Written by American playwright Charles Fuller, A Soldier’s Play will be directed by Tony Award winner and Roundabout Theatre Company’s Senior Resident Director Kenny Leon. The North American tour of A Soldier’s Play will begin performances in December of 2022 with tour stops and additional casting to be announced soon.

In 1944, on a Louisiana Army base, two shots ring out. A Black sergeant is murdered. And a series of interrogations triggers a gripping barrage of questions about sacrifice, service, and identity in America.  Charles Fuller’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece opened on Broadway for the first time on Jan. 21, 2020, at Roundabout Theatre Company’s American Airlines Theatre, nearly forty years after it was written. The acclaimed production was nominated for 7 Tony Awards and 3 Drama Desk Awards, winning Best Revival for both.

“It’s an honor to direct Charles Fuller’s masterwork for audiences around the country. Anyone who has seen Norm on the stage or screen knows that he is a remarkably powerful presence, a true force-of-nature and I can’t wait to see what will happen when we have that power at the center of this play.”

Kenny Leon

“As an institution committed to shining new light on classics, Roundabout was proud to produce the long-overdue Broadway premiere of A Soldier’s Play. On Broadway, I was thrilled to see Charles Fuller’s work and Kenny Leon’s spectacular vision get the recognition it deserved,” said Todd Haimes, Artistic Director and CEO, Roundabout Theatre Company. “Now, the opportunity to bring this production to cities across North America allows us to continue elevating the legacy of this great, American masterpiece.”

A veteran of 14 Broadway productions and countless TV & film appearances, Norm Lewis made history as The Phantom of the Opera’s first Black Phantom on Broadway.  Most recently, he starred in Spike Lee’s critically acclaimed Da 5 Bloods and in the groundbreaking FX series, “Pose.” Additionally, Mr. Lewis can be seen starring in ABC’s newest series, “Women of the Movement” and offscreen, his voice can be heard in Apple TV’s animated series “Central Park.” He was also seen as ‘Caiaphas’ in the award-winning NBC television special, “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert!” alongside John Legend, Sara Bareilles, and Alice Cooper. 

His additional television credits include “Dr. Death,” “Mrs. America,” “Better Things,” “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” “Bull,” “Chicago Med,” “Gotham,” “The Blacklist” and “Blue Bloods” as well as in his recurring role as ‘Senator Edison Davis’ on the hit drama “Scandal.”

Mr. Lewis returned to Broadway in the Fall of 2021, starring in Chicken and Biscuits at the Circle In The Square Theatre. He previously appeared in the Broadway revival of Once on this Island and as ‘Sweeney Todd’ in the Off-Broadway production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street at the Barrow Street Theatre, receiving the AUDELCO Award for his performance. He received Tony, Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle award nominations for his performance as ‘Porgy’ in the Broadway production of The Gershwins’ Porgy & Bess. Other Broadway credits include Sondheim on Sondheim, The Little Mermaid, Les Misérables, Chicago, Amour, The Wild Party, Side Show, Miss Saigon, and The Who’s Tommy.

Joining director Kenny Leon for the tour of Roundabout Theatre Company’s A Soldier’s Play is the Broadway design team that includes Derek McLane (Sets), Dede Ayite (Costumes), Allen Lee Hughes (Lights), and Dan Moses Schreier (Sound).  The tour of A Soldier’s Play is produced by Roundabout Theatre Company and Tamar Climan.

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Aida tells the story of two lovers who come from opposite backgrounds in Eygpt but despite all obstacles, they devote their love to each other until their last breath. Based on the opera of the same name, the show opened on Broadway in March 2000 and starred the incredible singer and actress Heather Headley.

Prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, press releases announced that the show would return to the Broadway stage for a revival in 2021 with Schele Willams, an original cast member, as director of the production. While we patiently wait for the project to grow to fruition, we wonder what the cast would look like if told in a new, innovative, and ALL BLACK EVERY-THANG way?

