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Celebrity Takeover

Denzel Washington Confirms Return To Broadway With Diahann Carroll And Anika Noni Rose

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The town has been buzzing with the talk of Denzel Washington returning to Broadway. Well, it seems that the rumors are no longer rumors but facts. The 2010 Tony Award winner for his work in ‘Fences‘, has confirmed that her will return in a revival of ‘A Raisin In The Sun‘. Yes. You read it right. The Lorraine Hansberry play will receive another revival in 2014 that will star Mr. Washington as limousine driver Walter Lee Younger. As he walked the red carpet with his wife, Pauletta Pearson, for the premiere of his new movie ‘2 Guns’ had a few things to say about his return.

“We start previews in March,” he said.

Washington then explained his motivation for returning to the stage.

“I’m trying to keep up with my wife. My wife has been doing a lot more theater than me,” he said as Pearson smiled.

Washington said they were heading to North Carolina for the National Black Theatre Festival, where Pearson is starring in the award-winning “Power Play.”

“I’m looking forward to one day singing,” Washington said playfully to Pearson’s amusement. “See, I just wanted to get something out of her. She knows I can’t sing. But she can sing.”

As they walked away, the 58-year-old actor continued: “I can sing. I can sing … in the shower.”

We’re here at the National Black Theatre Festival and we’re waiting to see him so that maybe we can ask him a few questions ourselves.

It’s also been confirmed by Mr. Washington that Diahann Carroll will portray his mother, Lena Younger, in the revival. Carroll hasn’t been on the Broadway stage in 30 years.

Now, speculation is everywhere on who will play his wife, Ruth Younger, and his sister, Beneatha Younger. However, talk is stuck on Sophie Okonedo as Ruth and Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose as Beneatha. Let’s hope this is true.

The show has so much history surrounding it. It was last revived in 2004 starring Phylicia Rashad (Lena), who made history by being the first play woman to win the Tony for a leading role in a play, Sean P. Diddy Combs (Walter Lee) , the Queen of Broadway, Audra McDonald (Ruth), and Sanaa Lathan (Beneatha).

A Raisin in the Sun centers on an African-American family living in post- World War II Chicago. Patriarch Walter works as a limo driver and dreams of providing a better future for his family. When his mother receives an insurance check, she plans to buy a home in an all-white neighborhood. The play premiered on Broadway on March 11, 1959, and earned four Tony Award nominations including Best Play as well as acting nods for stars Sidney Poitier and Claudia McNeil. A 2004 revival, also directed by Leon, won Tonys for Phylicia Rashad and Audra McDonald. The production starred Sean Combs as Walter in his Broadway debut.

[SOURCE]

Founder/Editor-In-Chief of BroadwayBlack.com | Actor | Artist | 1/3 of @OffBookPodcast | Theatre connoisseur | All Audra Everything | Caroline over Change | I'm Not Charl Brown | Norm Lewis is my play cousin | Producing an all-black production of Mame starring Jenifer Lewis in my head

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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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Cast List

Amber Riley & MJ Rodriguez Will Star in Little Shop of Horrors

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Amber Riley and Mj Rodriguez

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Olivier Award winner for her portrayal of Effie White in London’s West End production of DreamgirlsAmber Riley (Dreamgirls UK) and Pose star Mj Rodriguez will star in a reimagined production of Little Shop of Horrors at Pasadena Playhouse in California.

Riley will take on the iconic voice of Audrey II while Rodriguez will star as Audrey alongside George Salazar (Be More Chill) as Seymour.

The show will run from Sept. 17-Oct. 20 with an official opening set for Sept. 25.

Little Shop of Horrors is considered a classic. It’s a horror-comedy rock musical with music by Alan Menken and lyrics and a book by Howard Ashman. The story follows a hapless florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood and flesh. It debuted Off-Broadway in 1982 and the movie version of 1986 introduced the world to young talents of Gina and Pam Tisha Campell and Tichina Arnold.

Directed by Mike Donahue, the design team includes scenic design by Dane Laffrey; costume design by Danae McQueen; lighting design by Josh Epstein; sound design by Veronika Vorel; and choreography and puppet design by Sean Cawelti.

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