The Color Purple - 2007 - US Tour Articles Page 9

Having one of the most revered voices in music, co-signed by music icons Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan, Fantasia makes quite the return as she announces a stellar 29-city, North American tour she headlines with Robin Thicke, and The Bonfyre. Fans will hear their favorite Fantasia hits along with a first-live-listen of songs from her soon-to-be-released 7th studio album, Sketchbook — set for an October release via Rock Soul/BMG. You won't want to miss this star-studded group as they touch most of the major cities around the country. Tickets begin to go on sale Friday, August 23 for the general public with an October 17 kick-off date that runs through the remainder of the year.

The cast and creative team are now complete for Todd Allan, Peter B. Allen, Doug Katsaros, and Mathayu Warren-Lane's new musical ROSE'S WAR, an official selection to be premiered as part of the inaugural season of the RAVE Theater Festival. The production will open on August 16th at the LATEA Theater at the Clemente.

African-American director David Norwood premieres a uniquely re-envisioned American version of TENDER NAPALM by renowned British playwright Philip Ridley (The Pitchfork Disney, Mercury Fur, The Fastest Clock in the Universe). This poetic two-hander originally premiered in London in 2011, before making a limited engagement Off-Broadway debut in 2012 to critical acclaim.

 The Philly POPS will give three performances during the annual Wawa Welcome America Festival, including POPS on Independence with Disney Princess Susan Egan and POPS on the Parkway with Academy and GRAMMY award-winning superstar Jennifer Hudson.

African-American director David Norwood will premiere a uniquely re-envisioned American version of TENDER NAPALM by renowned British playwright Philip Ridley (The Pitchfork Disney, Mercury Fur, The Fastest Clock in the Universe). This poetic two-hander originally premiered in London in 2011, before making a limited engagement Off-Broadway debut in 2012 to critical acclaim. Previews begin July 18 at HERE with opening set for July 24.

Waitress announced today that Todrick Hall (Kinky Boots, Chicago) will join the Broadway cast as Ogie on August 20th. He will perform opposite the previously announced Colleen Ballinger for a special limited engagement through September 15th.

The League of Professional Theatre Women (Kelli Lynn Harrison and Catherine Porter, Co-Presidents), an organization which has been leading the gender parity conversation and championing women in the professional theatre for over 35 years, is pleased to announce that 2019 Tony Award-winner Andre De Shields (Hadestown) will host their inaugural Rachel Crothers Leadership Award Luncheon to honor Donna Walker-Kuhne, on Thursday, June 27 from 12-3pm at Sardi's Restaurant (234 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036). The event will also feature a special performance by LaChanze (2006 Tony Award winner for The Color Purple; Summer: The Donna Summer Musical). Tickets: Members $95; Non-Members $125.00; VIP tickets $175 (includes journal ad); VIP table $1,700 (with a journal ad). For more information and to purchase tickets please visit www.theatrewomen.org.

"It's the kind of music that makes you feel regal," actress Felicia P. Fields says, describing the genius of Duke Ellington. "The word 'sophistication' isn't used as much today as it was back then. There was an elegance in the period." Fields, who is one of the stars of Maine State Music Theatre's new production of SOPHISTICATED LADIES, which runs at the Pickard Theater from June 5-22, 2019, believes that the production, directed by Marc Robin with three individual choreographers and an eleven piece orchestra perfectly captures the 1920s and 1930s and the big-band era.

Casting has been confirmed for the 69th Broadway At Music Circus season, which begins June 11 at the Wells Fargo Pavilion. The season includes four Broadway At Music Circus premieres, Shrek the Musical, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Wiz, and In the Heights.

New York Theater Festival's SUMMERFEST presents Emergency, a modern-day medical musical by father-son creative team Jeff and Jacob Foy, featuring a talented cast of Broadway, Off-Broadway and regional theater performers. Winner of the Ken Davenport Inner Circle Grant, three performances will be staged at the Hudson Guild Theater, 441 West 26th Street in NYC.

The Clay Center has announced their 2019-2020 Broadway in Charleston series! This year features six shows, including a wide range of Broadway classics and a holiday special.

Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company and Jujamcyn Theatres announce the winners for the 11th Annual August Wilson Monologue Competition National Finals, held on Monday, May 6th at the August Wilson Theatre in New York. The first-place winner was Trajan Clayton from Perry, GA; second-place, Katara Willis from Buffalo, NY; and third place, Abad Viquez from Chicago, IL.

