Schele Williams News

Spanning 28 theater companies and 59 productions, from the largest and most prominent to small, humble and innovative, the Gypsy Rose Lee Awards honor as much professional theater as we reviewers can cram into our year.

Producers Kevin McCollum, Doug Morris and Motown Founder Berry Gordy present the National Tour of MOTOWN THE MUSICAL.

Producers Kevin McCollum, Doug Morris and Motown Founder Berry Gordy have announced the complete cast for the National Tour of MOTOWN THE MUSICAL.

International opera star Renee Fleming and Emmy Award nominee Tituss Burgess performed together for the first time, for an audience that includes opera stars Joyce DiDonato, Paul Appleby and Diana Soviero, Ann Ziff, Margie Loeb, Miriam Morales ('Orange Is The New Black'), poker star Beth Shak, Nobel Laureates Dr. Muhammad Yunus and Dr. James Watson, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, Mercedes Bass, Dave Gilboa (Warby Parker), Angela Birchett (The Color Purple), Grammy nominee Emily King, and more at Sing for Hope's 10th Anniversary Gala this Monday at Tribeca Rooftop. Scroll down for photos of the stars arriving for the event!

Parlor Night strikes again! Were you there for Broadway's latest pop-up party? This time, the intimate evening was hosted in the art-adorned, spacious Tribeca loft of Cynthia and Bob Abrams (head of Abbeville Press specializing in fine art and illustrated books). BroadwayWorld has photos from the festivities below!

Stacey Luftig and Phillip Palmer, winners of the 2015 Fred Ebb Award, will present an invitation only showcase of their acclaimed work MY HEART IS THE DRUM on Monday, June 6th at 5 PM at the York Theatre (619 Lexington Avenue at East 54th Street, New York City)  

Mixing three cups of wisdom for every two cups of matzo meal, singer/songwriter/cantor Shira Ginsburg proudly presents her one-woman musical Bubby's Kitchen. This touching and tuneful production is directed by Schele Williams, with musical direction by Rick Bertone featuring music by Jonathan Comisar and lyrics by Shira Ginsburg and Jonathan Comisar. Bubby's Kitchen will play a three performance only on April 28 - 30,   at 7:30pm at the Manhattan JCC (334 Amsterdam Ave). Tickets are $22 and can be purchased by visiting bubbyskitchen.com.

One of my favorite events each year is the Village Originals Festival of New Musicals. Each year there's at least one new show that you long to get a full staging. Back in 2014 that show was "My Heart is the Drum" with it's touching story and engaging music. It showed so much potential and I was thrilled when I saw it on the season lineup this season. And while it still shows a lot of promise it still needs a lot of work to make it a tighter narrative and paced better.

National Alliance for Musical Theatre presents the 27th ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS, which takes place today, October 15 and tomorrow, October 16 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues).

Parlor Night strikes again! Were you there for the latest Broadway pop-up party? This time, the intimate evening was hosted at the luscious Upper East Side townhouse of John Demsey (Group President of Estee Lauder). Demsey's home with its rich hues, magnificent art collection adorning the walls, and second floor living room was once home to Montgomery Clift in the early 1960s and was the hangout for luminaries such as Marilyn Monroe and Marlon Brando. So, it was only fitting that John's home embraced the second installment of Parlor Night to benefit Broadway Inspirational Voices Outreach Program.

National Alliance for Musical Theatre has announced final casting for the 27th ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS, which takes place on Thursday, October 15 and Friday, October 16 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues).

National Alliance for Musical Theatre has announced additional directors and casting for their 27th ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS. The Festival will take place on Thursday, October 15 and Friday, October 16 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues).

The Broadway Community worships at the altar of Michael McElroy and, pretty soon, so will the world. The Broadway veteran, with many shows under his belt, founded the Broadway Inspirational Voices in 1994 and, last night, photographer and friend Walter McBride and I were invited to a private home, where an awe-inspiring event transpired. We witnessed the birth of PARLOR NIGHT, something that ladies Di Ana Pisarri and Schele Williams had dreamed of for some time.

On Monday, January 19th at New World Stages, the Broadway community gathered to honor the late Greg Reuter. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you a look inside the concert.

New York Gospel vocalist Jenifer Thigpen and the multicultural ensemble Broadway Inspirational Voices (BIV) will bring their musical talents to Trinity Grace Westside for a special Christmas service this Sunday December 7th, 2014. The congregation meets at the Alfred E. Smith School Auditorium located at 163 West 97th Street, New York, NY 10025. The service will begin at 10a. All New Yorkers are invited to join them at this special Holiday Service as they uplift their souls though music in this holiday season.

The long-anticipated Detroit engagement of MOTOWN THE MUSICAL opened last Wednesday, October 22 at The Fisher Theatre - check out photos below!

Executive Producers Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell, Pippin) and Bruce Cohen (American Beauty, Milk, Silver Linings Playbook) welcome an all-star lineup for Uprising of Love: A Benefit Concert for Global Equality tonight, September 15th at Broadway's Gershwin Theatre (222 West 51st Street).

Executive Producers Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell, Pippin) and Bruce Cohen (American Beauty, Milk, Silver Linings Playbook) have announced the full list of presenters set to join the all-star lineup for Uprising of Love: A Benefit Concert for Global Equality on Monday, September 15th at Broadway's Gershwin Theatre (222 West 51st Street).

Click below to watch a special moment from 'In Focus' with Eden Lane's one-on-one with composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz during the PIPPIN National Tour launch in Denver. Schwartz discusses a special one-night-only event he is executive producing. 'Uprising of Love: A Benefit Concert for Global Equality' will be hosted by Jane Lynch and features Sting, Patti LuPone, Celina Jaitly, Greg Louganis, Billy Porter, Chely Wright, and the casts of WICKED, ONCE, I AM HARVEY MILK, and more!

Executive Producers Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell, Pippin) and Bruce Cohen (American Beauty, Milk, Silver Linings Playbook) are proud to announce that Emmy Award winner Jane Lynch (Glee) will host Uprising of Love: A Benefit Concert for Global Equality on Monday, September 15th at Broadway's Gershwin Theatre (222 West 51st Street).