Hamilton 

What is a best of 2015 list without Hamilton? Not a list at all. The hip-hop musical about America’s most controversial founding father with its diverse cast and #hamiltunes that will be stuck in your head forever earns its prized spot on the list. Any show capable of selling out for over a year is a winner in my book. #HamilTonys

Invisible Thread 

Did I mention I saw this show four times? I’m not kidding. The only reason it wasn’t more is because I’m not rich and I went home for Christmas break. The show that tells the story of one man’s incredible journey of self and the people’s lives he impacts was a no-brainer on my list. The dancing, the acting, and the singing is enough to bring you in and take you to new places. #Belamusana

The Color Purple 

Of course, The Color Purple was going to make this list. Cynthia Erivo, Danielle Brooks and Jennifer Hudson make their Broadway debuts and they enter with a big ol’ splash. The simplistic styling of this musical requires the actors to give their all and bare it on the stage, which they do every night. I see Tonys in their future.

Whorl Inside A Loop 

No wonder it’s going to Broadway!  It’s that darn good. Second Stage is doing some pretty awesome things over there on 43rd Street, if this show is any indication. It tells the story of an actress teaching prisoners how to tell and act out their personal stories. This show definitely tugged at my heartstrings and now, hopefully, many more will be able to witness its brilliance.

The Gin Game 

Legendary. James Earl Jones and Cicely Tyson sharing the stage again was one of the most amazing moments of 2015. Being able to just be in that room and watch these masters grace the stage effortlessly was a big deal. Black don’t crack, and neither does our ability to memorize scripts and get out there and be amazing eight nights a week.

Barbecue 

The Public Theater also has some hits on their hands. Barbecue centered around family, addiction, and making difficult choices. Written by Obie Award Winning Playwright Robert O’Hara, the play was full of twists and turns that left audiences gasping and guessing about what was going to happen next.

Paradise Blue

Our girl Dominique Morisseau came through. The production is directed by the always amazing Ruben Santiago-Hudson and stars Tony Award-nominee De’Adre Aziza (Passing Strange), Golden Globe-nominee Blair Underwood (A Street Car Named Desire), and Andre Holland. This show, which is the first in a trilogy, made waves at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Like Morisseau herself, I doubt it’s the last you’ll hear about it.

An Octoroon 

An Octoroon (the term “Octoroon” is a person who is one-eighth Black) is all about race in the United States. The brilliant show written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins got its start at Soho Rep and uses satire to get at the United States’ horrible legacy of slavery. Incorporating Black face, red face and everything in between, this show took it there unapologetically. An Octoroon can make an entire audience uncomfortable and force them to face the harsh realities of this “great” nation all in one. After all, art is an imitation of life, right?

Amazing Grace

Gone too soon. The song I sang as a child suddenly held more weight when I finally was able to see this show in the summer. Beautifully and thoroughly executed, Amazing Grace was a gracious piece of theatre that wasn’t afraid to go there. While it may have left Broadway, the cast recording will be enough to keep me going.

Eclipsed 

This is another one that moved from Off-Broadway because of its stellar cast and amazing story. Danai Gurira is genius. Set during the Liberian Civil War, Eclipsed tells the stories of the captive wives of a rebel officer who band together to form a fragile community—until the balance of their lives is upset by the arrival of a new girl. Heartfelt, funny, and mesmerizing are just a few adjectives to describe how great of a show this is.

Special Mention: The Wiz Live!

How could I make a list without The Wiz Live! on it? This show and all of its #melaninmagic captivated audiences everywhere. The old classic story of The Wiz with a modern twist appealed to audiences young and old, and brought together an entire community on Dec. 3rd. That night also made us realize Shanice Williams was going places, Stephanie Mills has still got it, David Alan Grier has some serious pipes, Uzo Aduba and Queen Latifah can do no wrong, Amber Riley was underappreciated on Glee, and “conversate” is an actual word.

Thats our list, what did you see that you put on your list? Sound off in the comments below and check out in-depth information on all of these shows on our site!

The post And The Winner Is…Broadway Black Top 10 of 2015 appeared first on Broadway Black.

The annual celebration has become the star-studded event of the season attracting A-listers from Broadway to D.C. to Hollywood.  Tyson was one of six honorees celebrated for their lifetime contributions to the arts and American culture.  Other honorees included Rita Moreno, Carole King, George Lucas and Seiji Ozawa.

