Producer Brian Anthony Moreland has officially announced that Golden Globe winner and multi-award-nominated Taraji P. Henson and six-time NAACP Image Award winner Cedric the Entertainer will headline this new Broadway staging of August Wilson’s seminal play. Directed by the illustrious Debbie Allen, the production is set for a Shubert Theatre opening in Spring 2026.

This marks Taraji P. Henson’s Broadway acting debut, although she previously made waves on Broadway as a producer of the Tony-nominated Jaja’s African Hair Braiding. She will portray Bertha Holly, alongside Cedric, who returns to Broadway as Seth Holly following his debut in American Buffalo (2008).

Producer Brian Anthony Moreland—who recently brought us The Piano Lesson starring Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, and Danielle Brooks, and last season’s star-caliber Othello featuring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal—described the revival as:

“Joe Turner’s Come and Gone is Wilson’s seminal masterpiece—an unflinching exploration of pain, identity, and hope. With Debbie Allen’s visionary direction and this extraordinary cast, the entire company will present a performance that resonates deeply and lingers in the hearts and minds of all who experience it.”

A Legacy of Black Excellence

Debbie Allen, a pioneering figure in Black performance, made her Broadway debut in Purlie in 1970 and has dazzled audiences in Raisin, West Side Story, and Sweet Charity. She directed the all-Black 2008 production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and is set to receive an honorary Oscar at the 2025 Governors Awards.

Taraji P. Henson brings a critical lens and wide-ranging acclaim—from her breakout in Hustle & Flow and Oscar nomination in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, to standout roles in Hidden Figures, The Color Purple, and Empire. In television, her guest turn on Abbott Elementary earned her an Emmy nomination. Her off-stage impact is equally powerful: she spearheaded mental health advocacy through the Boris L. Henson Foundation and champions Black wellness and inclusion. As a producer, she earned a Tony nomination for Jaja’s African Hair Braiding.

Cedric the Entertainer returns to Broadway after his debut in American Buffalo. The comedian, actor, and author currently stars in CBS’s The Neighborhood, now entering its eighth season, and co-created the Hulu series Kings of BBQ. His debut novel, Flipping Boxcars, weaves familial lore into a crime narrative, while his philanthropic efforts continue through The Kyles Family Foundation, supporting organizations such as Boys & Girls Clubs and St. Jude’s.

A Story of Spiritual Rediscovery

Set in 1911, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone unfolds in a Pittsburgh boarding house owned by Seth and Bertha Holly—a steadfast husband and his warm, nurturing wife. Their home becomes a sanctuary for Black folks on the move, seeking stability in the wake of the Great Migration. But when a mysterious man named Herald Loomis arrives, the house is shaken by more than just passing footsteps. Loomis is searching—not just for the wife he lost, but for the pieces of himself stolen during seven years of illegal enslavement under the haunting grip of Joe Turner.

As buried trauma rises and ancestral spirits stir, Loomis’s path becomes one of spiritual reckoning, identity reclamation, and hard-won healing. Around him, others navigate their own quests for love, livelihood, and liberation—each of them trying to shape a future not defined by sorrow, but by possibility.

The second play in August Wilson’s American Century Cycle, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone is a deeply poetic portrait of Black resilience—one that wrestles with memory, community, and the ever-burning hope of a freedom that goes beyond escape.

Stay tuned for additional casting and theatre details, coming soon. For more information, visit www.JoeTurnerBway.com.

Broadway Black covers the artists, stories, and cultural moments shaping Black theatre. Follow us for all the latest on this extraordinary revival.

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This marks a significant milestone as the first major Broadway production of this classic play in nearly 25 years. “Our Town,” known for its timeless portrayal of life in the village of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire, has achieved status as an enduring American classic with universal appeal. Thornton Wilder’s masterpiece, which first graced Broadway in 1938 to widespread acclaim, went on to receive the prestigious Pulitzer Prize, solidifying its place in the annals of American theater history.

