Stephen Hendel News

"Fela!," the 2010 Best Musical Tony Award®-nominated musical, opens next Wednesday, December 14, at 8 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre. The musical, filled with the exuberant music of Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, will continue through January 22, 2012. There will be one preview performance December 13, 2011.

"Fela!," the 2010 Best Musical Tony Award®-nominated musical, opens next Wednesday, December 14, at 8 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre. The musical, filled with the exuberant music of Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, will continue through January 22, 2012. There will be one preview performance December 13, 2011.

SHN has announced FELA! as the 7th and final show in SHN's upcoming 2011-2012 Season.

In the 70's, Nigeria rose up and struck a new chord for justice with Afrobeat founder and political activist, Fela, as their controversial leader. The show, which opened last night at San Francisco's Curran Theatre, sways, plays and sings the political heart song of Nigeria through the life story of this musician turned activist, Fela Kuti. In its west coast premiere, the Tony-winning Broadway sensation packed a powerful opening night musical and political punch that was dynamic and experientially transformative. Everybody, please say "yeah yeah!"

Ambassador Andrew Young today joined Samuel Nappi, Ruth Hendel and Steven Hendel to announce that Moments with Dr. King is preparing for preliminary stagings prior to a Broadway production, and that Congressman John Lewis has joined the team as an advisor. The announcement was initially scheduled to take place in August, coinciding with the anniversary of Dr. King's speech at 1963's March on Washington and the dedication of the National Memorial to Martin Luther King in the capitol city, but it was postponed due to Hurricane Irene. The announcement was made today in tribute to Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth -- a leading civil rights pioneer, co-founder of Dr. King's primary civil rights organization, and a central figure in the groundbreaking events with Dr. King in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963 -- who passed away yesterday.

With 11 Tony ® Award nominations including Best Musical and Best Director of a Musical & Best Choreography for Bill T. Jones, the upcoming US tour of FELA! is set to be led by Sahr Ngaujah, who originated the role on Broadway. The tour will play the following US cities: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Miami, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Tempe, and Washington.

SHN is thrilled to announce FELA! as the 7th and final show in SHN's upcoming 2011-2012 Season. FELA! , directed by Bill T. Jones, is a provocative hybrid of dance, theatre and music exploring the extravagant world of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti. The show has become an international sensation having been performed in three continents. FELA! will play November 15 - December 11 at San Francisco's Curran Theatre (445 Geary Street) which operates under the direction of Carole Shorenstein Hays. Tickets for FELA! are currently available by subscribing to SHN's 2011-2012 Season. Individual tickets will go on sale in late September. Click here to see Carole Shorenstein Hays announce FELA!

The cast of Tony Award-winning musical FELA!, which is coming to London's Sadler's Wells from 20 July - 28 August, has been invited to perform at a reception formembers of Britain's West African-origin community at St James's Palace.

The National Theatre's production of FELA! has received an extraordinarily popular and critical reception. Stephen and Ruth Hendel are proud to announce that the first European engagement signed for the international tour is a return to London for a six-week run at the prestigious Sadler's Wells Theatre.

The cast of Tony Award-winning musical FELA!, which is coming to London's Sadler's Wells from 20 July - 28 August, has been invited to perform at a reception formembers of Britain's West African-origin community at St James's Palace.

This evening the inaugural Celebration of Color on Broadway Awards will take place at SAKS Fifth Avenue (611 5th Avenue) beginning at 6PM. Honoring George C. Wolfe and Ruth and Stephen Hendel for their contributions to diversifying Broadway, the Celebration of Color on Broadway Awards will benefit Harlem's OPUS 118 , a private, non-profit organization that supports music education programs for public school students in low-income areas. In addition to the honors this event will celebrate the life of Barbara Ann Teer, founder of The National Black Theater.

The New Group honored Wallace Shawn and Fred Wistow with the fifth annual Michael Mendelson Award. Founded in 2005, this award recognizes individuals who show outstanding commitment to the theatrical community. Past recipients include Robyn Goodman, Ethan Hawke, Ruth and Stephen Hendel, Wendy Ettinger and Derek McLane. BroadwayWorld was on hand and brings you photo coverage below.

The New Group will honor Wallace Shawn and Fred Wistow with their 2011 Michael Mendelson Award for Outstanding Commitment to Theater. The gala will take place on May 9 at Capitale, and will include a dinner, rection and auction.

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center will present its annual Monte Cristo Award to legendary Broadway and screen actor James Earl Jones, in recognition of his monumental achievements and contributions to the American and international theater community. The award will be presented to Mr. Jones at a gala dinner held in his honor at Bridgewaters - South Street Seaport in New York City on Monday, May 9th at 6:30pm.

The New Group will honor Wallace Shawn and Fred Wistow with their 2011 Michael Mendelson Award for Outstanding Commitment to Theater. The gala will take place on May 9 at Capitale, and will include a dinner, rection and auction.

FELA!, the landmark Broadway musical, which won three Tony Awards (Broadway's highest honor) including Best Choreography (Bill T. Jones), is coming to Lagos from April 20th to 25th.

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center will present its annual Monte Cristo Award to legendary Broadway and screen actor James Earl Jones, in recognition of his monumental achievements and contributions to the American and international theater community. The award will be presented to Mr. Jones at a gala dinner held in his honor at Bridgewaters - South Street Seaport in New York City on Monday, May 9th at 6:30pm.

FELA!, the landmark Broadway musical, which won three Tony Awards (Broadway's highest honor) including Best Choreography (Bill T. Jones), is coming to Lagos from April 20th to 25th.

Alex Davis: Man of the Year celebrated its New York debut last weekend with a fantastic crowd including entertainers Justin Vivian Bond, Murray Hill, Nathan Carrera, playwrights Larry Kramer, Bill C. Davis, Kyle Jarrow, Broadway producers Ruth & Stephen Hendel, and more.

Music superstar Beyonce recenlty participated in a photo shoot with L'Officiel Paris in which she channeled Fela Anikulapo-Kuti- on whom the recent Broadway musical was based. Beyonce went as far as using blackface and tribal paint in the photoshoot, and the result has certainly sparked controversy.