The Sundance Institute Videos

Watch Jessica Phillips prefor the title track from the new musical, 'What We Leave Behind', playing Sept 24-Oct 5, 2025 at Theatre Raleigh. Phillips is accompanied by Music Director Beth G Tankersley.

Jennifer Hudson talks about when she first met Aretha Franklin, the role the artist's music played in her life and returning to the stage.

The Franklin sisters collaborate on writing the title song in this new clip from the biopic.

Hear Hudson sing one of Aretha Franklin's most iconic songs.

Jennifer Hudson belts out Aretha Franklin's most iconic song, 'Respect,' in this new clip from the film of the same name.

McDonald is the recipient of a record-breaking six Tony Awards; Hudson won an Academy Award for her portrayal of Effie White in Dreamgirls; and Burgess is known for Broadway roles in The Little Mermaid and Jersey Boys.

The 'half-lament, half-rallying cry' was originally written in response to the Sandy Hook shootings.

Today in 2008, Passing Strange closed at the Belasco Theatre, where it ran for 165 performances. Passing Strange is a rock musical about a young African American's artistic journey of self-discovery in Europe, drawing on heavy elements of existentialism, metafictional comedy, and the Kunstlerroman. The musical's lyrics and book are by Stew with music and orchestrations by Heidi Rodewald and Stew. It was created in collaboration with director Annie Dorsen. The musical was developed at the Sundance Institute Theatre Lab in 2004 and 2005, one of the only works there ever to be invited back for a second round of development. It had productions in Berkeley, California and Off-Broadway before opening on Broadway in 2008, garnering strong reviews and several awards. Spike Lee filmed the musical on Broadway as a documentary, premiering the film in 2009.

Today in 2008, Passing Strange closed at the Belasco Theatre, where it ran for 165 performances. Passing Strange is a rock musical about a young African American's artistic journey of self-discovery in Europe, drawing on heavy elements of existentialism, metafictional comedy, and the Kunstlerroman. The musical's lyrics and book are by Stew with music and orchestrations by Heidi Rodewald and Stew. It was created in collaboration with director Annie Dorsen. The musical was developed at the Sundance Institute Theatre Lab in 2004 and 2005, one of the only works there ever to be invited back for a second round of development. It had productions in Berkeley, California and Off-Broadway before opening on Broadway in 2008, garnering strong reviews and several awards. Spike Lee filmed the musical on Broadway as a documentary, premiering the film in 2009.

Today in 2008, Passing Strange closed at the Belasco Theatre, where it ran for 165 performances. Passing Strange is a rock musical about a young African American's artistic journey of self-discovery in Europe, drawing on heavy elements of existentialism, metafictional comedy, and the Kunstlerroman. The musical's lyrics and book are by Stew with music and orchestrations by Heidi Rodewald and Stew. It was created in collaboration with director Annie Dorsen. The musical was developed at the Sundance Institute Theatre Lab in 2004 and 2005, one of the only works there ever to be invited back for a second round of development. It had productions in Berkeley, California and Off-Broadway before opening on Broadway in 2008, garnering strong reviews and several awards. Spike Lee filmed the musical on Broadway as a documentary, premiering the film in 2009.

Center Theatre Group presents a discussion between the visionary game designer, futurist and bestselling author of "Reality is Broken," Jane McGonigal, and playwright Jennifer Haley, winner of the 2012 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, at the Veterans Memorial Building in Culver City, Friday, March 8 at 8 p.m. Admission is free, but seating is limited and reservations are required.

Lemon, a new documentary about the acclaimed New York poet/playwright Lemon Andersen, will have its broadcast premiere on PBS as part of Latino Public Broadcasting's arts and culture series VOCES on Friday, October 19, 2012 from 10:00-11:00 p.m. ET (check local listings), in conjunction with Hispanic Heritage Month. Produced and directed by Laura Brownson and Beth Levison, Lemon is a Russell Simmons presentation in association with Impact Partners.

Today in 2008, Passing Strange closed at the Belasco Theatre, where it ran for 165 performances. Passing Strange is a rock musical about a young African American's artistic journey of self-discovery in Europe, drawing on heavy elements of existentialism, metafictional comedy, and the Künstlerroman. The musical's lyrics and book are by Stew with music and orchestrations by Heidi Rodewald and Stew. It was created in collaboration with director Annie Dorsen. The musical was developed at the Sundance Institute Theatre Lab in 2004 and 2005, one of the only works there ever to be invited back for a second round of development. It had productions in Berkeley, California and Off-Broadway before opening on Broadway in 2008, garnering strong reviews and several awards. Spike Lee filmed the musical on Broadway as a documentary, premiering the film in 2009.

Last night, March 12, Robert Redford hosted the first-ever New York benefit celebrating the Sundance Institute Theatre Program at The Bowery Hotel. Participants included Sundance Institute Theatre Program alumni Denis O'Hare (Performance of An Iliad, at New York Theatre Workshop), Lisa Peterson Scott Frankel, Jeanine Tesori, Georgi James and Christine Ebersole, who recreated 'Little Edie Beale' from Grey Gardens. BroadwayWorld was on hand to speak to the guests and takes you inside the event below.

Today in 2008, Passing Strange opened at the Belasco Theatre, where it ran for 165 performances. Passing Strange is a rock musical about a young African American's artistic journey of self-discovery in Europe, drawing on heavy elements of existentialism, metafictional comedy, and the Künstlerroman. The musical's lyrics and book are by Stew with music and orchestrations by Heidi Rodewald and Stew. It was created in collaboration with director Annie Dorsen. The musical was developed at the Sundance Institute Theatre Lab in 2004 and 2005, one of the only works there ever to be invited back for a second round of development. It had productions in Berkeley, California and Off-Broadway before opening on Broadway in 2008, garnering strong reviews and several awards. Spike Lee filmed the musical on Broadway as a documentary, premiering the film in 2009.

Lisa D'Amour and Melissa James Gibson are this year's recipients of the 2011 Steinberg Playwright Awards, presented by The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust at Lincoln Center last night, November 14. The Steinberg Playwright Awards are presented biennially, and are uniquely positioned to honor the accomplishments of some of the most gifted up-and-coming American playwrights, and to recognize the promise they hold for the future of American theatre.

La Jolla Playhouse presents the Pulitzer Prize-winning play Ruined, by Lynn Nottage (Intimate Apparel, Crumbs from the Table of Joy), directed by South Africa native Liesl Tommy, in the Mandell Weiss Theatre November 16 - December 19 (media night: Sunday, November 21 at 7:00 pm). Ruined is a co-production with Berkeley Repertory Theatre and the Huntington Theatre Company.

The highly anticipated 'ABC World Premiere Movie Event: A Raisin in the Sun' is set to air on February 25th, 2008. BroadwayWorld.com brings you this sneak peek video at this stage to small screen adaptation.