The cast includes Jim Parsons as the “Stage Manager,” Zoey Deutch as “Emily Webb,” Katie Holmes as “Mrs. Webb,” Billy Eugene Jones as “Dr. Gibbs,” Ephraim Sykes as “George Gibbs,” Richard Thomas as “Mr. Webb,” Michelle Wilson as “Mrs. Gibbs,” Julie Halston as “Mrs. Soames,” Donald Webber Jr. as “Simon Stimpson,” and a talented ensemble consisting of Ephie Aardema, Heather Ayers, Willa Bost, Bobby Daye, Safiya Kaijya Harris, Doron JéPaul, Shyla Lefner, Anthony Michael Lopez, John McGinty, Bryonha Marie, Kevyn Morrow, Hagan Oliveras, Noah Pyzik, Sky Smith, Bill Timoney, Matthew Elijah Webb, and Nimene Sierra Wureh. The final two actors will be announced at a later date.

Previews for Our Town begin on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, with the grand opening set for Thursday, October 10, 2024, at the Barrymore Theatre for a limited engagement.

“Thornton Wilder’s Our Town – in my mind stands at the top of the Mount Rushmore of great American Theatre. I feel blessed and fortunate to have gained the trust of The Wilder estate to present this classic to another generation of theatre lovers. It’s long been a burning desire to collaborate on a Broadway production of such magnitude that speaks so beautifully and intimately to all people about our shared time on the planet.”

Kenny Leon, Tony Award winning director

The design team will include scenic design by Tony Award-winner Beowulf Boritt (New York, New York; Act One), costume design by Tony Award-nominee and Drama Desk Award- winner Dede Ayite (Jaja’s African Hair Braiding; Suzan Lori Parks’ Topdog/Underdog), lighting design by Tony Award-nominee Allen Lee Hughes (Suzan-Lori Parks’ Topdog/Underdog; A Soldier’s Play), sound design by Tony Award-nominee Justin Ellington (Ohio State Murders; for colored girls…), casting by Jim Carnahan, with Kate Wilson (The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window) as the dialect coach.

Speaking for the Wilder family, the playwright’s nephew, Tappan Wilder said: “Shortly before the Broadway opening of Our Town in 1938, my uncle, Thornton Wilder, described it to the press in these words: ‘You might say that it is a kind of an attempt at a complete immersion into everything about a New Hampshire village which, I hope, is gradually felt by the audience to be an allegorical representation of all life.’ In the first twenty months after the Broadway production closed, his drama about living and dying in the fictional town of Grover’s Corners, with a minimal set of tables, chairs, and a ladder, would be performed in 658 American communities—in forty- seven of the then forty-eight states — as well as in four Canadian provinces and several European countries. This universal embrace of the play has never ended. Even now, Our Town, with its message about the transcendent value of our growing up, our living, and our dying, is performed at least once every day somewhere in the world. Its ‘allegorical representation of all life’ really does unite us all. I got to know the play on an intimate level for the first time in 1955, when, as a high school freshman, I played Professor Willard on a postage-stamp-sized stage in our gymnasium. The responsibility of performing my uncle’s words left me a frightened puppy. Almost seventy years later, I am once again frightened, but not from stage fright. We live in a dangerously fractured world. It’s hard for us to recognize the experiences we all share: life, death, love. Which means that it’s a good thing that my uncle’s play is back on Broadway, with its timely reminder that we all live together in our town.”

For more information, visit OurTownBroadway.com and experience the magic of Our Town on Broadway once again.

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The cast for Home includes Tory Kittles as Cephus Miles, Brittany Inge as Woman One/Pattie Mae Wells, and Stori Ayers as Woman Two, all making their Roundabout Theatre Company debuts. In this Tony Award-nominated play described by The New York Times as “an uplifting folk ballad about the pure in heart,” Cephus Miles navigates life’s challenges until his sweetheart Pattie Mae’s departure for college and subsequent marriage to another man.

Originally staged by the Negro Ensemble Company in 1979 and part of Roundabout’s Refocus Project, Home by Samm-Art Williams remains a poignant coming-of-age story that resonates with the enduring spirit of all Americans seeking a sense of belonging. Kenny Leon, known for his work on A Soldier’s Play and Topdog/Underdog, brings his directorial prowess to breathe new life into this classic.

