We previously talked about a run of Head of Passes at Berkeley Repertory Theatre to rave reviews back in May starring Cheryl Lynn Bruce. So, we’re so excited that Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad has signed on and that this new mounting is a co-production with Berkley Rep. Joining her in the cast of the nine person play includes Alana Arenas (Cookie), Francois Battiste (Aubrey), Kyle Beltran (Crier), and J. Bernard Calloway (Spencer). This is something you do not want to miss. The show is being billed as follows:

Tarell Alvin McCraney, MacArthur Award-winning playwright of the acclaimed Brother/Sister Plays, has written a poetic and contemporary parable inspired by the Book of Job. At the mouth of the Mississippi River, Shelah’s family and friends have come to celebrate her birthday and save her from a leaking roof, but unexpected events turn the reunion into the ultimate test of faith and love. As her world seems to collapse around her, Shelah must fight to survive the rising flood of life’s greatest challenges. 

PHYLICIA RASHAD (Shelah) was last seen at The Public in The Story by Tracey Scott Wilson in 2003, as well as in Helen in 2002, and Everybody’s Rudy in 1999. She is a versatile performer who became a household name when she portrayed “Claire Huxtable” on “The Cosby Show,” a character whose appeal has earned numerous honors and awards for over two decades. While television was a catalyst in the rise of Rashad’s career, she has also been a force on the stage, appearing both on and off-Broadway, often in projects that showcase her musical talent such as Jelly’s Last Jam, Into The Woods, Dreamgirls, and The Wiz. As a dramatic actress, Rashad has appeared on Broadway in August Osage County, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (also West End), Gem Of The Ocean (Tony nomination), A Raisin in the Sun (Drama Desk and Tony Awards) and Cymbeline. She appeared in Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds, and starred in Perry’s highly acclaimed film version of Ntozake Shange’s For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf. She made her directorial debut at the Seattle Repertory Theater with August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean and has directed works at The Ebony Repertory, Kirk Douglas Theatre, Westport County Playhouse, Mark Taper, Longwharf Theatre, and the McCarter Theatre. Rashad has received numerous honorary doctorate degrees and awards for excellence both in theater and television.

The post Phylicia Rashad Will Star In Tarell Alvin McCraney’s Head Of Passes at The Public Theater appeared first on Broadway Black.

The Flick, directed by Sam Gold, is set in a run-down movie theatre in Worcester, Massachusetts. Three low-wage ushers, at various points in their lives and careers, clean the house and attend to one of the last 35 millimeter film projectors in the state.

For three hours.

And 10 minutes.

In The Flick: “…tiny battles and not-so-tiny heartbreaks play out in the empty aisles, becoming more gripping than the lackluster, second-run movies on screen.”  In each scene of the play, characters clean the theatre after moviegoers have left, sometimes without any words said. The production has met with empty seats after intermission, but Baker is praised for her rich characters and entertaining dialogue, as theatre seats are pit against movie theater seats.

In an interview with Variety, Baker said she was inspired by “watching ushers clean up after movies, and becoming aware of them and of the theatre of that, the theatre act following the movie.” She went on to say: “That was really exciting to me. And watching a bunch of independent small town theaters make the shift from film to digital and what that meant for the viewing experience, what that meant for the theater, and what that meant for the daily life of the ushers and projectionists.”

From 2012-2013, 75 percent of movie theaters in the U.S. converted to digital technology, according to Baker during an NPR interview. A play with that as a foundation would seem quite the Seinfeld “show about nothing.” But it’s an intriguing concept for a setting to deliver a “hilarious and heart-rending cry for authenticity in a fast-changing world,” as noted about the play.

Interestingly, the Playwrights Horizons artistic director Tim Sanford sent letters to subscribers who complained of the show’s length. Yet, he was met with much more commendation from others, and it was decided not to edit the play’s run time. Moreover, The Flick is the sixth production to premiere at Playwrights Horizons and go on to win a Pulitzer.

Joining Beltran (Avery) – who went on as “Usnavi” for the 2009 national tour of In The Heights – will be Brian Miskell (Skylar/The Dreaming Man) and Nicole Rodenburg (Rose). They replace Clifton Moten, Alex Hanna and Louisa Krause, while Matthew Maher will continue his role as “Sam.”

Other Off-Broadway credits for Beltran include The Fortress of Solitude (2014) Choir Boy (2013) and 10 Things To Do Before I Die (2009).

The Flick is currently scheduled to play through January 10, 2016.

The post Kyle Beltran Stars In The Flick At Barrow Street Theatre appeared first on Broadway Black.

This was the first look into that project that made us intrigued and full of anticipation.

LAUNCHING SOON pic.twitter.com/2NRCvTztdi

— Broadway Legacy (@BroadwayLegacy) March 25, 2015

Well, the launch has happened and it was first reported by BroadwayWorld.com. The project, fittingly entitled, Broadway Legacy is described below:

BROADWAY LEGACY is a photographic and editorial exhibition that boldly celebrates African American achievement in the Broadway industry. The beautiful showcase of talented black men was directed by one of the same, Broadway actor Christian Dante White. The exhibition’s stunning portraits features Chuck Cooper, Darius de Haas, Charl Brown, Kyle Taylor Parker and more!

White’s aspiration was to feature men who not only are fiercely talented but also inspiring to each other and others. These are men who give life and love on and off the stage. 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.

In collaboration with celebrity photographer Brent Dundore, the pair came up with the concept and aesthetics to bring life to the essence of each man presented. Tony Award winners and nominees, Broadway veterans and gypsies, and the fresh, raw, and future legends are all a part of this project. This still but moving presentation in itself is a legacy. The creators invite you to learn, fall in love, and be inspired by a few good men in BROADWAY LEGACY.

In this amazing exhibition you’ll see what inspiration looks like in a timeless and classic manner. The crisp and clean presentation of Broadway Legacy is what Black Broadway and Broadway as a whole has been missing and longing for. Take a look at a few photos but make sure to check out the website www.BroadwayLegacy.com to get the full experience and find out more on why each person highlighted deserves their spot in the legacy chair. Web design was powered by LaCrafts Creations, owned and run by Elijah Ahmad Lewis, currently playing Stevie Wonder in Motown: The Musical 1st national tour.

Congrats to the entire team and all that made Broadway Legacy possible. This really makes our hearts happy. Look out! There is surely more to come and we can’t wait to see it. We have a feeling a Broadway Legacy of Women will be up next!

The post Broadway Legacy Turns Broadway World Upside Down appeared first on Broadway Black.

According to The Public Theater’s website, “The Fortress of Solitude is the extraordinary coming-of-age story about 1970s Brooklyn and beyond — of black and white, soul and rap, block parties and blackouts, friendship and betrayal, comic books and 45s. And the story of what would happen if two teenagers obsessed with superheroes believed that maybe, just maybe, they could fly.”

Check out this video from our friends over at Playbill.com of Kevin Mambo and Kyle Beltran performing Superman/Sidekick in the studio, as they record the Original Cast Recording of The Fortress of Solitude. 

You can pick up your copy of the recording in stores, or online HERE.

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