Lincoln Center Theater has officially announced its 2025–2026 season—and it’s not just a new lineup, it’s a full-on renaissance. Under the visionary leadership of incoming Artistic Director Lear deBessonet, this inaugural season marks a major turning point for one of New York’s most prestigious theatrical institutions.

With a slate that fuses legacy revivals, fresh new voices, and community-forward programming, deBessonet is redefining what it means to serve New York audiences across generations, identities, and neighborhoods. And yes, Black artistry is front and center—from the return of Ragtime starring Joshua Henry, to an ensemble revival of The Whoopi Monologues led by Kerry Washington and Kara Young, to a citywide community choir experience co-created with Jeanine Tesori.

Let’s break it down.

ON BROADWAY: “RAGTIME” RETURNS WITH A STAR-STUDDED CAST

At the Vivian Beaumont Theater, deBessonet kicks off her tenure with a lavish revival of Ragtime, her acclaimed New York City Center Gala production, now reimagined for the Broadway stage. The production boasts a powerhouse cast: Tony nominee Joshua Henry as Coalhouse Walker Jr., rising star Nichelle Lewis as Sarah, and Olivier and GRAMMY nominee Caissie Levy as Mother, alongside Tony winner Brandon Uranowitz as Tateh.

This iteration of Ragtime isn’t just a restaging—it’s a reckoning. Set at the turn of the 20th century, the show follows three families—Black, Jewish, and white upper-class—whose lives intertwine in pursuit of the American Dream. With direction by deBessonet, choreography by Ellenore Scott, and music direction by James Moore conducting a 28-piece orchestra, this production promises not only grandeur but renewed urgency.

Performances begin September 26, 2025.

OFF-BROADWAY: WHOOPI. KENNY. KERRY. KARA. YES.

The Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater will host three bold and deeply resonant productions:

• KYOTO, a sharp political thriller about the 1997 climate summit, directed by Stranger Things: The First Shadow duo Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin.
• Amahl and the Night Visitors, a family opera classic reimagined by Tony-winning director Kenny Leon and starring opera icon Joyce DiDonato. This production marks LCT’s first official seasonal holiday offering.
• The Whoopi Monologues, a reimagining of Whoopi Goldberg’s iconic 1984 solo debut. Directed by Whitney White and featuring an all-star ensemble led by Kerry Washington (American Son, “Scandal”), and Tony^®  Award winner Kara Young(Purpose, Purlie Victorious) lead a remarkable ensemble of 5 women in bringing Goldberg’s unforgettable characters back to the stage, in this new production directed by Tony^® Award nominee Whitney White. This revival reclaims Whoopi’s groundbreaking work for a new era.

Expect laughter. Expect truth. Expect legacy to meet liberation.

LCT3: COMEDY, HEALING, AND BLACK JOY

At the Claire Tow Theater, LCT3—under Artistic Director Maria Manuela Goyanes—continues to be the incubator for boundary-breaking work:

• The Comedy Series featuring Jenny Slate and more, in a dynamic new stand-up/storytelling experiment with Seaview.
• Night Side Songs, a folk-infused new musical by The Lazours (We Live in Cairo), directed by Taibi Magar, exploring illness, caregiving, and resilience.
• A Woman Among Women by Julia May Jonas, a feminist reply to Arthur Miller’s All My Sons, in partnership with The Bushwick Starr and New Georges.
• The Reading Series curated by a dream team of playwrights including Lynn Nottage, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, and Sarah Ruhl, featuring new voices handpicked for one-night-only staged readings and conversations.

This isn’t just programming—it’s legacy-building.

EXPANDED PROGRAMMING: FROM SILENT DISCOS TO COMMUNITY SINGING

Lincoln Center Theater is breaking beyond the proscenium with a series of free, community-focused events:

• WARRIORS Silent Disco – Inspired by the 1979 cult film, this concept album from Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis, produced by Nas and Mike Elizondo, will come to life in a silent disco dance party at Lincoln Center Plaza on July 30.

• COME & SING – A public choir series co-created with Jeanine Tesori, inviting New Yorkers to sing together—no audition, no pressure, just joy and harmony.
• Collaboration with Chef Kwame Onwuachi – Culinary meets culture as the celebrated chef behind Tatiana partners with LCT for a future creative collaboration.

