Loretta Devine News

Get ready New York! Georgia Chamberlin - and her quirky best friend, Jo - are taking the city by storm in 'State of Georgia,' an all-new original comedy premiering Wednesday, June 29 at 8:30PM ET/PT on ABC Family.

Josepel Productions is proud to announce that their smash-hit (a year and counting!), critically-acclaimed, world premiere production of NEW EYES, written by Yafit Josephson and Suzanne Bressler, directed by Sammie Wayne, produced by Eliad Josephson and starring Yafit Josephson is EXTENDING AGAIN AND MOVING TO THE WESTSIDE, and will OPEN on Sunday, July 10 and perform through August 14 at the OdysseyTheatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd. in West Los Angeles.

As we inch closer and closer to the Broadway's biggest night on Sunday, today we have the choreographic centerpiece of our extensive Tony Award countdown with a focus on the genius of Michael Bennett. While we have already featured his shows COMPANY, FOLLIES, A CHORUS LINE and DREAMGIRLS - and even took a look at the recent smash hit revival of PROMISES, PROMISES starring Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenoweth - today's triple dose of clips (with a few surprises) is undoubtedly as close as one can get to theatrical crack cocaine: "Turkey Lurkey Time" from the original Broadway production of PROMISES, PROMISES, "Fifty Percent" from BALLROOM performed by Dorothy Loudon and - one of the most elaborate numbers in Tony Awards history - "Always Mademoiselle" from COCO starring Katharine Hepburn. So, see some of the reasons why these are the best of the best of Bennett and, therefore, the best of the best of Broadway right here!

Before the presentation of the first of the final 7 of our Tony Awards clips beginning tomorrow, today we have one of the true standouts of Tony Awards lore, and one of those clips to show the theatrically uninitiated who ask you, "What are the Tony Awards anyway?" Well, honey, this is the Tony Awards. Furthermore, this is the Tony Awards at their very best - and most moving and most theatrical - DREAMGIRLS. Here is the Michael Bennett-directed original cast in a medley specifically devised by Bennett for the Tony Awards telecast - just as he had done for the sequences from A CHORUS LINE featured on the 1976 Tony Awards, choreographing the camera shots and cuts to, and on, the quick - and the original Broadway cast led by that year's Tony-winners Jennifer Holliday and Sheryl Lee Ralph alongside Loretta Devine and Obba Babatunde. There had never been a score or a show quite like DREAMGIRLS on Broadway before and there has not been one yet since - unless the blatant homages in last year's Best Musical MEMPHIS somehow count as soul and originality. This is soul. This is originality. This is genius. And, this is the Tony Awards at their utmost best.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & UPRIGHT CABARET are thrilled to announce the performers for its fourth show of their season, COWBOYS & ANGELS, starring Tony Award-nominee and T.V. star VALARIE PETTIFORD (Film: "Jumping The Broom," TV: UPN's "Half & Half," "Criminal Minds," Broadway: Fosse, Chicago), KARISSA NOEL and DANIEL TATAR (Life Could Be A Dream, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), performing the music of Patsy Cline, Garth Brooks and Loretta Lynn, performing such memorable songs as "Crazy," "I Fall To Pieces," "Friends In Low Places," "If Tomorrow Never Comes," "Coal Miner's Daughter," and more - as well as their own selections, under the musical direction of Gerald Sternbach, in a one night only concert - COWBOYS AND ANGELS which will perform on Sunday, June 5, 2011 at 7:30PM at the NEW Cabaret Lounge at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd. in La Mirada.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & UPRIGHT CABARET are thrilled to announce the performers for its fourth show of their season, COWBOYS & ANGELS, starring Tony Award-nominee and T.V. star VALARIE PETTIFORD (Film: "Jumping The Broom," TV: UPN's "Half & Half," "Criminal Minds," Broadway: Fosse, Chicago), KARISSA NOEL and DANIEL TATAR (Life Could Be A Dream, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), performing the music of Patsy Cline, Garth Brooks and Loretta Lynn, performing such memorable songs as "Crazy," "I Fall To Pieces," "Friends In Low Places," "If Tomorrow Never Comes," "Coal Miner's Daughter," and more - as well as their own selections, under the musical direction of Gerald Sternbach, in a one night only concert - COWBOYS AND ANGELS which will perform on Sunday, June 5, 2011 at 7:30PM at the NEW Cabaret Lounge at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd. in La Mirada.

