Review: MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM at Arts Centric
by Timoth David Copney - Apr 20, 2025
Arts Centric is taking their turn at bat with a presentation of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom now playing through April 27th, 2025. Read our full review of the production here!
REVIEW: MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2025 ー 'VMAJ”
by Ayaka Ozaki - Mar 31, 2025
MTV Video Music Awards Japan (“VMAJ'): The Japanese counterpart to the U.S.'s prestigious 'MTV Video Music Awards,' has been held annually since 2002. Known as the 'festival of music videos,' it celebrates the most outstanding works across various categories in the music industry. This year’s awards recognized works released between October 1, 2023, and December 31, 2024, honoring excellence in each category alongside special awards. This report offers an artist-by-artist breakdown of the performances and key moments from the event held on March 19.
Interview: CHOREOGRAPHERS ELLENORE SCOTT & AYODELE CASEL GIVE FUNNY GIRL'S SAGA FLAIR, FUN & FINESSE
by Valerie-Jean Miller - May 28, 2024
VJM: Thank you both for giving of your time to answer my questions. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of two Choreographers being hired for the same Broadway show, not even a revival, that I can think of. How did that come about for both of you? Ellenore Scott: Funny Girl was my Broadway debut as a choreographer. I was so happy when I got a call from Michael Mayer (the director) asking me to work on this revival with him. He knew I was NOT a tap dancer and was aware of the multiple tap routines in the show and asked if I would be down to share the billing with Ayodele Casel. Ayo is an extraordinary artist so I was thrilled to be by her side as she made her Broadway debut as well. Michael first met me initially at Head Over Heels on Broadway where I was an associate choreographer to Spencer Liff. In 2019, he asked if I would choreograph the Off-Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors and we opened the show October 17th, 2019. I have loved working with Michael and feel as though he keeps his people close and I’m grateful he thought of me for this historic revival. Ayodele Casel: I met Michael Mayer in 2016 when he directed a New York City Center Encores! show I performed in. Later that fall he invited me to perform that piece in a Broadway for Hillary fundraiser he was also directing. We'd kept in touch over the years and in 2019, after seeing a show I’d premiered at The Joyce Theater, he asked if I would be interested in providing the Tap choreography for a revival he was working on. Like Ellenore shared, Michael wanted to work with us both to deliver the full choreographic vision of the show. I believe it was a very progressive vision on his part and I’m really thankful that I was able to make my Broadway debut with this team.
Photos & Video: Get a First Look at SHOUT SISTER SHOUT! at Ford's Theatre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 22, 2023
Get a first look at photos of the east coast premiere of Shout Sister Shout at Ford's Theatre!
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