FAT HAM, the reinvented, comedic version of HAMLET, started previews last week at The Public Theater, co-produced with National Black Theatre. Playwright James Ijames won the Pulitzer Prize for FAT HAM last week.
The Public Theater and National Black Theatre will begin previews on Thursday, May 12 for the upcoming New York Premiere of FAT HAM, written by James Ijames and directed by Public Theater Associate Artistic Director and Resident Director Saheem Ali.
Little Girl Blue, the musical inspired by the life of Nina Simone, is now playing at New World Stages. The musical, written and starring Laiona Michelle (Amazing Grace, Book of Mormon, American Hero), began previews on Saturday, March 5th.
In 1959, Billie Holiday, or a?oeLady Daya?? as she was called, performed one of her final shows in a run-down bar in South Philly. In Robertson's award-winning play, Holiday engages the audience with salty, often humorous reminiscences of her troubled life as a travelling performer in a segregated south. With the help of her piano man, Jimmy Powers, she lets music tell her story, sharing soulful, heart-wrenching and bawdy songs from her memorable canon including: a?oeStrange Fruit,a?? a?oeGod Bless the Child,a?? a?oeWhen a Woman Loves a Man,a?? and a?oeTaint Nobody's Business If I Do.a??
Just last night, The Public Theater celebrated its Annual Gala, WOMEN OF THE PUBLIC, at the Delacorte Theater. Directed by Leigh Silverman, with music direction by Mary-Mitchell Campbell, it celebrated those who shaped our past and guide our future.
Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Yesterday, the Drama Desk Awards were announced! Among the big winners were Hadestown, Tootsie, The Ferryman, and The Prom!
The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham; Board Chair, Arielle Tepper) announced casting today for The Public's Annual Gala, WOMEN OF THE PUBLIC onMonday, June 3 at the Delacorte Theater. Directed by Leigh Silverman, with music direction by Mary-Mitchell Campbell, the highly-anticipated summer gala under the stars will celebrate those who shaped our past and guide our future. The evening of dinner and performances at the Delacorte Theater will be hosted by Gala Co-ChairsKathryn Chenault, Faith Gay, Suzan-Lori Parks, Julie Rice, and Lauren Rosenkranz.
Broadway and TV star Brandon J. Dirden (All the Way, Jitney, The Americans) hosted the 11th annual New York City August Wilson Monologue Competition, sponsored by LEAP (Learning through an Expanded Arts Program, Inc.). A total of 15 LEAP students from nine New York high schools in four boroughs brought the audience to their feet as they embodied Wilson's characters and provided their own interpretations-immersing them in Wilson's world of 10 plays, referred to as The Century Cycle.
Broadway and TV star Brandon J. Dirden (All the Way, Jitney, The Americans) is set to host the 11th annual New York City August Wilson Monologue Competition, sponsored by LEAP (Learning through an Expanded Arts Program, Inc.)
Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Auburn ("Proof") will provide opening remarks and Rick Younger, featured actor in "Mean Girls," nominated for 12 Tony Awards, will introduce fellow Broadway performers in a celebration of student playwriting called LEAP OnStage: Rising Voices. The fundraiser will be held Monday, May 21, 6-9 pm, in the event space of National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey, 226 W. 44th Street. Proceeds will benefit LEAP (Learning through an Expanded Arts Program), an arts education organization that serves more than 20,000 students in 175 schools throughout New York City each year. Tickets range from $75 to $250 and can be purchased at leapnyc.org.
The Drama League officially launches DirectorFest tomorrow, a city-wide festival focusing on the art and future of contemporary American stage directing, at various locations around NYC: The Sheen Center for Thought and Culture (18 Bleecker Street), The Drama League Theater Center (32 Avenue of the Americas), and The Drama Book Shop (250 West 40th Street) from January 13-22, 2018. Festival details, tickets and additional information are now available at www.directorfest.org, or by calling (212) 244-9494.
What happens when the youth who sell newspapers at the turn of the century decide to strike? Find out at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre, now through December 17 as the South Florida regional premiere of the Tony Award-winning Broadway sensation Disney Newsies The Musical hits the stage. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!
Florida Studio Theatre's Mainstage season concludes with the romantic and clever Rich Girl by Victoria Stewart. Based off of Henry James' classic novel Washington Square, this REGIONAL PREMIERE runs from April 5 to May 26 in the Gompertz Theatre.
Tony and Grammy award-nominated Michael McElroy and Broadway Inspirational Voices released the sixth video in their 'Broadway Our Way' series today, featuring 'I Don't Need A Roof' from the musical BIG FISH, with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa (multi-award winner, including Emmy, Outer Critics, and Drama Desk Awards; Grammy, and Tony nominations for The Wild Party, The Addams Family, I Am Harvey Milk). Check it out below!
Broadway in Bryan Park continued its 2015 program on Thursday - and BroadwayWorld was on hand to capture the first day. This week's line-up included performances from the casts of Mamma Mia!, CHICAGO, Finding Neverland, SISTAS and the help of 39 STEPS. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the special event below!
Later this week, 106.7 LITE FM will continue its 15th annual lunchtime theatre summer series, '106.7 LITE FM's Broadway in Bryant Park.' The 2015 program will present the best of Broadway, FREE to the public, on six consecutive Thursdays at 12:30 p.m. ET on the Bryant Park Stage. Thursday's line-up will include performances from the casts of CHICAGO (Brandy Norwood, Donna Marie Asbury, NaTasha Yvette Williams, David Bushman, Andrew Fitch, Kelcy Ann Griffin, Denny Paschall, Angel Reda, Michael Scirrotto, Tonya Wathen, Lara Seibert Young), Finding Neverland (Laura Michelle Kelly, Casey Butler, Jackson Demott Hill, Alex Dreier, Eli Tokash), SISTAS: The Musical (Emilie Battle, Tanesha Gary, Jennifer Fouche, Amy Goldberger, Robyn Payne), MAMMA MIA!, and 39 Steps (Arnie Burton, Billy Carter, Robert Petkoff, Brittany Vicars).
This is the final week to see the acclaimed Off-Broadway engagement of Ethel Sings by Joan Beber at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre (410 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues). This limited engagement concludes July 13th.
Undercover Productions LLC, now presenting the Off-Broadway Premiere of Ethel Sings by Joan Beber at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre (410 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues), will offer a special talk-back following the June 29th matinee performance with Robert Meeropol, the younger son of Ethel & Julius Rosenberg.
Undercover Productions LLC will present the Off-Broadway Premiere of Ethel Sings, by Joan Beber at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre (410 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues), with Opening Night set for tomorrow, Friday, June 6th. This limited engagement will continue through July 13th. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!
Undercover Productions LLC will present the Off-Broadway Premiere of Ethel Sings, by Joan Beber at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre (410 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues), with Opening Night set for Friday June 6th. This limited engagement will continue through July 13th.