Get ready New York! Georgia Chamberlin - and her quirky best friend, Jo - are taking the city by storm in 'State of Georgia,' an all-new original comedy premiering Wednesday, June 29 at 8:30PM ET/PT on ABC Family.

Talk show listings for Monday, May 2

Talk show listings for Monday, May 2

Josepel Productions is proud to announce that their smash-hit (nine months and counting!), critically-acclaimed, world premiere production of NEW EYES, written by Yafit Josephson and Suzanne Bressler, directed by Sammie Wayne, produced by Eliad Josephson and starring Yafit Josephson is EXTENDING AGAIN, and will continue through Sunday, June 26 at the Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks.

Josepel Productions is proud to announce that their smash-hit, critically-acclaimed, world premiere production of NEW EYES, written by Yafit Josephson and Suzanne Bressler, directed by Sammie Wayne, produced by Eliad Josephson and starring Yafit Josephson is EXTENDING through Saturday, March 12 at the Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks.

Angela Bassett, Roslyn M. Brock, Loretta Devine, Jason Derlo, Kat Graham, Dul Hill, Anthony Mackie, Judge Greg Mathis, Tia and Tamera Mowry, Sandra Oh, Russell Peters and Anika Noni Rose Among Celebrities Scheduled to Appear on Star-Studded Special

Photos from The Essences Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon held at Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, California on February 24th, 2011.

The Great White Way seems to be buzzing lately with rumors about potential recreations of iconic characters that include that of Streisand mounting Merman's GYPSY, LuPone channeling Channing's DOLLY, and the as yet to be announced contender for Lansbury's MAME. While other's are talking the talk about these legendary characters, Rita McKenzie is walking the walk as her highly promoted 'Pre-Broadway Engagement' of ETHEL MERMAN's BROADWAY opened this weekend in Los Angeles at the historic El Portal Theatre.

Broadway-bound comedian Kathy Griffin and Loretta DeVine are the latest ladies to guest star on Fox's hit musical comedy GLEE. The stars will play Tammy Jean and Sister Mary Constance respectively- both of which will be judges for the glee club regionals.

10x10 Entertainment is thrilled to announce that their critically-acclaimed (LA Weekly GO!, Backstage CRITIC'S PICK!), smash-hit, world premiere production of MACHO LIKE ME, written by and starring Helie Lee, directed by Sammie Wayne and produced by Ken Mok is EXTENDING its run at a new theatre! MACHO LIKE ME will re-open on Friday, February 18 and run through Saturday March 12 at the MATRIX THEATRE, 7657 Melrose Ave. in West Hollywood!

Josepel Productions is proud to present a world premiere play, NEW EYES, written by Yafit Josephson and Suzanne Bressler, directed by Sammie Wayne, produced by Eliad Josephson and starring Yafit Josephson. NEW EYES will close Sunday, February 13 at the Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks.

Broadway vet Loretta Devine will return to to the ABC drama Grey's Anatomy in the role of Adele Webber for five episodes, beginning on February 17, according to EW.com.

Josepel Productions is proud to announce that their smash-hit, critically-acclaimed, world premiere production of NEW EYES, written by Yafit Josephson and Suzanne Bressler, directed by Sammie Wayne, produced by Eliad Josephson and starring Yafit Josephson is EXTENDING through Saturday, March 12 at the Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks.

Having appeared on Broadway in FOOTLOOSE, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF co-starring James Earl Jones and Phylicia Rashad, and snagging a Tony Award for her work on Jeanine Tesori and Tony Kushner's CAROLINE, OR CHANGE, Anika Noni Rose cites the stage as her first love.