Photo courtesy of NYPOPSUP Instagram

On a beautiful Sunday afternoon in Brooklyn, passers-by got an earful from the voices of Broadway’s biggest up-and-coming talent. As part of the new performing arts initiative sponsored by the state called New York Pops Up, outdoor performances will permeate the daily lives of New Yorkers in a festival highlighting the talents of the Big Apple. Spearheaded by Aisha Jackson, the first Black actress to play Princess Anna in the Broadway musical, Frozen, a group of performers brought their multi-hyphenated talents to a storefront in the heart of Brooklyn. On Easter, donning their Sunday Best, it was definitely clear that these stars have been taking care of their instruments as their voices echoed in the streets; being heard blocks away. One of the highlights included Charity Dawson’s original song inspired by the life of George Floyd and echoing the cries and sentiments of the Black Lives Matter Movement.  

In what used to be a Century 21 Department Store in Albee Square, Jackson (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical and Waitress: A New Musical), along with Saint Aubyn and Jarvis Manning, Jr. (Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations), and Charity Dawson (Waitress: A New Musical), sang cover songs as well as original music to a diverse crowd of onlookers. Not only were the performers and the accompanists (Richard Baskin, Jr. on keyboards, Jaques Smith II on drums, and Keyanna Hutchinson on guitar) separated by glass barriers that looked like cubicles to ensure safety, but the audience outside was required to wear masks and practice social distancing.

These pop-up performances come at a time when the theatre community has been shut down since March 2020 and has hopes of reopening this fall. Various artists across the 5 boroughs and New York State will give New Yorkers just a taste of what’s to come when the arts scene has its grand reopening. 

Jackson, who gathered the event’s performers, said, “I thought it was very important to employ some of my Broadway peeps and also ensure that we got Black people up here. I want us to be represented in so many ways and I think this is a beginning step to make sure we’re all included. We haven’t had the opportunity to do this in so long so this feels [like] healing and joyful and fun. It means a lot to be able to perform again in our city.”

To learn more about future performances in the New York area, visit the New York Pops Up Instagram.

The post Broadway is Alive: Stars Perform During Brooklyn Pop-Up Performance on Easter Sunday appeared first on Broadway Black.

Matthew Johnson Harris

The Middle Collegiate Church will be one of these organizations to be recognized on December 21, 2020, at 8 pm EST.  Directed and hosted by Matthew Johnson Harris, a star-studded cast of some of Broadway’s most talented women will spend the evening engaging in singing, dancing, and holiday joy to support and celebrate the women at Middle Collegiate Church in “A Mosaic Christmas”!

Harris has stated that the Middle Church has served as a home for benefit concerts that raise money towards fighting social justice issues. This upcoming concert serves as a ‘thank you’ from Harris and all of the Broadway stars. In addition to giving back in song, the concert will raise money to support rebuilding the Middle Church after a fire burned down their 128-year-old historical building on December 5. Additionally, the proceeds will also support the church’s Black Lives Matter Fund, public education initiatives, queer programming, and community care.

Middle Collegiate Church in New York, NY.

Some of the Broadway names that will be featured in “A Mosaic Christmas” include Aisha Jackson (Frozen, Waitress), Angela Birchett (The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel, The Color Purple), Cassondra James (Once on This Island), Carla Stewart (Tina the Musical, The Color Purple), and many more!

“A Mosaic Christmas” can be viewed via YouTube on December 21, 2020, at 8 pm EST by clicking HERE. 

To donate to the Middle Church, please visit HERE for more information! 

2020 has been a rough year for all of us. Remember to give back to those who need it most during this Christmas season! 

The post Aisha Jackson, Cassondra James, Angela Bichrett and More Gather to Support Middle Collegiate Church appeared first on Broadway Black.

The post Norm Lewis Is Back In Time For The Holidays with 54 Below Premieres appeared first on Broadway Black.

