Shelton Becton News

Tony Award winner Beth Leavel discusses the upcoming Broadway production of Baby It's You! during a photo shoot for the new musical.

A behind the scenes look of the publicity images shoot for the new Broadway musical Baby It's You! has just been released!

The first publicity images for the new Broadway musical Baby It's You! have been released! Baby It's You! tells the inspiring story of Florence Greenberg, the woman who changed the recording world forever when she discovered The Shirelles and created Scepter Records, becoming the music industry's first female powerhouse. Starring Tony Award winner Beth Leavel as Greenberg, conceived by Floyd Mutrux, directed by Floyd Mutrux and Sheldon Epps, and written by Tony nominated book writers Mutrux and Colin Escott, the team behind Broadway's Million Dollar Quartet, Baby It's You! begins performances at Broadway's Broadhurst Theatre (235 West 44th Street) Saturday, March 26, 2011, and opens Wednesday, April 27, 2011, at 6:30pm. Baby It's You! features a cast of 19 that includes Allan Louis, Geno Henderson, Erica Ash, Kelli Barrett, Kyra DaCosta, Crystal Starr Knighton, Barry Pearl, Christina Sajous, Brandon Uranowitz, Alison Cimmet, Erica Dorfler, Berlando Drake, Adam Heller, Jahi A. Kearse, Annette Moore, Zachary Prince, Ken Robinson and Chelsea Morgan Stock.

The new Broadway musical Baby It's You! tells the inspiring story of Florence Greenberg, the woman who changed the recording world forever when she discovered The Shirelles and created Scepter Records, becoming the music industry's first female powerhouse. Starring Tony Award winner Beth Leavel as Greenberg, conceived by Floyd Mutrux, directed by Floyd Mutrux and Sheldon Epps, and written by Tony nominated book writers Mutrux and Colin Escott, the team behind Broadway's Million Dollar Quartet, Baby It's You! begins performances at Broadway's Broadhurst Theatre (235 West 44th Street) Saturday, March 26, 2011, and opens Wednesday, April 27, 2011, at 6:30pm. Baby It's You! features a cast of 19 that includes Allan Louis, Geno Henderson, Erica Ash, Kelli Barrett, Kyra DaCosta, Crystal Starr Knighton, Barry Pearl, Christina Sajous, Brandon Uranowitz, Alison Cimmet, Erica Dorfler, Berlando Drake, Adam Heller, Jahi A. Kearse, Annette Moore, Zachary Prince, Ken Robinson and Chelsea Morgan Stock.

According to Variety, UNCHAIN MY HEART might not move to Broadway this spring after all. The show, which was previously titled RAY CHARLES LIVE!, was to open at the Ethel Barrymore on November 7, but was postponed until spring. Now the production has been put on hold because a producer of the show is suing the show's primary investor. A rep for UNCHAIN MY HEART commented that he 'had no details about a new production timeline, but admitted a spring start doesn't seem viable.'

The winner of four 2010 Tony awards including Best Musical, MEMPHIS celebrated its one year anniversary on Broadway Tuesday, October 19, 2010 at the Shubert Theatre and again on Sunday, October 17 at B.B. King.

Broadway headliners are coming in droves to record the 2010 Broadway's Carols for a Cure, the annual holiday CD benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA). Featured voices include Bernadette Peters and the cast and orchestra from A Little Night Music, Kelsey Grammer, Douglas Hodge, Christine Andreas and the cast of Tony Award winning La Cage aux Folles; Marin Mazzie and Jason Danieley, from Next to Normal; plus the casts from Memphis, Wicked, Elf, and In the Heights. Jackie Hoffman and the cast of The Addams Family sing 'It's Chanukah,' a Jackie Hoffman/Lon Hoyt original song written during their time together at Hairspray.

Yesterday, September 9, the cast of Broadway's MEMPHIS recorded a number for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS annual Carols for a Cure Album, which features Broadway casts performing holiday standards in the style of their musical's numbers. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the MEMPHIS recording session and brings you photo coverage below!

Broadway Impact presented the final installment of 'Broadway Impact's Summer Concert Series at Joe's Pub' last night, August 23. This monthly concert featured cast members from Broadway shows, highlighting the theatre community's ongoing commitment to marriage equality. This final concert featured cast members from the 2010 Tony-winning Best Musical, Memphis. BroadwayWorld was on hand to capture the performance and brings you complete photo coverage below.

UNCHAIN MY HEART, the Ray Charles Musical, which was scheduled to open at the Barrymore Theatre on Broadway on November 7, will now open in the Spring of 2011 at a Shubert Theatre to be announced. The principal cast is expected to stay with the production. Producer Stuart Benjamin cited logistical reasons for the change in date.

Aziza Miller's DIVA'S DON'T APOLOGIZE will play the Triad Friday, June 25, 2010. TEN DIVAS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE! Don't Miss: Divas Don't Apologize!!

Producer Stuart Benjamin has announced that UNCHAIN MY HEART, The Ray Charles Musical, will open at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th St.) on Broadway on November 7, 2010; previews begin October 8. Directed by Sheldon Epps, UNCHAIN MY HEART features the music of Ray Charles and a book by Suzan-Lori Parks.

The cast of UNCHAIN MY HEART, The Ray Charles Musical, will be lead by Brandon Victor Dixon (2010 Lortel, Drama League & Outer Critics Circle nominee for The Scottsboro Boys, 2006 Tony nominee for The Color Purple) starring as 'Ray Charles' and Nikki Renée Daniels (Promises, Promises, Nine) as 'Della'.

The Triad and Lee Summers presented the Just A Piano Open Mic: A 2nd Benefit For Haiti on Monday, March 15th 2010, at 7:30pm

The Triad and Lee Summers present the Just A Piano Open Mic: A 2nd Benefit For Haiti on Monday, March 15th 2010, at 7:30pm.

The Triad and Lee Summers present the Just A Piano Open Mic: A 2nd Benefit For Haiti on Monday, March 15th 2010, at 7:30pm.

The Triad and Lee Summers hosted the 'Just A Piano Open Mic Launch: A Benefit For Haiti' last night, January 31st. The 'Just A Piano' concept broadened for this series inviting singers to also bring accompanists or pre-recorded tracks, musical instruments or play on The Triad's recently refurbished baby grand. All proceeds from the event were donated to The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund and The American Red Cross.

The Triad and Lee Summers present the 'Just A Piano Open Mic Launch: A Benefit For Haiti' on Monday, January 31st 2010, at 7:30pm. The "Just A Piano" concept broadens for this series inviting singers to also bring accompanists or pre-recorded tracks, musical instruments or play on The Triad's recently refurbished baby grand.

The Triad and Lee Summers present the 'Just A Piano Open Mic Launch: A Benefit For Haiti' on Monday, January 31st 2010, at 7:30pm. The "Just A Piano" concept broadens for this series inviting singers to also bring accompanists or pre-recorded tracks, musical instruments or play on The Triad's recently refurbished baby grand.

After a successful performance in June, Lee Summers continues his open ended run of 'Winds of Change' on Monday, July 13th at 9:30pm at The Triad Theatre, 158 West 72nd Street (between Broadway & Columbus). 'Winds of Change' will feature standards, pop, R&B and Broadway, along with original songs by Summers. The show will return August 10, with dates to be announced in September and November.