True Colors Theatre Company and Jujamcyn Theaters announce the winners of the 11th Annual August Wilson Monologue Competition National Finals.

True Colors Theatre Company and Jujamcyn Theaters announce the panel of celebrity judges for the 11th Annual August Wilson Monologue Competition, taking place on Monday, May 6th at 7:00 p.m. at the August Wilson Theatre (245 West 52nd Street).  

Chicago audiences will be the first to see August Rush: The Musical, a world premiere musical crafted by some of the top creative artists working in American theater today, based on the Oscar-nominated Warner Bros. film about a musically gifted orphan and the search for his birth parents.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces the full company for the world premiere of Tazewell Thompson's inspirational a cappella music infused play, Jubilee. Inspired by the world-renowned Fisk Jubilee Singers, this uplifting new work chronicles the bold African American ensemble as they travel the world, captivating kings, queens and audiences with hymns and spiritual songs supported by their rich voices. Written and directed by Thompson with vocal arrangements and music direction by Dianne Adams McDowell, Jubilee runs April 26 - June 2, 2019 in the Kreeger Theater.

The Omaha Community Playhouse (OCP) has announced the titles to be produced during their 95th season, which will run from August, 2019 through June, 2020. Subscriptions for OCP's 2019/20 season are now available for purchase through the OCP Box Office at 6915 Cass Street, Omaha, NE 68132 or by phone at (402) 553-0800.

Playwrights Horizons Opens Live for Five Lottery, February 4-7, for the World Premiere of Tori Sampson's If Pretty Hurts Ugly Must Be a Muhf**ka, Directed by Leah C. Gardiner and Choreographed by Raja Feather Kelly (February 15-March 31, 2019)

Tipping Point Theatre is bringing The Last Five Years to life from January 26th to March 3rd in Northville. Jason Robert Brown's emotional and unconventional musical is the intimate telling of relationship of a young couple from beginning to end that weaves all their endearing qualities and flaws in a way that leaves audiences constructing their own opinions on where the relationship went wrong. The audience witnesses Jamie (played by Nick Yocum) and Cathy (played by Angie Kane Ferrante) be human and experience human emotions filled with love, anger, defeat, sadness, opinions, defiance, hope, and more - all told through song. BroadwayWorld Detroit had a chance to speak with Angie Kane Ferrante about her love of theatre, why The Last Five Years is so special, and it what is like to be returning to role of Cathy again. Check out what she had to say below!

Producers Anita Greenspan and Tony Hawk with Executive producer Adam Zotovich announced today that a new musical adaptation of the 2007 Nick Hornby novel, SLAM, is in development. This new project will feature a book by Tony Award Nominee Kyle Jarrow (SpongeBob SquarePants the Musical) with music and lyrics by Mark Mothersbaugh (prolific film composer, co-founder of new wave band Devo). Pro-skater Tony Hawk, who is featured as a character in the novel, is a producer on the project and is slated to develop skate choreography.

Joe's Pie Diner will open up with Richard Kline in the role of 'Joe' when the tour is in Spokane, WA just prior to its Sacramento engagement. Waitress is the hit Broadway musical from Grammy nominee Sara Bareilles inspired by Adrienne Shelly's 2007 motion picture. The Broadway On Tour presentation of Waitress runs at Sacramento Community Center Theater from Dec. 27, 2018 through Jan. 5, 2019.

Joe's Pie Diner will be Opening Up with Richard Kline in the role of 'Joe' on December 14th when the tour is in Spokane, WA at First Interstate Center for the Arts. Waitress is the hit Broadway musical from Grammy nominee Sara Bareilles inspired by Adrienne Shelly's 2007 motion picture.

Boxcar Theatre is pleased to announce its inaugural SUNDAY SOLO SERIES at The Palace Theatre, home of The Speakeasy, starting in January. The Series will feature three exceptional artists: magician-storyteller Kevin Blake and actor-singers Doris Bumpus and Dedrick Weathersby.

Further casting has been announced for the original London company of Sara Bareilles' Tony Award-nominated musical Waitress. Marisha Wallace will play Becky alongside Laura Baldwin as Dawn, with Peter Hannah as Earl and David Hunter as Dr. Pomatter. The four new principals will join the previously announced Katharine McPhee who will make her West End debut starring as Jenna, having played the role on Broadway earlier this year.

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.