BREAKING NEWS: THE ROOTS’ Black Thought to debut new Musical BLACK NO MORE Off Broadway this Winter 2022!!!

by | Oct 10, 2021 | Blog, Casting, News, off broadway, Shows

See the source imageTariq Trotter, Jennifer Damiano, Brandon Victor Dixon & More Set for New Musical Black No More
BREAKING NEWS: Grammy winner Tariq Trotter (a.k.a. Black Thought) is set to make his Musical Theater debut next month. The Roots founder and acclaimed musician has been composing and set to star in a musical adaptation of the best selling 1931 novel BLACK NO MORE.
The production will make its WORLD PREMIERE Debut Off Broadway at The Pershing Square Signature Center’s Irene Diamond Stage for a limited engagement from January 11th February 27th, 2022.
Under the direction of Scott Elliot and choreographed by Tony winner Bill T. Jones (Broadway’s original Spring Awakening and Fela), BLACK NO MORE takes places during the Harlem Renaissance. The story follows a man who attempts to use a mysterious machine that guarantees to “solve the American race problem”—by turning Black people white. Along with Trotter’s score, the show will also feature a book by Oscar winner John Ridley (12 Years a Slave).
That’s not all, it will feature a full all-star Broadway cast led by…..
Trotter himself,
Tony Award nominee Jennifer Damiano (Broadway’s original Spring Awakening, Next to Normal, Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark, and American Psycho),
Broadway favorite Tamika Lawrence (Come From Away, If/Then, Gettin’ The Band Back Together, and currently in the revival of Caroline, Or Change),
Tony nominee Brandon Victor Dixon (Broadway’s Hamilton, Shuffle Along, and the original production of The Color Purple plus NBC‘s Jesus Christ Superstar Live and FOX‘s Rent Live),
Theo Stockmon (Broadway’s American Idiot),
Broadway veteran Tracy Shayne (Broadway’s The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, and Chicago),
and
Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie (director of the long running revival of Chicago but also acted on Broadway in Guys & Dolls, White Christmas, Going Up, and more).
This show originally was scheduled to debut in the 2020-2021 season. However, it was delayed and postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Who is excited?!!

Criss, Fishburne, and Rockwell led Broadway revival of AMERICAN BUFFALO will still be happening; Debuts Spring 2022 at Circle in the Square

by | Oct 8, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, Casting, Gleeks Fan Tour (Times Square), News, Shows

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BREAKING NEWS: The highly anticipated upcoming Broadway revival of David Mamet‘s American Buffalo will officially be happening after all. This new production directed by Neil Pepe is set to make its long awaited debut at Broadway’s Circle in the Square Theatre (current home of Chicken and Biscuits) for a strictly limited 16 week engagement beginning Spring 2022.
Previews will now begin March 22nd, 2022 and will finally officially open on April 14th, 2022….exactly two years after it was originally scheduled to open while in the midst of their initial rehearsals.
That’s not all, the all-star casting is still expecting to be the same as it was prior to Broadway being shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, It will star….
Tony & Emmy winner Laurence Fishburne as “Donny”,
Oscar winner Sam Rockwell as “Teach”,
and
Emmy winner, Broadway, & Glee favorite Darren Criss as “Bobby”.
For a little fresh recap, AMERICAN BUFFALO tells the story of a pair of ne’er-do-wells and a young intern plotting the robbery of a coin in a seedy second-hand junkshop…. the coin is a valuable Buffalo nickel.
The play originally premiered in Chicago at the Goodman Theatre in 1975. Under the direction of Gregory Mosher, that world premiere cast was led by…
J.J. Johnston as “Donny”,
Bernard Erhard as “Teach”,
and
William H.Macy as “Bobby”.
A year later, the show moved Off Broadway playing the Theatre at St. Clements Church in 1976. Also directed by Gregory Mosher, this cast was led by….
Michael Egan as “Donny”,
Mike Kellin as “Teach”,
and
J.T. Walsh as “Bobby”.
The production took home the Obie Award for BEST NEW PLAY.
Another year later, AMERICAN BUFFALO made its ON Broadway debut at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre where it played only 122 performances. With direction this time by Ulu Grosbard, the Broadway premiere cast was led by….
Kenneth McMillian as “Donny”,
Robert Duvall as “Teach”,
and
John Savage as “Bobby”.
It was nominated for 2 Tony Awards that year for BEST DIRECTION OF A PLAY and BEST SCENIC DESIGN. However it lost the categories. However it won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for BEST AMERICAN PLAY.
The show would later be revived various times on the New York stage. The first revival started out Off Broadway and the Downtown Circle in the Square Theatre in 1981. Under the direction of Arvin Brown, it was led by….
Clifton James as “Donny”,
Al Pacino as “Teach”,
and
Thomas Waltes as “Bobby”.
2 years later, the production transferred to Broadway playing the Booth Theatre for only 100 performances. With Arvin Brown’s direction, the cast starred….
J.J. Johnston reprising his World Premiere performance as “Donny”,
Al Pacino reprising the role of “Teach”,
and
James Hayden as “Bobby”.
It was nominated for a 1984 Tony Award for BEST REVIVAL but lost the category.
FUN FACT: James Hayden passed away 6 hours following a performance back in November 1983. He died from a heroin overdose while on the phone with his estranged wife in his upper westside apartment. Understudy John Shepard took on the role of “Bobby” fulltime for the remainder of the run.
In 2000 following a triumphant production in London, AMERICAN BUFFALO was revived again Off Broadway at the Atlantic Theater Company. Under the direction of Neil Pepe (who is coincidentally directing the upcoming 2021 revival), this cast was led by….
Phillip Baker Hall as “Donny”,
William H. Macy this time starring as “Teach”,
and
Mark Webber as “Bobby”.
The most recent Broadway revival happened in 2008 playing the Belasco Theatre which was a huge flop in critics and disappointing ticket sales. It only played 28 performances total. Under the direction of Robert Falls, this cast was led by….
Cedric The Entertainer as “Donny”,
John Leguizamo as “Teach”,
and
Haley Joel Osment as “Bobby”.
Today the show is a popular performed in schools, community, and regional theaters everywhere.
Along with its life on stage, AMERICAN BUFFALO was also an acclaimed film from The Samuel Goldwyn Company. It was released in 1993. Under the direction of the play’s world premiere direction Gregory Mosher, the film starred…
Dustin Hoffman as “Treat”,

