Leslie Uggams News

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 winner Leslie Uggams has replaced Faith Prince for the performance of 4 Girls 4 at the State Theatre in Easton on Friday, April 4. The announcement was made by the show's producer. Uggams will appear with Andrea McArdle, Maureen McGovern and Donna McKechnie. John McDaniel is the Music Director.

The book launch for Nothing Like a Dame: Conversations with the Great Women of Musical Theater, a new book by Eddie Shapiro featuring interviews with 20 female musical theatre stars, will take place January 27, 2014 from 6-8 pm at the headquarters of Oxford University Press at 198 Madison Avenue.

Stars from Mike Tyson, Phylicia Rashad and Alicia Keys to Spike Lee, Danny Glover and Ruby Dee show their love for New York City's acclaimed New Federal Theatre by voicing personalized Valentine's Day messages for fans in this fun, fund-raiser. The "Love for New Federal Theatre" personalized celebrity messages are a $249 donation to the New Federal Theatre and can be purchased from January 12- February 5, 2014 through the website at www.lovefornewfederaltheatre.com.

Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress, singer, and recording artist Leslie Uggams (Roots, King Headley II, Hallelujah, Baby!) is ringing in the holidays with the release of a new single 'Wishing You a Happy New Year' written by renowned film, television, and concert composer-orchestrator Curtis McKonly. Available online at iTunes, Amazon.com, CD Baby and other major digital music outlets, this elegant new tune features the 41-piece Curtis McKonly Orchestra. Click below to watch a behind-the-scenes video of Uggams in the recording studio!

Last night, December 19, Town Hall overflowed with the musical joys of the season when three extraordinary talents, Leslie Uggams, Marilyn Maye and Christine Andreas took the stage for Holiday Belles. These award-winning singers brought their unique and diverse talents to the celebration, performing songs from the musical theater and the American Songbook, as well as holiday favorites. The concert, conceived and directed by Michael Bush, featured each singer performing her own individual set, and then brought them together for a very merry finale of holiday melodies. Check out photos from the concert below!

A stirring new single and promotional music video for 'Wishing You A Happy New Year' by legendary stage and screen star Leslie Uggams are now available to sample and download, just in time for the holidays.

Artful Events, parent company of Orlando's downtown venues The Abbey and The MEZZ, announces the creation of the Downtown Broadway Cabaret Series, and the addition of two more amazing performers to the series.

A VIP screening of the new American Masters documentary, Marvin Hamlisch: What He Did For Love is set for The Paley Center for Media today, December 9th at 6:15 PM. The new documentary is the American Masters series' Season 27 finale, premiering nationally Friday, December 27, 2013, 9-10:30 p.m. on PBS (check local listings) and available on DVD January 14, 2014 via PBS Distribution.

Join The Philhallmonics swingin' and singin' their way through holiday favorites in 'Man With The Bag' presented by The Lincoln Center Library for the Performing Arts and The PhilHallmonics (www.philhallmonics.com) today, December 7, 2013, 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. at the Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center (entrance at 65th St & Amsterdam). The PhilHallmonics is led by founder, Broadway conductor and composer, Phil Hall and directed by Broadway choreographer Sharon Halley.

The 'American Masters' documentary 'Marvin Hamlisch: What He Did For Love' premieres Dec. 27 on PBS. Below, watch three new film extras, featuring interviews with Leslie Uggams, Christopher Walken, Raul Esparza, Kelli O'Hara, Kevin Cole and more!

A VIP screening of the new American Masters documentary, Marvin Hamlisch: What He Did For Love is set for The Paley Center for Media on Monday, December 9th at 6:15 PM. The new documentary is the American Masters series' Season 27 finale, premiering nationally Friday, December 27, 2013, 9-10:30 p.m. on PBS (check local listings) and available on DVD January 14, 2014 via PBS Distribution.

Urban Stages, in association with producer/director/lyricist Peter Napolitano have announced additions to WINTER RHYTHMS 2013 performer line-up now running throughSunday, December 15, 2013 at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street). Tickets are $30 per show (unless otherwise noted).Tickets may be purchased on www.smarttix.com or 212 868-4444.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:

It may not be like getting a gift on every one of the 12 Days of Christmas, but for cabaret and musical theater lovers, the 5th Annual Urban Stages Winter Rhythms series--presented over a dozen nights at the not-for-profit Off-Broadway theatre on 259 West 30th Street--could be the closest thing to opening a daily present by the tree. From December 3-15, dozens of singers and musicians will perform in an eclectic mix of a dozen shows plus late night and matinee 'extras,' with all the proceeds from ticket sales dedicated to the Urban Stages 'On Tour Outreach Program that brings more than 200 free multicultural theater and music programs to elementary and middle school age children and their families in libraries and schools throughout NYC five boroughs. Three years ago, Urban Stages Artistic Director Frances Hill brought in MAC and Bistro award-winning director, lyricist and producer Peter Napolitano to produce the Winter Rhythms program and broaden its scope.BroadwayWorld.com Cabaret Columnist Stephen Hanks recently caught up with the Sol Hurok of Urban Stages to learn how Napolitano has helped Winter Rhythms evolve and to get some insights into this year's program.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:

Signature Theatre presents the New York Premiere of August Wilson's How I Learned What I Learned, co-conceived with and directed by Todd Kreidler, in collaboration with and featuring Tony Award-winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson. The show opened last night, November 24 in The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues), and BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the big opening below!

Join The Philhallmonics swingin' and singin' their way through holiday favorites in "Man With The Bag" presented by The Lincoln Center Library for the Performing Arts and The PhilHallmonics (www.philhallmonics.com) on Saturday, December 7, 2013, 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. at the Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center (entrance at 65th St & Amsterdam). The PhilHallmonics is led by founder, Broadway conductor and composer, Phil Hall and directed by Broadway choreographer Sharon Halley.

Legendary Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress, singer, and recording artist Leslie Uggams takes part in the First Grade Theatre Study program at P.S. 212 (Midtown West School at 328 W 48th Street) today, Monday, November 18 at 1 p.m. The Study, part of the school's social studies curriculum, was started by Kindergarten/First Grade Teacher BRyan Andes as a way to introduce students to the bustling theater community in which they live.

As BroadwayWorld.com continues to celebrate the site's landmark 10th anniversary, with a variety of special features, today we're turning our spotlight on the wonderful photography of Linda Lenzi.