The show formerly known as Witness Uganda, is inspired by the true story and life of its creators Matt Gould & Griffin Matthews. The show follows the life of a New York City man, Griffin, who volunteers for an aid project in Uganda, the challenges he faced and how it changed his life. Matthews stars as himself in the new musical with Jeremy Pope (Choir Boy) as the alternate, playing the role of “Griffin” in some performances.

Determined to find his place in the world, 20-something Griffin leaves his job and his New York City apartment to volunteer for a charity in Africa. But when his altruistic aspirations collide with the real world, his life is changed in unexpected and profound ways. Inspired by a true story, this rousing new musical infuses a world pop score with African beats in an electrifying journey about discovering whether changing the world is even possible.

Co-creator Griffin Matthews will be joined by Melody Betts (“Chicago PD”); Rodrick Covington (Central Avenue Breakdown); Kevin Curtis (A Chorus Line National Tour); Tyrone Davis, Jr. (Shrek National Tour); Nkrumah Gatling (Hair); Latrisa Harper (The Color Purple); Jason Herbert (Fela!); Aisha Jackson (Beautiful); Kristolyn Lloyd (Heathers The Musical); Michael Lluwoye (Fable); Corey Mach (Hands on a Hardbody); Tiffany Mann (Lincoln Center’s Sweeney Todd); Jamard Richardson (The Book of Mormon); Nicolette Robinson (Brooklynite); Adeola Role (Lily’s Revenge); Conor Ryan (Cinderella) and Jamar Williams (Broken Window Theory)

We take you back to our Off Book series and into the world of Invisible Thread with this musical preview. This show begins previews Oct 31 at Second Stage Theatre. See what the creators & director have to say about the process and watch some vibrant musical numbers.

New York Premiere in association with American Repertory Theater

INVISIBLE THREAD

A New Musical

BY
MATT GOULD and GRIFFIN MATTHEWS

CO-CHOREOGRAPHED BY
DARRELL GRAND MOULTRIE

CHOREOGRAPHED BY
SERGIO TRUJILLO

DIRECTED BY
DIANE PAULUS

The post Off Book: Sneak Peek of Invisible Thread at Second Stage Theatre appeared first on Broadway Black.

The cast includes co-creator Griffin Matthews, along with Melody Betts, Rodrick Covington, Kevin Curtis, Tyrone Davis, Jr., Nkrumah Gatling, Latrisa Harper, Jason Herbert, Aisha Jackson, Kristolyn Lloyd, Michael Lluwoye, Corey Mach, Tiffany Mann, Jeremy Pope, Jamard Richardson, Nicolette Robinson, Adeola Role, Conor Ryan, and Jamar Williams.

“Determined to find his place in the world, 20-something Griffin leaves his job and his New York City apartment to volunteer for a charity in Africa. But when his altruistic aspirations collide with the real world, his life is changed in unexpected and profound ways. Inspired by a true story, this new musical infuses a world pop score with African beats in a journey about discovering whether changing the world is even possible.”

As Broadway Black already reported last month, the show was able to crowd-fund enough money to send the the cast, creators and a film crew to Uganda. In preparation for the New York premiere they met with the real-life Ugandan students the story is based on, participated in service projects, mentored orphans, and worked alongside local artists to take part in an exchange that will help to shape their performances and lives! Their main goal was to  connect with the people and places that have inspired the show and to come home and share an authentic theater experience with audiences in New York City!

Invisible Thread will be produced produced in association with the American Repertory Theater, where the musical held its world premiere in February 2014 under the title of Witness Uganda. Invisible Thread will begin previews at the Tony Kiser Theatre on October 31, with an official opening on  December 2, and a limited run through to December 27.

FIRST NYC REHEARSAL!! A million thank yous to every actor, director, production team, friend, family and supporter who has been a part of this journey. You are with us today. And we celebrate YOU!! There is a long invisible…

A photo posted by Witness Uganda (@witnessuganda) on Sep 14, 2015 at 9:08am PDT

The post Invisible Thread Cast Announced After Return From Uganda appeared first on Broadway Black.