS on Wednesday, June 9 scored with 3.04 million total viewers, making it the most-watched awards premiere in channel history. According to Nielsen Media Research, the two-and-a-half hour show scored a 1.42 rating among P18-49, up 19 percent over last year with an average 1.5 million viewers in the key demo. The show's performance from 8-10:30 p.m. drove CMT to become the most-watched network in the time period across cable with P18-49 and W18-49 impressions. More than 10.8 million viewers cumulative* tuned in for all related CMT Music Awards programming, including the live Red Carpet show and encore.
The New York Times reports today that the Tony Award statuette has grown up for 2010. Where the statue used to be 3 1/4 inches tall, weighing in at a 1 1/2 pounds, this year's prize is larger by almost double: standing 5 inches high and weighing 3 1/2 pounds.
In a New York Times feature out today, the longtime Tony Awards ceremony production designer, Steve Bass, reveals what is involved in translating a live Broadway aesthetic for the screen and what audiences can expect this year.
Yesterday, June 9, Kid Rock hosted the 2010 CMT Music Awards at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
Yesterday, June 9, the Empire State Building hosted a reception in honor of the 2010 Tony nominees on the famed rooftop observatory. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the photo op and to take in the view.
A new multi-million-dollar headquarters and an internal political struggle over who will become the next police chief add a whole new set of challenges for Deputy Police Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson as TNT presents the sixth season of ad-supported cable's #1 series of all time - THE CLOSER. Golden Globe(R) winner and four-time Emmy(R) nominee Kyra Sedgwick returns as Johnson, who heads up the LAPD's Major Crimes Division.
The Tony Awards today announced the full line-up of presenters and performers who are scheduled to take the stage at the 64th Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The 2010 Tony Awards will air live on CBS, on Sunday, June 13th 8:00 - 11:00 p.m. (ET/PT time delay) and are presented by the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.
Fela! the new Broadway musical, will record its cast album today, March 8. The recording will be made at Clinton Recording studies. The cast album is set to be released on June 8.
Audiences around the world will be able to experience FELA!, the new hit Broadway musical about the life and music of legendary Nigerian performer and political activist Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, when it is broadcast in January 2011 on movie screens around the globe as part of NT Live, the initiative by London's National Theatre to broadcast live performances of plays to a world audience.
