After teasing the collaboration on their social media pages for days, the two Broadway stars finally gave fans what they’d been waiting for with this neo-soul version and music video of the Pippin favorite.

“We’ve been brainstorming about different musical ideas for concerts and albums. We soon realized we have the same musical taste for soul, funk, and R&B.  So I thought, to celebrate Valentine’s Day, let’s give Broadway lovers a new side of us they haven’t seen before while celebrating this classic musical theater tune!”

The video opens with the two having a sexy jam sesh at the piano and ends with a sing-off that makes you wish you could just grab a cocktail, a candlelit table in a corner and watch them and the band vibe all night long.

“The music video follows two artists finding a spark during their first collaboration. Patina and I couldn’t be more excited to give folks a taste of this new sound come Valentine’s Day. Got lots more brewing up musically. This is just the tip of the iceberg!”

If the rest of their collabos are as hot as this, we can’t wait!

The post Joshua Henry and Patina Miller Release Love Song Duet appeared first on Broadway Black.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qy6wo2wpT2k

In my version of West Side Story, instead of Puerto Rican and white gangs, we’d replace those with African American and Latino gangs. With that switch, the perfect actress for the perfect role – the hopeless romantic female lead, “Maria,” – can only be played by Tony Award winner Patina Miller. While the “Maria” character is “supposed” to be a teenager, most of the actresses who’ve played the role on Broadway and on screen have been in their twenties. Carol Lawrence who originated the role in the 1957 Broadway production was 22 and Natalie Wood was 23 when she played the role on-screen. Miller, at 30, is older but she looks young enough to pull it off.

Miller made her West End and Broadway debuts playing “Deloris Van Cartier” in Sister Act and won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her lead role in Pippin. Vocally, she will excel with the Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim tunes, although the role calls for a soprano. But, it’s my dream, so we’ll have the musical arranger work out those details. She has boundless energy and she’s multitalented enough to pull off any role. Even one that was written for a young Puerto Rican girl.

Patina Miller and the cast of the 2013 Broadway revival of the musical PIPPIN, perform the number “Simple Joys” live on the Late Show with David Letterman.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kI7SZnwRCJI

Seriously, is there someone out there who can make this happen?

The post BB Casting Agency: Patina Miller as West Side Story’s Maria appeared first on Broadway Black.

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

The post Broadway’s A-List Join American Theatre Wing to Honor James Earl Jones appeared first on Broadway Black.

Reprising her role from the previous film, Miller portrays ‘Commander Paylor’ in “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay- Part 2”. In the book, her character is a military leader who is a valuable part of the rebels cause. She rises to lead them and is seen in the film trailer giving a call to action before advancing on the enemy.

These films about a dystopian future and the revolution that takes place in the name of justice has been consistent in featuring characters from all backgrounds in various levels of status and authority. Furthermore, the theme of banding together to combat forces that are mistreating, dehumanizing, and oppressing the masses with their years-old power structures is something that is not at all reserved for fiction. Miller’s role in this story is one of great inspiration as more and more leaders are being called to stand up and speak out in anyway they can against the powers that be who are killing the innocent and obstructing freedom.

Patina Miller has thrilled audiences with her performances on stage in the West End and Broadway production of Sister Act as well as the Central Park production of Hair. Miller can also be seen in the CBS political drama, “Madame Secretary.”
“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay- Part 2” arrives in theaters November 20. See Patina Miller in the latest trailer below!

The post Patina Miller In The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part II appeared first on Broadway Black.

Miller is best known for her Broadway roles in Pippin and Sister Act and will join Broadway Black star Norm Lewis (Phantom, Les Mis, Porgy and Bess), whom she played opposite in Ragtime, and other actors for the reading. The Prince of Egypt will be co-presented with DreamWorks Theatricals as part of Bay Street’s 24th annual Summer Gala and will feature dinner and an auction, in addition to the performance.

