Dreamgirls - 2001 - Broadway Articles Page 11

Winter usually isn't the busiest time of year for incoming Broadway shows, but that doesn't mean that there is any lack of fresh talent making their debuts! The Broadway Winter has arrived, and while a solid number of new faces are treading the boards, dozens more are on their way in the coming months. Meet all of Broadway's newest stars below!

Amas Musical Theatre, New York City's award-winning pioneer in diversity and multi-ethnic casting in the performing arts since 1968, will celebrate its 45th Anniversary at a gala benefit on Monday, March 31st, 2014 at the Baruch Performing Arts Center (East 25th Street between Lexington and 3rd Avenues). Honorary Chair for the event is veteran Broadway virtuoso Maurice Hines.

Today, we remember those within the entertainment industry that we lost in 2013.

Alice Ripley won a Tony Award for her leading role in the Pulitzer Prize winning musical "Next to Normal," and was a Tony-nominee for the musical "Sideshow" on Broadway. This January, she joins the star-studded lineup of the celebrated Broadway at NOCCA series, on January 6, 2014 at 7:00 PM for one show only. Jessica Means joins her at piano. For tickets please visit http://www.broadwaynola.com/ or call 1-800-838-3006. This holiday season, NOCCA is making available tickets to two Tony-winners for the price of one. Both Alice Ripley and Sutton Foster may be purchased together with The Broadway @ NOCCA Holiday Pass for just $50.

Jennifer Holliday is undeniably one of R&B and Broadway's greatest voices. Endowed with a commanding and irresistible voice, immeasurable range and artistry that few can rival, Holliday has long stood in a class by herself. The dynamic songstress' now legendary show-stopping, heart-wrenching performance of the torch ballad "And I'm Telling You, I'm Not Going" in the smash hit Broadway musical, Dreamgirls, made her a household name and introduced her big soulful voice to the world. Her portrayal of Effie "Melody" White, a role she co-created, not only brought theatergoers to their feet for eight performances a week, but also garnered her a Tony-Award for Best Actress in a Musical and her first Grammy-Award for Best R&B Female Vocalist. From Broadway to major TV appearances including (Ellen, Ally McBeal and Touched By An Angel) and half-a-dozen soundtrack credits, Jennifer Holliday is one of the most distinctive, enviable and revered voices in modern music. Through the years, Holliday has collaborated with everyone from Barbra Streisand, Luther Vandross, David Foster and Paul Simon, to Michael Jackson, Maurice White and Foreigner. She has also sung with the Boston Pops and The Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra with Peter Nero, among numerous other esteemed orchestras. She considers herself to be a Broadway Baby and theater continues to be a significant part of her career. Her illustrious resume includes such theatre credits as Sing Mahalia Sing: The Mahalia Jackson Story, Downhearted Blues: The Bessie Smith Story, Harlem Suite (with Aretha Franklin), Chicago (starring as "Mama Morton"), Grease (starring as "Teen Angel") and Black Nativity (starring as the "Angel of God"). The in-demand star has also been invited to participate in Chaka Khan's induction into the Apollo Legends Hall of Fame ceremony to take place June 10 at the Apollo Theatre and broadcast later on BET. Considering herself a "bi-partisan songbird," Jennifer is both honored and grateful to have performed at the White House for President Ronald Reagan, President George Bush, President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush.

New York Live Arts will present Urban Word's Journal to Journey: Ascension - Asylum called Life Personified, a four-month program that culminates in a showcase performance of new solo works created by young poets, December 14 & 15 at 1:00pm.

Tickets go on sale to the general public tomorrow, November 2 at 10 AM for Neil Patrick Harris' return to Broadway in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, the musical with book by John Cameron Mitchell and music and lyrics by Stephen Trask, directed by Michael Mayer. For tickets, call 212-239-6200 or visit Telecharge.com.

According to Barclays Center website, Andrea Bocelli will be performing at the Barclays Center on December 11th, 2013 in front of a sold out crowd. Bocelli will be joined by guest-vocalist and Tony Award winner and Olivier nominated Heather Headley and soprano Svetla Vassileva.

2013 Tony Award winner for Best Actor In A Musical, KINKY BOOTS's own triple-threat headliner Billy Porter, was feted in his hometown of Pittsburgh, PA, yesterday, where it was officially named Billy Porter Day in the actor's honor.

Downtown Cabaret Theatre has announced its Main Stage lineup for 2013-2014. Details below!

Friends, family and colleagues will gather on Monday, September 23, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. at The Pasadena Playhouse (39 S. El Molino Avenue in Pasadena) to celebrate the life of award-winning composer Damon Intrabartolo. He died on August 13 in Arizona. Damon was 39.

Megan Mullally is a two-time Emmy-winning star of TV's Will & Grace, and recent star of Broadway's Young Frankenstein. On August 28 & 29 she returns to Provincetown by popular demand - for two shows only - after her sold-out Art House debut last summer. Patti LuPone won her second Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical, as well Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards, for her performance as Rose in the most recent Broadway production of Gypsy, and created the title role in Evita on Broadway with her now legendary performance, for which she won her first Tony and Drama Desk Awards. On August 31 and September 1 she makes a triumphant Provincetown return for 4 shows only, after debuting at The Art House last summer. Chita Rivera is a living Broadway legend and a two-time Tony winner as Aurora in Kiss of the Spider Woman and Anna in The Rink. She originated the Broadway roles of Anita in West Side Story, Rosie in Bye Bye Birdie, Velma in Chicago, and appeared in the original casts of Guys and Dolls, Can Can, Seventh Heaven, Mr. Wonderful, Jerry's Girls, and many others. She makes her Provincetown debut on Sept. 7 & 8 with two shows only. Series host and SiriusXM radio star Seth Rudetsky joins each of these three leading ladies at the piano. For tickets please visit www.ptownarthouse.com, or call 1-800-838-3006.

