All stories by Drew Shade on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, February 5, 2019

‘Pose’ Star Ryan Jamaal Swain Will Make His Broadway Debut in Choir Boy by Drew Shade

Standout star of FX’s ‘Pose” has joined the cast of Tarell Alvin McCraney’s Choir Boy. He will be stepping in as the cover of the lead role Pharus. This will mark his…

SOURCE: BroadwayBlack at 06:06PM

A Superhero On & Off The Stage, Camille A. Brown Brings ink by Drew Shade

Camille A. Brown‘s dance company, Camille A. Brown & Dancers, tours nationally and internationally and will be presenting six performances featuring the debut of ink at The Joyce …

SOURCE: BroadwayBlack at 03:04PM

NBC Cancels “Hair Live!”; Seeking Titles with Wide Appeal by Drew Shade

Not too long ago, NBC announced that the musical “Hair Live!” would have life on the network and air May 19 with Broadway director Diane Paulus at the helm, reprising her positi…

SOURCE: BroadwayBlack at 02:23PM

Adrienne Warren Will Star In Tina The Tina Turner Musical On Broadway by Drew Shade

As previously reported, Tina the musical about the iconic entertainer Tina Turner will be headed to Broadway this fall. Announced today, Adrienne Warren who currently stars in the produc…

SOURCE: BroadwayBlack at 01:53PM

Black Women Playwrights Shine at Third Annual JAG Productions Festival JAGFest3.0! by Drew Shade

For the past two years, JAG Productions has been making waves in the theatre community of White River Junction, Vermont and the ripple effect has made its way to the Big Apple more than a fe…

SOURCE: BroadwayBlack at 10:58AM
Monday, February 4, 2019

Harry Belafonte Life Story Bound For Broadway by Drew Shade

The Broadway stage rights for the life story of the 91-year-old great American singer, songwriter, actor and activist, Harry Belafonte, have been obtained by Broadway producer Ken Davenport…

SOURCE: BroadwayBlack at 04:44PM
Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Audra McDonald Returns To Broadway In Frankie & Johnny Revival by Drew Shade

Six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald (Shuffle Along, Lady Day) will return to Broadway to star in a revival of Terrence McNally’s Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, this May, …

SOURCE: BroadwayBlack at 07:05PM
Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Broadway’s American Son Starring Kerry Washington Will Be Adapted for Netflix by Drew Shade

The Broadway play American Son starring Kerry Washington will find a home on the streaming platform Netflix. The announcement was made Monday night on the The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy F…

SOURCE: BroadwayBlack at 09:49AM
Friday, January 18, 2019

West End’s Tina Turner Musical Headed to Broadway & Will Release Cast Album by Drew Shade

Tony Award nominee Adrienne Warren has been tearing down sold-out houses night after night in Tina the musical about the iconic Tina Turner in London’s West End since it’s premie…

SOURCE: BroadwayBlack at 12:49PM

Bebe Winans Musical Born For This Releases Music Video Starring Donald Webber Jr. by Drew Shade

The BeBe Winans’ Broadway Bound musical Born For This, dropped a music video of the title song today. Donald Webber, Jr. (Hamilton, Whirl Inside A Loop, Motown), who is set to sta…

SOURCE: BroadwayBlack at 11:42AM

Jessica Frances Dukes to Lead the Cast of By The Way, Meet Vera Stark by Drew Shade

Acting powerhouse Jessica Frances Dukes, who recently slayed Alisha Harris’ Is God Is Off-Broadway, has been tapped as the title role of Lynn Nottage‘s By The Way, Meet Vera St…

SOURCE: BroadwayBlack at 10:56AM

Michael James Scott Returns to the Broadway Cast of Aladdin by Drew Shade

Michael James Scott recently mounted the Australian production of Aladdin starring as the Genie. Now he’s ready to return to the cast at the New Amsterdam Theatre on Broadway. He wi…

SOURCE: BroadwayBlack at 09:37AM
Thursday, January 17, 2019

First Look: Christian Dante White Joins Broadway Revival of My Fair Lady by Drew Shade

Broadway alum and rising leading man, Christian Dante White (Hello, Dolly!, Shuffle Along) joined the cast of the Lincoln Center Theater Broadway revival of My Fair Lady and began performa…

SOURCE: BroadwayBlack at 04:03PM
Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Q&A: Kyle Beltran & Kristolyn Lloyd Talk Blue Ridge, Actor Growth, What Makes Them Smile & More! by Drew Shade

Kristolyn Lloyd (Dear Evan Hanson, Paradise Blue) and Kyle Beltran (In The Heights, Head of Passes, The Cherry Orchard)  are currently starring in Blue Ridge through Sunday, January 27th,…

SOURCE: BroadwayBlack at 07:12AM

Billy Porter Will Star In His New Play Remember To Live At Primary Stages by Drew Shade

The Off-Broadway theatre company, Primary Stages, announced their 35th Anniversary season. Launching the lineup includes a new play by Tony Award-winning & Golden Globe-nominated actor B…

SOURCE: BroadwayBlack at 04:06AM

Noah J. Ricketts Takes Over The Role of Kristoff in Frozen On Broadway by Drew Shade

The Disney movie turned Broadway musical Frozen welcomes ensemble cast member Noah J. Ricketts into the role of Kristoff. Having understudied the role, he will now take over full-time after …

SOURCE: BroadwayBlack at 03:18AM
Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Behind-The-Scenes: The Men of Ain’t Too Proud VOGUE Photo shoot by Drew Shade

Go behind-the-scenes of the Vogue photo shoot with the men of Ain’t Too Proud. Leading the cast as The Temptations will be Derrick Baskin as Otis Williams, James Harkness as Paul Willi…

