Black Broadway - 1979 - New York Articles Page 16

Birdland will kick-off their great week of programming with the following acts:

The 5th Avenue Theatre has announced that Mickey Thomas, the lead singer of Starship (formerly Jefferson Starship), will star as Dennis in its sensational new production of Rock of Ages. Rock of Ages is the '80s rock ballad blast that features the music of Styx, Joan Jett, Twisted Sister, and more. With Mickey Thomas as lead vocalist, Starship produced hits including "We Built This City" (which appears in the production), "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now," and "Sara."

Just in time for the holiday season, THE WOMAN IN BLACK is inviting guests to try something new this year with a holiday ticket package. For those looking to bond over a spine-tingling live theater performance, THE WOMAN IN BLACK will include a drink from the bar with the purchase of a ticket using the code HOLIDAY through January 6, 2019. An experience surely not to miss, the production has been called "Spectacular" by the Chicago Sun-Times, and "Brilliant" by Chicago Theater Review, receiving rave reviews from critics across the board. 

Ucross, a prestigious artists' residency program and creative lab for the arts located in Wyoming's majestic High Plains, is proud to announce that Ucross Fellows Lars Jan and Mia Barron will stage The White Album, Jan's word-for-word celebration of Joan Didion's famous essay, at Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) from November 28th through December 1st.

Clean Break is thrilled to announce that playwright Lucy Kirkwood and actors Zawe Ashton, Sharon Duncan-Brewster and Tanya Moodie join the company as Patrons with immediate effect.

Next week, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, New York City Center's Principal Dance Company, returns to the theater's stage from November 28 - December 30, 2018 for a milestone season. During the Company's Ailey Ascending 60th Anniversary celebration, Artistic Director Robert Battle leads Ailey's 32 extraordinary dancers during this five-week holiday engagement that will elevate a legacy of excellence in artistry with premieres by some of today's most revered and prolific choreographers, including world premieres by Rennie Harris and Ronald K. Brown; a company premiere by Wayne McGregor; a new production of by Robert Battle; the return of a recent premiere by Jessica Lang, and special performances of rarely seen works by Alvin Ailey himself.

Stand-up comedy stalwart Paul Rodriguez will be taking on the role of God in the revival of Bruce Jay Friedman's cult-classic STEAMBATH opening October 20, 2018 at the Odyssey Theatre. I had the chance to illicit a few serious answers from this funny man amongst his very comical responses.

The Houston Cinema Arts Society is pleased to announce the full lineup of films, guest artists, live performances, and interactive elements that will populate the 2018 Houston Cinema Arts Festival – as it celebrates its milestone 10th anniversary – from November 8 – 12 at Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Rice Cinema, White Oak Music Hall, Cafe? Brasil, and additional partner venues across the City of Houston.

Celebrating the centennial of Alan Jay Lerner, The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Evans Haile, Executive Director), dedicated to the development of new musicals and rediscovery of musical gems from the past, is proud to announce that its acclaimed Musicals in Mufti series will celebrate the work of the legendary librettist and lyricist Alan Jay Lerner, whose hundredth birthday was August 31, 2018. The series honors one of the creators behind such classics as Brigadoon, Camelot, Love Life, and My Fair Lady.

Ebony Repertory Theatre announced today that Tony Award-winning actor Roger Robinson died Wednesday, September 26, 2018 in Escondido, California from a complicated heart condition. He was 78.

The Actors Fund announced today a 40th Anniversary reunion benefit concert of the 1979 hit Broadway production of They're Playing Our Song. The concert will be held on Monday, February 11th at 7:30 pm at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th St.) and will star the Broadway cast members Lucie Arnaz as 'Sonia Walsk' and Robert Klein as 'Vernon Gersch'.

On September 10, the Broadway at Birdland concert series presented singer/songwriter Amanda McBroom, who returned to the historic stage with "My Favorite Things." Musical director Michele Brourman was at the piano, and Jared Egan was on bass.

When the original production of Do Patent Leather Shows Really Reflect Up opened in Chicago in 1979, the show kicked off a 4½-year run at the Forum Theater, the longest in the city's history. The show featured Megan Mullally, Anthony Crivello and Chloe Webb. 'Shoes' broke house records during its two runs in Philadelphia. And now it's Jacksonville's turn as Do Patent Leather Shows Really Reflect Up opens at the iconic Alhambra Theatre & Dining on September 12 for a four-week run.

The Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voted Tuesday night (September 4) to present Honorary Awards to publicist Marvin Levy, composer Lalo Schifrin and actress Cicely Tyson, and the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award to producers Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall.  The three Oscar® statuettes and Thalberg Award will be presented at the Academy's 10th Annual Governors Awards on Sunday, November 18, at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center®.

Director of Nuffield Southampton Theatres (NST), Samuel Hodges, today announces full casting for the world premiere of Women in Power. NST Associate Director Blanche McIntyre directs Lydia Bewley, best known for The Inbetweeners, Plebs and E4's comedy Drifters, Elizabeth Boag, Anna Fordham, Lisa Kerr, Anne Odeke and Alicia Mckenzie. The production, in association with Oxford Playhouse, sees some of the UK's most influential female voices, Wendy Cope, Jenny Eclair, Suhayla El-Bushra, Natalie Haynes, Shappi Khorsandi, Jess Phillips MP and Brona C Titley, come together to write this musical comedy based on the Greek classic, The Assemblywomen. The production opens on 13 September at NST City, with previews from 6 September and runs until 29 September. It will then run at Oxford Playhouse from 3 - 6 October.

