Leslie Uggams News

In celebration of Pasadena Playhouse upcoming production of CROWNS, which opens on July 12, the Community Outreach Program invites the community to enjoy two candid and lively CONVERSATION WITH...events with acclaimed artist/author Synthia SAINT JAMES on June 14 and playwright/actress Regina Taylor on June 20.

I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, the laugh-inducing, award-winning musical comedy about love in the suburbs, is often described as 'Seinfeld set to music'. It's a hilarious look at love and relationships that is as touching and insightful as it is humorous.

In this Dallas version of Terrence McNally?s award winning play, both leads are African-American. When the play first opened on Broadway in June 1987 at the Manhattan Theater Club, it starred white actors Kathy Bates and Kenneth Welsh. A revival of the play featured popular actors Edie Falco and Stanley Tucci, both of Italian heritage, with the roles subsequently filled by actors Rosie Perez and Joe Pantoliano, both of Latin ancestry.

A Broadway revival of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart's BABES IN ARMS is in the works, according to Variety. The production will be directed and choreographed by Randy Skinner (recently Tony nominated Choreographer of 'Irving Berlin's White Christmas') and will utilize a new book by Joe DiPietro ('I Love You, You're Perfect...Now Change!', 'The Toxic Avenger' and 'Memphis'). The production will star Rosie O'Donnell.

In celebration of Pasadena Playhouse upcoming production of CROWNS, which opens on July 12, the Community Outreach Program invites the community to enjoy two candid and lively CONVERSATION WITH...events with acclaimed artist/author Synthia SAINT JAMES on June 14 and playwright/actress Regina Taylor on June 20.

BroadwayWorld Congratulates Peter Darling, 2009 Tony Award Winner, 'Best Choreography'

Following a critically acclaimed season which included the Pulitzer Prize finalist Becky Shaw and the Broadway transfer of its musical hit Next to Normal, Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) has announced three of the four plays scheduled for its upcoming 31st Season.

BroadwayWorld Presents The 2009 Tony Award Nominees: 'Best Choreography'

Point Foundation (Point), the nation's largest scholarship-granting organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students of merit, honored the recipients of its Courage, Inspiration and Legend Awards earlier this week.

Broadway star Lee Roy Reams received The Friars Club Thespian Award while honored by friends and colleagues in a star-studded musical tribute on Monday, April 20th at 8:30PM at The Friars Club (57 East 55th St). BroadwayWorld.com was there to cheer the theatre favorite on as he was joined by the starry crowd!

Point Foundation (Point), the nation's largest scholarship-granting organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students of merit, today announced the recipients of its Courage, Inspiration and Legend Awards.

Country music star, CMA Winner, ACM Winner and four-time Grammy Nominee Joe Nichols has been offered the role made famous by George Strait in the Broadway production of the hit movie, Pure Country. According to producer Randall L. Wreghitt, the musical is in the process of securing the remainder of its financing and casting, and plans to open in early 2010.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) will launch its 31st season this fall with the New York premiere of Anna Deavere Smith's LET ME DOWN EASY. Conceived, written, and performed by Ms. Smith and directed by Leonard Foglia, LET ME DOWN EASY will begin preview performances on Tuesday, September 15 and will officially open in early October.

Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff, Producing Artistic Director; Rosetta LeNoire, Founder), celebrated its 40th Anniversary with a Gala evening on Monday, March 30th featuring a special 'Blast from the Past' concert of songs and numbers from four decades of Amas Musicals, including Bubbling Brown Sugar, It's So Nice to Be Civilized, Zanna Don't!, SHOUT! The Mod Musical, Four Guys Named Jose, Stormy Weather, Langston Hughes's Little Ham, From My Hometown, Lone Star Love, and Wanda's World, among others.

New York: Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff, Producing Artistic Director; Rosetta LeNoire, Founder), will celebrate its 40th Anniversary with a Benefit Gala on Monday, March 30th, 2009. The evening will feature a special 'Blast from the Past' concert of songs and numbers from four decades of Amas Musicals, including Bubbling Brown Sugar, Zanna Don't!, Barrio Babies, Bobos, SHOUT! The Mod Musical, Four Guys Named Jose, Latin Heat, Starmites, Langston Hughes's Little Ham, From My Hometown, Lone Star Love, and Wanda's World. The director and choreographer for the evening is Amas Artist-in-Residence Maria Torres, with musical direction by Doug Oberhamer. The event will take place at the Lighthouse International, 111 East 59th Street, at 7pm.

Stephen Sondheim's Tony Award-winning waltz musical A Little Night Music returns to Michigan Opera Theatre for the first time in over 25 years, and the fall 2009 production will represent the first time since 1992 that Michigan Opera Theatre has presented a musical as part of the main stage opera season. Tony Award winner Leslie Uggams and Broadway and television star Ron Raines have been announced to star as Desiree Armfeldt and Frederik Egerman in the production, set to run November 14-21. No other casting has been announced at this time.

Signature Theatre Company celebrated the Opening Night performance of Charles Fuller's ZOOMAN AND THE SIGN on Tuesday March 24th, the play is the final production of Signature Theatre Company's (James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director) 2008-2009 season celebrating the historic Negro Ensemble Company (NEC). BroadwayWorld's cameras were there to celebrate to opening of the production!

The award-winning York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) is thrilled to announce casting for two forthcoming presentations in their Developmental Reading Series. As always, these readings are open to the general public and admission is free, but reservations are suggested, and can be obtained by e-mailing series coordinator Jeff Landsman at jlandsman@yorktheatre.org or calling 212-935-5824 x24. Upcoming readings include:

Pasadena Playhouse (Artistic Director, Sheldon Epps; Interim Managing Director, Ken Novice; Producing Director, Tom Ware) today announced that upon closing night on March 8, 2009 Stormy Weather starring Leslie Uggams as Lena Horne has surpassed SISTER ACT the Musical as the top selling production in both dollars and tickets (SISTER ACT the Musical bows at the London Palladium on June 2, 2009).

New York: Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff, Producing Artistic Director; Rosetta LeNoire, Founder), will celebrate its 40th Anniversary with a Benefit Gala on Monday, March 30th, 2009. The evening will feature a special 'Blast from the Past' concert of songs and numbers from four decades of Amas Musicals, including Bubbling Brown Sugar, Zanna Don't!, Barrio Babies, Bobos, SHOUT! The Mod Musical, Four Guys Named Jose, Latin Heat, Starmites, Langston Hughes's Little Ham, From My Hometown, Lone Star Love, and Wanda's World. The director and choreographer for the evening is Amas Artist-in-Residence Maria Torres, with musical direction by Doug Oberhamer. The event will take place at the Lighthouse International, 111 East 59th Street, at 7pm.