Cynthia Erivo as Aida

Cynthia Erivo

Filling the iconic shoes of Heather Headley is NOT an easy task, so who’d better than another powerhouse voice such as Cynthia Erivo? The on-her-way-to-be EGOT actress has portrayed a wide variety of strong Black women on screen and on stage, so hearing her tackle classics such as “Easy As Life” and “Dance of the Robe” would give us more reasons to love her work!

Noah J. Ricketts as Radames

Photo courtesy of Courtesy Jacob Smith Studios

Noah J. Ricketts made his Broadway debut as a swing/replacement in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical but rose to fame in 2019 when he gained the starring role of Kristoff in Disney’s Frozen on Broadway. Ricketts. So let’s talk about UNDERRATED PERFORMERS! Noah’s rich, buttery tone has the level of fierceness to showcase Radames’s power as Captain of the Egyptian army while always showing the tender and complex side he develops when he falls in love with Aida.

Alysha Deslorieux as Amneris

Alysha Deslorieux

Another Broadway queen whose name we do not hear often…. but should. Queen Deslorieux has played a wide range of characters such as Andrea in Once on this Island, Deloris in Sister Act, and Eliza in Hamilton. Seeing her portray a role as deep and powerful as Amneris would take this show to the next level and her elegant and unique voice could take “I Know the Truth” to the Top 10 in no time.

Brian Stokes Mitchell as Zoser

Photo courtesy of Brian Stokes Mitchell’s official website.

Ragtime. Jelly’s Last Jam. Man of La Mancha. Kiss Me Kate. You name it- Stokes has done it. Brian Stokes Mitchell has graced Broadway’s catalog for over three decades and we would love to see him join the revival cast of a classic such as AIDA. His impressive baritone range would definitely bring a new, jazzy twist on “Another Pyramid”. As for portraying the father role to Ricketts, this would be one hell of a way to bring together the new generation of Broadway to the OGs that paved the way!

DeMarius R. Copes as Mereb

You last saw him play the vibrant Damian Hubbard in Means Girls on Broadway- and we would LOVE it see him take on Mereb in Aida. Mereb requires a young but capturing male who is first to recognize Aida as the Princess of Nubia. DeMarius’s fresh face and elegant voice in “How I Know You” could definitely pull all of this off.

DeMarius R. Copes

Nkeki Obi-Melekwe as Nehebka

Rising to fame as Tina in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical on West End, then as the alternate to Adrienne Warren on Broadway, Nkeki Obi-Melekwe brings a spark to the stage many do not see often. Her remarkable voice and dance skills add more fuel to the fire of a stellar cast for a long-overdue revival.

Photo: Emilio Madrid-Kuser

Nick Rashad Burroughs as Pharaoh

Give it up for strong Black men on Broadway! Nick has given us everything we’ve needed in Kinky Boots, King Kong, and Tina on Broadway, and bringing his rich voice and impeccable moves to Nubia as Pharoah would allow him to showcase the acting chops as well. *SPOILER* having to act like you being poisoned throughout the course of the show is not the easiest task for anyone.

Nick Rashad Burroughs

Rodrick Covington as Amonasro

Rodrick made his Broadway debut in The Lion King and rose to fame once more in the Tony-Award winning revival of Once on This Island in 2017. With the physical appearance and incredible dance ability, he’d make a great fit to portray the King of Nubia and fierce Nubian dancer in the production.

Rodrick Covington Headshot

If we have to search a hundred lifetimes, we will find the perfect cast for this highly anticipated revival of AIDA. Let us know who’d you like to see in the show!!

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The concert airs tonight, December 15th at 8 pm EST on PBS, PBS.org, and PBS app.

Ella Fitzgerald, also known as “The First Lady of Song”, is heavily known for being one of the most famous jazz singers and worked with other profound jazz artists such as Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong. Some of her most notable works include “It Don’t Mean a Thing”, “Cheek to Cheek”, “Dream a Little Dream of Me”, and more. Fitzgerald’s legacy leaves her a tribute in the Smithsonian National Museum and a U.S. postage stamp in her honor.

