Amazing Grace 

• Theatre: Nederlander Theatre
• First Preview: June 25, 2015
• Opening: July 16, 2015
• Written by Arthur Giron (Book), Arthur Giron and Christopher Smith (Music & Lyrics)
• Director: Gabriel Barre
• Cast: Josh Young, Erin Mackey, Chuck Cooper, Harriet D. Foy, Laiona Michelle, Rachael Ferrera
• A new-original musical based on the awe-inspiring true story behind the world’s most beloved song. A tale of romance, rebellion and redemption that follows one man whose incredible journey ignited a historic wave of change.
• Website: http://amazinggracemusical.com/

Hamilton  

• Theatre: Richard Rodgers Theatre
• First Preview: July 13, 2015
• Opening: August 6, 2015
• Written by Lin-Manuel Miranda (Book, Music & Lyrics)
• Director: Thomas Kail
• Cast: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Christopher Jackson, Leslie Odom Jr., Phillipa Soo
• Originally premiered Off-Broadway at The Public Theatre, Hamilton makes its move to the Great White Way. From bastard orphan to Washington’s right hand man, rebel to war hero, loving husband caught in the country’s first sex scandal to Treasury head who made an untrusting world believe in the American economy, Hamilton is an exploration of a political mastermind.
• Website: http://www.hamiltonbroadway.com/

The Gin Game 

• Theatre: Golden Theatre
• First Preview: Sept. 21, 2015
• Opening: Oct. 13, 2015
• Written by D.L. Coburn
• Director: Leonard Foglia
• Cast: James Earl Jones, Cicely Tyson
• An elderly couple at a nursing home play an increasingly tense series of gin rummy games as they expose truths about their failures, disappointments and insecurities.

The Color Purple

• Theatre: Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre
• First Preview: November 9, 2015
• Opening: December 10, 2015
• Written by Marsha Norman (Book), Brenda Russell, Allee Willis & Stephen Bray (Music & Lyrics), Alice Walker (Novel)
• Director: John Doyle
• Cast: Cynthia Erivo, Jennifer Hudson, Danielle Brooks
• Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, The Color Purple follows the inspirational Celie as she journeys from childhood through joy and despair, anguish and hope to discover the power of love and life. Tickets go on sale June 30.
• Website: http://colorpurple.com/

Shuffle Along 

• Theatre: Music Box Theatre
• First Preview: March 14, 2016
• Opening: April 21, 2016
• Written by Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle (Music), George C. Wolfe (Book)
• Director: George C. Wolfe, Savion Glover (Choreography)
• Cast: Audra McDonald, 
• A backstage musical about the events that led to the creation of the groundbreaking Eubie Blake-Noble Sissle 1921 musical Shuffle Along that starred Josephine Baker and Paul Robeson

Children of a Lesser God

• Theatre: TBA
• Target Opening: 2015-16 Season
• Written by Mark Medoff
• Director: Kenny Leon
• Cast: TBA
• The story of James Leeds, a new teacher at a school for the deaf, and Sarah Norman, the school’s one-time star student who has stayed behind as its cleaning woman rather than venturing out into the hearing world. James immediately takes a keen interest in Sarah, and tries to persuade her to communicate orally by lip reading. They soon embark on an emotional journey that will teach them both new ways of communicating and loving and, in the process, they build a romance beyond words.

With such an awesome and diverse lineup–both on stage and behind the scenes– our hope is that these shows can and will be seen by as many people as possible, to show the theatre world what else there is to offer. More diverse storytelling leads to a more diverse audience, which keeps the theatre alive. So do me and everyone else here at Broadway Black a huge favor; if you can get your hands on these tickets GO and while you’re at it, tell a friend or two.

The post Broadway Is The New Black: 2015-16 Season Line-Up appeared first on Broadway Black.

Tony-winners Anika Noni-Rose (2004, Best Featured Actress in a Musical, Caroline, or Change) and Tonya Pinkins (1992, Best Featured Actress in a Musical, Jelly’s Last Jam) are teaming up again (they appeared on Broadway together in ‘Caroline, Or Change’) for a benefit reading of Pulitzer Prize-winner Lynn Nottage’s play, Fabulation, or the Re-Education of Undine at New World Stages in Manhattan. Noni-Rose and Pinkins will be joined by Wood Harris (2012 Broadwa

y “multiracial” adaptation of A Streetcar Named Desire, HBO’s The Wire) and Michael Mastro (2009, Broadway revival of West Side Story). This reading is to be directed by Tony-winner Kenny Leon (2014, Best Direction of a Play), who previously worked with Noni-Rose in his revival of A Raisin in the Sun (for which he won his Tony) in 2014, and Pinkins in Holler If Ya Hear Me in 2013.

This benefit, which is set to happen April 21st, at 6:30 PM is for the non-profit arts education organization Opening Act.

Proceeds of the evening go directly to Opening Act’s free theatre programs.

The non-profit organization provides students attending New York City’s most under-served public schools, the opportunity – through theater – to develop leadership, commitment, confidence, and community. Opening Act provides free after-school and extra-curricular programs to the most high-need NYC public high schools that have low graduation rates and a lack of theater and arts programs. Tickets are now on sale at http://openingact.org/play-reading/.

Noni-Rose can next be seen in the CBS pilot For Justice, opposite fellow Tony-winner Phylicia Rashad (2004, Best Actress in a Play, A Raisin in the Sun), and directed by Ava DuVernay (director of the Oscar-winning film Selma, 2015). Pinkins can currently be seen in Joel Drake Johnson’s Rasheeda Speaking, at the New Group‘s Pershing Square Signature Center through March 22nd.

Up next for Kenny Leon is a revival of the 1980 Tony-winning play Children of a Lesser God, set to bow during the 2015-2016 season.

The post ‘Fabulation’ At New World Stages Directed By Kenny Leon appeared first on Broadway Black.