Fela! - 2011 - US Tour Articles Page 13

According to ArtInfo, Rupert Holmes' stage adaptation of John Grisham's novel A Time to Kill is headed to Broadway with lead producer Daryl Roth. Casting is currently underway, and the production hopes to take the stage in spring or summer of 2013.

Nominees for the 2012 LA STAGE Alliance Ovation Awards were announced Tuesday evening at the Renberg Theatre inside the Gay and Lesbian Center in Los Angeles. The 2012 Ovation Awards ceremony will take place on Monday, November 12, at the historic Los Angeles Theatre, 615 South Broadway, in downtown Los Angeles at 7:30 pm. For more information, visit www.LASTAGEOvations.com.

Vy Higginsen's Mama Foundation for the Arts presents two musical matinees, Mama I Want To Sing: The Next Generation and Sing, Harlem, Sing!, every Saturday afternoon (performances resume on Saturday, October 6th, 2012) at The Dempsey Theater, located at 127 West 127th Street, between Lenox and 7th Avenues. Tickets for both musicals are priced from $20 - $35, and are available via SmartTix.com (212-868-4444) or by calling the Mama Foundation for the Arts at 212-280-1045.

Tras el éxito de su primera edición de Historia del Teatro Musical en la Ciudad de México, el texto presentó su segunda edición, estrenando nombre y agregando más información y testimonios, señaló el autor.

The return engagement of the award-winning production Fela! is set to close after 32 performances at Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre tonight, August 4.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, beloved as one of the world's most popular dance companies and New York City Center's Principal Dance Company, returns for the 41st consecutive year to the New York City Center stage from November 28, 2012 - December 30, 2012 with exciting performances that have become a joyous holiday tradition.

Casting is now complete for the world premiere of TAIL! SPIN!, a 'hilarious and heartbreaking verbatim reenactment of the preposterous sex scandals that brought down Former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, Former U.S. Congressman Anthony Wiener of New York, Former U.S. Congressman Mark Foley of Florida, and Former U.S. Senator Larry Craig of Idaho.'

When the original Broadway production of Fela! closed in January of 2011, Zuccotti Park was little more than a block-long plaza where Wall Streeters would enjoy a bit of lunchtime sun.  For now, at least, the park has pretty much returned to that status, aside from the tourists taking photos of themselves at the spot now famous for birthing the Occupy Wall Street movement.

Joe's Pub has announced its upcoming performances, tonight, July 16 through July 22, 2012, including 'All Aboard the Soul Train: A Tribute to Don Cornelius,' Tori Scott, Jeff LeBlanc, Carolyn Wonderland, Our Hit Parade, David Dondero, Amy LaVere, Josh Rouse, Eleni Mandell, Batz, Howard Fishman, Amber Martin, Quarteto Olinda and Pedro Moraes. See full details below!

Shawn 'JAY Z' Carter, Will & Jada Pinkett Smith, Ruth & Stephen Hendel, Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson and The National Theatre of Great Britain present the return of the critically acclaimed, award-winning Broadway and National Theatre of Great Britain production of Fela!, which just opened last night, July 12, for a limited run of 32 performances only at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street). BroadwayWorld was there for the big openeing night, and we bring you photos from the first curtain call below!

Shawn 'JAY Z' Carter, Will & Jada Pinkett Smith, Ruth & Stephen Hendel, Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson and The National Theatre of Great Britain present the return of the critically acclaimed, award-winning Broadway and National Theatre of Great Britain production of Fela!, which just opened last night, July 12, for a limited run of 32 performances only at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street). BroadwayWorld was there for the big openeing night, and we bring you photos from the star-studded arrivals below!

Ronald K. Brown and Evidence, A Dance Company return to The Joyce Theater for their annual New York season tonight, July 9 through July 14, 2012 with four new company members, new works and new collaborators. This frisson of excitement is the hallmark of the season, which will include two programs.