SOURCE: BroadwayBlack at 04:14PM

“I’m proud as can be of my Black ancestry.” Carol Channing Passes Away at 97 by Drew Shade

Legendary Broadway star Carol Channing has passed away at the age of 97. Mostly known for originating the role of Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly!, her raspy voice was distinct and unmistakable.…

SOURCE: BroadwayBlack at 09:38AM
Monday, January 14, 2019

Ariana DeBose Cast as Anita in Stephen Spielberg’s West Side Story by Drew Shade

Tony Award Nominee for her portrayal of Donna Summer in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, Ariana DeBose (Summer, Hamilton, A Bronx Tale) will play legendary character Anita in the forthcom…

SOURCE: BroadwayBlack at 09:06PM
Saturday, January 12, 2019

Cedric Neal Reaches The Highest Ground On The Voice UK, All 4 Judges Turn! by Drew Shade

In an African inspired bomber jacket, Cedric Neal takes you thru a journey singing Stevie Wonder’s ‘Higher Ground’ in week 2 of The Voice UK 2019 Blind Auditions! Known fo…

SOURCE: BroadwayBlack at 05:46PM
Friday, January 11, 2019

Brittney Johnson Makes History As First Glinda of Color in Wicked On Broadway #BlackGlinda by Drew Shade

Last night, January 10, 2019, Brittney Johnson (Les Mis, Motown, Beautiful) stepped on to the stage at the Gershwin Theatre and made history as the first Black woman, or any woman of color f…

SOURCE: BroadwayBlack at 05:32PM

Ledisi, Amber Iman, Jamar Williams & More Star in Witness Uganda West Coast Premiere by Drew Shade

The documentary musical, Witness Uganda, by Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews will make its west coast premiere at The Wallis Annenberg Center for Performing Arts. After a successful Off-…

SOURCE: BroadwayBlack at 01:13PM
Thursday, January 10, 2019

RESPECT! Liesl Tommy Will Direct Jennifer Hudson in Aretha Franklin Biopic by Drew Shade

The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, handpicked Jennifer Hudson to play her in a biopic and now according to Deadline Tony-nominated director Liesl Tommy (Eclipsed, Insecure, Queen Sugar) h…

SOURCE: BroadwayBlack at 03:24PM

Tarell Alvin McCraney’s Choir Boy Celebrates Opening Night on Broadway by Drew Shade

Last night, January 8th, Academy Award winner Tarell Alvin McCraney made his Broadway debut and his play Choir Boy officially opened on Broadway at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. You know …

SOURCE: BroadwayBlack at 01:51AM
Saturday, January 5, 2019

Top 5 Works To See at Under The Radar Festival! by Drew Shade

Over the last 15 years, The Public’s UNDER THE RADAR FESTIVAL has presented over 229 companies from 42 countries. This festival is an outlet that allows new works the opportunity to c…

SOURCE: BroadwayBlack at 01:21PM

TW: From STOMP to Star Wars, Ahmed Best Opens Up About Suicide by Drew Shade

Ahmed Best shares a story that discusses the effects of being bullied and harassed as a Black actor. He talks in detail about the racially motivated criticism from Star Wars fans about his p…

SOURCE: BroadwayBlack at 12:38PM

Cynthia Erivo Nominated for BAFTA’s Rising Star Award by Drew Shade

Tony, Emmy, and Grammy Award-winning actress, Cynthia Erivo, known for her transformative performance as Celie in the 2015 Broadway revival of The Color Purple is now one of five actors no…

SOURCE: BroadwayBlack at 12:04PM
Friday, January 4, 2019

Tori Sampson’s If Pretty Hurts Ugly Must Be a Muhfucka Announces Cast by Drew Shade

The world premiere of If Pretty Hurts Ugly Must Be a MuhFucka written by Tori Sampson, who is making her New York City professional debut, and directed by Leah C. Gardiner has found its Of…

SOURCE: BroadwayBlack at 04:24PM

The North Star by Donja R. Love — Juilliard Reading by Drew Shade

The Juilliard School Drama Division and its Lila Acheson Wallace American Playwrights Program present the second of two 2018 Houghton Festival Readings. The North Star written by Donja R. L…

SOURCE: BroadwayBlack at 01:27PM
Thursday, January 3, 2019

Amber Iman Dazzles In Her One-Woman Show & It’s Everything We Know You Need by Drew Shade

Amber Iman dazzled in her one-woman show on December 9th, 2018  at the Triad Theatre. Captivating the audience with her storytelling and finishing them off with her unique vocal stylings, I…

SOURCE: BroadwayBlack at 07:50PM

Cast Announced for The First Deep Breath by Lee Edward Colston II at National Black Theatre by Drew Shade

Dr. Barbara Ann Teer’s National Black Theatre [NBT] announces the cast of the first workshop production for this year’s cohort of I Am Soul Playwriting Residency by playwright Lee Ed…

SOURCE: BroadwayBlack at 07:12PM

All that Chat

2024-2025 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 05, 2024: Home - Todd Haimes Theatre
Jul 11, 2024: Oh, Mary! - Lyceum Theatre
Jul 30, 2024: Job - Hayes Theater
Sep 12, 2024: The Roommate - Booth Theatre
Nov 14, 2024: Tammy Faye - Palace Theatre
Dec 12, 2024: Cult of Love - Hayes Theater
Dec 19, 2024: Gypsy - Majestic Theatre
Mar 15, 2025: Purpose - Hayes Theater
Apr 01, 2025: Glengarry Glen Ross
TBA: Titanic