Paul Tazewell News

Oprah Winfrey, Scott Sanders and the producing team of the Broadway smash hit THE COLOR PURPLE, The Musical about Love, have announced casting for the first North American Touring production's two-week Boston engagement.

The Providence Performing Arts Center is pleased to announce that there will be 'talkbacks' following the Wednesday, May 27 and Thursday, May 28 performances of THE COLOR PURPLE. Attendees are welcome to join cast members for a complimentary post-performance talkback to get special insights on the show.

'There's No Place Like Home' for homeless shelter dogs, according to Nigel, the former street-dog-turned-stage-star, who is making his New York professional debut in The Wiz at City Center in June. The need for a home is what inspired Nigel, along with co-star Ashanti (who plays Dorothy) to host 'There's No Place Like Home'Adoption Day on Saturday, May 30 at 11:00 am at City Center (55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues).

James Spader star of the big screen hits 'Pretty in Pink' and 'Less Than Zero' and the small screen Emmy winning favorites 'The Practice' and 'Boston Legal.' will make his Broadway debut this fall in the new play David Mamet play, RACE.

Nigel, a brindle-hair Cairn Terrier, will be making his professional stage debut as Toto in the Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz, starring Ashanti as Dorothy, June 12 - July 5 at New York City Center, 131 W. 55th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues).

Broadway/L.A. today announces the lineup for its 2010 Season, with all productions scheduled to play at its flagship venue, Hollywood's historic Pantages Theatre (6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood).

The producers of THE COLOR PURPLE are proud to announce that American Idol Season 3 winner Fantasia Barrino will reprise her starring role of Celie for the Atlanta engagement. Theater of the Stars will host the first North American Touring production of THE COLOR PURPLE for two weeks, September 15-27. Tickets are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.com and 800-982-2787.

Orlando Jones will play The Wiz, and Tony Award-winning actress LaChanze will play Glinda, the good witch, in the Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz, starring Ashanti, June 12 July 5 at New York City Center. Glinda's sister-witches will include Tichina Arnold as Evillene and Dawnn Lewis as Addaperle. Easing down the road with Ashanti's Dorothy will be Joshua Henry as the Tinman, James Monroe Iglehart as the Lion and Christian White as the Scarecrow.

RACE, the new play written and directed by David Mamet will make its world premiere at the ETHEL BARRYMORE THEATRE (located at 243 West 47th St.) beginning on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 with the official opening night on Thursday, December 6, 2009. Rehearsals are set to begin on Monday, October 19, 2009.

The Kennedy Center today announced a one week and final extension for the touring production of THE COLOR PURPLE. The musical will now run in the Opera House June 30 through August 9, 2009. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker and the film by Steven Spielberg, Fantasia Barrino reprises her critically acclaimed role as Celie in the Kennedy Center performances of THE COLOR PURPLE.

The Color Purple will return to Houston and play a limited one week engagement at the Hobby Center for Performing Arts, August 18 - 23, 2009. The return engagement was booked in response to the challenges brought on by Hurricane Ike, which caused the cancellation of a full week of sold out performances.

The producers of THE COLOR PURPLE are proud to announce that American Idol Season 3 winner Fantasia Barrino will reprise her starring role of Celie for the Chicago Engagement. Returning to its debut home of Chicago, THE COLOR PURPLE will make its home at The Arie Crown Theater for two weeks, September 2 -13, 2009. Tickets

Oprah Winfrey, Scott Sanders and the producing team of the Broadway smash hit THE COLOR PURPLE, The Musical about Love, are proud to announce that Kansas City will host the first North American Touring production of THE COLOR PURPLE for 8 performances, April 28-May 3, 2009. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at the Music Hall Box Office and at participating Ticketmaster outlets (800-982-2787) or online at ticketmaster.com.

The 16th Annual Merritt Award for Excellence in Design and Collaboration program, honoring world class scenic designer Todd Rosenthal (August: Osage County), will take place on Monday, April 27, at the Steppenwolf Merle Reskin Garage Theatre. The doors open at 5:30 p.m. with a viewing of the third annual ?Theater Design Expo' showcasing the works of over 20 Chicago-area emerging theatrical designers and a student portfolio review. Martha Lavey, Artistic Director of Steppenwolf Theatre Company, will moderate an inclusive discussion, 'Moving Chicago Productions to New York and Beyond' with the awardees, Director Anna Shapiro and Joshua Schmidt, composer and librettist, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Manhattan Theatre Club has announced that the critically acclaimed production of RUINED by playwright Lynn Nottage and director Kate Whoriskey has been extended by popular demand once again through Sunday, May 17th.

Oprah Winfrey, Scott Sanders and the producing team of the Broadway smash hit THE COLOR PURPLE, The Musical about Love, are proud to announce that Charlotte will host the first North American Touring production of THE COLOR PURPLE for eight performances, May 19-24. Tickets are on sale now and are available online at BlumenthalCenter.org, by phone at 704-372-1000 and at the Belk Theater box office.

Oprah Winfrey, Scott Sanders and the producing team of the Broadway smash hit THE COLOR PURPLE, The Musical about Love, are proud to announce that Dayton will host the North American Touring production of THE COLOR PURPLE, April 21 - 26 at the Schuster Center, as part of Victoria Theatre Association's Chase Broadway Series.

Oprah Winfrey, Scott Sanders and the producing team of the Broadway smash hit THE COLOR PURPLE, The Musical about Love, are proud to announce that Kansas City will host the first North American Touring production of THE COLOR PURPLE for 8 performances, April 28-May 3, 2009. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at the Music Hall Box Office and at participating Ticketmaster outlets (800-982-2787) or online at ticketmaster.com.

Manhattan Theatre Club has announced that the critically acclaimed production of RUINED by playwright Lynn Nottage and director Kate Whoriskey has been extended by popular demand through Sunday, May 10.

From the Obie Award-winning author Lynn Nottage comes RUINED, 'a haunting, probing work about the resilience of the human spirit during times of war,' and the front-runner for a Pulitzer nomination. Set in the war-torn Congo, RUINED follows the everyday exploits of Mama Nadi (Saidah Arrika Ekulona), a businesswoman doing whatever she can to ensure her survival... and the survival of the women she shelters. Amidst the blood and lust is Christian (Russell Gebert Jones), a poetic man who yearns for something truer than the senseless gun-shots and mindless profiteering.