Home will commence preview performances on Friday, May 17, 2024, and officially open on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at the Todd Haimes Theatre on Broadway (227 West 42nd Street). The production is set for a limited engagement, running through Sunday, July 21, 2024.

The creative team behind “Home” includes Arnulfo Maldonado (Set Design), Dede Ayite (Costume Design), Allen Lee Hughes (Lighting Design), and Justin Ellington (Sound Design) to bring a visually and aurally immersive experience for theatre enthusiasts.

With its return to Broadway, Home not only celebrates the legacy of Samm-Art Williams but also reaffirms the enduring relevance of this heartfelt exploration of identity, resilience, and the quest for home. Don’t miss this opportunity to witness the magic of “Home” on stage, where the power of storytelling comes alive.

The post Stori Ayers, Tory Kittles, & Brittany Inge Will Star in <em>HOME</em> on Broadway appeared first on Broadway Black.

Led by Executive Director Khady Kamara Nunez and Artistic Director Bill Rauch, Cats: “The Jellicle Ball” has unveiled its initial casting lineup, featuring a stellar company of artists whose talents have graced Broadway stages and illuminated New York’s Ballroom floors. The diverse and exceptional cast includes:

Baby (Victoria) two-time winner of Ballroom Women’s Performance of the Year award (Southeast Region); Jonathan Burke (Mungojerrie) from the Tony-winning company of The Inheritance; Emma Sofia Caymares (Skimbleshanks) from the original Broadway cast of Finding Neverland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; Tara Lashan Clinkscales (Ensemble) a recent Carnegie Mellon Drama graduate; André De Shields (Old Deuteronomy) Tony Award winner for Hadestown; Sydney James Harcourt (Rum Tum Tugger) from the original Broadway company of Hamilton; Antwayn Hopper (Macavity) from the Tony-winning company of A Strange Loop; Dava Huesca (Understudy) a dancer-performer and member of Dance Theater Company VIM VIGOR; Dudney Joseph Jr. (Munkustrap) a member of the Ballroom community since 2011; Capital Kaos (DJ) a renowned Ballroom DJ; Junior LaBeija (Gus) member of the iconic house of House of LaBeija and MC in the documentary “Paris is Burning;” Ballroom icon Dominique Lee (Understudy); Robert “Silk” Mason (Mistoffelees) the founding mother of the new Kiki Royal Haus of Silk; “Tempress” Chasity Moore (Grizabella) a Ballroom Icon and the founder and Queen Mother of the house of Maison Margiela; Shereen Pimentel (Jellylorum) from the Broadway revival of West Side Story; Primo (Tumblebrutus) longtime member of the Ballroom community; Nora Schell (Bustopher Jones) from Broadway’s Jagged Little Pill; Kendall G. Stroud (Understudy) a recent NYU Tisch Drama grad and member of the Ballroom community; Frank Viveros (Ensemble) from Broadway’s Camelot and Aladdin; Garnet Williams (Bombalurina) a national concert performer; and Teddy Wilson Jr. (Sillabub) a recent graduate from Penn State’s Musical Theater program. Additional casting will be announced soon

The production boasts an impressive creative team, including directors Zhailon Levingston (Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, Chicken & Biscuits), the youngest Black director in Broadway history, and Bill Rauch, choreographers Arturo Lyons and Omari Wiles, and a lineup of designers and consultants dedicated to bringing this reimagined vision of Cats to life including:

Rachel Hauck (Scenic Design), Qween Jean (Costume Design), Adam Honoré (Lighting Design), Kai Harada (Sound Design), Brittany Bland (Projection Design), Nikiya Mathis (Hair/Wig Design), William Waldrop (Music Supervision and Music Direction), David Lai (Music Coordinator), Trevor Holder (Beats Arrangement), Capital Kaos (Ballroom Consultant), Josephine Kearns (Dramaturg & Gender Consultant), X Casting/ Victor Vazquez CSA, and Sujotta R. Pace CSA (Casting).

With all-new Ballroom and club beats, runway-ready choreography, and an edgy eleganza makeover, Cats: “The Jellicle Ball” promises to be a celebration of joyous transformation and self-expression at the heart of both Cats and Ballroom culture itself.