CENTERING COMMUNITY: A NEW DEPARTMENT, A NEW VISION

One of the most exciting announcements is the expansion of LCT’s Education Department into the Education and Community Engagement Department, signaling a deeper investment in connecting the theater’s work to the everyday lives of New Yorkers.

With expanded initiatives like storytelling workshops, book clubs, and artmaking projects, this department—under the continued leadership of Kati Koerner—will focus on making the theater a “third space” for all: a place of belonging, creativity, and cultural healing.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR BROADWAY BLACK

The 2025–2026 season at Lincoln Center Theater is more than artistically ambitious—it’s inclusive, intergenerational, and deeply rooted in community. Black artistry isn’t a side note; it’s the foundation. With talents like Joshua Henry, Kenny Leon, Eisa Davis, and Kara Young at the forefront, Lear deBessonet’s inaugural season isn’t just a debut—it’s a declaration of legacy in the making.

And we’re watching, front row.

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Cooper launched the #SaveAintNoMo campaign on December 9th after its closing notice to prolong the show’s life, which resulted in heightened awareness and sold-out audiences.

Numerous notable figures stepped up in solidarity to support, with performance buyouts received from Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade, Queen Latifah, Tyler Perry, Shonda Rhimes, and Sara Ramirez. Queen Latifah also hosted the Saturday night performance on December 17th.

Co-producers Lena Waithe and RuPaul hosted performances on December 13th and 15th, respectively.

Significant contributions were made by Reverend Al Sharpton, Swizz Beatz, D-Nice, Derrick Hayes & Pinky Cole, Jeremy O. Harris, Denee Benton, Debbie Allen, and Dominique Morrisseau

Ain’t No Mo’ opened on December 1st and will have played 22 previews and 29 performances through December 23, 2022. Unless… #SaveAintNoMo continues.

The cast includes Jordan E. Cooper as Peaches, Fedna Jacquet (Passenger #1), Marchánt Davis (Passenger #2), Shannon Matesky (Passenger #3), Ebony Marshall-Oliver (Passenger #4), and Crystal Lucas-Perry (Passenger #5). 

Ain’t No Mo’ was named “The Best New Play of the Year” by The Wrap and New York Magazine said “Brace Yourself, No One is Safe.”  Vulture raved the production is “jubilantly disruptive” and Variety exclaimed its “fearlessly provocative.”

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On November 8th, 2021 the couple celebrated the forthcoming newborn with close friends and family in the Presidential Suite at Hotel Edison and revealed the expected gender of Baby Jackson. Guests included Matt Manuel, Saint Aubyn, & Elijah Ahmad Lewis of Ain’t Too Proud, Dawnn Lewis of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, Devere Rogers of Chicken & Biscuits, and more! Additional guests attended the celebration via zoom including the legendary Whoopi Goldberg.

Check out the photos & video of the reveal below and congratulate the couple as they welcome a baby BOY into the spotlight!

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On Nov. 10, more than 30 years after its inception, a new edition of Walker’s “The Color Purple” will be released alongside the highly anticipated musical revival.  Featuring artwork and exclusive elements from the newest stage production, the special edition, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Mariner Books, is available the same date the musical begins Broadway previews, Nov. 10th, 2015.

“The Color Purple” tells the inspirational story of Celie, who through faith and the power of love, triumphs over relentless pain and adversity to find the God-given strength she never knew she had.

Over the years, “The Color Purple” has received as much commendation as it has criticism.  In 1983, the novel received the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Award for Fiction.  Despite the stigma surrounding its themes of sexism, racism and violence, Steven Spielberg took on the courageous task of directing the film adaptation in 1985.  Starring Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey and Danny Glover, the film went on to receive 11 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, but failed to win any.

A musical adaptation of the famed novel came to Broadway in 2005, produced by Scott Sanders, Quincy Jones, Harvey Weinstein, and original film cast member, Winfrey.  Starring LaChanze as Celie, the musical also received 11 Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical.  LaChanze took the award for Best Actress in a Musical.

Now, following rave reviews in London, American fans of the original production are eager to experience director John Doyle’s stripped down version of The Color Purple, starring Cynthia Erivo, Jennifer Hudson and Danielle Brooks, which opens Dec. 10.