One of the most fun and entertaining aspects of the summer is the big, splashy musicals that get produced all over the nation. Last night, I was invited to attend the final dress rehearsal of Fort Bend Theatre's SHREK THE MUSICAL. The company is bidding a fond farewell to summer with a gargantuan production that is bond to entertain any who venture out to see it. This musical, featuring a Book and Lyrics by acclaimed playwright David Lindsay-Abaire and Music by Jeanine Tesori is based on the 2001 DreamWorks film SHREK and the 1991 William Steig book SHREK!. SHREK THE MUSICAL got mixed to positive reviews when it opened on Broadway at the Broadway Theatre. It earned eight 2009 Tony Award nominations and won for Best Costumes. All in all, the show enjoyed a successful 12-month run. After its Broadway run, the creative team has tinkered with the show for its notable First National Tour and London productions. The current licensed version most closely resembles the London production of the show.

BroadwayWorld has confirmed that Damon Intrabartolo, who wrote the music for BARE, passed away on August 13. He was 39 years old.

Everyone's favorite upside-down fairytale comes to Walnut Creek when Diablo Theatre Company presents the Bay Area premiere of Shrek the Musical, a song-and dance-filled stage adaptation of the Oscar-winning DreamWorks animated film. Shrek the Musical opens September 6 and runs through September 28.

Leave it to the ultra-talented, uber-enthusiastic folks at 3-D Theatricals to take an okay-ha-ha show into an OMFG-that-was-super-hella-funny triumph of whimsy and heart. In its glorious, colorful presentation of the first Southern California regional production of SHREK - THE MUSICAL, 3-D Theatricals---fast becoming Orange County's home for Broadway-caliber shows---certainly has plenty to celebrate in its latest offering. The family-friendly musical comedy continues its limited engagement at the Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton through August 4 then transfers north to the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center for a weekend of shows August 9-11.

The final production of the 2013 Shenandoah Summer Musical Theatre season, Shrek: The Musical, is an entertaining and enchanting modern fairy tale filled with wildly comedic moments and, of course, fart jokes. The regional premiere of the musical is the closing production for the summer musical theater company.

There are many challenges that face a theatre who chooses to mount such a difficult production. First and foremost are how to bring these iconic characters to life as realistically as possible, while still showcasing the actors underneath. Second is how to present the various locations presented in the piece (SHREK'S swamp, the castle in Duloc, Fiona's tower, etc) in a way that not only is appropriate, but can easily be changed to the next. The show has now made the jump to regional theatres around the country, and the Arundel Barn Playhouse is the first theatre in all of New England to present it. It's a lot to undertake, but the Playhouse rose to the occasion, and I think you will be quite surprised and delighted at the results.

Dallas Theater Center presents the world premiere of Fly, a new musical based on J.M. Barrie's novel, Peter Pan. Three-time Tony Award-winning producer Jeffrey Seller (Rent, Avenue Q, In the Heights) makes his directorial debut with this production.

Tonight, June 22 at 8:30pm and Sunday, June 23 at 4pm, Caramoor kicks off the 68th Summer Festival with its first ever Broadway production, She Loves Me. Joining the cast will be John Cullum, Ryan Silverman, Brad Oscar, Etai BenShlomo and Jonathan Freeman. Michele Lynch will choreograph.

Dallas Theater Center announced the complete cast and creative team for the world premiere of Fly, a new musical based on J.M. Barrie's novel, Peter Pan. Three-time Tony Award-winning producer Jeffrey Seller (Rent, Avenue Q, In the Heights) makes his directorial debut with this production.

On Saturday, June 22 at 8:30pm and Sunday, June 23 at 4pm, Caramoor kicks off the 68th Summer Festival with its first ever Broadway production, She Loves Me. Joining the cast will be John Cullum, Ryan Silverman, Brad Oscar, Etai BenShlomo and Jonathan Freeman. Michele Lynch will choreograph.

The Board of Directors and Executive Director/Producer/Founder of THE COLUMN Awards Organization, John Garcia, have announced that Tony Award nominee, Broadway sensation Orfeh will be their special guest star and Co-host for the 14th Annual COLUMN Awards Gala. The extravaganza event will be held tonight, February 25, 2013 at the Carpenter Theatre at the Irving Arts Center.

Today, February 23 and February 24 and 25 Lyrics & Lyricists tours Miss Peggy Lee's hip musical landscape with guest artistic director Billy Stritch and vocalists Barbara Fasano, La Tanya Hall and Gabrielle Stravelli. Cabaret legend Marilyn Maye, who frequently includes Peggy Lee classics in her shows, joins the show as a special guest.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, stage and screen star David Alan Grier has officially signed on for CBS' television adaptation of the 2011 film BAD TEACHER.