Thomas Kail News

The Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz, starring Ashanti, LaChanze and Orlando Jones, will open on Thursday, June 18 at New York City Center. (Previews begin June 12). Easing down the road with Ashanti's Dorothy will be Joshua Henry, James Monroe Iglehart, Christian White, Tichina Arnold and Dawnn Lewis. You can catch all the 'Wiz' filled fun at up to 35% off with our special BWW Discount to the upcoming Encores! Summer Stars production!

Last seen on B'way in a featured role in 'Legally Blonde', the girl with the memorable name is a veteran of several hit shows.

The Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz, starring Ashanti, LaChanze and Orlando Jones, will open on Thursday, June 18 at New York City Center. (Previews begin June 12). Easing down the road with Ashanti's Dorothy will be Joshua Henry, James Monroe Iglehart, Christian White, Tichina Arnold and Dawnn Lewis.

'There's No Place Like Home' for homeless shelter dogs, according to Nigel, the former street-dog-turned-stage-star, who is making his New York professional debut in The Wiz at City Center in June. The need for a home is what inspired Nigel, along with co-star Ashanti (who plays Dorothy) to host 'There's No Place Like Home' Adoption Day on Saturday, May 30th at at City Center (55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues). BroadwayWorld.com was there for all the 'WIZ' filled fun!

'There's No Place Like Home' for homeless shelter dogs, according to Nigel, the former street-dog-turned-stage-star, who is making his New York professional debut in The Wiz at City Center in June. The need for a home is what inspired Nigel, along with co-star Ashanti (who plays Dorothy) to host 'There's No Place Like Home'Adoption Day on Saturday, May 30 at 11:00 am at City Center (55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues).

Singer/songwriter, actor and author Ashanti will make her stage debut as Dorothy in the New York City Center Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz, June 12 - July 5 at New York City Center (W. 55th Street between 6th & 7th Avenues). The Wiz, the 1974 rock and soul musical based on the beloved L. Frank Baum story about Dorothy and her adventures in Oz, will be directed by Thomas Kail and choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler, with music direction by Alex Lacamoire, (the team responsible for the Tony-winning In the Heights).

The American Theatre Wing has announced its newest episode of its popular 'Working in the Theater' series, titled 'Fluidity & Change: Directors 2009.' This episode features Thomas Kail (In the Heights), Moisés Kaufman (33 Variations) Bartlett Sher (Joe Turner's Come and Gone), Leigh Silverman (Coraline), and Kate Whoriskey (Ruined). The program, moderated by Variety reporter Gordon Cox, will air on CUNY Television beginning Sunday, May 31, at 5:00 pm, with additional airings Friday, June 5 at 9:00 am, 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm, Saturday, June 6 at 11:00 am, and Sunday, June 7 at 5:00 pm.

Ashanti, joined by Thomas Kail and Alex Lacamoire, gave a special behind-the-scenes, sneak peek performance this morning, Tuesday May 19th, for the media and BWW TV was there!

Singer/songwriter, actor and author Ashanti will make her stage debut as Dorothy in the New York City Center Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz, June 12 - July 5 at New York City Center (W. 55th Street between 6th & 7th Avenues). The Wiz, the 1974 rock and soul musical based on the beloved L. Frank Baum story about Dorothy and her adventures in Oz, will be directed by Thomas Kail and choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler, with music direction by Alex Lacamoire, (the team responsible for the Tony-winning In the Heights)

'There's No Place Like Home' for homeless shelter dogs, according to Nigel, the former street-dog-turned-stage-star, who is making his New York professional debut in The Wiz at City Center in June. The need for a home is what inspired Nigel, along with co-star Ashanti (who plays Dorothy) to host 'There's No Place Like Home'Adoption Day on Saturday, May 30 at 11:00 am at City Center (55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues).

Nigel, a brindle-hair Cairn Terrier, will be making his professional stage debut as Toto in the Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz, starring Ashanti as Dorothy, June 12 - July 5 at New York City Center, 131 W. 55th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues).

Broadway/L.A. today announces the lineup for its 2010 Season, with all productions scheduled to play at its flagship venue, Hollywood's historic Pantages Theatre (6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood).

Orlando Jones will play The Wiz, and Tony Award-winning actress LaChanze will play Glinda, the good witch, in the Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz, starring Ashanti, June 12 July 5 at New York City Center. Glinda's sister-witches will include Tichina Arnold as Evillene and Dawnn Lewis as Addaperle. Easing down the road with Ashanti's Dorothy will be Joshua Henry as the Tinman, James Monroe Iglehart as the Lion and Christian White as the Scarecrow.

The new Broadway musical-comedy, 9 To 5: The Musical starring four-time Emmy Award winner and Tony Award nominee Allison Janney, Stephanie J. Block, Megan Hilty, and two-time Tony Award nominee Marc Kudisch began preview performances on Tuesday, April 7, 2009 and opened last night, Thursday, April 30, 2009, at the Marriott Marquis Theatre (1535 Broadway).

Singer/songwriter, actor and author Ashanti will make her stage debut as Dorothy in the New York City Center Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz, June 12 ? July 5 at New York City Center (W. 55th Street between 6th & 7th Avenues). The Wiz, the 1974 rock and soul musical based on the beloved L. Frank Baum story about Dorothy and her adventures in Oz, will be directed by Thomas Kail and choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler, with music direction by Alex Lacamoire, (the team responsible for the Tony-winning In the Heights). A June 18th opening is planned.

Beginning June 26, Vassar & New York Stage and Film's Powerhouse Theater will celebrate its 25th anniversary season. Powerhouse provides its audience a window into the creative process of some of the nation's top artists and writers as they engage in the rigorous development of plays and musicals, before going on to larger stages in New York, across the country, and around the world.

The producers of IN THE HEIGHTS, winner of four 2008 Tony© Awards and the 2008 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album, announced it's national tour will begin this fall in Tampa, FL at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. The tour is scheduled to begin performances on October 27, 2009. Other cities in which the show is scheduled to appear include Atlanta, Minneapolis, Hartford, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Houston, Austin, Tempe, San Diego and Costa Mesa. For additional tour dates and information visit: www.intheheightsthemusical.com/tour.html

Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of Andre Bishop, Artistic Director, and Bernard Gersten, Executive Producer) has announced its 2009 Fall productions of two new plays which will mark the Broadway and New York debuts for their respective playwrights: IN THE NEXT ROOM or The Vibrator Play, by Sarah Ruhl, directed by Les Waters; and BROKE-OLOGY a new play by Nathan Louis Jackson, directed by Thomas Kail. IN THE NEXT ROOM or The Vibrator Play, which will be presented on Broadway while LCT's Tony Award winning production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC continues its run at the Vivian Beaumont Theater, will begin previews on Thursday, October 22 and open on Thursday, November 19 at a Shubert theater to be announced.

IN THE HEIGHTS star Mandy Gonzalez is set to play Lauren Hoffman, a representative from a drug treatment center on the ABC soap opera 'One Live To Live' beginning March 26th. The actress is currently set for four episodes as drug counselor Hoffman on the fabled daytime drama.

The New York Times is reporting that THE WIZ will 'Ease on Down the Road' to the New York City Center as it has announced that it would stage a revival of 'The Wiz' as its Encores! Summer Stars production.