Dennis Franz as “Donny,,

and
Sean Nelson as “Bobby”.
We are so excited for the newly start date of this acclaimed dark drama back on the Great Bright Way.
Who is excited?!!!!

YEEEEOW!!! Grandillo, Hutchings, Sis, Walsh, and more join the cast of National Tour of recent Tony winning revival of OKLAHOMA!!!

by | Oct 7, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, Casting, News, Shows

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Sasha Hutchings, Sean Grandillo, Sis & More to Star in the OKLAHOMA! National Tour
TERRITORY FOLKS SHOULD STICK TOGETHER!!! OH, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY it is to get news about actors joining shows after a rough 19 months. Full casting has been announced for the upcoming National Tour of the St. Ann’s Warehouse‘s critically acclaimed Tony winning revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s OKLAHOMA!
Under the direction of Daniel Fish, this updated dark contemporary take on the classic lifechanging American musical heading to a city near you will include….
Sean Grandillo (Broadway’s Deaf West Theatre revival of Spring Awakening) as the heartthrob cowboy himself “Culy McLain”,
Sasha Hutchings (Broadway’s Hamilton) as the young and independent farmgirl herself “Laurey Williams” (a role she previously understudied in the Broadway production of this revival),
Tony Award nominee Barbara Walsh (Broadway’s original Falsettos, Hairspray, and the 2007 revival of Company and previously appeared in a 1981 National Touring company of OKLAHOMA) as everyone’s favorite community leader with a heart of gold “Aunt Eller”,
newcomer Hennessy Winkler as rope-spinning heartthrob cowboy “Will Parker”,
Sis (TV’s Pose) as the flirtatious “Ado Annie Carnes”,
Christopher Bannow as the nasty, filthy, and abusive hired hand “Jud Fry” (a role he previously understudied in the Broadway production of this revival),
Benj Mirman as the Persian peddler man himself “Ali Hakim” (a role he played in the 2015 development of this production at the Bard Summerscape).
Mitch Tebo reprising his performance from the Broadway production as the overprotective FATHER WITH A GUN himself and honorable judge “Andrew Carnes”,
Hannah Solow (previously seen on Broadway in The New One) as the constantly annoying, non-stop laughin’ and snortin’, and self centered “Gertie Cummings”,
Gabrielle Hamilton reprising her legendary dance performance from the Broadway production as the one woman “Dream Figure” (in the Ballet sequence),
and
a Full Ensemble.
The new National Tour of this recent revival of OKLAHOMA is set to THE LAND THEY BELONG to a city near you. It’s set to kick off November 6th, 2021 in Elmira, NY before making its way to the following cities…..
Minneapolis, MN,
Greenville, SC,
Augusta, GA,
Huntsville, AL,
Pittsburgh, PA,
Chicago, IL,
Oklahoma City, OK (the actual state itself people)
Buffalo, NY
Detroit, MI
Philadelphia, PA
Providence, RI
Durham, NC
Nashville, TN
Lincoln, NE
Kansas City, MO
North Charleston, SC
Dallas, TX
Tulsa, OK
Ft. Worth, TX
San Francisco, CA
Los Angeles, CA
and
Tempe, AZ.
YEOW!!!! What a lineup.
Who is excited?!!!

