Leslie Uggams News

Signature Theatre Company's (James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director) announced today that their production of THE FIRST BREEZE OF SUMMER has been extended by popular demand one week from Sunday, September 28th to Sunday, October 5th. THE FIRST BREEZE OF SUMMER, by Leslie Lee and directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, is the first production of the 2008-2009 season celebrating the historic Negro Ensemble Company (NEC). The show began performances on August 5th and opened August 21st at the Peter Norton Space located at 555 West 42nd Street (between 10th and 11th Avenues).

THE FIRST BREEZE OF SUMMER, the first 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), will begin previews tomorrow, August 5th. THE FIRST BREEZE OF SUMMER, by Leslie Lee and directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, officially opens on Thursday, August 21st and continues through September 28th at the Peter Norton Space located at 555 West 42nd Street (between 10th and 11th Avenues).

THE FIRST BREEZE OF SUMMER, the first 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), will begin previews tomorrow, August 5th. THE FIRST BREEZE OF SUMMER, by Leslie Lee and directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, officially opens on Thursday, August 21st and continues through September 28th at the Peter Norton Space located at 555 West 42nd Street (between 10th and 11th Avenues).

Yaya Dacosta is a formidable young actress who is making her mark in film with stand out performances in Take the Lead with Antonio Banderas and Honeydripper where she co-starred along with Danny Glover and Charles S. Dutton. On television she was last seen in a breakout performance in the Lifetime motion picture Racing for Time, as well as a recent featured role on All My Children. Fans of America's Next Top Model will remember her as a favorite contestant in the popular series third season. In the Signature Theatre Company's The First Breeze Of Summer, Miss Dacosta essays the pivotal role of 'Lucretia'. BroadwayWorld.com spoke with Yaya about winning the emotional role and bringing the powerful drama to life on stage.

THE FIRST BREEZE OF SUMMER, the first production of Signature Theatre Company's 2008-2009 season celebrating the historic Negro Ensemble Company (NEC), will begin previews today, August 5th.

THE FIRST BREEZE OF SUMMER, the first 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), will begin previews tomorrow, August 5th. THE FIRST BREEZE OF SUMMER, by Leslie Lee and directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, officially opens on Thursday, August 21st and continues through September 28th at the Peter Norton Space located at 555 West 42nd Street (between 10th and 11th Avenues).

Following acclaimed engagements in San Francisco, Boston, Detroit, Toronto, Los Angeles and St. Paul, IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS, a new stage adaptation of the beloved classic film, will arrive at the Marquis Theatre on Broadway this holiday season - guaranteeing that New York will have a white Christmas! The production is directed by Walter Bobbie with a book by David Ives and choreography by Randy Skinner.

Signature Theatre Company is proud to announce full casting for THE FIRST BREEZE OF SUMMER, the first production of Signature's 2008-2009 season celebrating the historic Negro Ensemble Company (NEC).

Signature Theatre Company is proud to announce that Tony® and Emmy® Award winner Leslie Uggams will appear in 'The First Breeze of Summer.'

The American Theatre Wing's annual Spring Gala honoring legendary composer/lyricist Jerry Herman and corporate partner, Visa Inc., for their innovative and artistic accomplishments to the theatre took place on May 19.

The Tony winner headlines a retrospective in song and film of Gershwin's partnership with Kay Swift.

American Theatre Wing has Spring Gala honoring Jerry Herman on May 19th.

The Actors' Fund presented their annual gala at Cipriani's 42nd Street with Megan Mullally (Young Frankenstein) as host.

Curt Columbus' new musical is perfectly entertaining and packs an unexpected emotional punch.

'Thurgood,' starring Lawrence Fishburne, opened on April 30th at the Booth Theatre.

Casting announced for workshop of Broadway bound musical 'Pure Country.'

THE CONTEST HAS CONCLUDED! THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED!

Producers Randall L. Wreghitt, Chris Presley and Ellen Rusconi announced today that PURE COUNTRY, a brand-new original musical, will have its World Premiere as part of the 2008-2009 Broadway Season.

Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff, Producing Artistic Director; Rosetta LeNoire, Founder), will celebrate its 39th year with a Gala evening on Monday, March 31st featuring a special 'Blast from the Past' concert performance of Mama, I Want to Sing, a star-studded concert of the gospel, pop, and rhythm and blues hit musical that began at Amas in the early nineteen eighties.

The ever lovely Leslie Uggams won her Tony Award in 1969 for the Julie Styne-Comden and Green and Arthur Laurent's musical Hallelujah Baby! Here she talks about the show and how it was ahead of its time.