“So beyond thrilled to be making my Bobbie debut today at @companybway!!!! I’ll be on for both performances! #firstBlackBobbieonBroadway #understudies @broadwayunderstudies” said Daniels via Instagram

CONGRATULATIONS NIKKI!!!

Daniels made sure to clarify that she was not the first Black Bobbie in Company ever. Jennifer Saayeng from the West End cast of Company, of which the current Broadway production hails, went on for the role Pre-Covid shutdown in 2018

Daniels’ current bio from the Company on Broadway website reads:

“Nikki Renée Daniels (Jenny) recently played Angelica Schuyler in the Chicago company of Hamilton. 10 Broadway shows, including The Book of Mormon (Nabulungi), The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess (Clara), Les Miserables (Fantine), Anything Goes and Promises, Promises. Nikki has performed as a soloist with numerous symphony orchestras across the country, in Canada, and at Carnegie Hall. Her debut solo CD, “Home” is available on iTunes and CDBaby.com.  All my love to Jeff, Lena and Louise. @nikkireneesings”

Daniels’ current bio from the Company on Broadway website

The post Nikki Renee Daniels Becomes Broadway’s First Black Bobbie in <em>Company</em> appeared first on Broadway Black.

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.

Nikki Renee Daniels

Her Broadway credits include The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess “Clara,” Les Miserables “Fantine,” Anything Goes, Promises, Promises, Nine, Lestat, Little Shop of Horrors, The Look of Love and Aida.  Her TV/Film credits include “Chappelle’s Show,” “The Sound of Music Live!” and The Other Woman. Danniels has performed as a soloist with symphony orchestras across the country, in Canada and at Carnegie Hall. Her debut solo CD, “Home,” was released in 2012. Daniels has said her legacy inspirations are Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne, Ruby Dee, Audra McDonald, LaChanze, and Phylicia Rashad. Currently, she is appearing on Broadway as “Nabulungi” in The Book of Mormon.

broadway_legacy's photo https://t.co/EM9Xk44js3 love this photo by Brent Dundore for @BroadwayLegacy! @dantechristian

— Nikki Renee Daniels (@nikkireneesings) August 19, 2015

Amber Iman

Making her Broadway debut as the High Priestess of Soul, Nina Simone, in “Soul Doctor,” Amber Iman earned rave reviews and a nomination for the prestigious Clive Barnes Award.

Amber Iman graduated magna cum laude, with a BFA in Musical Theatre, from Howard University. After graduation, she returned to Atlanta, where her performances included “Woman #1” in The Colored Museum, “Lady in Orange” in For Colored Girls…., and “Erzulie” in Once on this Island. She was nominated for an IRNE for Best Supporting Actress as “Cheryl” in Stick Fly (Arena Stage/Huntington Theatre).  Off-Broadway, she played “Mrs. Jefferson/Seasons of Love Soloist” in RENT (New World Stages), and “Hannah” in A Civil War Christmas (NY Theatre Workshop). Most recently she appeared in the role of  “Aldonza” in Man of la Mancha at the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, DC. Iman credits her legacy inspirations as Ella Fitzgerald, Bernardine Mitchell, Dinah Washington, India Arie, Audra McDonald, Viola Davis, and her mother Margo Moorer.

Find out more about the Broadway Legacy Series here. 

The post Broadway Legacy: Nikki Renee Daniels & Amber Iman Dazzle! appeared first on Broadway Black.

01.01 We go behind the scenes of the Broadway Legacy 2.0 photoshoot with Broadway Legacy creator & director Christian Dante White.

Please visit Broadwaylegacy.com & BrentDundore.com for more

Adriane Lenox (After Midnight, Doubt)

LaChanze (If/Then, The Color Purple)

Amber Iman (Soul Doctor), Marisha Wallace (Something Rotten),

Chondra Profit,(The Lion King),

Marva Hicks (Motown: The Musical, Caroline, Or Change)

Patrice Covington (Motown: The Musical National Tour),

Krystal Joy Brown(Motown: The Musical, Big Fish)

Kimberly Marable (Sister Act, The Lion King)

Candice Marie Woods (Nice Work If You Can Get It, Catch Me If You Can),

Crystal Joy (Motown: The Musical)

Aisha De Haas (Caroline, Or Change, One Mo’ TIme)

Capthia Jenkins (Newsies: The Musical, Caroline, Or Change),

Nikki Renee Daniels (Book Of Mormon, Gershwins’ Porgy & Bess)

Krisha Marcano (Motown: The Musical, The Color Purple)

Maia Nkenge Wilson (The Book of Mormon, The Color Purple)

Jesse Nager (Motown: The Musical, Mary Poppins)

Brandon Victor Dixon (Motown: The Musical, The Color Purple)

Clifton Davis (Aladdin, Two Gentlemen of Verona)

Michael McElroy (Next To Normal, Rent, Big River)

Maurice Murphy (Motown: The Musical, Leap Of Faith)

 Grasan Kingsberry (Nice Work If You Can Get It, Leap Of Faith)

The post [WATCH] Off Book: Broadway Legacy with Christian Dante White appeared first on Broadway Black.