Diana Ross Archives - Broadway Black

Shanice Williams To Perform At The Apollo Theater

Broadway Black — Wed, 16 Dec 2015 20:43:29 +0000

Shanice Williams is a star in the making. On the heels of being nominated for a Critics’ Choice Award for Best Actress in a Movie Made for Television for her performance as “Dorothy” in The Wiz Live!, Williams is going to ease on down the road to Harlem at the world famous Apollo Theater.

The Apollo Theater presents its annual Amateur Night Holiday Special, a community favorite and one of the highlights of the Apollo season. The special show is an evening of entertainment presented by talented child dancers, musicians and singers all who are past Amateur Night Stars of Tomorrow winners.

This year features special guest performances by TV and Broadway performer Corbin Bleu (In the Heights, Godspell) and breakout star of NBC’s The Wiz Live! Shanice Williams. Co-hosted by Chaz Shepherd and Corbin Bleu.

Some of the performers for the night include Alexis Morrast, Christian Guardino, Lianah Sta. Ana, Mathew Whitaker, Dominique Gervais, Solomon Hicks, Austin Paul Jr. , Haruto Maeda, Street Justice Crew and Ex-Crew of Junior Exile.

Amateur Night at the Apollo is one of New York’s most popular live entertainment experiences, attracting performers and audiences from all over the world. Amateur Night is known for its “tough crowd” audience that ultimately decides who will go on to win the grand prize. That is if they aren’t swept off the stage first. Many singers and even some Broadway Black stars got their start on the famous Apollo stage including Billie Holiday, Pearl Bailey, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Patti Labelle, Aretha Franklin, and Williams’ own co-stars Ne-Yo and Stephanie Mills (who won Amateur Night six weeks in a row when she was only 11 years old!)

Amateur Night Holiday Special is a one-night only special on Saturday, December 19th starting at 7:30 PM. Tickets can be purchased here.

In NYC?! You can see @luvbeingshanice live @apollotheater as guest for #amateurnightapollo TONIGHT! Make your way to Harlem!

A photo posted by Broadway Black (@broadwayblack) on Dec 19, 2015 at 8:24am PST

The post Shanice Williams To Perform At The Apollo Theater appeared first on Broadway Black.

NBC Takes Us Behind The Yellow Brick Road With The Making of The Wiz Live!

Broadway Black — Mon, 02 Nov 2015 20:26:09 +0000

I think it’s safe to say, we’re all sitting on the edge of our seats with popcorn and Sour Patch Kids, waiting for the Dec 3 arrival of NBC’s The Wiz Live! We may not be able to reach new levels of obsession over Shanice Williams and the rest of the star studded and immensely talented cast, but let me tell you something: there is more good news! Ne-Yo, I mean NBC, is taking us on a backstage, all-access look into the teamwork it takes to ease on down the road through “The Making of The Wiz Live!” on November 25 from 8-9pm EST.

We’ll see Shanice belting her face off, Queen Latifah bringing back “U.N.I.T.Y,” Mary J. Blige teaching us how she fits her infamous bop into her role as “Evilene”, and the original Dorothy, Stephanie Mills, reliving her experiences from the original Broadway production.

Okay, okay, okay! None of that was promised.. but tune in for an hour of insight that covers costumes to casting! And I’m sure candid (or not so candid) shots of Shanice singing! #yassss

UPDATE: Watch the latest promo video for #TheWizLive below!

The Wiz is an adaptation of L. Frank Baulm’s timeless, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, told through a lens that weaves in African American culture. Many were exposed to The Wiz through the 1978 film which featured Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, and Richard Pryor. However, the show we’ll see in December is based on the 1974 Broadway production of The Wiz that went on to snag seven Tony awards, including Best Musical.

The cast is like the Broadway Black version of The Avengers, bringing together our favorite veterans to give life to the revamped 2015 version of The Wiz. Shanice Williams leads us through the streets of Oz as “Dorothy”, Queen Latifah serves as the powerful, yet powerless legend: “The Wiz”, Mary J. Blige is “Evillene” (The Wicked Witch of the West), David Alan Grier searches for courage as the “Cowardly Lion”, Uzo Aduba is “Glinda”, Amber Riley is “Addaperle”, Stephanie Mills joins the company as “Auntie Em”, Elijah Kelley finally gets his brain as the “Scarecrow”, Common is the “Bouncer”, and Ne-Yo gets loose as the “Tin Man”. In the midst of so many talented stars, it’s no surprise that creativity produced magic. Ne-Yo, Elijah Kelley, music producer Harvey Mason, Jr., and music director Stephen Oremus, cowrote a new song which will be featured in the show.

