His story inspired a nation. His music inspires the world. FELA! tells the true story of the legendary Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, whose soulful Afrobeat rhythms ignited a generation.
Motivated by his mother, a civil rights champion, he defied a corrupt and oppressive military government and devoted his life and music to the struggle for freedom and human dignity.
FELA! is a triumphant tale of courage, passion and love, featuring Fela Kuti's captivating music and the visionary direction and choreography of Tony Award winner Bill T. Jones.
EVERYBODY SAY YEAH YEAH!
Find out what's happening this month at NJPAC!
Seun Kuti is the youngest son of legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti. At the age of nine, Seun expressed the wish to sing to his father. A short while later Seun started performing with his father and the band, until his father's untimely death in 1997. Seun, then only 14 years old, assumed the role as lead singer of Egypt 80.
Full of energy and constant motion, FELA! The Concert radiates joy. Don't miss this celebration of Afrobeat founding father and charismatic fighter of human rights Fela Kuti, featuring a 10-piece Afrobeat band with members of Antibalas, and original cast members from the Tony-winning Broadway Show!
Seun Kuti (SHAY-OON KOO-TEE) releases his new 3-song EP Struggle Soundson Sony Music Masterworks. Co-produced by Robert Glasper, the EP features the single 'Gimme My Vote Back (C.P.C.D.)' where C.P.C.D. stands for Corporate Public Control Department.
Seun Kuti (SHAY-OON KOO-TEE) releases his new 3-song EP Struggle Sounds on Sony Music Masterworks. Co-produced by Robert Glasper, the EP features the single 'Gimme My Vote Back (C.P.C.D.)' where C.P.C.D. stands for Corporate Public Control Department.
Riverdance- the Anniversary Tour returns to the USA from January to June 2017. J.L. Williams rejoins the ongoing 20th Anniversary tour and will be featured for the first time as the 'Baritone Soloist' who sings 'Freedom/Heal Their Hearts' as well as reprising his role as one of two African American tap dancers in the showstopping number 'Trading Taps'.
West End musical theatre star Jacqui Dubois (original London cast of Rent and Children of Eden, other credits include The Lion King, Fela and most recentlyPeople, Places and Things ) will join Sarah and Andy as 'Oda Mae Brown', the part made famous in the film by Whoopi Goldberg.
?Tony Award-winner LILLIAS WHITE (Dreamgirls, Barnum, Chicago, The Life and Fela!) is set to return to The Triad (158 W. 72nd St.) on the Upper West Side for three special performances of "The Birthday Show" - celebrating White's 65th Birthday on Friday, July 22nd at 9PM, Saturday, July 23rd at 11PM and Sunday, July 24th at 7PM. Lillias White is also featured in 'The Get Down', the new Netflix series, executive produced by the legendary Baz Luhrmann (scheduled to begin streaming on Netflix on August 12th, 2016).
In a season dominated by musicals with scores made up of pop hits, the two 'Glee' stars helped remind audiences of the great music of Broadway.
Today, June 6th, the New York Times released a feature on Tony Award-winning choreographer Bill T. Jones. Jones won a Tony Award in 2007 for Best Choreography of Spring Awakening, and again in 2010 for Fela! In the interview, he discusses a wide range of topics, including race, aging, and sexuality.
THE COLOR PURPLE's Antoine L. Smith, along with ON YOUR FEET cast members Doreen Montalvo & Jennifer Sanchez will perform in the Broadway Artists & Friends Open Mic & Mingle on Monday April 11th at 7pm at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. They will be joined by Megan Lewis (IF/THEN, SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK, GREY GARDENS), Ian Knauer (DAMES AT SEA, MAMMA MIA!, BY JEEVES, STATE FAIR), D'Vorah Bailey (CANDIDE), Monette McKay (SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK, MEMPHIS, MAMMA MIA), J.L. Williams (FELA!) as well as selected up and comers (listed below).
The Apollo Theater in partnership with World Music Institute presents what has become an annual highlight, AFRICA NOW!. The celebrated event returns to the historic Apollo Theater (253 West 125th Street) tonight, March 26, at 8:00 p.m. for its fourth year spotlighting emerging and established artists of today's African music scene. Sahr Ngaujah (actor in Fela!) is the evening's host.
The Apollo Theater in partnership with World Music Institute presents what has become an annual highlight, AFRICA NOW!. The celebrated event returns to the historic Apollo Theater (253 West 125th Street) on Saturday, March 26, at 8:00 p.m. for its fourth year spotlighting emerging and established artists of today's African music scene.