Broadway Black beauties Viola Davis and Kerry Washington were on hand for Tyson’s tribute to share all the ways the timeless 90 year old had inspired them and their work.

“Cicely Tyson does not merely act,” said Washington. “She soars. She sings. She vibrates. She is music.”

Davis, who recently worked opposite Tyson as her daughter on the hit-series “How to Get Away With Murder,” had this to say about the icon: “my friend, my inspiration, my TV mother…[she] motivates others to follow her lead and her dreams.”

Since her breakthrough performance in the critically acclaimed “Sounder,” Tyson has earned a bevy of Academy, Emmy and Golden Globe nominations over the span of her 60-year career.  In 2013, she won her first Tony Award for her captivating portrayal of “Carrie Watts” in A Trip to Bountiful.  She can currently be seen on Broadway in The Gin Game with long-time friend, James Earl Jones.

In all, Tyson has nearly 100 acting credits in film, TV and stage, but as Producer Tyler Perry explained, she has always been selective in the works with which she chooses to associate herself.

“She turned down more roles than you could imagine because they didn’t lift or serve us as a people,” Perry said. “For six decades, she has been diligent in her pursuit to better us all.”

When asked how she felt about receiving the presidential honor, she simply responded, “I am still in shock,” the humility ironic against her regal sophistication. “I consider this tantamount to being honored by the queen.”

The 38th Annual Kennedy Center Honors will air on CBS on Dec. 29 at 9 P.M.

UPDATE:

Kerry Washington gives an amazing introduction for Cece Winans, Terrence Blanchard, & The Cicely Tyson Community School of Performing & Fine Arts Choir singing Blessed Assurance.

Aretha Franklin performs (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman like you’ve never seen before for another honoree, Carole King.

The post Kennedy Center Honors Featuring Cicely Tyson Airs on CBS appeared first on Broadway Black.

Mitchell and Jones will join Broadway performers including Len Cariou, Mario Cantone, Erin Davie, Matt McGrath, Alan Menken, Brad Oscar, Mary Louise Wilson, Karen Ziemba, as well as singer Thom Rhoads, and the Yale Wiffenpoofs.

Lansbury will receive the 2015 Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre at Guastavino’s. The reception begins at 6:00 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:00, with concert and award ceremony at 8:00 p.m. Kurt Stamm will direct the event’s entertainment with music direction by Andrew Gerle.

For more information on pricing and reservations, visit here or call Julie Griffith at 212-935-5824, ext. 213.

Performances of The Gin Game with Jones and Tyson are currently going on. Tickets are available HERE.

As we’ve previously reported, Shuffle Along begins previews on March 12, 2016 and opens on April 21, 2016.

The post Brian Stokes Mitchell & James Earl Jones Honor Angela Lansbury appeared first on Broadway Black.

Entrance applause, that is.

The play – performed at the Golden Theatre since previews began Sept. 23 – officially opens  today, October 14, and the two award-winning actors are nipping the fanfare at the bud.

It’s quite understandable for theatergoers to be excited to see the veteran duo. It’s been nearly 50 years since they have shared a Broadway stage (the 1966 showcase of Black poetry with Roscoe Lee Browne’s A Hand Is On The Gate). Before that, they were among the long-running 1961 Off Broadway production The Blacks by Jean Genet. TV and film projects also have not escaped the Tony and Emmy winning actors.

Tyson and Jones, 90 and 84, respectively, would have plenty of lessons to share as a result of their long careers. Yet, a lesson in theatre etiquette is now at hand.

Of course, it should be a given that loud talking, eating, sleeping and the use of cell phones is not a good look at the theatre – as well as going on stage to charge a cell phone in a fake outlet.

According to New York Show Tickets, standing ovations and entrance applause are overdone. It admonishes to not give in to peer pressure.

Traditionally, applause for an actor when he or she first takes the stage and standing ovations at the end of a Broadway show were signs of an audience so full of appreciation and respect that they couldn’t help themselves. Lately, these reactions seem to have become obligatory, and unfortunately when standing ovations and entrance applause are done out of mere habit, they essentially become meaningless. Ultimately, how you react is up to you, but let your true feelings guide you.