The first trailer for Lifetime's all-African-American remake of STEEL MAGNOLIAS has just been released by the cable network. Golden Globe and Grammy Award winner and Academy Award nominee Queen Latifah has signed on to star in and executive produce the television adaptation of the iconic play and 1989 film. Get a first look below!

Joe's Pub has announced its upcoming performances, July 16-22, 2012, including 'All Aboard the Soul Train: A Tribute to Don Cornelius,' Tori Scott, Jeff LeBlanc, Carolyn Wonderland, Our Hit Parade, David Dondero, Amy LaVere, Josh Rouse, Eleni Mandell, Batz, Howard Fishman, Amber Martin, Quarteto Olinda and Pedro Moraes. See full details below!

Ronald K. Brown and Evidence, A Dance Company return to the Joyce Theater for their annual New York season July 9-14, 2012 with four new company members, new works and new collaborators. This frisson of excitement is the hallmark of the season, which will include two programs.

Summer's here, and it's hotter than blue blazes in Tennessee, as theater companies from one end of the state to the other are hard at work to keep audiences engaged and entertained throughout what promises to be one long hot summer. But think of it this way, with yesterday's Summer Solstice-which means we've survived the year's longest day-everything will get just a little bit shorter, promising a respite from the heat and humidity. This week also marked the celebration of National Martini Day, so may we humbly suggest that you grab a shaker, add some ice, vodka and a whisper of vermouth and shake yourself up an ice-cold drink…

Tickets for the Broadway run of Fela! this summer at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre will go on sale to the general public on Saturday June 16 via telecharge.com and phone (212) 239-6200.

Producers Shawn 'JAY Z' Carter, Will & Jada Pinkett Smith, Ruth & Stephen Hendel, Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson and The National Theatre of Great Britain today announced the return of the critically acclaimed, award-winning production of Fela!, currently on a multi-city world tour, for a limited run of 32 performances ONLY at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street) from July 9 - August 4. Exploring the extravagant world of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, this provocative hybrid of dance, theatre, music, biography and a party like no-other is directed and choreographed by Tony® Award-winner Bill T. Jones, with a book by Jim Lewis and Bill T. Jones. The world renowned Antibalas and other members of the NYC Afrobeat community, under the direction of Aaron Johnson, again perform Kuti's rousing music live onstage. Recipient of three 2010 Tony Awards (Best Choreography, Best Costumes, Best Sound Design), Fela!, featuring the music and lyrics by Fela Kuti, was conceived by Bill T. Jones, Jim Lewis and Stephen Hendel, features additional lyrics by Jim Lewis, and additional music by Aaron Johnson and Jordan McLean. The musical is inspired by the authorized biography Fela: This Bitch of a Life by Carlos Moore. The press opening for this engagement is scheduled for Thursday, July 12 at 7 PM.

On Twitter Watch, Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson wrote 'BREAKING NEWS! (best ever!) come july NYC you get ONE MORE CHANCE to see the return of @felamusical!!!!!! #itsback on #broadway #dontsleep FELA! will play the Oriental Theatre (24 W. Randolph St.) through April 15, 2012. It is directed by Bill T. Jones, is a provocative hybrid of dance, theatre and music exploring the extravagant world of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti. The show has become an international sensation having been performed in three continents. Olivier and Tony Award-nominated actor Sahr Ngaujah will lead the cast of FELA! He is joined by Melanie Marshall and Paulette Ivory, who co-starred with Ngaujah in the Olivier-nominated Royal National Theatre production. This touring production is a once in a lifetime experience, a glorious amalgam of the original casts of both Broadway and London's Royal National Theatre. A triumphant tale of courage, passion and love, FELA! is the true story of Kuti, who created a type of music, Afrobeat, and mixed these pounding eclectic rhythms (a blend of jazz, funk and African rhythm and harmonies) with incendiary lyrics that openly attacked the corrupt and oppressive military dictatorships that rule Nigeria and much of Africa. Featuring many of Fela Kuti's most captivating songs and Bill T. Jones's visionary staging, FELA! reveals Kuti's controversial life as an artist and political activist and celebrates his pioneering music. The production received its world premiere Off-Broadway in September 2008, and won the Lucille Lortel Award for Best Musical, before transferring to Broadway's Eugene O'Neill Theatre in November 2009 where its accolades included three 2010 Tony Awards, for Best Choreography, Best Costume Design, Best Sound Design, and an Astaire Award for Bill T. Jones' choreography. FELA! is directed and choreographed by Bill T. Jones, with a book by Jim Lewis and Bill T. Jones, and music and lyrics by Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. Conceived by Bill T. Jones, Jim Lewis and Stephen Hendel, the design and Tony Award winning costumes are by Marina Draghici, lighting design by Robert Wierzel and the Tony Award winning sound design by Robert Kaplowitz. FELA! is produced in association with Shawn 'Jay-Z' Carter, Will & Jada Pinkett Smith, Ruth & Stephen Hendel, Roy Gabay, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Edward Tyler Nahem, SlavaSmolokowski, Chip Meyrelles/Ken Greiner, Douglas G. Smith, Steve Semlitz/Cathy Glazer, Daryl Roth/True Love Productions, Susan Dietz/Mort Swinsky, Knitting Factory Entertainment and with Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson.'

