Dessa Rose

The Broadway production of Ragtime was a glorious accomplishment, a riveting testament to the original American musical and to all that America itself could be. The show ran for 834 performances at the Ford Center, closing in the final year of the 20th century. It was nominated for 13 Tony Awards, taking home four.

A strange, insistent music is coming back to Broadway. BroadwayWorld has just learned that Lincoln Center Theater will soon present Ragtime at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre. Performances begin September 26. Member onsale May 13. Public onsale May 28.

While the series' recurring cast includes Tom Selleck, Bridget Moynahan, Donnie Wahlberg, and more, guest stars have included Audra McDonald, Kelli O'Hara, Joanna Gleason, Adrienne Warren, Jinkx Monsoon, Norm Lewis, Norbert Leo Butz, and more. Check out a list of Broadway guest stars on Blue Bloods now!

Berkeley Repertory Theatre announced the full cast and creative team for the world premiere musical, Goddess. The musical stage production is conceived and directed by Saheem Ali, music and lyrics by Michael Thurber, and written by Jocelyn Bioh. Previews begin Saturday, August 13, and the show runs through Sunday, September 25.

Running July 1 through 16 at The Colonial Theatre, the audience will be transported to a bustling Irish pub with a stage full of incredibly talented actors singing and playing their own instruments. 

Berkshire Theatre Group and Kate Maguire have announced casting for shows in BTG’s Early Summer 2022 Season. The full season will feature B.R.O.K.E.N code B.I.R.D switching, a world premiere play and recipient of an NEA Grants for Arts Projects Award and more.

Producer Mark Cortale announced today that award-winning stars of the stage and screen Norm Lewis, Megan Hilty, and Cheyenne Jackson will join the line-up of talent slated to participate in The Seth Concert Series, the weekly virtual series based on Seth Rudetsky's international Broadway series that began at The Art House in Provincetown.

Dessa Rose, the second installment of Olney Theatre Center's Applause Concert series bows for its single performance on Friday, March 6 at 8:00pm on the Mainstage. The musical, presented in a concert recital directed by Monique Midgette is a 2005 work by the famed duo Lynne Ahrens (Book and Lyrics) and Stephen Flaherty (Music) based on the 1986 novel by Sherley Ann Williams. Christopher Youstra, Olney Theatre's Associate Artistic Director/Director of Music Theatre and the series curator serves as music director and conductor. Awa Sal Secka plays the title role, Gracie Jones co-stars as Ruth. Members of the cast of Miss You Like Hell fill-in the supporting roles. Limited tickets remain. ($60/$50 Olney Theatre Center Members) Purchased online at olneytheatre.org/dessa or call the Box Office (301-924-3400).

Berkeley Repertory Theatre today announced the full cast and creative team for Paradise Square: An American Musical. The world premiere is helmed by acclaimed director Moises Kaufman, with choreography by the legendary Bill T. Jones and a book by Marcus Gardley, Craig Lucas, and Larry Kirwan. Music by Jason Howland and Larry Kirwan, with lyrics by Nathan Tysen, and based on the songs of Stephen Foster. Paradise Square is produced by special arrangement with Garth H. Drabinsky in association with Peter LeDonne and Teatro Proscenium Limited Partnership.

First of all, kudos to director James Esposito for discovering the musical DESSA ROSE, based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Sherley Anne Williams. This awe-inspiring musical received its New York premiere at Lincoln Center in 2005 and it's a wonder no other theater group has decided to produce this timely exploration about the universal need for freedom and equality. With book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty, it tells the story of a young black woman (a runaway slave) and a young white woman (an abandoned mother) beginning in the years just prior to the Civil War and continuing through their journey to acceptance in the antebellum South. The audience has the role of playing their grandchildren, to whom the elderly pair tell their story as it is presented to us.

Multiple sources have revealed a starry cast for the upcoming West End production of Chess at London's Coliseum. The cast is said to include Michael Ball (The Russian), Alexandra Burke (Svetlana), Murray Head (The Arbiter), Tim Howar (The American) and Cassidy Janson (Florence).

Chromolume Theatre at the Attic has announced the first production of its 2018 Season of Musicals, Dessa Rose. With book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty, opening is set for Friday, February 2 at 8pm. The run will continue through February 25 only. The Chromolume's production of Dessa Rose will feature musical direction by Daniel Yokomizo, choreography by Michael Marchak, and it will be directed by James Esposito.

The Chromolume Theatre at The Attic in Los Angeles has announced a season of musicals for 2018, kicking off in February with the off-Broadway hit Dessa Rose by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, followed in July by Jane Eyre (book and additional lyrics by John Caird with music & lyrics by Paul Gordon), and concluding with Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Passion, opening in November.

16th Street Theater announces their Season Eleven 2018: Heroes featuring five thrilling plays about combat and those who wield weapons by authors Kathleen Cahill and Sean Christopher Lewis, and Chicago writers Ike Holter, Aline Lathrop, and J. Joseph Cox. Who are protected and served, and what are the consequences? When violence surrounds, how does one learn to speak another language?

Playwrights Horizons begins accepting entries today, Monday, May 8 at 12 Noon, for the LIVEforFIVE online lottery for $5 tickets to their world premiere production of BELLA: AN AMERICAN TALL TALE, a new musical with book, music and lyrics by Obie Award winner Kirsten Childs (The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin at Playwrights, Miracle Brothers).

Playwrights Horizons has announced complete casting for BELLA: AN AMERICAN TALL TALE, the co-world premiere of a new musical with book, music and lyrics by Obie Award winner Kirsten Childs (The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin at Playwrights, Miracle Brothers). 

Earlier this week, ten time Tony Award nominee, Graciela Daniele took to the SOUSATZKA THE MUSICAL Official Facebook page to explain what attracted her to the project. She writes:

Rhonda LaChanze Sapp, better known by her stage name LaChanze (Creole: the charmed one), taken from her grandmother, was born in St Augustine, Florida. Grew up in Connecticut, her parents nurtured her love for performing by enrolling her in high schools for the performing arts. After high school, LaChanze studied Drama at Morgan State University, before transferring to the University of the Arts, she studied Theatre and Dance. Her first Summer job was as a tap dancer in the ensemble of out of town tryout of 'Uptown...It's Hot!.' She made her Broadway debut in the same show in 1986.

Writers Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma, announces a one-week extension to Company, featuring music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth. The production is directed by William Brown. Company features original orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick, Orchestral Reductions by Ian Weinberger, music direction by Tom Vendafreddo and choreography by Brock Clawson. The show, originally slated to run through July 31, 2016, will add an additional week, through August 7, in the Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe.

From royalty, to rockers; revolutionaries to refugees- check out who's new to the Tony block this year, below!

How many of these great songs do you know from underappreciated musicals?

Broadway leading ladies LaChanze (Tony Award winner for The Color Purple) and Lindsay Mendez (Wicked, Godspell) lead an all-star lineup for INSPIRATIONAL BROADWAY, a dynamic and soulful evening of music, set for tonight, February 15, 2016 at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill.

Broadway leading ladies LaChanze (Tony Award winner for The Color Purple) and Lindsay Mendez (Wicked, Godspell) have been added to the all-star lineup of INSPIRATIONAL BROADWAY, a dynamic and soulful evening of music.

Norm Lewis, the Tony Award-nominated Broadway star of The Phantom of the Opera, Porgy & Bess and more, has been added to the all-star lineup of INSPIRATIONAL BROADWAY, a dynamic and soulful evening of music.

An accomplished musical theatre supporting player takes on the title role in CSC's production of Brecht's classic drama.