Leslie Uggams News

During her show this week at The Winery at St. George in Mohegan Lake, NY, Andrea McArdle welcomed former ANNIE cast mate and original replacement for the titular role, Shelley Bruce, onstage for a duet of the first act ballad, 'Maybe'.

The Old Globe today announced the cast and creative team of the West Coast premiere of OCTOBER SKY, which will blast off the Globe's 2016-2017 Season with a tale of boys, rockets, and big dreams.

Virginia Repertory Theatre's DREAMGIRLS opened June 24 at the Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre, 114 West Broad Street. The production runs through August 7, 2016. With music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and book byTom Eyen, this megawatt Broadway crowd-pleaser electrifies the stage with Motown dreams and powerhouse voices. Loosely based on Diana Ross and the Supremes, the story follows the turbo-charged rise to fame of the Dreams. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Woodie King Jr.'s New Federal Theatre (NFT) held a festive Gala Benefit on Sunday, June 26 from 2:00 to 5:30 PM at Trump Place, 220 Riverside Boulevard (enter West 70th Street) honoring Novella Nelson and Melvin Van Peebles, two of many actors and directors who have worked at NFT over the theatre's 46 year history. Mr. Van Peebles was introduced by Academy Award winner Estelle Parsons. Ms. Nelson was introduced by former Mayor David Dinkins. Scroll down for photos from the event!

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) has named Michael Bradford the new Artistic Director beginning in August. Bradford will succeed Vincent J. Cardinal, who is departing at the conclusion of the Nutmeg Summer Series to become the The Arthur and Martha Hearron Endowed Professor of Musical Theatre, Chair of the Department of Musical Theatre and Professor of Music, School of Music Theatre and Dance at the University of Michigan. Bradford will also serve as the Department Head of Dramatic Arts at UConn.

Hailed as one of Time Out New York's Top 10 Cabaret Artists (2013), belter and bad decision maker Tori Scott returns to Joe's Pub at The Public just in time for Gay Pride with her solo show, MAKING AMERICA GAY AGAIN! -- a shameless journey that celebrates stiff drinks, bad decisions and the gays that enable her -- tonight, June 25th, at 9:30pm.

Hailed as one of Time Out New York's Top 10 Cabaret Artists (2013), belter and bad decision maker Tori Scott returns to Joe's Pub at The Public just in time for Gay Pride with her solo show, MAKING AMERICA GAY AGAIN! -- a shameless journey that celebrates stiff drinks, bad decisions and the gays that enable her -- on June 25th at 9:30pm.

3-D Theatricals, Orange County's most distinguished regional musical theatre production company, presents the Tony Award-winning spectacular HELLO, DOLLY! starring Valerie Perri as Mrs. Dolly Gallagher Levi. Previewing July 15, with its official opening July 16 at Fullerton's historic Plummer Auditorium and continuing there through July 31, the Fullerton run is followed by a second opening at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center where it will preview August 5, and officially open August 6, 2016.

After any given performance of Bright Star, we typically have between 20-40 people waiting at the stage door for autographs. It's interesting to observe how differently the people in our cast (and casts everywhere) deal with greeting fans at the stage door. Over the years, I've isolated a few categories:

Himself and Nora, a new musical with book, music, and lyrics by Jonathan Brielleis currently in previews at the Minetta Lane Theatre. Directed by Michael Bush, produced by Cherie King and executive produced by R. Erin Craig, Himself and Nora officially opened last night, June 6th. Check out photos from the red carpet arrivals below!

Virginia Repertory Theatre announces the opening of Dreamgirls on June 24 at the Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre, 114 West Broad Street. The production runs through August 7, 2016. With music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by Tom Eyen, this megawatt Broadway crowd-pleaser electrifies the stage with Motown dreams and powerhouse voices. Loosely based on Diana Ross and the Supremes, the story follows the turbo-charged rise to fame of the Dreams.

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) has announced that Vincent J. Cardinal, Connecticut Repertory Theatre Artistic Director and Head of the Department of Dramatic Arts at the University of Connecticut will step down from his position at the end of July. Cardinal, who is departing at the conclusion of the popular 2016 Nutmeg Summer Series, will become the Arthur and Martha Hearron Endowed Professor of Musical Theatre, Chair of the Department of Musical Theatre and Professor of Music, School of Music Theatre and Dance at the University of Michigan.

The Ogunquit Playhouse sets sail with the delightful, Tony Award-winning Anything Goes June 15 to July 9. This splendid madcap musical comedy stars Broadway's Andrea McArdle as Reno Sweeney and features two-time Emmy Award winner Sally Struthers as Evangeline Harcourt. The pair are currently leading ANYTHING GOES at Gateway Performing Arts Center.

Wayne Abravanel will bring is acclaimed one-man cabaret concert, "My Life On Broadway" to the Arthur Newman Theatre in Palm Desert on Sunday, June 19, 2016 at 2 PM. Tickets are $11 cash only, and it is presented by Les Michael's Sundays In Summer Cabaret Series.

Rashad wins for playing the same role as the first black woman nominated, Claudia McNeil.

Before playing the ultimate nervous bride in COMPANY, Howland was an ensemble member of several Broadway musicals.

Happy Birthday Leslie Uggams! Uggams starred in Hallelujah, Baby!, which premiered on Broadway in 1967, and won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a musical. She appeared on Broadway in the revue Blues in the Night in 1982 and in the musical revue of the works of Jerry Herman, Jerry's Girls in 1985. Later Broadway roles include Muzzy in Thoroughly Modern Millie (2003 - 2004) and Ethel Thayer in On Golden Pond at the Kennedy Center in 2004 and on Broadway at the Cort Theatre in 2005. In 2001 she appeared in the August Wilson play King Hedley II, receiving a nomination for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play.

Richard Skipper is introducing a new show that encourages all to seize the day and celebrate each and every day and all the gems that each day holds. The series kicks off tonight, May 25th at The Triad Theatre (158 W 72nd St, New York, NY 10023) at 8 p.m.

Randy Skinner is a tap dancing master and his resume is proof of it. The four-time Tony nominee just earned a nod for his work on DAMES AT SEA (Best Choreography) and he is just as happy about it as he was the first time!

Musical Theatre Guild, the winner of the Los Angeles Drama Critic's Circle Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence in the theatre, has announced an exciting quartet of shows to celebrate its twenty-first season of Broadway in Concert musicals.  The MTG 2016-2017 season includes: PROMISES, PROMISES; THE SPITFIRE GRILL; HALLELUJAH, BABY! and STATE FAIR.