Well, Tyson and Jones no doubt are more concerned with giving the best performance possible than they are with an audience’s “true feelings.”

They both agree that the entrance applause is distracting. Tyson said her role is “one of the most difficult things I’ve ever tackled.” It doesn’t help that her castmate can complicate matters. She admitted that Jones keeps her in fits of laughter. During rehearsals, she pleaded with the cast to let her get her giggles out.

For an Associated Press article, Tyson further said: “It is extremely difficult in some instances to contain myself and to remain true to the character that I’m trying to play. I really can’t allow for it to happen in the theater.”

Jones, who continues to find theatre fascinating, said: “Once we open this play, we’ll still be discovering stuff about it.”

So to respect the work of the incredible union, hold your applause until… well, you have a Gin hand.

Directed by Leonard Foglia, The Gin Game follows Weller Martin (Jones) and Fonsia Dorsey (Tyson) – two residents of a nursing home who strike a friendship. Weller shares his knowledge of gin rummy, while together they relate stories of their past and expose one another’s failures, disappointments and insecurities.

The Gin Game has a limited engagement of 16 weeks, ending in January. Tyson will not perform Dec 5-6. Get your tickets HERE.

What do you think about the request by the actors?

The post Hold The Applause: Theatre Etiquette From James Earl Jones & Cicely Tyson appeared first on Broadway Black.

UPDATE: Opening Night arrival photos & interviews with Cicely Tyson & James Earl Jones below!

Weller Martin (Jones) and Fonsia Dorsey (Tyson) meet on the porch of their nursing home and strike up a friendship, with Weller teaching Fonsia how to play gin rummy. As they play, they share stories about the lives they led in the outside world. But when Fonsia wins every hand, Weller becomes increasingly frustrated, until their gin games and conversations become a battleground, with each player exposing the other’s failures, disappointments and insecurities.

This highly anticipated collaboration marks the first time the pair has worked together on Broadway since starring in A Hand Is On The Gate in 1966. They also starred in the long-running Off-Broadway production of Jean Genet’s The Blacks, opposite each other in the film “The River Niger,” and in the TV movie “Heat Wave.”

Photos by Joan Marcus

Jones is a two-time Tony Award-winner for his role in Fences and Great White Hope, three-time Emmy Award winner, Grammy Award-winner and a recipient of an Honorary Academy Award.  Tyson is a three-time Emmy Award-winner, Academy Award-nominee and won her first Tony Award in 2014 for her role in The Trip to Bountiful.

Winner of the 1978 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, The Gin Game returns to the Golden Theatre where the original production opened in 1977, starring Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy. This is the third time the play has been performed on Broadway. The two previous Broadway productions were nominated for a number of Tony Awards, including Best Play, Best Revival of a Play, and Best Actress in a Play.  The Gin Game has also been filmed twice for television: in 1981 with original stars Cronyn and Tandy, and in 2003 with Dick van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore.

UPDATE: There was definitely no shortage of star power last night at the opening of The Gin Game on Broadway. Check out the photos below of Alfre Woodard, Lynn Whitfiled, Crystal Dickenson, Jason Dirden, John David Washington & more! Also, watch the stars of The Gin Game, Cicely Tyson & James Earl Jones, talk with Broadway Black about their production, developing their characters, & a few life lessons.

The Gin Game has been won! @gingamebroadway#OpeningNight@jamesearljones@IAmCicelyTyson#WeAreBroadwayBlackpic.twitter.com/bkAdujL8uX

— Broadway Black (@BroadwayBlack) October 15, 2015

Photos By Darnell Lamont Walker

Directed by Leonard Foglia, the revival will run through January 10, 2016.  For more information and to purchase tickets, click HERE.

The post Opening Night: Cicely Tyson & James Earl Jones In The Gin Game appeared first on Broadway Black.

I automatically think back to the #OscarsSoWhite movement started earlier this year by our Managing Editor, April Reign. Since then, executives have been scrambling to figure out ways to include more people of color. Whether they want to, or feel obligated to do, so is another story. Where film is lacking, television and Broadway have made up for it, slightly. Empire has become the most watched television show of the season and features a predominately Black cast. Viola Davis and Taraji P. Henson are made history by being the first two Black actresses to be nominated for the coveted Emmy for a lead actress at the same time (seriously!). Davis took home the award, altering history yet again history by being the first black woman to win the Emmy in the Drama series category. Broadway is bringing us The Color Purple, The Gin Game, Shuffle Along, and Hamilton all in the same season. So what’s the film’s industry’s problem?