Scheduled to begin performances on June 13, 2024, with opening night on June 20, 2024, Cats: “The Jellicle Ball” will run through July 14, 2024, offering a limited engagement for audiences to experience this groundbreaking production. Presented by arrangement with The Really Useful Group, this reimagined take on Cats is set to redefine the boundaries of theatre and showcase the creativity and innovation within the industry.

From the visionary direction to the exceptional cast and creative team, Cats: “The Jellicle Ball” promises an unforgettable theatrical experience that celebrates the rich tapestry of Black talent and the vibrant spirit of Ballroom culture. Audiences are invited to come together and witness the magic of this reimagined classic, where artistry and storytelling converge in a dynamic and immersive production unlike any other.

The post André De Shields, “Tempress” Chasity Moore, Antwayn Hopper + More To Star in <em>Cats: “The Jellicle Ball”</em> appeared first on Broadway Black.

The strictly limited 16-week engagement will begin previews on Tuesday, September 27th at the John Golden Theatre (252 West 45th Street). The production will officially open on Thursday, October 20th. Tickets will go on sale at Telecharge.com on Monday, June 20th, Juneteenth National Independence Day. The production is being produced by David Stone, LaChanze, Rashad V. Chambers, Marc Platt, Debra Martin Chase, and the Shubert Organization.

Suzan-Lori Parks’ TOPDOG/UNDERDOG, a darkly comic fable of brotherly love and family identity, tells the story of two brothers, Lincoln (Hawkins) and Booth (Abdul-Mateen II), names given to them as a joke by their father. Haunted by the past and their obsession with the street con game, three-card monte, the brothers come to learn the true nature of their history.

The original Broadway production opened on April 7th, 2002 starring Jeffrey Wright as Lincoln and Mos Def as Booth. The play closed on August 11th. 2002 after 144 performances.

Suzan-Lori Parks’ TOPDOG/UNDERDOG will feature scenic design by Arnulfo Maldonado, costume design by Dede Ayite, lighting design by Allen Lee Hughes, and sound design by Justin Ellington. Casting is by Calleri Jensen Davis. Kamra Jacobs will be the Production Stage Manager.

“I’m so blessed that TOPDOG is back on Broadway! What a beautiful opportunity to share this work with new audiences. And, wow, how many writers get to be here for a Broadway revival of their work? I’m grateful and thrilled, and doing the show with Kenny, Yahya and Corey — that’s icing on the gravy, baby!”

Suzan-Lori Parks

Suzan-Lori Parks is the first Black woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, an award she received in 2002 for TOPDOG/UNDERDOG. In 2018, the play was named “The Greatest American Play of the Past 25 Years” by The New York Times. This unprecedented distinction was awarded unanimously by a special panel of critics convened to examine and rank the most important plays written and produced in the previous 25 years.

“Suzan-Lori Parks is a remarkable playwright. She is an original whose fierce intelligence, and fearless approach to craft, subvert theatrical convention and produce a mature and inimitable art that is as exciting as it is fresh. I am standing with my hat in the air.”  

August Wilson

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Directed by Tony Award nominee LaTanya Richardson Jackson (A Raisin In The Sun, To Kill A Mockingbird), who is making her Broadway directorial debut and will be the first woman to ever direct an August Wilson play on Broadway, this production will star Samuel L. Jackson (The Mountaintop), who originated the role of Boy Willie at Yale Rep in 1987,  as Doaker Charles, John David Washington as Boy Willie, and Antonyo Award winner and Tony nominee Danielle Brooks (The Color Purple) as Berniece. The Piano Lesson will begin performances on Monday, September 19, 2022, at the St. James Theatre.

“August Wilson dedicated his life and devoted his talent to dramatizing our stories and our experience. In doing so, he forever changed what it means to be Black in America. His plays built empathy, created community, and showed us the power of representation. The Piano Lesson is one of his most enduring, profound and consequential masterpieces, and I am reveling in this opportunity to present it to Broadway audiences for the first time since its premiere.”

