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City Center Brings “The Band Wagon” to Life with Star Brian Stokes Mitchell

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Noted Broadway player and Tony Award Winning singer/actor Brian Stokes Mitchell will be starring in a stage adaptation of the MGM silver screen hit The Band Wagon. Having recently participated in Delacore Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park production of Much Ado…earlier this summer, Mitchell’s limited engagement will run from November 6-16 at City Center.

With a book being adapted from the Betty Comden and Adolph Green screenplay by Douglas Carter Beane, and featuring direction and choreography by Kathleen Marshall, it seems this production is being crafted by some very skilled hands.

The press notes have given some clues about what it will be like describing it as, “A washed-up Hollywood star trying to make a comeback by doing a Broadway show, a British director who is a genius but has no business directing a musical, a leading lady who’s never done a show before, and a composer and a lyricist who are at each other’s throats. All the things that could never happen in the New York theater today.”

If you’re not readily familiar with Mitchell’s work you might recall him from his role as Ivan in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown back in 2010, or from Kiss Me, Kate in 2000 which lead to his Tony win for Best Actor that year. Brian has also done a number of television and film appearances such as Hillary’s ill-fated fiance Trevor on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, one of Rachel Berry’s dads on the hit ABC show Glee,  and he also starred opposite Angela Bassett in the movie Jumping the Broom.

A little history about the project, written back in 1953, Betty Comden and Adolph Green used music from Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz to tell the story of their film, and the title drew it’s inspiration from the famed 1931 revue they worked in collaboration with George S. Kaufman. In this recent adaptation,  Todd Ellison is at the helm of music direction and has plans with Beane to use the original screenplay and will include numbers such as, “Dancing in the Dark”, “A Shine on My Shoes” and “That’s Entertainment”. You can purchase tickets for this show beginning September 2nd by visiting the New York City Center Box Office at West 55th st. between 6th. & 7th ave., by calling (212) 581-1212 or by logging on to their website

 

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Celebrity Takeover

Tituss Burgess Has New Music, A New Movie, & No Time For Mess + The Preacher’s Wife Musical Update

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Tituss Burgess' Saint Tituss EP cover
Tituss Burgess' Saint Tituss EP cover

On Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Tituss Burgess gave us an update on his musical adaptation of the 1996 movie, The Preacher’s Wife – starring Denzel Washington and Whitney Houston. On the late-night talk show, a viewer called in to ask if there had been any updates regarding the show and Burgess shared that:

“ We are very close to signing with a hot-shot producer in New York, which means that the show is closer to appearing in London or here. But there’s also a recent development which could delay it for the better. You’ll find out about it later”

So not only do we know that the musical is still on its way to bless us, but there is an announcement about the show on the way! If you ask me, this is incredibly exciting. Tituss Burgess’ career has gone from stage to screen, and his abilities as an actor and singer are undeniable. Knowing that we are closer to seeing his skills as a musical theatre composer is mad exciting. Watch a clip from the interview above.

While we wait for The Preacher’s Wife Musical, listen to Burgess’ newly released EP Saint Tituss. Burgess sings his face off as he skillfully talks about issues that are personal and political — all while wrapping things up with a joyous celebration of resilience as positivity. He also has two songs that feature Daniel J. Watts including the single 45

St. Tituss is available on Spotify, apple music, and other streaming platforms.

He also has a new movie on the way. “Dolemite Is My Name” starring Eddie Murphy along with Burgess, Mike Epps, Chris Rock, & more will premiere at the Toronto Film Festival. A national release date has not been set as of yet but is sure to be on its way.

 

While discussing the new movie during the same interview, Cohen asked Burgess about his relationship with Murphy. The way Cohen presented the question insinuates there might have been a problem between the two because of a ‘problematic past with the gays’ on Murphy’s part. The response given by Burgess is swift and loaded with “you tried it, but you won’t get me”:

“He wasn’t problematic for Tituss. We had a wonderful time. We talked about Dreamgirls and he should have won the Oscasr, I believe. He was great. Any troubles he may have had with gay people I guess are gone because he loved me.”

It is the following facial expression and the interaction that comes afterward that makes live television great. You can see Burgess say something to someone off-camera which leads Cohen to ask what he’s saying. Burgess replies with a soon-to-be iconic response to everything: “Keep going, girl. Do your show.”

and this is why we live.

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Coming Soon

The Public Theater Will Present Hercules Musical & Hercules Is Black!

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The Muses via Hercules film

We knew it was coming, we just didn’t know when. Back in 2017, we reported that a musical adaptation of the Disney movie Hercules would be headed to Broadway. Now we can confirm that is somewhat true.

Hercules will be the latest Disney musical to be made for the stage and will play Off-Broadway at the Public Theater’s Delacorte Theater in Central Park. As the final show of the Shakespeare in the Park season theater season performances will run August 31 through September 8 with a reading set to take place in April.

The role of Hercules will be played by a Black actor, according to the casting notice

The musical will include the Oscar-nominated “Go the Distance, along with other songs from the 1997 animated film by Alan Menken & David Zippel. Presented through an arrangement with Disney Theatrical Productions, the show will be directed by Lear deBessonet.  The creative team also includes a book by Kristoffer Diaz, & choreography by Chase Brock.

Before Hercules, Kenny Leon will direct the Much Ado About Nothing May 21 through June 23 to begin the Shakespeare in the Park season.

Casting for all both productions will be announced at a later date

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Twitter: @BroadwayBlack

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