David Alan Grier & Stanley Wayne Mathis – The Producers
When I went to see Porgy & Bess with the brilliant Audra McDonald and Norm Lewis, I was less than enthused that Grier, that guy from TV’s “In Living Color,” would be making an appearance.  Clearly, I was ill-informed.  The Yale School of Drama alum approached the role with a wisdom, a professionalism and a personality that made me reevaluate every misconception I’d had.  His charisma has since had me pining to see him recreate the  role of Max Bialystock originated by Nathan Lane with Mathis as his sidekick, Leopold Bloom. With Grier’s comedic cunning, just a twinge of Mathis’ Schroeder-like wit, and some obvious tweaks to the cultural references, this duo could possibly pull off “the biggest flop in history.”

Nicholas Christopher & Nikki Renee Daniels – The Music Man
I’ve seen Christopher in a few roles, mostly contemporary pieces, and to say he is charming would be an understatement.  But many aren’t familiar with his straight-toned, classical music style and I’d love to see him bring that to the stage as the smooth-talking, fast-walking Professor Harold Hill with Daniels as the sensible and sensitive Marian…the Librarian.  Daniels’ performance in Porgy and Bess proved that she has the vocal timbre to handle the traditional Meredith Wilson score and, quite honestly, I’d just love to see their chemistry on stage.

Audra McDonald – St. Louis Woman
This show is already traditionally done with an all-Black cast. Most recently, it was seen as part of the City Center Encores Series with Vanessa Williams starring as the belle of St. Louis, Della Green.  However, I dream that Ms. McDonald recreates the role of Lila, the scorned, jilted lover who murders her cheating man, because that’s pretty much what we expect from an Audra performance and what she does best – dark with just a twinge of crazy.

In my excitement to devise my Broadway wish list, I came across only one problem: my performer list was too short.  I found myself coming up with the same male lead or the same female protagonist, reminding me that though the pool is expanding, we have yet to reach the level of equality that we strive for in this field.  We are still outnumbered and often discounted, but art is universal and diversity is on the rise.  We’re heading towards an era where inclusive casting won’t even need to be articulated.  Go ahead and take it in: non-traditional is the new normal.

The post BB Casting Agency: The Music Man & More appeared first on Broadway Black.

Photos by Joan Marcus.

Ryan Quinn, Nicholas Christopher, Derrick Baskin, Donald Webber Jr., Daniel J. Watts, Sherie Rene Scott

Ryan Quinn, Nicholas Christopher, Donald Webber Jr.,Chris Myers, Derrick Baskin

Daniel J. Watts and Chris Myers

Daniel J. Watts, Derrick Baskin, and Ryan Quinn.

Donald Webber Jr., Chris Myers, Derrick Baskin, Daniel J. Watts, Nicholas Christopher, and Ryan Quinn.

Whorl Inside a Loop is a new play by Dick Scanlan and Sherie Rene Scott and co-directed by Michael Mayer and Scanlan. After Scott and Scanlan went to Woodbourne Correctional Facility in New York to lead a one-day workshop on personal narratives, some of the inmates asked if they would come back and transform these monologues into a show. That’s exactly what they did. The play offers credit for additional material and a percentage of the profits to five of the men from the prison. Their monologues were woven into the script, and their names and nicknames were assigned to many of the characters.

A well-regarded actress agrees to teach six inmates how to tell their stories behind the bars of a men’s maximum security prison. Sharing intimate and sometimes hilarious details of their former lives, this unlikely group forms a bond — even as the actress’ life outside spins out of control. And when what happens in prison doesn’t stay there, no one is sure who to trust. From the team that brought you Everyday Rapture, this new play features Sherie Rene Scott and six men playing two dozen characters in a constant shifting of scenes, ages, genders and races. Whorl Inside a Loop explores the fine line between convicted felons and the criminal inside each of us, the viability of forgiveness and the unreliability of redemption.

Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased here.

Dont have your tckts to #WhorlInsideALoop yet? @donaldwebber & @DWattsWords tell you how! @2STNYC #WeAreBroadwayBlack pic.twitter.com/386JXQbL6g

— Broadway Black (@BroadwayBlack) August 6, 2015

The post A Look Inside: Whorl Inside A Loop At Second Stage Theatre appeared first on Broadway Black.