LaTanya Richardson Jackson

The Piano Lesson is set in Pittsburgh’s Hill District in 1936.  A brother and sister are locked in a war over the fate of a family heirloom: a piano carved with the faces of their ancestors. Only by revisiting history can the siblings endeavor to move forward.

August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning The Piano Lesson is the fourth play in the American Century Cycle, which premiered at the Yale Repertory Theatre in 1987, starring a then-39-year-old Samuel L. Jackson as Boy Willie. Three years later, a new production, starring Carl Gordon, Charles S. Dutton, and S. Epatha Merkerson, opened at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre, and soon transferred to Broadway’s Walter Kerr Theatre. In addition to winning the Pulitzer Prize for drama, The Piano Lesson won the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Play, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play, the Peabody Award, and was nominated for the 1990 Tony Award for Best Play.

Producers Moreland (Thoughts of a Colored Man), Friedman (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), and Kirdahy (Hadestown) said:

“We are humbled and honored to return Mr. Wilson’s work to the Broadway stage under the inspirational LaTanya Richardson Jackson. After more than 30 years, The Piano Lesson is still adding to the ever-evolving conversation about family legacy. This production is coming back to Broadway at such an exciting time for our industry as we work to rebuild – and who better than Mr. Wilson to help us.”

Wilson’s American Century Cycle chronicles the Black experience throughout the 20^th Century over the course of ten plays – each set in a different decade. The Cycle consists of Jitney, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Fences, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, The Piano Lesson, Two Trains Running, Seven Guitars, King Hedley II, Gem of the Ocean, and Radio Golf. The Cycle includes five New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award winners, two Pulitzer Prize winners, and a Tony Award-winning Best Play.

The St. James Theatre is owned and operated by Jujamcyn Theaters, who produced the original Broadway production of The Piano Lesson at their theatre, the Walter Kerr, in 1990. In 2005, Jujamcyn Theaters renamed the Virginia Theatre the “August Wilson Theatre” in honor of the Pulitzer-Prize winner. Additionally, their history with August Wilson goes back many years. Jujamcyn Theaters lead produced six original productions in Wilson’s Century Cycle, including the Broadway runs of The Piano Lesson (1990, Walter Kerr); Two Trains Running (1992, Walter Kerr); Seven Guitars (1996, Walter Kerr); King Hedley II (2001, formerly the Virginia, now the August Wilson); Gem of the Ocean (2004, Walter Kerr); and Radio Golf (2007, Cort).

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Written by American playwright Charles Fuller, A Soldier’s Play will be directed by Tony Award winner and Roundabout Theatre Company’s Senior Resident Director Kenny Leon. The North American tour of A Soldier’s Play will begin performances in December of 2022 with tour stops and additional casting to be announced soon.

In 1944, on a Louisiana Army base, two shots ring out. A Black sergeant is murdered. And a series of interrogations triggers a gripping barrage of questions about sacrifice, service, and identity in America.  Charles Fuller’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece opened on Broadway for the first time on Jan. 21, 2020, at Roundabout Theatre Company’s American Airlines Theatre, nearly forty years after it was written. The acclaimed production was nominated for 7 Tony Awards and 3 Drama Desk Awards, winning Best Revival for both.

“It’s an honor to direct Charles Fuller’s masterwork for audiences around the country. Anyone who has seen Norm on the stage or screen knows that he is a remarkably powerful presence, a true force-of-nature and I can’t wait to see what will happen when we have that power at the center of this play.”

Kenny Leon

“As an institution committed to shining new light on classics, Roundabout was proud to produce the long-overdue Broadway premiere of A Soldier’s Play. On Broadway, I was thrilled to see Charles Fuller’s work and Kenny Leon’s spectacular vision get the recognition it deserved,” said Todd Haimes, Artistic Director and CEO, Roundabout Theatre Company. “Now, the opportunity to bring this production to cities across North America allows us to continue elevating the legacy of this great, American masterpiece.”

