Yvette Cason

Ebony Repertory Theatre (ERT) will begin their 15th anniversary season with the Tony Award winning Ain’t Misbehavin’ opening May 4, 2023.  ERT’s producing artistic director Wren T. Brown directs the cast of Yvette Cason, Wilkie Ferguson III, Connie Jackson, Marty Austin Lamar and Natalie Wachen. Wren found some time from his many ERT duties to answer a few of my queries.

Ebony Repertory Theatre will present the Tony Award-winning musical AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ as its 15th Anniversary Season Opening Production. 

Rubicon Theatre Company has released production photos for the fifth show of its 2022-2023 “Welcome Home” season, the 1978 Tony Award-winning musical celebration, AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’, featuring the music of Thomas “Fats” Waller, conceived by Murray Horwitz & Richard Maltby, Jr., musical direction by William Foster McDaniel, choreography by Dominique Kelley and directed by Wren T. Brown.

Just in time for the holidays, Rubicon Theatre Company has announced the fifth show of its 2022-2023 “Welcome Home” season, the 1978 Tony Award-winning musical celebration, AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’.

After a 30-day call for entries, winners for the black album.mixtape. were announced during a virtual Block Party event. The black album. mixtape. is an initiative of Regina Taylor - the Golden Globe-winning actress, playwright, and activist - in partnership with Southern Methodist University's Meadows School of the Arts.

The Gaze... No Homo will begin streaming on Friday, Nov. 20, with episodes four, five and six going online Friday, Nov. 27; episodes seven, eight and nine on Friday, Dec. 4; and the final three episodes becoming available on Friday, Dec. 11.

Founded by Broadway’s Arnetia Walker (Dreamgirls) with Stephen Nachamie (She Loves Me), JUST ONE STEP FOR DEMOCRACY is a coalition of creative artists from Broadway, Hollywood and beyond who create multimedia virtual work to inspire people to get informed and plan their vote. J1S4D launched on July 4th, 2020.

STRONGER, the new song and dance-based video for JUST ONE STEP FOR DEMOCRACY is written and performed by singer / songwriter Devin Marie ('I Can't Breathe'). The video is Directed and Choreographed by Lorna Ventura (Broadway: Wicked).

JUST ONE STEP FOR DEMOCRACY and Henry Krieger will premiere a new song for the vote on October 8th!

Actor Arnetia Walker and director Stephen Nachamie have launched Just One Step for Democracy, a coalition of performing artists and activists seeking to effect a more just society, empower citizens, and encourage them to Vote for Change on November 3, 2020.

New York City Center is presenting the #EncoresArchives series! They will be posting daily highlights from their musical theater vault from Encores!, Encores! Off-Center, and Gala productions.

Rubicon Theatre Company presents an updated limited-engagement encore run of last year's World Premiere of I DIG ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC directed by James O'Neil. This year's production features an all new cast starring Yvette Cason, Harley Jay, Beau Moore, Charlotte Morris and Scott Anthony. I Dig Rock and Roll Music begins previews on September 11, will have its press opening on Saturday September 14 at 7 p.m., and performances will continue September 15 through September 29 at Rubicon Theatre, 1006 E. Main Street in Ventura's Downtown Cultural District.

Due to scheduling issues, Lillias White will no longer be able to perform in I DIG ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC for this limited run at the Rubicon Theatre; and Yvette Cason (Broadway credits include Play On!, for which she also won an Ovation Award and Dreamgirls. Her regional credits include Blues in the Night at the Wallis and Shout Sister Shout at the Pasadena Playhouse), will now perform with the production through closing.

Rubicon Theatre Company presents an updated encore run of last year's World Premiere of I DIG ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC with an all new cast September 11 through September 29 at Rubicon Theatre, 1006 E. Main Street in Ventura's Downtown Cultural District.   

Hot Off the Press is a program of excerpted new solo writings presented by talented women playwrights in staged readings.

LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE is excited to present the smash-hit, Wallis Annenberg Theatre production of BLUES IN THE NIGHT, with musical direction by Abdul Hamid Royal and conceived & directed by Sheldon Epps. Comments Artistic Director Ann E. Wareham and Executive Director Ellen Richard, 'We are delighted to have the opportunity to move the critically acclaimed Wallis Theatre production to the Laguna Playhouse. With Sheldon and Abdul leading our extraordinary cast and creative team, our subscribers and audiences should get ready to be knocked out by this roof-raising exciting new production!'

What made the Hot List? BLUES IN THE NIGHT at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, ICE at 24th STreet Theatre, LOST IN THE LIGHT by CRE Outrach at The Blue Door in Culver City, SCHOOL OF ROCK at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre, THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE at The Road Theatre Company on Lankershim, and SOUTH PACIFIC at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. Check out the latest buzz below and go see a show! Reviews by BWW Sr. Editor Ellen Dostal (LADCC).

The Wallis production of BLUES IN THE NIGHT, conceived and directed by Sheldon Epps, starts performances next week in the intimate Lovelace Theater! Artistic Director Paul Crewes snuck into rehearsal to chat with cast members Yvette Cason, Bryce Charles, Chester Gregory, and Paulette Ivory about this exciting new production.

Somewhere in a cheap hotel in Chicago, circa late 1930s, three women are singing the blues. Two have been around the block and seen it all. One is woefully wise beyond her years. All have been burned by the flames of desire and lovers who have done them wrong. This is the set-up for BLUES IN THE NIGHT, the musical revue conceived and directed by Sheldon Epps, playing through May 20th in the Lovelace Studio Theater at The Wallis.

The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts announces the cast for its upcoming production of Blues in the Night.  Conceived and directed by Sheldon Epps, the production will feature Yvette Cason (Shout Sister Shout, Broadway and film versions of Dreamgirls), Bryce Charles (The Book of Mormon, ABC's "Black-ish"), Paulette Ivory (Disney's Aida and the West End premieres of The Lion King and Blues in the Night) and Chester Gregory (Broadway's Motown: The Musical, Hairspray and  Sister Act).  Blues in the Night will begin performances April 27 through May 20 in the Lovelace Studio Theater.