Maybe we’ll get insight into that new song. Maybe we’ll see David Alan Grier crack jokes on his fellow castmates. Maybe we’ll just see Shanice smiling. All I know is we’re getting a glimpse into this highly anticipated production– the very glimpse my impatience needed.

Take a look at glimpse of the panel discussion we attended with a part of the cast at the Apple Store in Soho. If you follow us on Periscope you know we streamed the entire thing. It was great!

The post NBC Takes Us Behind The Yellow Brick Road With The Making of The Wiz Live! appeared first on Broadway Black.

Here Come’s Motown: The Musical on Tour!

Broadway Black — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 20:33:10 +0000

Motown: The Musical is a heart thumping, nostalgic performance of the music that made Berry Gordy king. The show pays homage to the world class musicians who were propelled to stardom via the hallowed halls of Hitsville, USA. According to the website,

“Motown:The Musical is Broadway’s record-breaking smash hit that tells the true story behind the beat that changed minds, touched lives and took the world by storm. Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations – Motown: The Musical shows how these legendary artists and so many more created the soundtrack that transformed America. With over 40 classic songs such as “My Girl,” “What’s Going On,” “Dancing in the Street,” “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” this explosive Broadway event is the next chapter of Motown’s incredible history – and an experience you’ll never forget.”

https://youtu.be/7ScXWusn2AU

Based upon Berry Gordy’s 1994 memoir “To Be Loved,” Motown:The Musical foregoes much of the the drama to focus squarely on the hits. Attendees can expect blistering hot renditions of the music of Black R&B icons that shaped nearly every musical genre of today. If you missed the show during its Broadway run, don’t despair. After a two year hiatus, the show has begun its American tour. So far, the reviews have been exactly what one would expect from a show that captures the music chronicling the spectrum of Black life, love and politics.

“A towering stack of musical memories! The greatest pop hits of our collective lifetimes just keep on coming! Motown rocks the rafters! –New Jersey Newsroom

Audiences who have already seen the show on tour agree.

After tonight @AllisonSemmes is officially bae! SHE SLAYED THAT SHOW TONIGHT LIKE WHAT?!?!! It's should be illegal to slay that much

— bri. (@Pumkin_Poo) August 13, 2015

The niece and nephew loved @MotownMusical SO much. It's 11pm and they're singing the Jackson 5. No one is sleeping tonight.

— Farrah Rochon (@FarrahRochon) August 10, 2015

Had a wonderful evening jamming out to @MotownMusical at @ATTPAC. Highly recommend for Broadway lovers and music aficionados alike!

— paige (@paigeraiczyk) August 9, 2015

The original tour cast included Clifton Oliver and Allison Semmes as Berry Gordy and Diana Ross, Nicholas Christopher as Smokey Robinson, Jarran Muse as Marvin Gaye, and Leon Outlaw, Jr. and Reed L. Shannon as Young Berry Gordy and the roles of Young Michael Jackson and Young Stevie Wonder. Also, ensemble members Erick Buckley, Patrice Covington, Christian Dante White, Jamarice Daughtry, Tamar Davis, Lynorris Evans, Melanie Evans, Devon Goffman, Jennie Harney, Latrisa Harper, Rod Harrelson, Robert Hartwell, Rodney Earl Jackson, Jr., Trisha Jeffrey, Grasan Kingsberry, Elijah Ahmad Lewis, Jarvis Manning, Krisha Marcano, Marq Moss, Rashad Naylor, Chadaè , Ramone Owens, Nicholas Rowe, Jamison Scott, Douglas Storm, Martina Sykes and Galen Williams all graced the stage that opening night in Chicago.

For more information on tickets and upcoming tour stops, click here.

To see the current tour cast check here.

The post Here Come’s Motown: The Musical on Tour! appeared first on Broadway Black.

LaChanze Sizzles in Broadway Legacy

Broadway Black — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 16:58:57 +0000

LaChanze, best known for her Tony Award-winning role as “Celie” in The Color Purple was recently featured in “Broadway Legacy,” a photographic and “online historical catalogue of art and information, celebrating African American theatre.” Broadway Legacy is the brainchild of actor Christian Dante White and celebrity photographer Brent Dundore.

LaChanze! made her Broadway debut as part of the ensemble in Uptown…It’s Hot! in 1986. She’s also appeared in the musical Once on This Island in 1990 in which she played the role of “Ti Moune.” She received nominations for the Tony Award as Best Featured Actress in a Musical and Drama Desk Award as Outstanding Actress in a Musical. Her other Broadway credits include the 1987 revival of Dreamgirls, Ragtime, and 2014’s If/Then.

As part of her feature on Broadway Legacy, LaChanze also lists her inspirations, “Cicely Tyson for her vulnerability. Alfre Woodard for her honesty. Lola Falana for her confidence. Diana Ross for her business savvy.”