Whorl Inside a Loop is an Off Broadway production that tells the story of an actress who volunteers at a maximum security prison and agrees to teach six inmates how to tell their stories. Sharing intimate and sometimes hilarious details of their former lives, this unlikely group forms a bond – even as the actress’ life spins out of control. And when what happens in prison doesn’t stay there, no one is sure who to trust.

(l-r top row: Sherie Renee Scott, Derrick Baskin, Nicholas Christopher bottom row: Chris Myers, Ryan Quinn, Daniel J. Watts, Donald Webber, Jr.

The play, co-authored by Scott and writer Dick Scanlan, features Scott and six men playing two dozen characters in a constant shifting of scenes, ages, genders, and races. Other cast members include Derrick Baskin, who received a 2005 Drama Desk award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance for his role as “Mitch Mahoney” in the Off-Broadway production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee; Nicholas Christopher, who recently appeared as “Smokey Robinson” in Broadway’s blockbuster hit Motown: The Musical’s 1st National tour; Obie Award winner Chris Myers, who appeared in Soho Rep’s An Octoroon; Ryan Quinn, who’s appeared in several Off Broadway productions; Daniel J. Watts, who has been in After Midnight, In The Heights, Memphis, Motown, and others; and Donald Webber, Jr., who was in the original Broadway cast of Motown: The Musical and appeared in Holler If Ya Hear Me.

Whorl Inside A Loop is running at Second Stage Theatre from August 4-30. For tickets and show times, visit www.2st.com.

The post Previews Begin For Whorl Inside A Loop At 2econd Stage appeared first on Broadway Black.

Perhaps most prominently, Ruby Dee and Ozzie Davis were civil rights activists.  Known for her work with the American Negro Theatre and roles in “Do the Right Thing” and “American Gangster,” Dee was a member of CORE (Congress of Racial Equality), the NAACP, SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee),  and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Notably, she emceed the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.  Her husband, Davis, was nominated for two Tony Awards; in 1958 as Best Supporting or Featured Actor (Musical) for Jamaica, and in 1970 as co-author of the book for Best Musical nominee, Purlie.  Davis delivered Malcolm X’s eulogy, which can be heard at the end of the film “Malcolm X,” and also gave a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. the day after his assassination, at a memorial in New York’s Central Park.

Current Broadway stars have continued this dedication to activism. In July 2014, over 100 members of the Broadway community came together to send a message about police violence and the killing of Eric Garner.  Nik Walker (Motown, Peter and the Starcatcher) participated in the Times Square performance and said, “As artists, it’s very easy to blind ourselves to the issues plaguing our world today. This meeting won’t be to take a side in the Ferguson case. We just want to promote a respectful and productive conversation, so that events like this are never forgotten…and always learned from.”

Daniel J. Watts (After Midnight, Motown, Memphis, In The Heights) also used his talent to spotlight the Ferguson community, Michael Brown, and other African Americans who have been affected by police brutality.  In November 2014, Watts gave spoken word performances in Times Square in order to open a dialogue using his platform to talk about a variety of social issues.  More recently, this past May, Watts along with Wilkie Ferguson (Motown, Porgy n’ Bess and Post Modern Jukebox), and Nicholas Christopher (Motown and Whorl Inside A Loop), released their song, “Another One,” which riffs off of Queen’s 1980 hit, “Another One Bites The Dust.”  Watts recites poetry for the track, Christopher provides backing guitar, and Ferguson produced the tracks and added vocals.

These actors, along with countless others who have used their celebrity to provide awareness about social issues, are to be applauded for their work.  Without this spotlight, many issues would just be a brief flash on the evening news. Each time a person with name recognition attaches themselves to an issue, the more attention that cause receives.  Often, the Arts can be the bridge to open someone’s eyes.  As Watts eloquently said, “Art is the way for us to connect.  Art has the power to overcome obstacles.”

The post Broadway Black Actors And The Legacy of Activism appeared first on Broadway Black.