Alice Walker’s literary contribution is epic and the re-release marks the commemoration of a story that needs to be heard and hopefully will be for years to come.  I have seen the musical three times, watched the movie more times than I can count, but I must say, nothing compares to her words.  I implore you to read this beautiful novel.  Knowing it will only make every other adaptation that much more remarkable.

On October 29th, 2015 Alice Walker and the stars of The Color Purple revival, Cynthia Erivo & Jennifer Hudson, along with the director of the Broadway revival, John Doyle will sit down at John L Tishman Auditorium at The New School for a TimesTalks conversation. Watch the live stream with us below at 7:30pm EST!

Don’t miss this exciting conversation with musical performances from the new Broadway production of “The Color Purple.” Hear Alice Walker, author of the 1982 Pulitzer Prize–winning novel; Tony Award winner John Doyle, who re–envisioned the new, critically acclaimed musical; and two of its stars – Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson, and from the hit London production, British stage star Cynthia Erivo, both making their Broadway debuts. Moderated by New York Times theater reporter Michael Paulson.

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The burly bass will join an all-male cast at the New Jersey space for the hilarious Tony Award-winning musical farce.

Cooper was most recently seen as Audrey II in the Encores! City Center Production of Little Shop of Horrors after stepping in to replace his father, Tony Award Winner Chuck Cooper (The Life). The elder had decided to commit to his role in the then-upcoming Broadway musical Amazing Grace.

“He was in shows all the time when I was a kid, and my first question when I went to go see him in a show was, ‘Can I go on the stage?,'” Eddie told TheaterMania of his young experiences with his father.  “I just always wanted to go on the stage and I loved the feeling of being on the stage. It stuck, I guess.”

Cooper is one of three stunningly talented siblings in the deservedly dubbed “Cooper Clan.”  A graduate of LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts and Ithaca College, the powerhouse has also been seen in TV roles including “Forever,” “Banshee,” and “Crime.”

A Funny Thing Happened… is a hysterical musical comedy with music and lyrics by the incomparable Stephen Sondheim.  Set in Ancient Rome, the musical tells the bawdy story of a slave named Pseudolus who attempts to win his freedom by helping his young master woo the girl next door.  The role of Pseudolus was brilliantly recaptured by Whoopi Goldberg and David Alan Grier in the 1990’s Broadway Revival.

The must-see spectacle, directed by Jessica Stone, begins previews on Nov.14.  Opening night is set for Nov. 20.  Visit tworivertheater.org to purchase tickets or call (732) 345-1400.

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The fundraiser will be held on a Monday, which is typically a night that cast members have off. However, the Democratic National Committee is paying the costs for the special Monday night performance. Seats are selling for up to $5,000 each which will benefit the Democratic Hope Fund. The Fund raises money to help retire Mr. Obama’s campaign debt.

Margo Lion, a Broadway producer and an investor in Hamilton, is organizing the event. She also organized Broadway fundraisers in 2007 and 2012 for Mr. Obama’s presidential campaigns.

The show, which tells the story of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton to a hip-hop score, has received rave reviews. Hamilton debuted off-Broadway at The Public Theater in January. It started Broadway previews July 13 and opened on August 6 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. In addition to Mr. Obama, other political figures have attended the performance, including former President Bill and former Senator Hilary Clinton, and former Vice President Dick Cheney. First lady Michelle Obama has seen the hit musical twice.

Other early guests have included comedian Jimmy Fallon and actresses Julia Roberts, Whoopi Goldberg, Laverne Cox and Olivia Wilde.

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As Broadway prepares for the return of The Color Purple this fall, let’s look back at the history of this incredible American story and its impact over the years.

The Color Purple is a novel written by Alice Walker. Born in 1944 to parents who were Georgia sharecroppers, Walker was riveted by stories from her parents, grandparents, and extended family about their youth and childhood experiences. However, she did not see any of these types of stories represented in literature at the time. Walker wanted to write a novel describing the struggles of 3 generations of Georgia sharecroppers and was determined to have their stories heard in their speech. In a recent Huffington Post interview, Walker says, “What I would like people to understand when they read The Color Purple, is that there are all these terrible things that can actually happen to us, and yet life is so incredibly magical and abundant and present that we can still be very happy.”