?Z2 Entertainment is proud to present Felabration Feat. Amayo (Antibalas), Dave Watts (Motet) + Members of Atomga & Euforquestra at the Fox Theatre on Thursday, March 31st, 2016. Tickets are on sale January 29th for $10 early bird or $15 general admission.
Theatre Forward and UBS will host the 13th Annual Broadway Roundtable on Friday, January 29th at UBS (1285 Avenue of the Americas) from 12:00pm - 2:00pm.
The New York Television Festival, an organization dedicated to identifying and nurturing top independent creative talent and connecting it with networks, studios, digital media companies and brands, today announced the official selections for its flagship Independent Pilot Competition (IPC), including The Accidental Wolf, created by Arian Moayed of Waterwell Films. This explosive thriller, stars Kelli O'Hara (Tony Winner for The King & I), Mike Doyle (Clint Eastwood's Jersey Boys) and Sahr Ngaujah (Tony Nominee for Fela!), and is one of 50 original television and web series pilots that will be presented for industry executives and TV fans at the 11th Annual New York Television Festival.
The World Music Institute has announced its 30th Anniversary, 2015-16 season -- the debut season for Artistic Director Par Neiburger. Recognizing the ever-expanding nature of world music, Neiburger showcases the experimental and avant-garde along with the classic.
Roy Gabay and Daniel Kuney, the duo behind Roy Gabay Productions, are teaming on a new venture called JumpStart Entertainment.
The latest edition of Scott Siegel's acclaimed series shows the growing number of Broadway musicals without new scores.
The finale of Season 15 of the popular and acclaimed series Broadway by the Year will be June 22 at 8 P.M. at Town Hall and feature tunes from every year during the last quarter century of Broadway [from 1991]. Broadway by the Year creator/writer/host, Scott Siegel, says, 'This particular edition of Broadway by the Year will feature a great many stars who originated the songs they will be singing from the shows in which they starred, including Tony winner Randy Graff (A Class Act); Tony Nominee Cheryl Freeman (The Civil War), Tony Nominee Sahr Ngaujah (Fela!), Lisa Howard (It Shoulda Been You), and Special Guest Star, Tony Danza (Honeymoon in Vegas).' Siegel further explained that the concert will also feature award-winning stars who performed in the shows they will be singing from, including Grammy-winning country legend Larry Gatlin (Broadway, The Will Rogers Follies), Kyle Scatliffe (Olivier Nominee for The Scottsboro Boys), Quentin Earl Darrington (Ragtime).
The York Theatre Company world premiere production of the new musical play, Texas in Paris, written by Alan Govenar with spirituals, cowboy songs and country hymns, starring Tony award-winner Lillias White (Fela, The Life) with Scott Wakefield (Hands on a Hardbody) concludes its limited engagement this Sunday afternoon, March 1, 2015 at 2:30 p.m. at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue).
The York Theatre Company, dedicated to the development of new musicals and preserving musical gems from the past, continues the 2014-2015 season with the world premiere of the new musical play, Texas in Paris, written by Alan Govenar with spirituals, cowboy songs and country hymns, starring Tony award-winner Lillias White (Fela, The Life) with Scott Wakefield (Hands on a Hardbody). Akin Babatunde (Blind Lemon Blues) directs this two character play based on a true story, with music supervision by Amy Jones.
BroadwayWorld brings you photos from opening night below!
The York Theatre Company, dedicated to the development of new musicals and preserving musical gems from the past, continues the 2014-2015 season with the world premiere of the new musical play, Texas in Paris, written by Alan Govenar with spirituals, cowboy songs and country hymns, starring Tony award-winner Lillias White (Fela, The Life) with Scott Wakefield (Hands on a Hardbody). Akin Babatunde (Blind Lemon Blues) directs this two character play based on a true story, with music supervision by Amy Jones.
According to Billboard, Cuban musical Salsa, Mambo, Cha Cha Cha, which just opened in Havana this week, might be heading to the U.S. Directed by Fela!'s Maija Garcia, the revue-style show focuses on Cuban music, dance, and culture. The sold out show, which plays at the Mella Theater, is currently seeking backers to export the show.
The York Theatre Company, dedicated to the development of new musicals and preserving musical gems from the past, in association with Everyday Songs, continues the 2014-2015 season with the world premiere of the new musical play, Texas in Paris, written by Alan Govenar with spirituals, cowboy songs and country hymns, starring Tony award-winner Lillias White (Fela, The Life) with Scott Wakefield (Hands on a Hardbody). Akin Babatunde (Blind Lemon Blues) directs this two character play based on a true story, with music supervision by Amy Jones.
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