In a special and intimate conversation hosted by Red Bull Theater’s Associate Artistic Director, David Winkelstein, Tony Award winner Andre De Shields (

During the interview, De Shields says, “It was such an exciting and heart-opening, mind-opening, and spirit-opening experience for me.” He goes on to talk about an actor’s purpose, their mission, and their responsibility as a creative when approaching a role. He states, “It is the actor’s process to allow, not force, these three ingredients [mind, body, and spirit] to converge; and when they converge, we have created the most precious gem with the most facets through which we can refract our light…”

The podcast was recorded on February 1, 2021 and you can check out the full video below.

The post The Wizard and The Bard: Andre De Shields In Conversation About Shakespeare’s King Lear appeared first on Broadway Black.

Composer/lyricist Jason Michael Webb (Brooklyn Tabernacle, Motown: The Musical, Violet) and writer/lyricist Lelund Durond Thompson (CTH artistic associate and founder of YellaFella Entertainment) created the commissioned work over two years. The duo has re-imagined classic Christmas songs as well as created new melodies designed to become holiday favorites. The soundscape is a wonderland of disco, rock and gospel genres.

Performed in the 200-seat intimate Soundstage, the musical follows three generations of a Harlem family still affected by the tragic loss of a loved one. An unexpected visit from Grandma reveals some long-absent Christmas joy. It is a universal story about how a community is healed, one family at a time, as everyday people do extraordinary things to help one another receive the gift of love.

CTH artistic director Ty Jones has described it as “Dickens for the 21st Century.” With Equity principal auditions taking place in September, the cast has yet to be announced. In May, when Broadway Black reported the production as “bringing something fresh to the holiday season,” the excitement was much like that of Webb under the Apollo marquee.

Leading the artistic team is director Steve H. Broadnax III. Broadnax, an associate professor of theatre at Pennsylvania State University whose work has been featured at Scotland’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe, also has showcased at The Kennedy Center with his award-winning The Hip Hop Project. The original play, which has toured nationally, was conceived, directed and choreographed by Broadnax.

Having opened its 15th anniversary season with a benefit concert featured the music of the Griffin Matthews–Matt Gould Witness Uganda (now titled Invisible Thread) at the Soundstage, CTH returns to the historic Harlem venue for its official debut.

Founded in 1999, CTH presents stories through the lens of the African Diaspora that honor the cultural legacy of the neighborhood in which it was founded. In a Theater Pizzazz interview, Jones notes CTH was in financial distress and lost the confidence of many supporters when he arrived in 2009. Now CTH has attracted major donors and has developed notable programming that reflects the diversity of ideas and racial tapestry that is America.

“We are part of the renovation of the community,” said Jones in his interview of the changes Harlem continues to experience. “We want to engage with the community.”

Tickets for The First Noel are on sale now HERE. Follow CTH at @classicalharlem.

The post The First Noel Gears Up For A Harlem Christmas At The Apollo appeared first on Broadway Black.

Marcia Pendelton

In association with Project1Voice and Harlem Hospital, the free event took place in the Herbert Cave Auditorium of Harlem Hospital Center. Act 1 – entitled “Sip, Shop and Bid” – featured Pendleton’s favorite fashion and accessory designers, with silent-auction proceeds benefiting designated theatre companies. Act 2 – titled “Show Out!” – was 90 minutes of special performances by artists and organizations among the rolodex of Walk Tall Girl Productions.

Featured artists were: Darius Crenshaw; Tony nominee André De Shields (The Wiz, The Full Monty); Eden Duncan-Smith (Fences, The Lion King); Marva Hicks (Motown The Musical); Ebony JoAnn (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom); Jamal Story (Motown the Musical, The Color Purple 2005); and Rema Webb (The Lion King, Violet, The Book of Mormon, The Color Purple 2015). Organizations included: Classical Theatre of Harlem; Creative Outlet Dance Theatre of Brooklyn; Dr. Barbara Ann Teer’s National Black Theatre; Sounds of Praise of Emmanuel Baptist Church; and The Designers Corner.

Founded in 2000, Walk Tall Girl Productions is a boutique marking, audience development and group sales agency dedicated to bringing diverse audiences to the arts on Broadway and beyond. The company, which specializes in theatre and reaching communities from the African Diaspora, has a client list that includes The Public Theater, The New York Philharmonic, Carnegie Hall, National Black Theatre, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre and Urban Bush Women Dance Company. Productions receiving Pendleton’s services have included: Motown: The Musical; the Debbie Allen-directed Cat on a Hot Tin Roof; Fences (with Denzel Washington and Viola Davis); and Fela!

Born and raised in Philadelphia and now a resident of Brooklyn, NY, Pendelton holds a bachelor’s in sociology (St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia) and a master’s in theatre management (University of Maryland, College Park). She is a member of the Harlem Arts Alliance and the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce.

The post Walk Tall Girl Productions Celebrated 15 Years With A Taste of My World appeared first on Broadway Black.

The First Noel follows three generations of a Harlem family affected by the tragic loss of a loved one. Time is slow to heal this family’s wounds until an unexpected visit from Grandma reveals some long-absent Christmas joy. This story is about how a community is healed, one family at a time, as everyday people do extraordinary things to help one another receive the gift of love at Christmas time.

Performance dates and location will be announced at a later date. Visit www.cthnyc.org for more information.

The post The First Noel: A World Premiere Musical With The Classical Theatre Of Harlem appeared first on Broadway Black.