A veteran of 14 Broadway productions and countless TV & film appearances, Norm Lewis made history as The Phantom of the Opera’s first Black Phantom on Broadway.  Most recently, he starred in Spike Lee’s critically acclaimed Da 5 Bloods and in the groundbreaking FX series, “Pose.” Additionally, Mr. Lewis can be seen starring in ABC’s newest series, “Women of the Movement” and offscreen, his voice can be heard in Apple TV’s animated series “Central Park.” He was also seen as ‘Caiaphas’ in the award-winning NBC television special, “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert!” alongside John Legend, Sara Bareilles, and Alice Cooper. 

His additional television credits include “Dr. Death,” “Mrs. America,” “Better Things,” “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” “Bull,” “Chicago Med,” “Gotham,” “The Blacklist” and “Blue Bloods” as well as in his recurring role as ‘Senator Edison Davis’ on the hit drama “Scandal.”

Mr. Lewis returned to Broadway in the Fall of 2021, starring in Chicken and Biscuits at the Circle In The Square Theatre. He previously appeared in the Broadway revival of Once on this Island and as ‘Sweeney Todd’ in the Off-Broadway production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street at the Barrow Street Theatre, receiving the AUDELCO Award for his performance. He received Tony, Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle award nominations for his performance as ‘Porgy’ in the Broadway production of The Gershwins’ Porgy & Bess. Other Broadway credits include Sondheim on Sondheim, The Little Mermaid, Les Misérables, Chicago, Amour, The Wild Party, Side Show, Miss Saigon, and The Who’s Tommy.

Joining director Kenny Leon for the tour of Roundabout Theatre Company’s A Soldier’s Play is the Broadway design team that includes Derek McLane (Sets), Dede Ayite (Costumes), Allen Lee Hughes (Lights), and Dan Moses Schreier (Sound).  The tour of A Soldier’s Play is produced by Roundabout Theatre Company and Tamar Climan.

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The cast will feature Phillip James Brannon (“Servant”) as Ross, Grantham Coleman (The Great Society) as MacDuff, Asia Kate Dillon (“Billions”) as Malcolm, Tony nominee Maria Dizzia (In The Next Room) as Lady Macduff, Tony nominee Amber Gray (Hadestown) as Banquo, Emeka Guindo (Camelot) as Fleance, Paul Lazar (Silence of the Lambs) as Duncan, Bobbi MacKenzie (School of Rock) as Macduff’s Child, Michael Patrick Thornton (“The Red Line”) as Lennox, and Danny Wolohan (“Orange Is The New Black”) as Seyton. The ensemble will be completed by Che Ayende (King Lear), Eboni Flowers (Slave Play) and Peter Smith (“Shrill”). Stevie Ray Dallimore (Henry IV) joins as the standby for Daniel Craig. Asia Kate Dillon, Emeka Guindo, Paul Lazar, Peter Smith, and Michael Patrick Thornton will also make their Broadway debuts with this production.

A tale of malice, matrimony and murder, MACBETH tells the story of one couple’s obsession with power—and their guilt after doing the unthinkable. For 15 weeks only, this thrilling new production will capture the passion and ferocity of Shakespeare’s most haunting text like never before.

MACBETH is directed by Tony Award winner Sam Gold (A Doll’s House, Part 2; Fun Home). The show begins performances at the Longacre Theatre (220 West 48^th Street) on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, and opens on Thursday, April 28, 2022.

Tickets for MACBETH are now on sale at www.Telecharge.com.

MACBETH will feature scenic design by Christine Jones, costume design by Suttirat Larlarb, lighting design by Jane Cox, sound design by Mikaal Sulaiman, original music by Gaelynn Lea, special effects design by Jeremy Chernick, make-up, hair, and wig design by Tommy Kurzman,  violence direction by David Leong, movement by Sam Pinkleton and casting by David Caparelliotis.  Michael Sexton & Ayanna Thompson will serve as dramaturgy & text consultants and Dawn-Elin Fraser will serve as voice coach. Kevin Bertolacci will serve as production stage manager and 101 Productions, Ltd. serves as the general manager. 

MACBETH is produced on Broadway by Barbara Broccoli, The Shubert Organization, Michael G. Wilson, and Frederick Zollo.

