Leslie Uggams News

Call it the biography of a place, a collaborative memoir, a history-but whatever you call it, The Persian Room Presents will transport you to the most elegant and magical night spot New York has ever known. In this dishy, personal, and compulsively readable book, dozens of celebrities reminisce about their experiences performing and partying at the Plaza and they all agree on one thing: there's never been anyplace like it.

Carolyn Griffin has announced that MetroStage will be presenting the premiere of a new musical, Josephine Tonight, with book and lyrics by Sherman Yellen, and music by Wally Harper, Jan. 26-Mar. 18, 2012.

Geva Theatre Center's 2011-2012 Season continues with Lorraine Hansberry's classic play, A Raisin in the Sun, which begins performances on February 21 and runs in the Elaine P. Wilson Mainstage through March 25.

In Reboot!, Peg McCormick makes her Duplex Cabaret Theatre debut dealing with the many reasons, consequences and benefits that lead us to start over, begin again, erase, rewind, or reboot our lives.

Today in 1931, Broadway veteran James Earl Jones was born. He has won Tony awards in 1969 for The Great White Hope and in 1987 for Fences. He has acted in many Shakespearean roles: Othello, King Lear, Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Abhorson in Measure for Measure, and Claudius in Hamlet. On April 7, 2005, James Earl Jones and Leslie Uggams headed the cast in an African-American Broadway revival version of On Golden Pond, directed by Leonard Foglia and produced by Jeffrey Finn. In February 2008, he starred on Broadway as Big Daddy in a limited-run, all-African-American production of Tennessee Williams's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, directed by Debbie Allen and mounted at the Broadhurst Theatre. In October 2010, Jones returned to the Broadway stage in Alfred Uhry's Driving Miss Daisy along with Vanessa Redgrave at the Golden Theatre. In November 2011, Jones starred in Driving Miss Daisy in London's West End, and on November 12 Jones received his honorary Oscar in front of the audience at the Wyndham's Theatre, which was presented to him by Ben Kingsley.

Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress, singer, and recording artist Leslie Uggams will appear on "Oprah and the Legendary Cast of 'Roots' 35 Years Later," an anniversary special to air on Monday, January 16 (Martin Luther King Day) at 8 p.m.

Amas Musical Theatre will celebrate its 43rd Year with a Gala evening on Monday, April 2th, featuring a special concert by Tony-Winner, Lillias White. The Amas Benefit Event honors the iconic restaurateur, author and transcultural lifestyle pioneer B. Smith with the "Rosie Award." The event takes place at the Baruch Performing Arts Center, East 25th Street between Lexington and 3rd Avenues, at 7pm.

Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress, singer, and recording artist Leslie Uggams will appear on "Oprah and the Legendary Cast of 'Roots' 35 Years Later," an anniversary special to air on Monday, January 16 (Martin Luther King Day) at 8 p.m.

Shake, Rattle & Roll, the new 1950's style musical revue swizzles into Florida Studio Theatre's (FST) Goldstein Cabaret Theatre (1241 N. Palm Avenue) on Wednesday, January 4 at 7:30pm.

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network announces an OWN special event, OPRAH AND THE LEGENDARY CAST OF 'ROOTS' 35 YEARS LATER. The special will air on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Monday, January 16 (8-9 p.m. ET/PT).

Shake, Rattle & Roll, the new 1950's style musical revue swizzles into Florida Studio Theatre's (FST) Goldstein Cabaret Theatre (1241 N. Palm Avenue) on Wednesday, January 4 at 7:30pm.

Sunday, January 29 at 2:00pm at the Brooklyn Museum, the Brooklyn Philharmonic will present violinist Deborah Buck-concertmaster of the Brooklyn Phil since 2007-in recital with pianist Molly Morkoski.

Lincoln Center's American Songbook Week Two runs January 18-21, 2012 at The Allen Room, at Frederick P. Rose Hall, located at Broadway at 60th Street.

Looking for a quick roundup of this week's events? Look no further - here are some of the best articles the week had to offer!

One of our favorite sketches was the cast of FOLLIES, featuring Jan Maxwell, Elaine Paige, Terri White and company 'welcoming' EVITA starring Ricky Martin and Elena Roger to Broadway (and to the Marquis Theater, currently home to FOLLIES). Click below to watch the complete and hilarious performance including Elaine Paige finally showing a little of her EVITA on Broadway!

Check out performances by 17 of the hottest Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, a 40-year reunion of the original Broadway cast of Grease, a tribute to national touring companies and appearances by more than 300 actors, singers and dancers. Broadway Beat has got all the highlights of the special event!