The Prince of Egypt, based on the 1998 DisneyWorks film, will be a new stage adaptation by composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz. The musical tells the Biblical story of Moses, who begins his life as the child of Hebrew slaves. In order to protect him, Moses’ parents put him in a basket and float him down the river, where he is found and adopted by Pharoah’s queen. As an adult, Moses learns of his true identity and seeks to free his people from Pharoah’s bondage.

Tickets for the Bay Street Theater Summer Gala may be purchased here.

Listen to Patina Miller sing Aquarius/Easy To Be Hard from HAIR below

The post Patina Miller Joins Norm Lewis In The Prince of Egypt Musical Concert Reading appeared first on Broadway Black.

Many may remember Sasha Allen from the indie cult-classic, Camp (check out the Broadway Black article about the upcoming sequel!!) However, it was her role as “Dionne” in the 2009 Broadway production of Hair that caused the theater community to really take notice. Since then, she has been conquering music, film, television, and now back on the stage as the “Leading Player” in Pippin; continuing a tradition set by Tony Award winners Ben Vereen and Patina Miller.

Pippin follows the journey of the son King Charles as he searches for purpose and direction in his life. This national tour continues the amazing storytelling set by composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz and director Diane Paulus in the 2013 revival with stunning acrobatics and brilliant choreography based in the Bob Fosse tradition.
For tickets and more information, visit www.pippinthemusical.com

Check out Pippin: The National Touring Production Montage!

The post Sasha Allen Shines In Pippin National Tour appeared first on Broadway Black.

Raven Symone & Chester Gregory In Sister Act The Musical

In 2012, Symoné took on the role of lounge singer-turned-nun Deloris Van Cartier (famously played by Whoopi Goldberg in the film of the same name), who witnesses a murder and is put in protective custody in a convent.  Disguised as a nun, she finds herself at odds with both the rigid lifestyle and an uptight Mother Superior. Using her unique dance moves and singing talent to inspire the choir, Deloris breathes new life into the church and community, but in doing so blows her cover.

In the Broadway production, the role was originally played by Patina Miller, who earned a Tony Award nomination; Sister Act was also nominated for Best Musical and Best Featured Actress in a Musical.  In an interview with Huffington Post, Symoné said she fell in love with the musical the moment she saw it. “I was definitely one of the audience members dancing in the aisles.  I think it’s a wonderfully scored and directed and written musical. I’m very excited to be part of this.”  She concluded by saying, “I’m really not the kind of person who worries about every single review. My thing is my family’s going to watch, and I don’t want to look stupid on stage. So I’m going to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Sister Act ultimately ran for a little over a year on Broadway, to largely positive and enthusiastic reviews.

The post A Look Back: Raven-Symoné in Sister Act The Musical appeared first on Broadway Black.

It's official! Please welcome Patina Miller as Commander Paylor to the cast of @TheHungerGames: Mockingjay Parts 1&2 pic.twitter.com/e0asrY9Cdh

— Catching Fire (@TheHungerGames) September 18, 2013

Miller will join the cast as Commadaner Paylor, described as the leader among the rebels who later becomes the President.

“She looks young to be a commander. Early thirties. But there is an authoritative tone in her voice that makes you feel [that] her appointment wasn’t arbitrary.”
―Katniss Everdeen about Commander Paylor

Among the cast she joins are several Academy Award winners including Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss Everdeen), along with Josh Hutcherson (Peeta Mellark), Liam Hemsworth (Gale Hawthorne), Philip Seymour Hoffman (Plutarch Heavensbee), Julianne Moore (Alma Coin), Natalie Dormer (Cressida), Stef Dawson (Annie Cresta), Evan Ross (Messalla) and Lily Rabe (Commander Lyme).

Patina Miller is proving that she can literally do anything. We can’t wait to see her in this franchise.

The post Tony Award Winning Star Of Pippin Patina Miller Joins The Hunger Games Mockingjay Cast appeared first on Broadway Black.