The concert will be headlined by Broadway and Film star Vanessa Williams and featured performances by Norm Lewis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Carmen Ruby, Morgan James, and many more! The American Pops Orchestra will be recreating the music behind Fitzgerald’s holiday album with Luke Frazier as the Maestro. The setlist features all of the family’s favorite Christmas hits like “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “The Christmas Song,” “Sleigh Ride,” and “Winter Wonderland.”

For more information on how to watch tonight’s performance, click HERE.

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Cabin in the Sky is an all-Black musical and his being billed as:

“Cabin in the Sky followed Porgy and Bess in celebrating African‐American music and dance traditions. The musical tells the story of ‘Little Joe’ Jackson, a charming ne’er‐do‐well who dies in a saloon brawl and is given six months on earth to prove his worth to the Lord’s General (Norm Lewis) and his long‐suffering wife Petunia (LaChanze), while resisting the temptations of the Devil’s Head Man (Chuck Cooper)”

Cabin in the Sky will also include J. Bernard Calloway, Marva Hicks, Carly Hughes, Forrest McClendon and J.D. Webster. Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago‐Hudson directs with choreography by Camille A. Brown.

The musical, written by Lynn Root, was originally produced on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theatre in 1940 with music by Vernon Duke, lyrics by John La Touche, and choreography by George Ballanchine to “celebrate African American achievement in music and dance.” The original cast included singer-actress Ethel Waters, famed dancer/choreographer Katherine Dunham, film/television actor Rex Ingram, and composer/singer J. Rosemond Johnson. The musical closed on March 8, 1941 after 156 performances.

Two years later, the musical hit the big screen during a time when Blacks rarely appeared in leading roles in film. According to “Beyond Racial Stereotypes: Subversive Subtexts in ‘Cabin in the Sky’” by Kate Marie Weber, as part of his New Deal, President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration advocated for more Black actors in major roles as a way to create more jobs for Blacks in the film industry. Additionally, the NAACP met with Hollywood executives to demand better roles for Black actors and actresses. As a result, “Cabin in the Sky,” starring Waters, Ingram, Eddie “Rochester” Anderson, and Lena Horne, became one of the few films, at that time, produced by one of Hollywood’s major studios with an all-Black cast.

Encores! production of Cabin in the Sky runs Feb 10 – 14, 2016. Tickets for the performance can be purchased here.

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The star-studded lineup for the evening’s special musical tribute was inspired by Peters’ extensive career in theatre, film and television. They include hosts Michael Douglas and Gloria Estefan; a plethora of Peters’ male co-stars, including Joel Grey (George M!), Norm Lewis (A Bed A Chair), Tom Wopat (Annie Get Your Gun), Chip Zien (Into The Woods), John Dossett (Gypsy) and Ron Raines (Follies); actors Andrew Rannells, Debra Monk, Tammy Blanchard, Mara Davi and Jayne Houdyshell and a special tribute given by members of the original cast of Dames at Sea.

Funds raised by The Drama League Centennial Gala Honoring Bernadette Peters will support The Drama League’s educational initiatives for promising young artists, including the award-winning Directors Project. The award-winning initiative, which began in 1982, has launched the careers of Tony Award winners Sam Gold (Fun Home), Diane Paulus (Finding Neverland), Pam MacKinnon (China Doll), Michael Mayer (Hedwig and the Angry Inch), and John Rando (On The Town); Tony Award nominees Mark Brokaw (Cinderella), Moritz von Steulpnagel (Hand to God) and Alex Timbers (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson);  and OBIE and Emmy Award winners Rachel Chavkin, Lear deBessonet, R.J. Cutler, and Anne Kaufmann, to name a few.

VIP and Ballroom seats are now available, with a limited number of seats open to the General Public. For more information, call (212) 244-9494 or visit the website at www.dramaleague.org.

