Black Broadway - 1979 - New York Articles Page 1

New Federal Theatre and North Carolina Black Repertory Company co-produce BLOOMING IN DRY SEASON, a Caribbean family drama by Eljon Wardally with an original Calypso score by Guggenheim Fellow Etienne Charles, at WP Theater in New York.

Arts Centre Melbourne's Australian Museum of Performing Arts will host ENCORE!, featuring 50 iconic objects from Australia's performing arts history, including costumes worn by Kylie Minogue, Hugh Jackman, and Olivia Newton-John.

Philadelphia's Tony Award-winning Wilma Theater announced Lindsay Smiling as its sole Artistic Director, transitioning from his Co-Artistic Director role to lead the company alongside Managing Director Leigh Goldenberg.

Wesleyan University has named its black box theater in the new Fries Arts Building the Lin-Manuel Miranda Theater, in honor of Lin-Manuel Miranda, who graduated from the university in 2002.

Two-time Academy Award winner Adrien Brody received his portrait at Sardi’s to celebrate his Broadway debut in Lindsey Ferrentino’s new play, The Fear of 13. Check out photos here!

Before Amadeus arrives on STARZ later this year, find out everything to know about the play, including its origin, major productions and players, adaptations, and more!

 Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre, the Evanston theatre company that has been thrilling audiences with stories of the Black American and African diaspora experience since 1979, has announced its programming for the 2026 season. 

Sweeney Todd has found its Mrs. Lovett! Actress, dancer, and cabaret performer Meow Meow will star alongside Ramin Karimloo, who takes on the role of the Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

The play is suffused with the sympathetic wisdom that defines Wilson’s writing. He looks at lives many would dismiss as small or defeated and finds in them an undeniable nobility.

In what is clearly proving to be the must-see stage production of the new year so far here in Southern California, McCoy Rigby Entertainment's stunning new production of the 1979 Tony Award-winning classic SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET—now playing a limited engagement at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts through February 22, 2026—has been revived locally with thrilling visuals, Broadway-caliber showmanship, creative hutzpah, and a spectacular cast led by Tony nominee Will Swenson as the titular vengeful London barber and the hilarious Olivier Award winner Lesli Margherita as pie shop proprietor Mrs. Lovett.

Center Theatre Group will present CTG: The Gala, the not-for-profit's annual event which will be held at The Music Center, featuring cocktails and dinner on the Jerry Moss Plaza and a one-night-only show at the Mark Taper Forum.

Next week, 54 Below will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond, including Linda Eder with Billy Stritch, Ute Lemper and more. 

I decided to speak with its two stars, Will Swenson and Lesli Margherita about the challenges faced during their journeys to taking on Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett and how working with Director Jason Alexander for the La Mirada production has inspired them to bring these two iconic characters to life.

In January of 2026, 54 Below will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond, including Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp, Matthew Morrison and many more. 

Watch a sneak peek of Will Sharpe as Mozart in AMADEUS, a reimagined series exploring his legacy and rivalry with Antonio Salieri (Paul Bettany).

Joanna Pickering's one-woman show Crash Landing is in development at The Tank, with special presentation dates. The next show will take place on December 15th at 7pm.

The official trailer has dropped for Amadeus, the new series adaptation of Peter Shaffer’s award-winning stage play. The series features Will Sharpe as Wolfgang ‘Amadeus’ Mozart, and Paul Bettany as court composer Antonio Salieri. Watch the dramatic trailer now.

National Black Theatre (NBT) will present a one-night-only revival of Soljourney Into Truth: Staging the Unpublished Manuscript on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at 7 PM, at 16 Cooper Square (CBA Studio) as part of NBT’s Fall 2025 Art Institution Residency at New York University’s Hemispheric Institute.

Diane Keaton made her Broadway debut in the original Broadway production of Hair at the age of 22. The landmark musical started out at the Public Theater off-Broadway in 1967 before transferring to the Biltmore Theatre on Broadway in 1968. Keaton joined the cast for the Broadway run, originating her track in the show.

Discover the new AMADEUS series starring Paul Bettany and Will Sharpe, exploring the rivalry between Mozart and Salieri. Premiering this December!

While a lot has been written about two handers, a term for two-person shows, less has been penned about three-handers. Yet, three-person plays are just as common a genre on Broadway as pieces with only two players. Currently, Art, by Yasmina Reza, is receiving an all-star revival at the Music Box.

City Lit Theater Company will again present BOOKS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK during BANNED BOOKS WEEK. Learn more about the events and see how to attend here!

There will be play readings on Mondays, located in Theatre 40's main venue, the Mary Levin Cutler Theatre on the first floor of 241 S. Moreno Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90212.

BroadwayWorld is here with your fall 2025 guide to all the shows lighting up New York’s stages. From world premieres to long-awaited revivals, this season’s Off-Broadway lineup delivers something for every kind of theater fan!

First-look photos have been unveiled for Amadeus, the new series adaptation of Peter Shaffer’s award-winning stage play. Take a look at stars Will Sharpe, Paul Bettany, and Gabrielle Creevy in the limited series.