In promoting her new film “The Perfect Guy,” co-starring Morris Chestnut and Michael Ealy, Sanaa Lathan says,

I think Hollywood has a ways to go. Certainly in the last couple of years with ‘Think Like A Man’ and even recently with ‘Straight Outta Compton’ doing well,” says Lathan during an interview with The Huffington Post. “But I think the language needs to change, the language about ‘Oh, this is an urban film or this is a niche film.’ No, these are Hollywood films. And it’s to marginalize us because it’s like some kind of a freak thing that we’ve made all this money off this movie. That’s a problem for me.

We’ve heard that before in the Broadway community. Hamilton anyone? A show that, on paper, shouldn’t be doing as well as it is, simply based on casting choices alone, is singlehandedly crushing the box office. Why? Because time and time again it’s proven if a show is good people will see it, regardless of skin color, even though the fact that the cast is mostly people of color is an amazing addition. So whay can’t we have it more often, across all media?

Viola Davis covers the latest issue of EW Magazine, where she speaks on the same issues as well:

There were a lot of things that people did not allow me to be until I got [the role of] Annalise Keating. I was not able to be sexualized. Ever. In my entire career. And here’s the thing that’s even more potent: I’ve never seen anyone who even looks like me be sexualized on television or in film. Ever. When people say they’re tired of hearing that, I always say, ‘Okay, well, you give me an example and then I’ll stop talking about it. But I’m gonna talk about it until you hear it.’

And she has surely given them something to talk about. Even within the marginalization of the Black actor, there lies another issue of colorism that people seem to forget. Sure, a show can say they have their token Black character, but are they aware Black people come in various shades and hues? Everyone has the right to see themselves somewhere, whether it be in TV or film or print or stage, so why is it so hard for the powers that be to make it happen? Look at the demographics of the United States. We are one of the most diverse countries in the world. Why don’t our films, magazines, shows, and productions represent all that we are?

Lathan believes that Hollywood should have an accurate representation of all cultures, and the same can be said for what Broadway should and can do for the theatre community.

“I think we need to come into the 21st century. And films should represent the world that we live in,” she said. “And right now when you look at Hollywood it’s not an accurate representation of the diversity of the world that we live in.”

The post Is Broadway Any Different Than Hollywood? Viola Davis & Sanaa Lathan Talk Marginalization 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.

Between them, Jones and Tyson have three Tony Awards and five nominations. Tyson won a Tony in 2013 for her role as “Carrie Watts” in The Trip to Bountiful and Jones is two-time Tony winner for 1969’s The Great White Hope as well as Fences in 1987. Most recently, Jones starred on Broadway in the revival of You Can’t Take It With You.

This is the first time the pair have appeared on Broadway together since 1966 when they starred in A Hand Is on the Gate.”They’ve also worked together Off Broadway in the long-running production of Jean Genet’s The Blacks as well as in the film “The River Niger” and on television in “Heat Wave.” We gave you a behind the scenes look at their recent photo shoot here.

The Gin Game, a Pulitzer Prize-winning play by D.L. Coburn, follows “Weller Martin” (Jones) and “Fonsia Dorsey” (Tyson), who meet on the porch of their nursing home and strike up a friendship as Weller teaches Fonsia how to play gin rummy. As they play, they share stories about the lives they led in the outside world. But when Fonsia wins every hand, Weller becomes increasingly frustrated. Soon, their gin games and conversations become a battleground, with each player exposing the other’s failures, disappointments and insecurities.

The Gin Game premiered in 1977, starring Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy and was revived in 1997 with Charles Durning and Julie Harris.

Leonard Foglia (Master Class) will direct the new production, which will run through through January 10, 2016 at the Golden Theatre.

Tickets are available here.

The post James Earl Jones & Cicely Tyson Start The Gin Game Broadway Previews appeared first on Broadway Black.

Tyson, a three-time Emmy winner (“The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman,” “The Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All”), is nominated for an Emmy this year for her guest performance in “How to Get Away with Murder.”