The Drama League of New York, since 1916, has been at the “forefront of the American Theatre community, providing talent, audiences, and prosperous support. It is one of the nation’s oldest continuously-operating, not-for-profit arts advocacy and education organizations. Through its programs, initiatives and events, The Drama League serves over 3,000 artists and 15,000 audience members each season with over 150 events and programs.”

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Touting an all-star cast, Williams stars as “Julie” and is joined by Broadway vets Norm Lewis (Porgy and Bess, Les Miserables) as “Joe” and Natasha Yvette Williams (Porgy and Bess, The Color Purple) as “Queenie.”  The show also features Tony Award-nominee Lauren Worsham (A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder) as “Magnolia;” and Julian Ovenden, of “Downton Abbey” fame, as “Gaylord Ravenal.”  The semi-staged Philharmonic performance played a brief run at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center last fall.

The broadcast of Showboat  is a part of Live From Lincoln Center, PBS’ award-winning performing arts series showcasing the best of their wide-ranging programming. Reigning “Tony Queen” Ms. Audra McDonald continues as host. (Fun Fact: McDonald sings a lovely rendition of Showboat’s “Bill” on her second album, “How Glory Goes.”)

Showboat has been listed as one of Broadway’s “most-revived and revised works.” Recent productions have garnered the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical (1995) and the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival (1991).

Once an exciting and essential part of American entertainment, the river boats of the Mississippi are now a fleeting memory of times past. Showboat gives us a vivid glimpse into the world of these floating theatres, showing the myriad stories and lives that surrounded and depended on each one. Beginning in 1887, we see three generations of performers and workers as they navigate the epic tale of enduring love and racial tolerance.

2014 was a busy year for Vanessa Williams. After appearing in the Tony-nominated Trip to Bountiful, the recording artist did a brief stint in the Langston Hughes-inspired musical After Midnight.  Tony nominated for her role as the Witch in Into the Woods, the versatile artist has amassed an impressive theater resume over the years including Kiss of The Spider Woman, Sondheim on Sondheim and St. Louis Woman at City Center Encores!

Showboat on PBS premieres on Friday, Oct. 16 at 9 p.m. EST.

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If you haven’t caught Lewis on stage, what better time than now to experience the warm presence of one of Broadways’s most versatile actors in the intimate setting of Broadway’s favorite supper club.

Apparently this has been a goal of the Tony-nominated leading man for quite some time.

He shared with 54 Below:

To be in the heart of Manhattan at this time of year and share the holidays with an audience is something I’ve always dreamed of doing. It’s like having your own TV Christmas Special…Only LIVE! I am really looking forward to it and we’ve already started rehearsing …so I’m ready for some surprises. I also plan on inviting some SPECIAL GUESTS to join me for each of the nights.

Norm Lewis Wishes You a Swingin’ Christmas will be directed by Richard Jay-Alexander, the past director of Sir Cameron Mackintosh’s american company. Come expecting to hear some of the songs he’s made famous, along with others you’d never expect him to sing. Of course he’ll be ringing in the holiday cheer with Christmas classics, but he’ll be adding a twist.

Special guests will be announced at a later date.

For tickets visit  54below.com or normlewis.com. 

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Samuel L. Jackson, Leslie Odom Jr., Patina Miller, Brandon Victor Dixon, Latanya Richardson, Danielle Brooks, and the exquisite Cicely Tyson were among the many luminaries in attendance to honor the two-time Tony Award winner.

The 98th annual event recognized Jones for more than 50 years of exceptional theater work.  Known best for his trademark bass, Jones is one of the few artists who has received an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and a Tony for his noteworthy performances, including his role as Darth Vader, one of the most notorious villains of all time.

“His presence is so indelible, his talent so immense, ” noted Heather Hitchens, President of the American Theatre Wing.  “He’s managed to make some of his most memorable film roles without even showing his face.”

