Julius Thomas III News

As BroadwayWorld reported yesterday, Audra McDonald, the five-time Tony winning star of PORGY & BESS, will indeed be returning to the show today following a 2-week doctor-mandated hiatus.

A devout theater fan knows no holiday, and thankfully, many of Broadway's most beloved shows and performers nationwide don't either. So what's a theater enthusiast to do on this Independence Day? Check out a sampling of this year's most exciting 4th of July offerings and click below to revisit some of your favorites saluting our nation in song!

This will be regular participants Priscilla, Queen of the Desert's Nick Adams, Ellyn Marsh and company's final SIP before the show closes on Broadway tomorrow, and the cast of Godspell prepares for its June 24 closing on the Great White Way as well. We wish them well! See below for June 23rd's matinee SIPs from Broadway's Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Phantom of the Opera, Newsies, Mary Poppins, Evita, Rock of Ages, The Book of Mormon, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Ghost (Broadway AND West End!), The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, Once On This Island at Paper Mill, First You Dream at the Kennedy Center, La Cage aux Folles National Tour, Pittsburgh CLO's A Chorus Line, Gateway's My Fair Lady, Arizona Broadway Theatre's Grease and more!

Producers of The Gershwins' PORGY AND BESS, the 2012 Tony Award winner for Best Revival of a Musical, announced today that Audra McDonald has been ordered on a period of complete vocal rest by her doctor through the end of the month. As a result of performing with a respiratory infection last week, her vocal cords have become inflamed to a point where she cannot sing. She is scheduled to return to the production on Tuesday, July 3, 2012.

It's Saturday, and that means it's time for BroadwayWorld's 'Saturday Intermission Pics' round-up! Scroll below for photos from Broadway's PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT, NEWSIES, THE BOOK OF MORMON, EVITA, MAMMA MIA!, ANYTHING GOES, NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT - featuring Tony winner Michael McGrath, AVENUE Q, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND at Paper Mill Playhouse, Off-Broadway's TRIASSIC PARQ: THE MUSICAL, the national tours of LEGALLY BLONDE and WAR HORSE, and the cast of MY FAIR LADY at Gateway Playhouse in Bellport.

Last night, June 10, Audra McDonald took home her 5th Tony Award for for Best Lead Actress in a Musical for her role of 'Bess' in THE GERSWIN's PORGY AND BESS. Though we'd think she'd be used to the feeling of winning by now, McDonald spoke with BroadwayWorld just moments after her win only to reveal how it still feels 'out of body'. Click below to hear from the Broadway darling herself!

Audra McDonald is the recipient of this year's Tony Award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical for her role of 'Bess' in THE GERSWIN's PORGY AND BESS. The award marks McDonald's fifth Tony award win.

THE GERSHWIN'S PORGY AND BESS is this year's recipient of the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical.

View members of the cast at yesterday's Barnes & Noble cast recording performance and signing below!

PS Classics will release the New Broadway Cast Recording of THE GERSHWINS' PORGY AND BESS, currently available for pre-order, on May 22. Additionally they are offering a first listen of some of the tracks on their website. Click here to check them out! The full track list is as follows:

The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess is now on Broadway with a cast led by four-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald (Ragtime, 'Private Practice') as Bess, Drama Desk nominee Norm Lewis (Les Misérables, Sondheim on Sondheim) as Porgy and two-time Tony nominee David Alan Grier (Race, 'In Living Color') as Sporting Life. In the video below, the audience got a special surprise when the cast welcomed a couple onstage for a heartwarming marriage propsal. Click below to check it out!

The revised book of The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess has been the subject of much discussion since it's debut at A.R.T. last August, and according to Patrick Healy of the New York Times, there is still debate over its Tony eligibility. Last week, when the Tony administration committee made a decision regarding David Alan Grier's eligibility as a featured actor, they 'took no action' with the musical's updated book (by Suzan-Lori Parks and Diedre Murray), thus making it ineligible for a 'Best Book' Tony Award.

Nikki Renée Daniels, who is currently starring as Clara in The Gershwins' PORGY AND BESS, will release her debut solo recording today, March 27, 2012. Entitled 'Home,' the recording will be available on cdbaby.com and iTunes. The CD features an eclectic mix of gospel, pop and Broadway favorites. For more information and to hear song samples visit www.nikkireneedaniels.com.

Producers of The Gershwins' PORGY AND BESS have just announced plans for a national tour of the critically-acclaimed Broadway revival, set to launch in the Fall of 2013.

The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess is now on Broadway with a cast led by four-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald (Ragtime, 'Private Practice') as Bess, Drama Desk nominee Norm Lewis (Les Misérables, Sondheim on Sondheim) as Porgy and two-time Tony nominee David Alan Grier (Race, 'In Living Color') as Sporting Life. Last night, McDonald was a guest on The Colbert Report on Comedy Central. The four-time Tony Award-winner chatted with Stephen Colbert about her return to Broadway and performed 'Summertime.' Click below to check it out!

The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess is now on Broadway with a cast led by four-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald (Ragtime, 'Private Practice') as Bess, Drama Desk nominee Norm Lewis (Les Misérables, Sondheim on Sondheim) as Porgy and two-time Tony nominee David Alan Grier (Race, 'In Living Color') as Sporting Life. McDonlad will be a guest on The Colbert Report tonight at 11:30pm EST on Comedy Central. The four-time Tony Award-winner will chat with Stephen Colbert about her return to Broadway in The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess nd perform a number from the show.

The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess is now on Broadway with a cast led by four-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald (Ragtime, 'Private Practice') as Bess, Drama Desk nominee Norm Lewis (Les Misérables, Sondheim on Sondheim) as Porgy and two-time Tony nominee David Alan Grier (Race, 'In Living Color') as Sporting Life. McDonlad and Lewis will appear on 'The Rosie Show' tomorrow March 2, and BroadwayWorld brings you previews of their performances of 'Summertime,' 'I Got PLenty O' Nuttin,' and 'I Loves You, Porgy' below! Check your local listings to tune in live!

ps classics today announced that they will be presenting the New Broadway Cast Recording of THE GERSHWINS' PORGY AND BESS, to be released May 8. The recording will take place on March 12 and 13.

On Tuesday, February 21st, Givenik.com, the revolutionary way to go to Broadway, will partner with the critically acclaimed Broadway production of The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess for a special post-performance reception for audience and cast members at B. Smith's (320 West 46th Street) to support Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Purchase any ticket through Givenik.com to the Tuesday, February 21st performance and send your confirmation number to RSVP@givenik.com to be invited to a special post-show cast party at B. Smith's, supporting Broadway Cares! And be sure to remember BC/EFA when choosing who receives your 5% donation.

Tony Nominee and Drama Desk Award winner Joshua Henry (The Scottsboro Boys, American Idiot), who is currently starring as Jake in the production of The Gershwins' PORGY AND BESS, will give a solo concert performance at The Triad Theater (158 west 72nd Street) at 9:30pm on February 20, 2012.