Christian Anderson, Keith Anderson, Brian Carmody, Patrick Milling-Smith, No Guarantees, Annapurna Theatre, Berdel Productions, Robert Boyett, Caledonia Productions, Empire Street Productions, Jeffrey Finn, John Gore Organization, Brian A. Moreland, Mini Cooper, James L. Nederlander, RDR Productions, Daryl Roth and Orin Wolf will join as co-producers.

Patrick Daly serves as Executive Producer.

The post Amber Gray, Phillip James Brannon, & More Join Broadway’s MACBETH starring Ruth Negga & Daniel Craig appeared first on Broadway Black.

The Warner Bros. movie adaptation of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, which is an adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, will also star recording artist H.E.R. as Squeak, and Corey Hawkins (“In The Heights,” “The Tragedy of Macbeth”) as Harpo.

This casting is right on the heels of The Golden Globe-winner and Howard University theatre major graduate proving she’s got what it takes to star in a musical as she recently portrayed Miss. Hannigan in NBC’s “Annie Live!.” She is nominated for the NAACP Image Award for outstanding actress in a television movie, limited series, or dramatic special for that role; Henson has won 9 NAACP honors, including entertainer of the year in 2015.

Marcus Gardley (The House That Will Not Stand, “The Chi”) wrote the screenplay, based on Alice Walker’s novel, the stage musical (book by Marsha Norman and Brenda Russell, and score by Allee Willis and Stephen Bray), and the 1985 Warner Oscar-nominated film.

Taraji follows in the footsteps of Margaret Avery from the 1985 original film version as well as talents such as Jennifer Holiday, Jennifer Hudson, Michelle Williams, Heather Headley, & Elisabeth Withers from the Broadway musical.

Revisit our recent interview with the star during her press run for Annie Live! below.

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The world premiere is set for this fall at the Greenwich House Theater (27 Barrow Street), home to many of Beane’s first plays, beginning Thursday, October 14, 2021. Opening night is set for October 24. Fairycakes is set to play a limited engagement through January 2, 2022.

Lloyd is a Grammy© and Emmy© Award-winning actress. Her directing credits include Dainty (BOLD Festival, The Garden Workshop), Nick and The Prizefighter (Modern Works Festival), A Patriots Place (B-Street Theatre, BOLD Festival). Acting credits include Broadway: Dear Evan Hansen.  Off-Broadway Little Woman (Primary Stages), Blue Ridge (Atlantic), Paradise Blue (The Signature Theatre), Hamlet (The Public Theatre), Heathers The Musical (New World Stages), Cabin in the Sky (Encores City Center). Selected Regional: Paradise Blue (Williamstown), Witness Uganda (A.R.T)s, Hairspray, Rent (Hollywood Bowl). TV includes: “Random Acts of Flyness (HBO), “Elementary”, “Madam Secretary (CBS), “ER” (NBC) , “Lie to Me”(FOX).AND “Kevin Can Wait” (CBS).

Beane will direct the cast of characters which features, in order of appearance, Mo Rocca (Gepetto), Kristolyn Lloyd (Peaseblossom), Sabatino Cruz (Pinocchio) Jackie Hoffman (Moth)), Kuhoo Verma (Cinderella), Z Infante (Cobweb), Ann Harada (Musterseed), Jamen Nanthakumar (Changeling), Julie Halston (Titania/Elizabeth), Arnie Burton (Oberon/Dirk), Chris Myers (Puck) and Jason Tam (Prince/Cupid).

Scenic design is by Shoko Kambara & Adam Crinson, costume design by Gregory Gale and lighting design by Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew. Original music by Lewis Flinn. Ellenore Scott will choreograph and serve as Associate Director.

An all-star cast of theatrical favorites comes together in this uproarious clash of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and old-world fairy tales from Douglas Carter Beane. One night in the woods, puckish mischief leads to mismatched lovers from across all your favorite stories. And what begins as love at first sprite, grows into something more as the feelings from one midsummer night carry over to the bright light of day. So come and sit for a spell. Because in this theater, magic is real.

Fairycakes is proud to be the first production of the new season to work in allyship with Broadway for Racial Justice on creating a safe, equitable space for artists and audiences alike.

 

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