The novel was published in 1982 and became an international best seller with over 5 million copies sold. The following year, it won the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. This reception garnered the attention of filmmaker Steven Spielberg who met with Walker with the hope of adapting her novel into a film. In 1985, The Color Purple premiered in movie theaters and starred Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover, and introduced film audiences to Whoopi Goldberg as ‘Celie’. The film was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, but won none- however, it has stood the test of time becoming one of the most iconic films in the American cinema.

Nearly 20 years after the novel was published, Walker was approached by producer Scott Sanders about adapting her book into a Broadway musical. Walker was initially reluctant to this idea and took some convincing from Sanders that it could be an amazing concept. After some time, she gave her consent and it took almost 2 years to assemble a creative team. It was important to Sanders that this team included artists of color and female artists as it would best capture this story. Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Marsha Norman (‘night, Mother) penned the book for the show, with music and lyrics by Stephen Bray, Allee Wills and Brenda Russell; Gary Griffin signed on as director with Donald Byrd choreographing; music director extraordinaire Linda Twine also joined the creative team. The production gained another producer in Quincy Jones who composed the music for the 1985 film, and had its out-of-town tryout in 2004 at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta. The following year, Oprah Winfrey joined the production team and in 2005, Oprah Winfrey Presents: The Color Purple debuted on Broadway. The production earned 10 Tony nominations in 2006 and LaChanze won the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical for her portayal of ‘Celie’.

In addition to its 3-year Broadway run, The Color Purple went on to 3 national tours, several regional productions, and in 2013- John Doyle directed the London production at the Meiner Chocolate Factory starring Cynthia Erivo as ‘Celie’. It is this production that is inspiring the upcoming Broadway revival this fall with Erivo reprising her role and joined by Jennifer Hudson as ‘Shug’ and Danielle Brooks as ‘Sophia’.
Now that we are all caught up on the extensive history of this phenomenal piece, be sure to get your tickets to The Color Purple which begins previews November 10! Visit www.colorpurple.com for more details.

Can’t wait til November? Check out the production trailer here

The post From A Book To Broadway: The Journey of The Color Purple appeared first on Broadway Black.

Goldberg in her one-woman show on Broadway 1984

Winner of all the awards, Whoopi Goldberg will perform at the Kennedy Center on July 17th for a one-night only comedy event. Since her first Broadway show in 1984, Goldberg’s comedy has been both irreverent and introspective, often challenging social issues. This balance and style is reflected in her personal activism as well as her acting, which spans from uproarious comedies to heart-wrenching dramas and everything in between. This diversity has Goldberg in an exclusive group: recipients of the EGOT. Goldberg has won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and a Tony. She received an Emmy Award in 2002 for producing Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel. Her Broadway show won a Grammy for Best Comedy Recording in 1985. Her performance in the film Ghost won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 1990, becoming just the second black woman in the history of the Academy Awards to win this award. And Goldberg won a Tony as a producer of Thoroughly Modern Millie in 2002.

Goldberg’s range of achievements includes producing and starring in August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom in 2003, and starring in iconic films such as “Corrina, Corrina,” “Ghosts of Mississippi,” “How Stella Got Her Groove Back,” and the legendary “The Color Purple” for which she received her first Oscar nomination for Best Actress. Goldberg has also conquered television, producing Lifetime’s “Strong Medicine,” portraying “Queen Constantina” in the 1997 TV adaptation of “Cinderella,” and following in the footsteps of one of her inspirations, Nichelle Nichols, as a recurring character on “Star Trek: The Next Generation.”

Since 2007, Whoopi Goldberg has been the moderator and co-host of ABC’s “The View,” bringing comedy, clarity, and occasional controversy to many issues of the day.

In addition to Goldberg’s one woman show in 1984 and the 20th Anniversary show in 2004, she is a member of Comic Relief USA, a charity organization that raises money for homeless people in need of health care assistance. It began in 1986 and was hosted by Whoopi Goldberg, Billy Crystal, and the late Robin Williams.

Whoopi Goldberg certainly has a wealth of experiences and events to discuss in her one night only performance and it is certainly not to be missed. For tickets and more information on “Comedy at Kennedy Center: Whoopi Goldberg” on July 17th, visit www.kennedy-center.org

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