The Lion King’s Samuel E. Wright, Alton Fitzgerald White, L. Steven Taylor, Nathaniel Stampley and Rufus Bonds Jr. kicked off the celebration with a musical performance thanking Jones for originating the beloved role of Mufasa, which they each later reprised in the Broadway musical.

Norm Lewis, who previously played Javert in Les Miserables, dedicated his lovely rendition of “The Prayer” to the late Kyle Jean Baptiste, acknowledging that both of their opportunities were set in motion by pioneer Jones’ efforts. “That was all because of doors you opened.”

After being presented with the award by Star Wars co-star Jackson, Jones humbly thanked The Wing for their contributions to his artistic growth. “They taught us not to put ethnic or gender limits on the characters that we studied.  They taught us speech for Shakespeare, and speech for Arthur Miller, and speech for Tennessee Williams, and speech for George Lucas,” he affirmed graciously before concluding, “I can’t thank you enough, no matter how old I get.”

Jones can currently be seen with Ms. Tyson in The Gin Game at the Golden Theater through January 10, 2016.

#AboutLastNight #TheWingGala @patinamiller @normlewis777 @leslieodomjr @nicolettekloe @brandonvdixon @jamesearljones

A photo posted by BroadwayBlack (@broadwayblack) on Sep 29, 2015 at 8:31am PDT

What a night fit for a legend. Congrats @JamesEarlJones! #AboutLastNight #TheWingGala #YouAreBroadwayBlack A photo posted by BroadwayBlack (@broadwayblack) on Sep 29, 2015 at 8:24am PDT

Past & present Mufasas of Broadway’s @thelionking perform& honor the original film Mufasa @JamesEarlJones #5GuysNamedMufasa #TheWingGala #AboutLastNight

A photo posted by BroadwayBlack (@broadwayblack) on Sep 29, 2015 at 7:49am PDT

@SamuelLJackson presenting @JamesEarlJones with #TheWingGala Honor #AboutLastNight A photo posted by BroadwayBlack (@broadwayblack) on Sep 29, 2015 at 7:43am PDT

Of course @IAmCicelyTyson was in the building. #AboutLastNight #TheWingGala

A photo posted by BroadwayBlack (@broadwayblack) on Sep 29, 2015 at 7:58am PDT

.@PatinaMiller gave us Simple Joys. @brandonvdixon let the good times roll & @NormLewiss777 Brought Us Home! #TheWingGala #AboutLastNight

A video posted by BroadwayBlack (@broadwayblack) on Sep 29, 2015 at 8:14am PDT

#AboutLastNight The stars of Hollywood came to support @JamesEarlJones as he was honored by The American Theatre Wing #TheWingGala

A photo posted by BroadwayBlack (@broadwayblack) on Sep 29, 2015 at 7:40am PDT

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Hudson and Broadway leading man Norm Lewis join a long list of entertainers scheduled to perform at a two-hour show preceding the Pope’s Mass at Madison Square Garden on Friday, September 25. The program, entitled “A Journey of Faith,” will be filled with prayer and worship music performed by a variety of artists, including Harry Connick, Jr., Gloria Estefan, James (“D Train”) Williams, Martin Sheen, and The Broadway Inspirational Voices.

Fans of Hudson know that she is no stranger to devotional music as she recorded the powerful gospel song “Jesus Promised Me a Home Over There” on her “Jennifer Hudson” CD. She also lent her incredible vocal range to the gospel standard “Be Grateful” on the “Black Nativity” soundtrack.

Stage veteran Lewis’ vocals are also well known as the first Black actor to star in Broadway’s Phantom of the Opera. He was nominated for Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical for his role in Porgy and Bess. Lewis also received a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical for his performance as “Nathan” in Dessa Rose. In 2008, he released his first solo album, “This Is The Life!”

The Pope began his visit to the U.S. on September 22 greeted by President Barack Obama in Washington, DC. He arrived in New York on September 24 and departed the city on September 26. After his New York trip, the Pope traveled to Philadelphia.

UPDATED: Performance videos included

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