A few weeks ago over at Broadway Sessions we were joined by an incredible lineup of artists for our Black History Month Celebration! It was an amazing night full of beautiful moments from everyone involved. Performers included Nikki James (Tony Award-Winner), Olivia Donalson (Aladdin), Arica Jackson (Head Over Heels), Laurissa 'Lala' Romain (South Pacific), Kathryn Allison (Wicked), Brennyn Lark (Les Miserables), Antoine Smith (MJ The Musical), Brynn Williams (Spongebob), Carmen Ruby Floyd (Hello Dolly), Joy Woods (Little Shop Of Horrors), Olutayo Bosede (Moulin Rouge), Crystal Joy (Motown), Salome Smith (Little Shop Of Horrors), L. Steven Taylor (The Lion King), Imari Hardon (Avenue Q), Anthony Chatmon (Be More Chill), Ayana George (MJ The Musical), Anastacia McClesky (Waitress), Christiani Pitts (King Kong), Jay McKenzie (Beautiful).
With David Alan Grier making his official return to Broadway tonight as Sergeant Vernon C. Waters in Roundabout Theatre Company's A Soldier's Play, we're looking back at his Tony-nominated turn as Sportin' Life in 2012's Tony-nominated production of The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess on the show's opening night. Check out the video to see Grier alongside Audra McDonald, Norm Lewis, Phillip Boykin, Joshua Henry, and more as they celebrate the special night!
Next up in the Encores! Off-Center season is Promenade (July 10 & 11) as part of New York City Center's 75th Anniversary Season. The cast is in rehearsals and gave us a special sneak peek! Go behind the scenes with the whole company below!
While the cast was in rehearsals, they stopped to play a little game that we like to call Synopsis Showdown! Watch as they find the words to tell us more about the almost forgotten musical!
Broadway Sessions bid farewell to Avenue Q recently. Current cast members as well as Q alumni joined together to celebrate the Tony winning musicals 16 year run in NYC. And yes, there was plenty of puppet action! Enjoy these highlights featuring Rick Lyon, Jennifer Barnhart, Ben Durocher, Lisa Helmi Johanson, Maggie Lakis, Erin Quill, Carmen Ruby Floyd, Sharon Wheatley, Joshua Holden, Imari Hardon, Jed Resnick as well as our Rising Star Cassandra Giovinne.
BORN FOR BROADWAY 2013, the fourth annual celebrity cabaret, featuring Broadway and TV stars donating their time and talent to raise money for paralysis-based organizations, took place at 54 Below last Monday, Sept. 30. Below, check out highlights from the concert, including performances from Annaleigh Ashford, John Tartaglia, and Betsy Wolfe!
Broadway's Eden Espinosa, Jane Monheit, and Christiane Noll performed 'Always' by Scott Alan in a tribute to Sandy Hook Elementary and the people of Newtown, Connecticut, from the Broadway and New York theatre community. Click below to watch.
A devout theater fan knows no holiday, and thankfully, many of Broadway's most beloved shows and performers nationwide don't either. So what's a theater enthusiast to do on this Independence Day? Check out a sampling of this year's most exciting 4th of July offerings and click below to revisit some of your favorites saluting our nation in song!
Last night, June 10, Audra McDonald took home her 5th Tony Award for for Best Lead Actress in a Musical for her role of 'Bess' in THE GERSWIN's PORGY AND BESS. Though we'd think she'd be used to the feeling of winning by now, McDonald spoke with BroadwayWorld just moments after her win only to reveal how it still feels 'out of body'. Click below to hear from the Broadway darling herself!
The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess is now on Broadway with a cast led by four-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald (Ragtime, 'Private Practice') as Bess, Drama Desk nominee Norm Lewis (Les Misérables, Sondheim on Sondheim) as Porgy and two-time Tony nominee David Alan Grier (Race, 'In Living Color') as Sporting Life. In the video below, the audience got a special surprise when the cast welcomed a couple onstage for a heartwarming marriage propsal. Click below to check it out!
The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess is now on Broadway with a cast led by four-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald (Ragtime, 'Private Practice') as Bess, Drama Desk nominee Norm Lewis (Les Misérables, Sondheim on Sondheim) as Porgy and two-time Tony nominee David Alan Grier (Race, 'In Living Color') as Sporting Life. Last night, McDonald was a guest on The Colbert Report on Comedy Central. The four-time Tony Award-winner chatted with Stephen Colbert about her return to Broadway and performed 'Summertime.' Click below to check it out!
The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess is now on Broadway with a cast led by four-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald (Ragtime, 'Private Practice') as Bess, Drama Desk nominee Norm Lewis (Les Misérables, Sondheim on Sondheim) as Porgy and two-time Tony nominee David Alan Grier (Race, 'In Living Color') as Sporting Life. McDonlad and Lewis will appear on 'The Rosie Show' tomorrow March 2, and BroadwayWorld brings you previews of their performances of 'Summertime,' 'I Got PLenty O' Nuttin,' and 'I Loves You, Porgy' below! Check your local listings to tune in live!
The Gershwins' PORGY AND BESS officially opened on Thursday, January 12th, 2012 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. The cast led by four-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald (Ragtime, 'Private Practice') as Bess, Drama Desk nominee Norm Lewis (Les Misérables, Sondheim on Sondheim) as Porgy and two-time Tony nominee David Alan Grier (Race, 'In Living Color') as Sporting Life. Today, McDonald and Lewis appeared on The View to promote the show and BroadwayWorld brings you their performance of 'Bess, You Is My Woman Now' below!
The Gershwins' PORGY AND BESS officially opened on Thursday, January 12th, 2012 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 West 46th Street). The cast led by four-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald (Ragtime, 'Private Practice') as Bess, Drama Desk nominee Norm Lewis (Les Misérables, Sondheim on Sondheim) as Porgy and two-time Tony nominee David Alan Grier (Race, 'In Living Color') as Sporting Life. The cast also includes Phillip Boykin as Crown, Nikki Renée Daniels as Clara, Joshua Henry as Jake, Christopher Innvar as Detective, Bryonha Marie Parham as Serena and NaTasha Yvette Williams as Mariah, as well as Sumayya Ali, Allison Blackwell, Roosevelt André Credit, Trevon Davis, Joseph Dellger, Wilkie Ferguson, Carmen Ruby Floyd, Gavin Gregory, Heather Hill, David Hughey, Andrea Jones-Sojola, Alicia Hall Moran, Cedric Neal, Phumzile Sojola, Nathaniel Stampley, Julius Thomas III, J.D. Webster and Lisa Nicole Wilkerson.
Check out the just-released promo for the show below!
On Thursday, January 12, The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess opened at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. Broadway Beat was on hand for exciting opening night party to chat with the cast and company and takes you inside below!
'Wow' is all that we could say after watching this thrilling show preview for The Gershwins' PORGY AND BESS on Broadway! Check out the footage below of Audra McDonald, Norm Lewis, David Alan Grier & company lighting up the stage in this new production which opens on Thursday, January 12!
We'll have a complete BWW TV preview up later, but we couldn't resist bringing you a sneak peek at a production montage for The Gershwins' PORGY AND BESS on Broadway! The show opens on Thursday, January 12th, 2012 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre starring Audra McDonald as Bess, Norm Lewis as Porgy and David Alan Grier as Sporting Life.
The Gershwins' PORGY AND BESS opens on Thursday, January 12th, 2012 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 West 46th Street, between 8th Avenue and Broadway). Tickets are now on sale at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 877-250-2929. In the video below, leading lady Audra McDonald chats about what it's like to take on the iconic character.