T. Jones News

Shawn 'JAY Z' Carter, Will & Jada Pinkett Smith, Ruth & Stephen Hendel, Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson and The National Theatre of Great Britain present the return of the critically acclaimed, award-winning Broadway and National Theatre of Great Britain production of Fela!, which just opened last night, July 12, for a limited run of 32 performances only at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street). BroadwayWorld was there for the big openeing night, and we bring you photos from the first curtain call below!

Shawn 'JAY Z' Carter, Will & Jada Pinkett Smith, Ruth & Stephen Hendel, Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson and The National Theatre of Great Britain present the return of the critically acclaimed, award-winning Broadway and National Theatre of Great Britain production of Fela!, which just opened last night, July 12, for a limited run of 32 performances only at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street). BroadwayWorld was there for the big openeing night, and we bring you photos from the star-studded arrivals below!

Today, the Seattle Theatre Group announced the 14th annual DANCE This lineup and program to be held today, July 13th and Saturday, July 14th, at 7:30PM, at the historic Moore Theatre, with two student matinee performances (not open to public) on July 12th and 13th.

Wolf Trap welcomes the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, Delaware Rockers George Thorogood and the Destroyers, Motown Legends the Temptations and the Four Tops, Two Consecutive NSO Performances and the Return of the Golden Dragon Acrobats from China, July 31-Aug 5. See full details below.

Now that the 2012 awards season has come to a close, BroadwayWorld is looking ahead to an exciting season coming up. This summer/fall Broadway will welcome a plethora of productions - from star-studded revivals to exciting new musicals. Below, we bring you the line-up of officially announced upcoming shows (still subject to change). Don't forget to stay tuned for more even more opening announcements expected soon!

According to an Equity casting notice, SUPER FLY, the musical based on the 1972 film directed by Gordon Parks, has taken new steps toward a Broadway production. A workshop for the new show was held back in March, and another will be held August 6- September 14. This workshop is being held in anticipation of a future Broadway run as the notice states. Bill T. Jones is still on board to direct and choreograph.

Today, the Seattle Theatre Group announced the 14th annual DANCE This lineup and program to be held on Friday, July 13th and Saturday, July 14th, at 7:30PM, at the historic Moore Theatre, with two student matinee performances (not open to public) on July 12th and 13th.

The Broadway run of Fela! this summer at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre begins previews for its limited four-week run on Monday, July 9, with an official opening set for July 12, and will play through Saturday, August 4, 2012. The marquee is up! See below for a first look.

Jacob's Pillow announces that Executive and Artistic Director Ella Baff will present the sixth annual Jacob's Pillow Dance Award to Kyle Abraham, an acclaimed contemporary dancer, choreographer, and Artistic Director of Abraham.In.Motion. The Jacob's Pillow Dance Award honors outstanding, visionary dance artists and carries a prize of $25,000, one of the largest cash awards in the dance industry, to be used by the choreographer to enhance their artistry in any way they choose. The Award will be presented in person and celebrated at the Jacob's Pillow Season Opening Gala tonight, June 16.

This is Just to Say: Live Art II, produced and directed by composer Inhyun Kim, features works by Ms. Kim, as well as composers Judith Ring, Nomi Epstein, and Sonia Megias, and performances by soprano Megan Schubert and pianist David Kalhous. This interdisciplinary concert, which also features work by Naho Taruishi, video artist and dancers/choreographers Coco Karol and Luke Gutgsell, takes place at the Leonard Nimoy Thalia theater at Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway, New York City tonight, June 16th, 2012 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $20; Members; Students, Seniors $10; Children are free. For more information, call (212) 864-5400 or visit www.symphonyspace.org.

Tickets for the Broadway run of Fela! this summer at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre will go on sale to the general public on Saturday June 16 via telecharge.com and phone (212) 239-6200.

Producers Shawn 'JAY Z' Carter, Will & Jada Pinkett Smith, Ruth & Stephen Hendel, Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson and The National Theatre of Great Britain today announced the return of the critically acclaimed, award-winning production of Fela!, currently on a multi-city world tour, for a limited run of 32 performances ONLY at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street) from July 9 - August 4. Exploring the extravagant world of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, this provocative hybrid of dance, theatre, music, biography and a party like no-other is directed and choreographed by Tony® Award-winner Bill T. Jones, with a book by Jim Lewis and Bill T. Jones. The world renowned Antibalas and other members of the NYC Afrobeat community, under the direction of Aaron Johnson, again perform Kuti's rousing music live onstage. Recipient of three 2010 Tony Awards (Best Choreography, Best Costumes, Best Sound Design), Fela!, featuring the music and lyrics by Fela Kuti, was conceived by Bill T. Jones, Jim Lewis and Stephen Hendel, features additional lyrics by Jim Lewis, and additional music by Aaron Johnson and Jordan McLean. The musical is inspired by the authorized biography Fela: This Bitch of a Life by Carlos Moore. The press opening for this engagement is scheduled for Thursday, July 12 at 7 PM.

