Kenny Leon News

Get ready to ease on down the road! NBC will air the highly anticipated holiday production THE WIZ LIVE! on Thursday, December 3, with an encore telecast set for Saturday, Dec. 19 (8-11 p.m. ET).  Below, check out just-released art that celebrates the show's 40th anniversary!

The man who brought funk and soul to Broadway got his big break on THE MONKEES.

On Thursday, October 22 (8PM) join executive producer Neil Meron and actors Shanice Williams, Elijah Kelley, David Alan Grier, and NE-YO for a discussion and Q&A about 'The Wiz Live!', at the Apple Store, Soho (103 Prince Street). NBC embarks on its latest musical holiday tradition with a live TV production of the groundbreaking Tony Award-winning Broadway show that gave a new voice to the vivid world of Oz in a fresh, funky, sing-a-long journey down the yellow brick road. To attend the special event, register at https://s.apple.com/dE0c9J2R7g

Warner Bros. Television Group has signed an exclusive multi-year development and production pod deal with celebrated broadcaster, author and producer Tavis Smile

Following up NBC's early peek at the highly stylized costumes for NBC's THE WIZ LIVE!, go behind the scenes at the photo shoot with Elijah Kelley as the Scarecrow, NE-YO as the Tin Man, David Alan Grier as the Cowardly Lion, and Shanice Williams as Dorothy! THE WIZ LIVE! airs Thursday, December 3rd.

Center Theatre Group has announced that registration is now open for the 2016 August Wilson Monologue Competition, which gives students of all backgrounds, ethnicities and experience levels a chance to dive into Wilson's Pulitzer-Prize winning work.

NBC has shared a special video entitled 'Live A Day In The Life With Shanice Williams' which chronicles the 19-year-old star of THE WIZ LIVE! from audition day to first table read.

Enjoy more Tweets and photos as the company gets ready for the December 3rd telecast.

Producer Neil Meron posts a pic of the company getting to work and reports on their reaction to hearing Stephanie Mills sing.

R. BUCKMINSTER FULLER: THE HISTORY (AND MYSTERY) OF THE UNIVERSE will run October 1-25, 2015 at The Balzer Theater at Herren's (downtown Atlanta), starring Tom Key as R. Buckminster Fuller. Written by D.W. Jacobs with direction by David de Vries, the play is based on the life, work, and writings of R. Buckminster Fuller.

NBC's THE WIZ LIVE!, its highly anticipated holiday production, will air on Thursday, December 3. Click below for the latest behind-the-scenes look at star Shanice Williams and her journey from Rahway, New Jersey, to her starring role as 'Dorothy' in the iconic musical!

Artistic Director Kenny Leon and True Colors Theatre Company are proud to announce the addition of Eric J. Little as the Director of the Muhammad Ali drama Fetch Clay, Make Man written by Will Power.

Just last night, the American Theatre Wing hosted its annual Gala at The Plaza Hotel (Fifth Avenue at Central Park South), honoring legendary actor James Earl Jones. Mr. Jones is a two-time Tony Award winner, two-time Obie Award winner and alumnus of the American Theatre Wing Professional School. CeCe Black, Anki Leeds, and Marva Smalls will serve as Gala Chairs.

Now in it's seventh season, the Obie Award winning The Fire This Time Festival has commissioned seven playwrights to write new 10-minute plays for the 2016 festival, which will run January 18-February 6 at The Kraine Theater (85 East 4th Street between 2nd Avenue and Bowery). The 2016 playwrights will include Tanya Everett (Without Scars with Breast Friends), Keelay Gipson (The Lost at Planet Connections Theater Festivity; N/F at Downtown Urban Theater Festival), Jireh Breon Holder (2012-13 Kenny Leon Fellow, Alliance Theatre), Roger Q. Mason (Onion Creek with Son of Semele Ensemble, Los Angeles), Stacey Rose (2015-16 Dramatists Guild Fellow), Korde Arrington Tuttle (Beautiful Mess in Around the Block: a 5D Project), and Nia Ostrow Witherspoon (Global Arts Fund Grant for The Messiah Complex). 

Single tickets are now on sale to the general public for Second Stage Theatre's world premiere production of INVISIBLE THREAD, a new musical by Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews, in association with American Repertory Theater, directed by Tony Award winner Diane Paulus (Finding Neverland, Pippin).  INVISIBLE THREAD will begin previews on Saturday, October 31st at Second Stage's Tony Kiser Theatre (305 West 43rd street).  Opening night is scheduled for Wednesday, December 2nd.   

NBC's THE WIZ LIVE!, its highly anticipated holiday production, will air on Thursday, December 3 -- and winter can't come soon enough! ACCESS HOLLYWOOD just unveiled a new interview with star Shanice Williams. Click below to hear her talk about 'her first job' playing 'Dorothy' in the iconic musical!

NBC's THE WIZ LIVE! has just released a second promo for the highly anticipated holiday production featuring David Alan Grier.

Broadwayworld.com interviewed Jason Dirden who will be playing the role of Canewell in the Two River Theater production of 'Seven Guitars.' Written by August Wilson and directed by Brandon Dirden, the show will be on the Red Bank stage from September 12th to October 4th.

BroadwayWorld has just confirmed complete casting for Secong Stage's upcoming world premiere production of INVISIBLE THREAD, a new musical by Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews, in association with American Repertory Theater, directed by Tony Award winner Diane Paulus (Finding Neverland, Pippin). 

BWW Interview: Melvin Abston Talks Television, Theatre, And THE LITTLE MERMAID