Randolph Wright News

Today, producers Brian Moreland, Ron Simons, Eric Falkenstein, Mike Jackson and singer John Legend announced complete casting for Blue, a play by Charles Randolph-Wright and directed by Phylicia Rashad which will play a 16-week limited engagement at New York's legendary Apollo Theater (253 West 125th Street) in Harlem starting Monday, April 27 with opening night set for May 10.. Blue will run through August 16.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater has announced Cornelius Smith Jr. (ABC's Scandal and All My Children) will perform in Arena Stage's 2020/21 Season.

Producers Brian Moreland, Ron Simons, Mike Jackson, John Legend and Eric Falkenstein announced today that Blue, the play by Charles Randolph-Wright with music by Nona Hendryx and lyrics by Charles Randolph-Wright, will play a 16-week engagement at New York's Apollo Theater (253 West 125th Street), under the direction of Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad who starred in both the play's 2000 world premiere at Arena Stage and 2001 New York premiere at Roundabout Theatre Company.

Next week, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com/Feinsteins or call (646) 476-3551.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces the world-premiere musical American Prophet, directed and co-written by award-winning playwright Charles Randolph-Wright (Broadway's Motown The Musical) and featuring new music by Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and co-script writer Marcus Hummon. The musical chronicles the life and legacy of one of the most notable human rights leaders of the 19th century, Frederick Douglass. Known as one of the greatest leaders of the abolitionist movement, Douglass was a prominent activist, author, orator and statesman. His own words power the soaring new melodies and original script. Directed by Randolph-Wright, American Prophet runs July 10 - August 16, 2020 in the Kreeger Theater.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces the company for A Thousand Splendid Suns, adapted for the stage by Ursula Rani Sarma and based on the 2007 New York Times bestselling novel by Khaled Hosseini (Kite Runner). Set in 1992 in war-torn Afghanistan, this gripping story centers around a friendship that develops between two Afghan women following a tragedy. While facing insurmountable odds of a brutal and oppressive way of life, the two form an unlikely bond in a heart-rending fight for survival. Directed by Carey Perloff, A Thousand Splendid Suns runs January 17 - March 1, 2020 in the Kreeger Theater.

This weekend in Detroit, the birthplace of Motown records, celebrations are being held for Motown's diamond anniversary, marking 60 years of the label founded by Berry Gordy. Motown shares its legacy in the UK with the legendary Motown catalogue which is bought to life in MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, a story by Berry Gordy which uncovers how MOTOWN changed music history and created the soundtrack of a generation.

Anticipating a Broadway bow this season, Born For This: A New Musical took home five awards at the 28th annual NAACP Theatre Awards held last night, June 17, at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles.  

Young Vic Artistic Director Kwame Kwei-Armah has announced the Programme for 2020.

Moliere in the Park, presented in partnership with the Prospect Park Alliance and the LeFrak Center at Lakeside, has announced its inaugural season.

Blue by Charles Randolph-Wright with music by Nona Hendryx, will receive its Broadway premiere spring of 2020 at a theater to be announced, under the direction of Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad who starred in both the play's 2000 world premiere at Arena Stage and 2001 New York premiere at Roundabout Theatre Company.

Once again, the NAACP Beverly Hills/Hollywood Branch's Theatre Viewing Committee has spoken, and the nominations are in for the 28th Annual NAACP Theatre Awards. This year's pedigreed list of nominees collectively represents a rich, extensive dossier of legacies and accolades for both stage and screen. These nominees include members of a legendary 'gospel royal family' as well as a Legend whose part of an elite group of artists in the EGOT winners circle. These, along with all their fellow nominees, will be honored for their excellence on the small and large stages during our annual awards dinner, slated to be held on Monday, June 17, 2019, 6:00 p.m.at the prestigious Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, California.

This Sunday, March 9, gospel music legend BeBe Winans makes his return to prime-time television to celebrate the life of Aretha Franklin as part of'Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul.” The special airs at 9p.m.–11 p.m., ET/PT on CBS. 

Motown the Musical will conclude its run on 20 April 2019 having celebrated over 1330 performances since its London premiere in February 2016. The show received its world premiere in April 2013 in New York and opened in the West End three years later. Motown the Musical closes in London in advance of major refurbishments taking place at the Shaftesbury Theatre, while the UK tour continues across the country.

The Broadway-bound production of BeBe Winans' new autobiographical musical BORN FOR THIS, releases its first-ever music video of the title song, starring Donald Webber, Jr., who is set to depict Winans when BORN FOR THIS comes to Broadway (theatre and dates TBA).  Mr. Winans makes a cameo appearance in the music video, as well.

The countdown is over as Motown the Musical steamed into Waverley Station this week to launch its Scottish premiere at the Edinburgh Playhouse.

The countdown is on with just two weeks to go until Motown the Musical makes its Scottish premiere at the Edinburgh Playhouse.

Good morning BroadwayWorld! Today's top stories: Everybody's Talking About Jamie will begin screenings in cinemas nationwide today, and more!

The countdown is on with just two weeks to go until Motown the Musical makes its Scottish premiere at the Edinburgh Playhouse.

Legendary Grammy and American Music Award winning recording artist and beloved Broadway actress, Stephanie Mills will join BeBe Winans and the cast of the Broadway-bound musical BORN FOR THIS for a one-night-only concert previewing the music from his original musical BORN FOR THIS on Monday, November 5 at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. at Feinstein's/54 Below (254 W. 54 St).