The musical stars Deborah Cox (Aida) with a book by Ellen Weston and Mark Hampton, music by Stephen Dorff, lyrics by John Bettis, based on a story by Kenneth Waissman, and directed and choreographed by Joey McKneely.

The musical is described on the Asolo Rep Theatre website as;

Romance, intrigue and plenty of excitement will fill the stage next spring when Asolo Rep presents the world-premiere of Josephine, the original new musical bound for Broadway following its Sarasota run. The entrancing Josephine Baker was beautiful, ambitious, and the toast of Europe at the height of her fame in the 1920s-30s. Born into poverty in St. Louis, she rose to become an icon of the Jazz Age, captivating Paris audiences as a dancer, singer, actress and the twentieth-century’s first international black female sex symbol. Directed and choreographed by Tony nominated Joey McKneely and starring Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling recording artist Deborah Cox, this dazzling new musical revolves around Baker’s stint as the star of the Folies-Bergere in Paris from 1939-45, her scandalous affair with Swedish Crown Prince Gustav IV, and her service in the French Resistance during World War II.

The show will run from April 27 until May 29 at Asolo Rep Theatre’s Mertz Theatre (5555 N. Tamiami Tr.  Sarasota, FL  34243). Tickets are now available for purchase here.

The post New Musical Josephine Starring Deborah Cox Approaches World Premiere in Florida appeared first on Broadway Black.

The Bodyguard: The Musical was first mounted on the West End starring Tony Award winner Heather Headley (Aida, The Lion King) in 2012. The same director from the West End,  Thea Sharrock, will also direct the tour. Cox will star as Rachel Marron, the character made famous by Whitney Houston in the movie of which the musical is based.

We were expecting this musical to head to Broadway at some point but it doesn’t seem likely if the show is going straight into a national tour. However, you just never know what will happen.

Just In: @Deborah_Cox will star in The Bodyguard Musical National Tour as Rachel Marron starting in Fall 2016! pic.twitter.com/ai5rum5fR2

— Broadway Black (@BroadwayBlack) May 14, 2015

According to Playbill, Deborah Cox had the following to say:

“The opportunity to sing all of these songs that people have grown to love over the years — to share her legacy and her catalogue of music and bring it right to the people. I mean, ‘Bodyguard’ is one of my all-time favorite movies, and it just has the best music, and I think the show is going to be compelling and mysterious, and it’s going to have the backdrop of all this really beautiful classic music.”

Singing the music from the soundtrack made legendary by Whitney Houston, as we all know, isn’t the first time Cox will have had her voice around some of these tunes. Recently she sang the music for a Lifetime biopic on Houston’s life. The made for television film was directed by Angela Bassett and starred Yaya Docasta as Whitney Houston.

Read more of her interview to find out how she feels about stepping to this iconic role, what all she had to say about the life and death of Whitney Houston, and what the music means to her. READ HERE

Additional casting and cities will be announced at a later date. Visit TheBodyguardMusical.com.

Former Secret Service agent, Frank Farmer is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be in charge – what they don’t expect is to fall in love… Based on the smash‑hit film, this breathtakingly romantic thriller features a whole host of irresistible classics, including One Moment in Time, I Wanna Dance with Somebody and, of course, the legendary I Will Always Love You.

Watch the trailer of The Bodyguard: The Musical from when Heather Headley starred in the show on the West End below.

The post Deborah Cox To Star In The Bodyguard National Tour appeared first on Broadway Black.

The annual event allows participants to be part of the full Tony Awards experience, including red carpet arrivals and the full awards show presentation via Clear Channel’s SpectacolorHD screens in the heart of the Broadway community—New York City’s Times Square.

The Times Square simulcast will feature special guest appearances and performances.  In addition, portions of the Tony Awards Red Carpet and the entirety of the Tony Awards show—including the Creative Arts Awards which can otherwise only be seen live inside Radio City Music Hall—will stream live, giving theatre lovers a front row seat to all of the award show action.

“We are pleased to once again partner with Clear Channel Spectacolor, the Times Square Alliance and the city of New York to bring the Tony Awards broadcast to the heart of the Theater District – Times Square,” said Charlotte St Martin, Executive Director of The Broadway League and Heather Hitchens, President of the American Theatre Wing. “The simulcast is the ideal opportunity for local and visiting Broadway fans to enjoy the Tony Awards on the big screen and cheer alongside fellow theatre enthusiasts. We look forward to another successful year!”

The simulcast will take place rain or shine, with full audio and seating for 2,000 guests starting at 4:00 – 11:00 PM on Duffy Square and the Broadway Plaza between 46^th and 48^th St, the heart of Times Square. The event is always free and open to the public.

The Tony Awards will be hosted by Kristin Chenoweth and Alan Cumming live from Radio City Music Hall on CBS, on Sunday, June 7^th, 8:00 – 11:00 PM (ET/PT time delay). The Tony Awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League

The post Deborah Cox & Justin Guarini To Host Tony Awards Times Square Simulcast appeared first on Broadway Black.

In the title role is none other than Deborah Cox, whose Broadway credits include the title role in Aida in 2004, and the female lead ‘Lucy Harris’ in the 2013 revival of Jekyll & Hyde (opposite Constantine Maroulis).

Romance, intrigue and plenty of excitement will fill the stage next spring when Asolo Rep presents the world-premiere of Josephine, the original new musical bound for Broadway following its Sarasota run. The entrancing Josephine Baker was beautiful, ambitious, and the toast of Europe at the height of her fame in the 1920s-30s. Born into poverty in St. Louis, she rose to become an icon of the Jazz Age, captivating Paris audiences as a dancer, singer, actress and the twentieth-century’s first international black female sex symbol. Directed and choreographed by Tony nominated Joey McKneely and starring Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling recording artist Deborah Cox, this dazzling new musical revolves around Baker’s stint as the star of the Folies-Bergere in Paris from 1939-45, her scandalous affair with Swedish Crown Prince Gustav IV, and her service in the French Resistance during World War II.

The Asolo Repertory Theatre production of Josephine debuts April 27, 2016, with an official opening on Mary 6th and will run through May 29th, 2016.

“Josephine vividly brings to life the story of a beloved American icon — one of the most magnetic and fascinating women in history. This celebration of Josephine Baker is a remarkably evocative work of art and a brilliant addition to our five-year American Character Project,” notes Producing Artistic Director of Asolo Repertory Theatre Michael Donald Edwards.

Visit www.AsoloRep.com for more information!

The post Deborah Cox To Play Josephine Baker In Broadway Bound Musical appeared first on Broadway Black.