Paul Tazewell News

Today, Michael Riedel reports in the New York Post that the show will then head to Broadway this Spring, playing the Neil Simon Theatre.

The 2010 Tony Award-winning Best Musical MEMPHIS announced casting today for the U.S. national tour of the critically acclaimed production. The national tour of MEMPHIS will star Bryan Fenkart (Huey) and Felicia Boswell (Felicia) with Quentin Earl Darrington (Delray), Rhett George (Gator), Julie Johnson (Mama), Will Mann (Bobby), and William Parry (Mr. Simmons).

Stratford Shakespeare Festival's new production of Jesus Christ Superstar opened at The Avon Theatre on Friday June 3rd to outstanding reviews with audiences and critics alike raving about this magnificent new take on the now four decade old show. Directed by Des McAnuff, the show tells the story of the last week of Christ's life. Since the show's opened, there has been a flood of theatre insiders travelling to Toronto to see the show to discuss moving it to Broadway.

MEMPHIS, the most anticipated musical production of the 2011-2012 Broadway Season and the winner of four 2010 Tony Awards including Best Musical will launch its international tour at The Orpheum Theatre on October 14-23, 2011.

La Jolla Playhouse has announced that the acclaimed Stratford Shakespeare Festival production of the musical Jesus Christ Superstar, lyrics by Tim Rice, music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, directed by Playhouse Director Emeritus and Stratford Shakespeare Festival Artistic Director Des McAnuff, will replace the previously-announced musical Finding Neverland. This thrilling revival will run in the Mandell Weiss Theatre November 18 - December 31, 2011.

While critics and fans alike justifiably lament the paucity of female leads in Broadway musicals this season just past, you need look no further than the current tour of The Color Purple for a musical filled to overflowing with noteworthy women characters. The beautiful and moving reimagination of Alice Walker's extraordinary novel of faith, despair, horror, beauty, love and redemption, The Color Purple might best be described as a woman's story, but it is, in every possible way, a human story as universal and as affecting as any work of musical theater ever created.

The Musical about Love, THE COLOR PURPLE will play the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, Tuesday, June 21 through Sunday, June 26 for eight performances.

The Theater of the Stars is proud to announce that THE COLOR PURPLE, The Musical about Love, will play at Atlanta's Fox Theatre Wednesday, June 15 through Sunday, June 19 for seven performances only. Tickets, which range from $20 to $75, are available at www.theaterofthestars.com.

The Musical about Love, THE COLOR PURPLE will play the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, Tuesday, June 21 through Sunday, June 26 for eight performances.

Broadway's LOMBARDI will play its final performance on Sunday May 22. Here's a look back at scenes from the production which opened on October 21 and will have played a total of 30 previews and 244 regular performances.

Broadway's LOMBARDI will play its final performance on Sunday May 22.

Every Tony Needs a Tina! BestofOffBroadway.com announced the first annual Tina Award nominations today, honoring the top Off-Broadway productions of the 2010-2011 season.

White Noise, the provocative and powerhouse new musical produced by Whoopi Goldberg playing at The Royal George, will host a first time event from the theatrical stage - a live broadcast concert - today, May 11 at 3:00pm CST (4pm EST) featuring cast commentary and six musical numbers from the show, including the show-stopping 'Mondays Suck,' 'Hip Hop Country,' pop/hip hop tuners 'Welcome to Eden,' 'Life, Liberty & Happiness,' and 'W.T.F.', and the newly added romantic ballad 'Fireworks.' Theatre-lovers and music-aficionados can screen the event at www.whitenoisemusical.com/live or right HERE on BroadwayWorld! This live event is provided in conjunction with Ustream, the world's largest live streaming broadcaster that receives over 60 million unique visitors/month.

White Noise, the provocative and powerhouse new musical produced by Whoopi Goldberg playing at The Royal George, announces a first time event from the theatrical stage----a live broadcast concert on Wednesday, May 11 at 3:00pm (CST) featuring cast commentary and six musical numbers from the show, including the show-stopping "Mondays Suck," "Hip Hop Country," pop/hip hop tuners "Welcome to Eden," "Life, Liberty & Happiness," and "W.T.F.", and the newly added romantic ballad "Fireworks."

Called 'The biggest hit on Broadway' by WOR Radio the 2010 Tony Award-winning Best Musical MEMPHIS announced today dates and cities for the U.S. national tour of the critically acclaimed production.

White Noise, the provocative and powerhouse new musical produced by Whoopi Goldberg playing at The Royal George, announces a first time event from the theatrical stage----a live broadcast concert on Wednesday, May 11 at 3:00pm (CST) featuring cast commentary and six musical numbers from the show, including the show-stopping "Mondays Suck," "Hip Hop Country," pop/hip hop tuners "Welcome to Eden," "Life, Liberty & Happiness," and "W.T.F.", and the newly added romantic ballad "Fireworks."

The producers of Broadway's LOMBARDI announced today that the show will play its final performance on Sunday May 22. Producers Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo said, 'LOMBARDI was a story that we wanted to tell and an idea that we believed in. We wanted to attract both an audience which had never set foot in a Broadway theatre, and to satisfy the traditional theatre goer. Vince Lombardi's remarkable life offered us the opportunity to assemble a cast made in heaven, and a creative dream team.'

The National Theatre is proud to announce that THE COLOR PURPLE, The Musical about Love, will return to D.C. for an Easter engagement thru April 24, and will feature special guest star Lil' Mo as the Church Soloist.

Soho Rep presents the highly anticipated U.S. Premiere of debbie tucker green's landmark play BORN BAD Winner of the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Newcomer. Featuring a powerhouse cast that includes: Crystal A. Dickinson (RUINED, CLYBOURNE PARK), Heather Alicia Simms (GEM OF THE OCEAN, A RAISIN IN THE SUN), LeRoy McClain (CYMBELINE, THE HISTORY BOYS), Quincy Tyler Bernstine (RUINED, IN THE NEXT ROOM), Michael Rogers (JOE TURNER'S COME AND GONE, BREAKFAST WITH MUGABE), and Elaine R. Graham (Julie Taymor's 'Across the Universe,' PLAYBOY OF THE WEST INDIES)

Due to critical and popular demand, Off-Broadway's eleven-time Obie Award-winning Soho Rep will extend the U.S. premiere of debbie tucker green's BORN BAD by two weeks, now through May 7th, 2011 at Soho Rep (46 Walker Street), it has been announced by Soho Rep Artistic Director Sarah Benson. Leah C. Gardiner directs.