Shelton Becton News

People's Light invites you back to the theatre for its 2021/2022 Season, featuring outrageous comedies, tour de force performances, Tony Award nominees, and three music-filled world premieres. 

Derrick Baskin made some meditative discoveries in pandemic and he is applying his lessons learned to every aspect of his existence, the result being a fulfilling new solo show at Feinstein's/54 Below.

La obra sobre los últimos años de vida de Billy Holliday se representó por primera vez en el Wyndham's Theatre de Londres en 2017

Producers N’Kenge and Richard Bell will present a private industry reading of “Dorothy Dandridge: The Musical” the true story of Hollywood’s very first African- American movie star, with book & lyrics by 2-time Emmy Award winner Trey Ellis, music & lyrics by Shelton Becton and directed by Tony Award winner Tamara Tunie.

MUSE is a multi-racial collective of Music Directors, Arrangers, Orchestrators, and Composers who are diligently working to develop pipelines for musicians of color who aspire to work in theatre but are seldom granted access.

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) announced the winners of the 2019 TRU Voices New Musicals Reading Series: Miracolo by Jarlath Barsanti-Jacobs and Emilio Solla; and Seeing Red by Joey Mazzarino and Aron Accurso.The two musicals will be performed on Monday evening January 14th and Monday evening February 4th respectively. Both performances will be at 7pm at the Actors Temple, 339 West 47th Street, New York, NY. Readings are free but reservations are required - please email name and number of tickets requested to TRUVoicesSeries@gmail.com, or use the bright red ticketing box at the show websites below.

AUDELCO announced the winners of the 2018 Viv Awards last night, honoring Black Theatre in New York City.

This is not shaping up to be a good year for Oscar Hammerstein II, American musical theatre's most important writer, who spent the first half of the 20th Century not only making significant strides to convert the genre from loosely assembled entertainments into respected and influential pieces of dramatic art, but was also a leading voice in promoting progressive values through his books and lyrics for such musicals as SHOW BOAT, SOUTH PACIFIC and THE KING AND I.

An industry only presentation of Lawdy Miss Clawdy, a new play by B. Jeffrey Madoff and Lloyd Price, will be presented March 1 - 2 at the Theatre Center in Manhattan.

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.

Shelton Becton, the established and esteemed Broadway conductor, composer, music director and Broadway performer steps into his solo music career with his impeccable and innate virtuosity in an evening of original compositions that unfold the mysteries, paradoxes and realities of love.

This November, Feinstein's/54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond.

Rep Stage, the professional regional theatre in residence at Howard Community College (HCC), continues its 25th season with Lanie Robertson's Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, directed by Danielle A. Drakes and music direction by Wil Lewis III.

One American great inhabits another in this superior cabaret, as the Broadway legend Audra McDonald slips into the skin - and unforgettable voice - of jazz icon Billie Holiday. The emotional sensitivity makes it far more than just an immensely skilful impersonation, and makes McDonald's delayed West End debut well worth the wait.

This summer, Audra McDonald, the Tony, Grammy, and Emmy Award-winning singer and actress, will be making her long-awaited West End debut as jazz legend Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill - get a look a new photos of Audra in action below!

Hartford Opera Theater is pleased to present THE TENDER LAND with music by Aaron Copland, libretto by Horace Everett, as its main stage production. Directed by Kristy Chambrelli with music direction by Joseph Hodge, THE TENDER LAND tells the story of a young girl, who finds herself on the cusp of adulthood and must choose whether to remain in her small town or experience what the world has to offer.

Emmy nominee Tituss Burgess (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) has been added to the starry lineup for Lee Summers' Just A Piano Benefit Concert for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS on Monday, October 10, at 9pm at The Triad (158 West 72nd Street).

On Monday, October 10 at 9pm at The Triad (158 West 72nd Street), Lee Summers' Just A Piano Concert Series is celebrating its 10th Anniversary in a Benefit Concert for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS with ten Broadway Performers, representing each year.

Following the news that HAMILTON's original stars will see a share of the blockbuster musical's takings, the company of Broadway's SHUFFLE ALONG has won profit-sharing participation of its own.

A re-imagined version of the 1921 musical SHUFFLE ALONG, one of the earliest stage hits starring, written and directed by African-Americans, opens tonight, April 28, on Broadway at the Music Box Theatre.