Every other week, Broadway Legacy focuses on a different individual’s accomplishments and inspirations. The series features Broadway veterans such as Chuck Cooper who won a Tony for The Life, Tony nominee Charl Brown, Derrick Baskin, best known for his role of “Comfort Counselor Mitch Mahoney” in the popular Broadway show, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Ben Harney, who won the 1982 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical for his role as “Curtis Taylor, Jr.” Dreamgirls.

White, who made his Broadway debut in the original production of The Scottsboro Boys created Broadway Legacy to feature men who not only are fiercely talented but also inspiring to each other and others. His goal was to not only show appreciation for their remarkable contributions to entertainment but for these men to be recognized in a high fashion setting and to be presented by an outlet that reaches masses so they can be enlightened and educated. White recently added Broadway Legacy 2.0 and LaChanze! is the first woman to be featured in the section.

Check out all the photos and more info on BroadwayLegacy.com

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Motown: The Musical Coming to a Movie Theatre Near You?

Broadway Black — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 17:00:29 +0000

Motown: The Musical hit the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre stage in April 2013 and did not close until January 2015 after a whopping 700+ performances of all the songs your mother taught you to love while cleaning the house on a Sunday afternoon.

Berry Gordy created the book for this show based on his 1994 autobiography To Be Loved: The Music, the Magic, the Memories of Motown. The play follows Gordy’s life as he creates and runs Motown with an all-too-familiar cast of characters. Major players in the musical are Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, and Michael Jackson.

The show was nominated for four Tony awards: Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Musical) (Valisia LeKae); Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role (Musical) (Charl Brown); Best Orchestrations (Ethan Popp and Bryan Crook); and Best Sound Design of a Musical (Peter Hylenski). Despite all of the rave reviews for this show it did not receive a nomination for Best Musical.

Rumors have bubbled up several times since this show hit stages that a film would be certain to come. However, there has not seemed to be a solid answer from Gordy or a definitive timeline.

“Oh yeah, it’s always in the works — been in the works a long time with different people talking to us about it. But we’re just focusing on this right now. The movie will come when it comes.” says Gordy in an interview with The Detroit News this past October.

For now, you can get your Motown: The Musical fix with the national tour that started in April 2014. In addition, Motown is scheduled to return to Broadway in Summer 2016 and make it’s debut on The West End in February 2016. For more information on the show or how to get tickets visit Motownthemusical.com

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Keke Palmer Sings Home From The Wiz

Broadway Black — Sat, 09 May 2015 17:14:51 +0000

On April 20, actress Keke Palmer uploaded a video of herself SANGING Jazmine Sullivan’s version of ‘Home’ from The Wiz to her social media accounts! The forty-nine second clip of Palmer belting out one of the play’s biggest songs only added to the excitement and speculation of casting for the upcoming live broadcast of the classic on NBC set to air on December 3 and its subsequent revival on Broadway. In an interview with New York Live Palmer exclaimed that she would love to take part in the play if she was presented with the opportunity. The actress is no stranger to the stage. In 2014 she became the first black Cinderella on Broadway where she established herself as a force to be reckoned with on the theatre scene.

Here’s a snippet of me singing Jazmine Sullivan version of “Home” from The Wiz.

Posted by Keke Palmer on Monday, April 20, 2015

CAN’T SEE THE VIDEO? WATCH IT HERE!

When NBC made the announcement at the end of March that its next live musical would be The Wiz the internet went into a tizzy! Immediately theatre lovers begin pitching their dream casts! Theatre names like Anika Noni Rose, Nikki M. James , Tituss Burgess, and Condola Rashad were tossed about and mainstream names like Chris Brown, Usher, Janelle Monae, and Beyonce were also thrown into the mix. There was a great concern from many theatre buffs that NBC would cast “known” names to draw in viewers instead of casting actors and actresses more familiar with the stage. To this director Kenny Leon responded with great confidence that commercial casting would not take place. “We will tell the story with the best, available cast..no tricks- no worries!”, stated the Tony Award winner. Keke Palmer, if casted, would bring both audiences; theatre and popular culture fans.

The Wiz– based on L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz- made its Broadway debut in 1975. The musical went on to win the Tony Award for Best Musical and Best Original Score among other recognitions. The cast included the talents of Stephanie Mills, Ted Ross, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Mabel King. The film adaptation was released in October 1978 and included an equally impressive cast- Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Lena Horne, Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross and Richard Pryor. There has not been a Broadway revival of the classic since that time so it’s no wonder everyone is over the moon with excitement! We certainly can’t wait!

Make sure you continue to follow Broadway Black for all of the updates on everything The Wiz!

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