DEAR EVAN HANSEN film star Nik Dondani to join limited engagement revival cast of WAITRESS as “Ogie”; Ben Thompson returns joining as “Earl”!!!

by | Oct 7, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, Casting, News, Shows

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Nik Dodani and Ben Thompson to Join the Cast of WAITRESS Alongside Jennifer Nettles
DELICIOUS NEWS: Nik Dodani and Ben Thompson have both been tapped to join the limited engagement Broadway revival of Waitress this month. Both performers are set to begin on October 19th, 2021 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre.
Dodani (currently seen on the big screen as “Jared Kleinman” in the film adaptation of Dear Evan Hansen) will make his Broadway debut stepping into the role of the weird, awkward, magical, and history loving “Ogie”. He replaces the show’s original standout Tony nominated Christopher Fitzgerald (who is making his way back to start rehearsals for the return of the gender-swap revival of Company)
and
Thompson (known for also appearing on Broadway in Matilda, American Idiot, and Holler If Ya Hear Me) will take on the role of the drunk, arrogant, greedy, and abusive “Earl”. He of course is no stranger to playing the role after having last doing the show during its original run where he stayed through the closing. When Thompson joins, he will replace Joe Tippett in the role.
Dodani and Thompson will join the very same day as the previously announced Grammy Award winner Jennifer Nettles who will play a limited engagement in the lead role of pregnant pie maker “Jenna Hunterson” through November 24th, 2021.
Fitzgerald and Tippett will play their final performances in WAITRESS alongside the show’s composer and current leading lady Sara Bareilles on October 17th, 2021.
Who is excited?!!!

Shepard and more lead the returning cast of National Tour of BEAUTIFUL!!

by | Oct 7, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, Casting, News, Shows

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SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL NEWS!!! The Tony and Grammy winning smash hit Beautiful – The Carole King Musical is set to once again FEEL THE EARTH MOVE in a city near you. We are so happy to announce that casting has been revealed for the show’s return.
Under the direction of Marc Bruni and choreography by Josh Prince, the cast will be led by….
Sara Sheppard as the Grammy winning singer-songwriter herself “Carole King” (a role she previously understudied in the Broadway production),
James D Gish returning to the tour as singer-songwriter and love interest “Gerry Goffin”,
Sara King as singer-songwriter “Cynthia Weil” (a role she previously understudied in the Broadway production),
Ryan Farnsworth as singer-songwriter “Barry Mann”,
Broadway favorite Matt Loehr returning to the tour as music publisher and producer extraordinaire “Don Kirshner”,
Broadway veteran Rachel Coloff as the overprotective and supportive mother “Genie Klein”,
and a Full Ensemble.
BEAUTIFUL will relaunch its National Tour in the Windy City of Chicago, IL starting November 2nd, 2021 before traveling to the following cities…..
Greensboro, NC,
Red Bank, NJ,
Waterbury, CT,
Easton, PA.
Sioux Falls, SD,
Mason City, IA,
Bloomington, IN,
our Nation’s capitol in Washington D.C.,
Detroit, MI,
New Heaven, CT,
Lubbock, TX,
Morristown, NJ,
Philedelphia, PA,
Palm Desert City, CA,
Seattle, WA,
Orlando, FL,
Houston, TX,
Baton Rouge, LA,
Fort Lauderdale, FL,
and so much more.
Congrats to this full cast!!!
Who is excited?!!!

Jodi Kimura to replace the late Doreen Montalvo as “Janet Lundy” in MRS. DOUBTFIRE on Broadway

by | Oct 6, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, Casting, News, Shows

A year ago this month, the Broadway community lost one of the most unforgettable talents on the Great Bright Way….. Doreen Montalvo. She tragically passed away at the age of 56 due to a stroke. Around the time of her passing, the In The Heights and On Your Feet veteran was appearing the new Broadway musical adaptation of the hit film Mrs. Doubtfire which was abruptly shutdown after 3 previews due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many Theater have been asking on who is taking over for the late Montalvo in the role of “Janet Lundy” and others. According to the show’s website, the role will now be performed by Hawaii native Jodi Kimura (who previously appeared in the US National Tour and UK companies of the Lincoln Center Theater revival of South Pacific plus tons of Regional shows). This will also mark as her Broadway debut!!
Under the direction of Jerry Zaks, Kimura will share the stage with the show’s ongoing original cast members who have been with the show since its out-of-town tryout in Seattle consisting of …..
Tony Award nominee Rob McClure as newly divorced actor “Daniel Hillard” and his incognito alter-ego “Mrs. Euphegenia Doubtfire”,
Broadway favorite Jenn Gambatese as his newly divorced wife “Miranda Hillard”,
Tony nominee Brad Oscar as his makeup artist brother extraordinaire “Frank Hillard”,
Newcomer Analise Scarpaci as his older daughter “Lydia Hillard”,
Young Broadway veteran Jake Ryan Flynn as his son “Christopher Hillard”,
newcomer Avery Sell as his youngest daughter “Natalie Hillard”,
Broadway veteran J Harrison Ghee as Andre,
Broadway and West End favorite Mark Evans as the new love interest for “Miranda” herself “Stuart Dunmeyer”,
Broadway favorite Charity Angél Dawson as “Wanda Sellner”,
Broadway veteran Peter Bartlett as “Mr. Jolly”,
and
a full Ensemble.
Mrs. Doubtfire The Musical will resume Broadway previews on October 21st, 2021 and finally reach its official Opening Night on December 5th, 2021 at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre.
RIP Doreen Montalvo 🙁 ❤
Welcome Jodi Kimura 🙂 ❤
Who is excited?!!!
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