James Brown News

Directed by Leigh Silverman and choreographed by Sonya Tayeh, THE WILD PARTY will run tonight, July 15, through July 18 at New York City Center.

The national tour of KINKY BOOTS returns to Chicago with all the energy, heart and soul of the original pre-Broadway tryout in tact.

Led by Tony winner Sutton Foster, Encores! Off-Center's upcoming production of Andrew Lippa's THE WILD PARTY also features Steven Pasquale (who made his New York stage debut and understudied the role of Burrs in the MTC production of THE WILD PARTY), Brandon Victor Dixon, Foster's YOUNGER co-star Miriam Shor, Joaquina Kalukango and Talene Monahon, along with Renee Albulario, Ryan Andes, Penelope Armstead-Williams,James Brown III, Rachel DeBenedet, Raymond J. Lee, Kenita R. Miller, Sydney Morton, Clifton Oliver, Charlie Pollock,Britton Smith, Ryan Steele and Samantha Sturm. BroadwayWorld takes you inside the rehearsal room with the cast below!

Welcome to the pride! L. Steven Taylor and Jelani Remy will join Broadway's The Lion King as its leading men -- father and son Mufasa and Simba, respectively -- starting tomorrow, July 10.

Led by Tony winner Sutton Foster, Encores! Off-Center's upcoming production of Andrew Lippa's THE WILD PARTY also features Steven Pasquale (who made his New York stage debut and understudied the role of Burrs in the MTC production of THE WILD PARTY), Brandon Victor Dixon, Foster's YOUNGER co-star Miriam Shor, Joaquina Kalukango and Talene Monahon, along with Renee Albulario, Ryan Andes, Penelope Armstead-Williams,James Brown III, Rachel DeBenedet, Raymond J. Lee, Kenita R. Miller, Sydney Morton, Clifton Oliver, Charlie Pollock,Britton Smith, Ryan Steele and Samantha Sturm.

BroadwayWorld has learned John Ellison Conlee, Tony nominee for THE FULL MONTY, has had to depart Encores! Off-Center's upcoming production of Andrew Lippa's THE WILD PARTY due to a scheduling conflict. Ryan Andes, who last starred on TV in PETER PAN LIVE! and in Broadway's BIG FISH, steps in.

The Menier Chocolate Factory  recently confirmed the international cast - hailing from across the UK, US and Canada, for the UK premiere of What's It All About? Bacharach Reimagined. Burt Bacharach's celebrated songbook is given an exciting new interpretation with Kyle Riabko's thrillingly original musical arrangement. This show, directed by Oliver Award-winner Steven Hoggett, is a dynamic 90-minute non-stop musical journey in which the 27-year-old Riabko leads a talented group of young performers through Bacharach's classic melodies, blending nostalgia and innovation, where generations old and new can revel in the joy of these hits as if for the very first time.

The 2015 'MetroStar Talent Challenge' is extending its deadline for applications to July 4 and adding new mentoring to help competitors up their games during the 7-week contest. The eighth annual edition of the summer tradition runs for seven consecutive Mondays, from July 6 through August 17.  All contestants must certify that they will be available to compete throughout the jury-and audience-voted, elimination-round competition.

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, June 28, 2015 - Sunday, June 28, 2015.

Centenary Stage Company's annual Summer Jamfest continues on Saturday July 18 at 8pm in the Sitnik Theater with Al Chez and the Brothers of Funk. With the resurgence of 'funk' music made popular by such commercial success as 'Uptown Funk' by Bruno Mars, Al Chez and the Brothers of Funk are on the front-lines of reinventing the genre. This high energy band, (which features sisters too) averages 15 amazing talented cats from the NY area. Along with unique musical arrangements of Rock-Soul-Jazz-Blues-Standards and original tunes, front man Al Chez stratospheric trumpet playing and soulful vocals, make for a magical memorable show.

The Frist Center for the Visual Arts' popular summer concert series Frist Fridays kicks off today, June 26, and will feature musical acts that celebrate personal style in conjunction with the summer exhibition Italian Style: Fashion since 1945.

'The Gospel Tradition: In Performance at the White House' showcases an evening of celebration with President and Mrs. Obama at the White House in honor of gospel music and its profound influence on American music.

Today in 1987, the FIRST Broadway revival of Dreamgirls opened at the Ambassador Theatre, where it ran for 177 performances. Dreamgirls features music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by Tom Eyen. Based upon the show business aspirations and successes of R&B acts such as The Supremes, The Shirelles, James Brown, Jackie Wilson, and others, the musical follows the story of a young female singing trio from Chicago, Illinois called 'The Dreams', who become music superstars. The musical opened on December 20, 1981 at the Imperial Theatre, and was nominated for thirteen Tony Awards, including the Tony Award for Best Musical, and won six. It was later adapted into a motion picture from DreamWorks and Paramount Pictures in 2006. The 1987 cast featured Lillias White as 'Effie.'

Following their massively successful international Sweet Home Chicago tour, The Chicago Blues Brothers are now returning to the UK with a brand-new action packed show coming to the King's Theatre Glasgow for one night only on Friday 10 July.

The Muny presents Hairspray, winner of the 2003 Tony Award for Best Musical, featuring music by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman with a book by Mark O'Donnell & Thomas Meehan. The Muny's production of Hairspray is directed and choreographed by Dan Knechtges and music directed by Charlie Alterman.

Sonny Knight and the Lakers exist in the afterglow that soul luminaries like Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin created with their raucous, kinetic, and supreme live performances. Sonny Knight and the Lakers Do It Live, from the eponymous group, is a loving return to the height of live Rhythm and Blues, with Knight and his band perfectly capturing the uproarious vibe and rebellious musicianship of an era long gone in their first live album release. A year of steady touring through the US and Europe has allowed the group to create a seamless set, mixing songs from their critically-acclaimed debut studio album, I'm Still Here, with a couple covers of classic soul songs from their native Minneapolis, and re-imagined bits from Led Zeppelin and James Brown. Recorded in their hometown of Minneapolis at the Dakota Jazz Club over two nights and four performances, Sonny Knight and the Lakers aim to bring a new focus on the art of the live record. Hoping to add to the rich history of live albums rather than producing something merely derivative, they set out to reconstruct the ephemeral experience of a live concert and earn a permanent place on your record shelf. The double LP/CD release will be available in stores and digitally June 23rd via Secret Stash Records.

Since 1983, tenor saxophonist, composer, and arranger Bob Mintzer has been delving into the big band format and its myriad stylistic possibilities, collecting five Grammy nominations and one Grammy win in the process. His newest recording, 'Get Up!,' which is his 20th big band album to date, will be released by MCG Jazz today, June 23.

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is proud to present the fifth annual Pittsburgh JazzLive International Festival (PJLIF) this weekend, June 19 - 21, 2015.

Lincoln Center Out of Doors one of the country's longest-running, free, summer outdoor festivals opens its 45th season on July 22, 2015. A range of concerts, dance performances, family events, related film screenings, talks, and an exhibition will be presented across three weeks, from July 22 - August 9.

Coast 2 Coast Mixtapes presents the release of the 'Love To The Beat' Single by DJ E-Feezy, featuring Watch The Duck. This new song is available to stream on the Coast 2 Coast Mixtapes website and purchase on iTunes.