Paul Tazewell Archives - Broadway Black

First Look: Taraji P. Henson & Celina Smith in “ANNIE LIVE!”

Broadway Black — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 16:02:05 +0000

“The Sun’ll Come Out Tomorrow” this holiday season as NBC has found its next live musical event: the seven-time Tony Award-winning hit “Annie Live!” will air on December 2nd.

As previously announced, Taraji P. Henson will star in the broadcast as Ms. Hannigan, played by many great actors, including Nell Carter, Carol Burnett, and Kathy Bates.

Newcomer Celina Smith has been cast as Annie in “Annie Live!”

Here are first look promotional photos of Henson and Smith in “Annie Live!” costumes by Paul Tazewell. Oh, and Sandy, Annie’s dog, makes an appearance also!

ANNIE LIVE! — Season: 2021 — Pictured: Taraji P. Henson as Miss Hannigan — (Photo by: Paul Gilmore/NBC)
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ANNIE LIVE! — Season: 2021 — Pictured: Taraji P. Henson as Miss Hannigan — (Photo by: Paul Gilmore/NBC)
ANNIE LIVE! — Season: 2021 — Pictured: (l-r) Celina Smith as Annie, Sandy as Sandy the dog — (Photo by: Paul Gilmore/NBC)
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ANNIE LIVE! — Season: 2021 — Pictured: (l-r) Celina Smith as Annie, Sandy as Sandy the dog — (Photo by: Paul Gilmore/NBC)

“Annie Live!” will be directed by the award-winning Lear deBessonet. Artistic Director for New York’s revival series.

Tony Award-winning choreographer Sergio Trujillo (Ain’t Too Proud, Memphis, Jersey Boys) will choreograph the production.

Paul Tazewell will design the costumes and Jason Sherwood the scenery. Tazewell is a veteran of two NBC live musicals, “The Wiz Live!” (Emmy award) “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert” (Emmy nomination). He recently designed costumes for film Steven Spielberg’s remake of “West Side Story” and is the designer of the iconic “Hamilton.”

Jason Sherwood is a two-time Emmy-winning production designer for “Rent: Live” and the 2020 Oscars, having worked extensively in television, in the live music space, and in all facets of theatre.

Stephen Oremus, two-time Grammy- and Tony-winning music supervisor and orchestrator, will head the music department for “Annie Live!” as he did for “The Wiz Live.” His blockbusters credits include “Wicked,” “Frozen,” “The Book of Mormon,” and Kinky Boots.”

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Paul Tazewell Gives First Look At The Wiz Live Costumes + Sneak Peek Into Rehearsals

Drew Shade — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 19:39:44 +0000

The incredible Tony-nominated costume designer Paul Tazewell, who designed the costumes for Hamilton, gave People magazine a first look at the costumes for The Wiz Live. He talks about his inspiration for each design of the main characters that includes Shanice Williams as Dorothy, Elijah Kelley as Scarecrow, Ne-Yo as Tin Man, & David Alan Grier as The Cowardly Lion. Tazewell does not disappoint at all. Take a look at the pictures below and what he had to say about his designs.

The Wiz Live will air on NBC Dec. 3rd. and this issue of People magazine will hit the stands on Friday!

The previously mentioned stars are accompanied by more star power that includes Stephanie Mills, Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige, Amber Riley, and Common.Tony Award winner Kenny Leon will direct and Fatima Robinson will choreograph. The show heads to Broadway in 2016 with Leon directing. The Wiz will partner with Cirque du Soleil to bring both the live and Broadway productions to life.

The original book of the show was written by William F. Brown. This time around, Broadway legend Harvey Fierstein will add new material to the book. The show will be executive produced by The Sound of Music and Peter Pan duo Craig Zadan and Neil Meron.

Photos are by Paul Gilmore / NBC. Read the entire article here & pick up your copy of People magazine come Friday!

UPDATE: A behind the scenes look into rehearsals of #TheWizLive released!

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Artists of Color Sweep 2015 Lucille Lortel Awards

Broadway Black — Mon, 11 May 2015 18:38:12 +0000

Hamilton and Between Riverside and Crazy win big at the 2015 Lucille Lortel Awards. Hamilton took home Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Director (Thomas Kail), Outstanding Choreographer (Andy Blankenbuehler, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical (Lin-Manuel Miranda), Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical (Phillipa Soo), Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (Daveed Diggs), Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical (Renée Elise Goldsberry), Outstanding Costume Design (Paul Tazewell), Outstanding Lighting Design (Howell Binkley), and Outstanding Sound Design (Nevin Steinberg).

Between Riverside an Crazy, which also won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, won Outstanding Play, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play (Stephen McKinley Henderson ), and Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play (Liza Cólon-Zayas).

Tonya Pinkins also took home a win, Outstanding Lead Actress in Play, for Rasheeda Speaking.

Other winners were Jacob Ming-Trent for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play in Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts 1, 2, & 3). Into The Woods for Outstanding Revival, Josephine and I written and performed by Cush Jumbo for Outstanding Solo Show, Jen Versweyveid for Outstanding Scenic Deisgn in Scenes From a Marriage. Terrence McNally received a Lifetime Achievement Award. Jeanine Tesori is the Playwright’s Sidewalk Inductee, and Nancy Nagel Gibbs was awarded the Edith Oliver Service to Off-Broadway Award.

The Lucille Lortel Awards were created in 1986 to honor artists in the New York Off-Broadway theater community and are named after 20^th century American actress and producer, Lucille Lortel. Go back and look at all who were nominated as previously reported HERE.

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2013 National Black Theatre Festival

Broadway Black — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 15:01:38 +0000

It’s that time again! The 2013 National Black Theatre Festival kicked off in Winston-Salem, NC with a star-studded black-tie gala. This biennial festival is billed as “An International Celebration and Reunion of Spirit” and will include six days of dynamic performances from over 35 professional Black theatre companies.

Broadway Black stars have shown up and show out this year!

Tony Award winner Tonya Pinkins (Caroline, or Change, Jelly’s Last Jam) is the 2013 celebrity co-chair, along with actor Dorien Wilson (The Parkers). Pinkins will also perform her new solo show Tonya Pinkins: Unplugged.

Tony nominees S. Epatha Merkerson (Come Back, Little Sheba, The Piano Lesson) and Paul Tazewell (A Streetcar Named Desire, The Color Purple) are among the 2013 NBTF honorees

The legendary Tony Award winning Lillias White (Dreamgirls, Fela!) will perform BIG MAYBELLE: Soul of the Blues, written and directed by Paul Levine.

Two-time Tony Award nominee André De Shields (The Wiz, Ain’t Misbehavin’) will star in Woodie King Jr.’s New Federal Theatre production of Knock Me a Kiss.

Chester Gregory (Sister Act, Hairspray) is back with his new play The Eve of Jackie: A Tribute to Jackie Wilson.

Actor and Playwright Regina Taylor’s (I‘ll Fly Away, The Unit) gospel musical Crowns will be staged by the North Carolina Black Repertory Company

Rain Pryor will perform her off-Broadway hit Fried Chicken & Latkas.

The Negro Ensemble Company presents Women in the Pit starring the 2013 NBTF Sidney Poitier Lifelong Achievement Award Recipient Hal Williams (227, Sanford & Son).

Tony Award nominated Norm Lewis (Porgy & Bess, Les Misérables) and Hattie Winston (The Tap Dance Kid, Hair) are also in attendance along with many other film and television stars.

For more information about the National Black Theatre Festival visit: www.NBTF.org

We’re actually here at the festival this year and we’ll be bringing to reviews and sightings here! Check our instagram as well!

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