When the original production of Do Patent Leather Shows Really Reflect Up opened in Chicago in 1979, the show kicked off a 4½-year run at the Forum Theater, the longest in the city's history. The show featured Megan Mullally, Anthony Crivello and Chloe Webb. 'Shoes' broke house records during its two runs in Philadelphia. And now it's Jacksonville's turn as Do Patent Leather Shows Really Reflect Up opens at the iconic Alhambra Theatre & Dining on September 12 for a four-week run.

Cleveland Play House (CPH) kicks off its 2018-2019 Season with the spine tingling tale of Susan Hill's The Woman in Black.  Hill's gothic ghost story, adapted for the stage by Stephen Mallatratt, will star Bradley Armacost as Arthur Kipps and Adam Wesley Brown as the Actor in the show that Daily Mail called, "A nerve-shredding experience."  Director Robin Herford will recreate his original staging from the London West End.  The American premiere of the West End Production is produced by PW Productions and Pemberley Productions.  Previews begin on September 15th, with press opening on September 21st at the Allen Theatre in Playhouse Square. 

The Broadway at Birdland concert series is thrilled to announce that singer/songwriter Amanda McBroom will return to the historic club on September 10th 2018 with "My Favorite Things- Songs I've Longed to Sing.' The selections include words and music from the likes of Annie LaMott, Stephen Sondheim, Fran Landesman, Cole Porter, Jacques Brel, Michele Brourman, and, naturally, McBroom herself. The evening promises to be one to calm the jitters, raise the hackles, and hopefully heal the heart. Showtime is 7:30pm. The historic jazz venue Birdland, which has embraced the diversity of cabaret performing in recent years is located at 315 West 44TH ST. between 8th and 9th Avenues.

Acclaimed TV and film actor John Pleshette(Knots Landing, Murder One, Curb Your Enthusiasm) and stand-up comedian and actress Cathy Ladman (I'm Dying Up Here, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Scandal) - a late-night favorite who has made numerous appearances on The Tonight Showand has her own HBO One Night Stand special - anchor the ensemble cast of an outrageous new comedy inspired by a true story about "family dysfunction, atonement and matzo balls." Took A Cab Productions and the world-famousImprov comedy club chain present the world premiere of Jews, Christians and Screwing Stalin by Mark Lonow and Jo Anne Astrow. Lonow directs for an Aug. 18 opening at the Matrix Theatre, where performances will continue through Sept. 23.

Acclaimed TV and film actor John Pleshette (Knots Landing, Murder One, Curb Your Enthusiasm) and stand-up comedian and actress Cathy Ladman (I'm Dying Up Here, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Scandal) - a late-night favorite who has made numerous appearances on The Tonight Show and has her own HBO One Night Stand special - anchor the ensemble cast of an outrageous new comedy inspired by a true story about "family dysfunction, atonement and matzo balls." Took A Cab Productions and the world-famous Improv comedy club chain present the world premiere of Jews, Christians and Screwing Stalin by Mark Lonow and Jo Anne Astrow. Lonow directs for an Aug. 18 opening at the Matrix Theatre, where performances will continue through Sept. 23.

Director of Nuffield Southampton Theatres (NST), Samuel Hodges, today announces full casting for the world premiere of Women in Power. NST Associate Director Blanche McIntyre directs Lydia Bewley, best known for The Inbetweeners, Plebs and E4's comedy Drifters, Elizabeth Boag, Anna Fordham, Lisa Kerr, Anne Odeke and Alicia Mckenzie. The production, in association with Oxford Playhouse, sees some of the UK's most influential female voices, Wendy Cope, Jenny Eclair, Suhayla El-Bushra, Natalie Haynes, Shappi Khorsandi, Jess Phillips MP and Brona C Titley, come together to write this musical comedy based on the Greek classic, The Assemblywomen. The production opens on 13 September at NST City, with previews from 6 September and runs until 29 September. It will then run at Oxford Playhouse from 3 - 6 October.

A man who surely knows a thing or two about comedy, Mark Lonow, the co-owner of the legendary Improv chain, will world premiere his latest play (co-written with his wife Jo Anne Astrow) JEWS, CHRISTIANS AND SCREWING STALIN at the Matrix Theatre beginning August 16, 2018. Taking his childhood dramas and traumas, Mark repurposes his familial distress to make you cry, not from its heavy seriousness, but from all the laughing so hard.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) and the Onassis Foundation USA announced today six free performances of THE GOSPEL AT COLONUS, the groundbreaking re-telling of Sophocles' classic, for a limited engagement, September 4-9 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. With book, original lyrics, and direction by Lee Breuer and original music, adapted lyrics, and music direction by Bob Telson, the iconic musical returns to New York City for the first time since 2004 to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the original production at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and to honor visionary director Lee Breuer for his lifetime of excellence and historic collaboration with The Public Theater.

THE GOSPEL AT COLONUS will return to New York this fall, lighting up the Delacorte Theater in September.