Between them, Jones and Tyson have three Tony Awards and five nominations. Tyson won a Tony in 2013 for her role as “Carrie Watts” in The Trip to Bountiful and Jones is two-time Tony winner for 1969’s The Great White Hope as well as Fences in 1987. Most recently, Jones starred on Broadway in the revival of You Can’t Take It With You.

This is the first time the pair have appeared on Broadway together since 1966 when they starred in A Hand Is on the Gate.”They’ve also worked together Off Broadway in the long-running production of Jean Genet’s The Blacks as well as in the film “The River Niger” and on television in “Heat Wave.” We gave you a behind the scenes look at their recent photo shoot here.

The Gin Game, a Pulitzer Prize-winning play by D.L. Coburn, follows “Weller Martin” (Jones) and “Fonsia Dorsey” (Tyson), who meet on the porch of their nursing home and strike up a friendship as Weller teaches Fonsia how to play gin rummy. As they play, they share stories about the lives they led in the outside world. But when Fonsia wins every hand, Weller becomes increasingly frustrated. Soon, their gin games and conversations become a battleground, with each player exposing the other’s failures, disappointments and insecurities.

The Gin Game premiered in 1977, starring Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy and was revived in 1997 with Charles Durning and Julie Harris.

Leonard Foglia (Master Class) will direct the new production, which will run through through January 10, 2016 at the Golden Theatre.

Tickets are available here.

#TonyAward-winning legends #JamesEarlJones and #CicelyTyson star in #TheGinGame. On Broadway for 16 weeks only!

A video posted by The Gin Game on Broadway (@gingamebroadway) on Sep 10, 2015 at 10:29am PDT

The post Cicely Tyson & James Earl Jones Will Begin The Gin Game appeared first on Broadway Black.

Recently, the two Tony award-winning stars completed a classic photoshoot for the upcoming production. Cicely Tyson looked absolutely stunning in a muted jewel-toned silk ensemble. James Earl Jones looked regal and stately in an olive two-button suit. The iconic laughter of Jones could be heard rumbling through the set while the cameras flashed. And while small in stature, Tyson posed with all of the presence and confidence one has come to expect from this legendary powerhouse.

When @IAmCicelyTyson gives you that "look" she ain't playing! #gingamebroadway pic.twitter.com/DCoSoTg20Q

— Gin Game on Broadway (@gingamebroadway) July 22, 2015

The Panorama Game #photoshoot pic.twitter.com/VyvB5aAq10

— Gin Game on Broadway (@gingamebroadway) July 22, 2015

Life is better when James Earl Jones laughs (feel free to listen on repeat) #laugh pic.twitter.com/YR9z6S4wXT

— Gin Game on Broadway (@gingamebroadway) July 22, 2015

The Gin Game is set in present time and chronicles Weller Martin, played by Jones, and Fonsia Dorsey, played by Tyson, meeting on the porch of their nursing home. They strike up a friendship, with Weller teaching Fonsia how to play gin rummy. As they play, they share stories about the lives they led in a younger world. But when Fonsia wins every hand, Weller becomes increasingly frustrated, until their gin games and conversations become a battleground, with each player exposing the other’s failures, disappointments and insecurities.

The Gin Game was originally written and produced in 1976. This is the third time the play has been performed on Broadway. The play won the 1978 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and the two previous Broadway productions were nominated for a number of Tony Awards, including Best Play, Best Revival of a Play, and Best Actress in a Play.

Tyson at age 90 and Jones at age 84 are Black Theatre royalty and will grace the stage at the John Golden Theatre. Previews will begin September 18^th with the show opening on October 13, 2015, as previously reported. Tickets can be purchased via Telecharge.

We are prepping for our #photoshoot with our stars! #broadway pic.twitter.com/szwvAMay1g

— Gin Game on Broadway (@gingamebroadway) July 22, 2015

Accessories for @IAmCicelyTyson! #photoshoot pic.twitter.com/UlXB3MruV0

— Gin Game on Broadway (@gingamebroadway) July 22, 2015

Mr. James Earl Jones is ready for the shot! pic.twitter.com/WMjnnAuNx8

— Gin Game on Broadway (@gingamebroadway) July 22, 2015

The post Cameras Flash in Anticipation of Cicely Tyson and James Earl Jones in The Gin Game appeared first on Broadway Black.