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater produces the 2011 Tony Award-winning production of Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart, directed by George C. Wolfe. Wolfe, who directed the show's sold-out Broadway engagement last season, mounts the professional D.C.-area premiere of this production, which features returning Broadway cast members Patrick Breen and Luke MacFarlane, among others. Presented by special arrangement with Daryl Roth, The Normal Heart runs tonight, June 8-July 29, 2012 in the Kreeger Theater.

Blue Note Jazz Festival has announced upcoming performances for June 15-18th for its LATE NIGHTS, BRUNCH & MONDAY NIGHT.

The winners of the second annual Toronto Theatre Critics' Awards are in, and BWW is thrilled to bring its readers the entire list. Stand-outs include The Toronto Fringe hit Kim's Convenience (now playing for a second time this season at Soulpepper) and Atomic Vaudeville's Ride the Cyclone. The awards were determined by critics from The Globe and Mail (J. Kelly Nestruck), The Grid (Martin Morrow), National Post (Robert Cushman), NOW Magazine (Glenn Sumi) and the Toronto Star (Richard Ouzounian).

The 2012-2013 Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre season was announced today by CTG Artistic Director Michael Ritchie. The new season, the 46th season at the Music Center of Los Angeles, will include Jeff Goldblum in the West Coast premiere of the smart, sexy, new Broadway comedy "Seminar," Rachel York in the beloved 1930s musical romp - Cole Porter's "Anything Goes," the American premiere and pre-Broadway presentation of the dramatic musical "Backbeat" which features classic rock 'n' roll in its story of the birth of the Beatles, Tracie Bennett starring as the iconic Judy Garland in the West Coast premiere of the acclaimed play with music - "End of the Rainbow," and the daring new musical that explores a shocking event in American history - Kander and Ebb's "The Scottsboro Boys." In addition, the exuberant musical "Fela!" will return for a limited engagement as a bonus option to the season subscription.

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts presents "FELA!," the recipient of three 2010 Tony Awards, as part of the Ordway's 2011-2012 Theater Season. "FELA!" is 'a provocative hybrid of dance, theater and music exploring the extravagant world of Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti.'

Peter Dinklage (GAME OF THRONES) emceed a sold-out benefit for The Play Company on Monday, April 30 at the American Airlines Theatre in Manhattan. Among those who attended CABARET GOURMET 2012 were Dinklage's wife Erica Schmidt, who directed Play Co's Obie Award-winning production of Jonas Khemiri's play INVASION!, along with producer Ruth Hendel (FELA!), The Play Company's Founding Producer Kate Loewald and Executive Producer Lauren Weigel. Lauren Worsham (CANDIDE, WHERE'S CHARLEY?) performed. See photos of Dinklage, Schmidt, Lauren Worsham, Ruth Hendel and Andrew Gerle at the event below!