On Twitter Watch, Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson wrote 'BREAKING NEWS! (best ever!) come july NYC you get ONE MORE CHANCE to see the return of @felamusical!!!!!! #itsback on #broadway #dontsleep FELA! will play the Oriental Theatre (24 W. Randolph St.) through April 15, 2012. It is 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. Olivier and Tony Award-nominated actor Sahr Ngaujah will lead the cast of FELA! He is joined by Melanie Marshall and Paulette Ivory, who co-starred with Ngaujah in the Olivier-nominated Royal National Theatre production. This touring production is a once in a lifetime experience, a glorious amalgam of the original casts of both Broadway and London's Royal National Theatre. A triumphant tale of courage, passion and love, FELA! is the true story of Kuti, who created a type of music, Afrobeat, and mixed these pounding eclectic rhythms (a blend of jazz, funk and African rhythm and harmonies) with incendiary lyrics that openly attacked the corrupt and oppressive military dictatorships that rule Nigeria and much of Africa. Featuring many of Fela Kuti's most captivating songs and Bill T. Jones's visionary staging, FELA! reveals Kuti's controversial life as an artist and political activist and celebrates his pioneering music. The production received its world premiere Off-Broadway in September 2008, and won the Lucille Lortel Award for Best Musical, before transferring to Broadway's Eugene O'Neill Theatre in November 2009 where its accolades included three 2010 Tony Awards, for Best Choreography, Best Costume Design, Best Sound Design, and an Astaire Award for Bill T. Jones' choreography. FELA! is directed and choreographed by Bill T. Jones, with a book by Jim Lewis and Bill T. Jones, and music and lyrics by Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. Conceived by Bill T. Jones, Jim Lewis and Stephen Hendel, the design and Tony Award winning costumes are by Marina Draghici, lighting design by Robert Wierzel and the Tony Award winning sound design by Robert Kaplowitz. FELA! is produced in association with Shawn 'Jay-Z' Carter, Will & Jada Pinkett Smith, Ruth & Stephen Hendel, Roy Gabay, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Edward Tyler Nahem, SlavaSmolokowski, Chip Meyrelles/Ken Greiner, Douglas G. Smith, Steve Semlitz/Cathy Glazer, Daryl Roth/True Love Productions, Susan Dietz/Mort Swinsky, Knitting Factory Entertainment and with Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson.'

Docurama Films today announced that Joffrey: Mavericks of American Dance, a feature-length documentary, directed by Bob Hercules (Bill T. Jones: A Good Man), will debut on DVD and standard digital platforms on June 12, 2012, following a festival premiere and nationwide theatrical release.

Jacob's Pillow announces today that Executive and Artistic Director Ella Baff will present the sixth annual Jacob's Pillow Dance Award to Kyle Abraham, an acclaimed contemporary dancer, choreographer, and Artistic Director of Abraham.In.Motion. The Jacob's Pillow Dance Award honors outstanding, visionary dance artists and carries a prize of $25,000, one of the largest cash awards in the dance industry, to be used by the choreographer to enhance their artistry in any way they choose. The Award will be presented in person and celebrated at the Jacob's Pillow Season Opening Gala on Saturday, June 16.

The 2012-2013 Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre season was announced today by CTG Artistic Director Michael Ritchie. The new season, the 46th season at the Music Center of Los Angeles, will include Jeff Goldblum in the West Coast premiere of the smart, sexy, new Broadway comedy "Seminar," Rachel York in the beloved 1930s musical romp - Cole Porter's "Anything Goes," the American premiere and pre-Broadway presentation of the dramatic musical "Backbeat" which features classic rock 'n' roll in its story of the birth of the Beatles, Tracie Bennett starring as the iconic Judy Garland in the West Coast premiere of the acclaimed play with music - "End of the Rainbow," and the daring new musical that explores a shocking event in American history - Kander and Ebb's "The Scottsboro Boys." In addition, the exuberant musical "Fela!" will return for a limited engagement as a bonus option to the season subscription.

Cornish Junior Dance Company will perform at the Erickson Theater on June 9 and 10, 2012.

This is Just to Say: Live Art II, produced and directed by composer Inhyun Kim, features works by Ms. Kim, as well as composers Judith Ring, Nomi Epstein, and Sonia Megias, and performances by soprano Megan Schubert and pianist David Kalhous. This interdisciplinary concert, which also features work by Naho Taruishi, video artist and dancers/choreographers Coco Karol and Luke Gutgsell, takes place at the Leonard Nimoy Thalia theater at Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway, New York City on Saturday, June 16th, 2012 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $20; Members; Students, Seniors $10; Children are free. For more information, call (212) 864-5400 or visit www.symphonyspace.org.

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts presents "FELA!," the recipient of three 2010 Tony Awards, as part of the Ordway's 2011-2012 Theater Season. "FELA!" is 'a provocative hybrid of dance, theater and music exploring the extravagant world of Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti.'

CBS announced today that TWO AND A HALF MEN has been renewed for the 2012-2013 broadcast season.