Darryl Archibald News

Broadway's original 'Coalhouse' Brian Stokes Mitchell dropped in on Pasadena Playhouse's production of Ragtime! See photos from his visit below!

Pasadena Playhouse, the State Theater of California, has transformed the historic theater with an all new version of Ragtime: The Musical as it returns to Los Angeles more than two decades after its premiere at the Shubert Theatre.  With 21 actors and a 16-piece orchestra, this is one of the most ambitious productions in the Playhouse's recent history.

Pasadena Playhouse, the State Theater of California, will transform the historic theater with an all new version of Ragtime: The Musical as it returns to Los Angeles more than two decades after its premiere at the Shubert Theatre. With 21 actors and a 16-piece orchestra, this is one of the most ambitious productions in the Playhouse's recent history.

Paper Mill Playhouse is opening their 80th Anniversary season with a stirring musical production of The Color Purple that features brilliant direction and musical staging by Tony Award winner John Doyle with wonderful musical direction by Darryl Archibald. The show has a remarkable, stellar cast whose acting and vocal talents will take your breath away.

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Producing Artistic Director), recipient of the Regional Theatre Tony Award in 2016, launches its 80th milestone season with The Color Purple, directed by Tony Award-winner John Doyle. The Color Purple is the Tony Award-winning musical revival based upon the novel written by Alice Walker and the Warner Bros./Amblin Entertainment motion picture with a book by Marsha Norman and music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray. Cast members from the 2015 Broadway revival lead the Paper Mill Playhouse company, including Adrianna Hicks (Aladdin, Sister Act - Germany) as Celie, Carla R. Stewart (Ghost - National Tour, Rent - Regional) as Shug Avery and Carrie Compere (Holler If You Hear Me, Shrek the Musical - National Tour) as Sofia.

Paper Mill Playhouse has announced casting for The Color Purple, directed by Tony Award winner John Doyle. Cast members from the 2015 Broadway revival lead the Paper Mill Playhouse company, including Adrianna Hicks (Aladdin, Sister Act - Germany) as Celie, Carla R. Stewart (Ghost - National Tour, Rent - Regional) as Shug Avery and Carrie Compere (Holler If You Hear Me,Shrek the Musical - National Tour) as Sofia. 

Based on L. Frank Baum's nostalgic classic, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The Wiz is considered a feel-good favorite sparkling with heart-pounding soul, unforgettable gospel and infectious rock rhythms. Grammy Award-winner for Best Cast Show Album and ranked as one of the highest watched live television musicals, this reimagined familiar favorite will have you ready to 'Ease on Down the Road' to meet The Wiz for yourself!

On Saturday, June 23rd BroadwayWorld took our Instagram followers behind the scenes of The Muny's production of THE WIZ with Jared Grimes on two-show day!

Tomorrow Saturday, June 23rd BroadwayWorld is taking you behind the scenes of The Muny's production of THE WIZ when Jared Grimes takes us behind the scenes of a two-show day!

Tomorrow Saturday, June 23rd BroadwayWorld is taking you behind the scenes of The Muny's production of THE WIZ when Jared Grimes takes us behind the scenes of a two-show day!

While its original production, as most Broadway shows go, offered the expected big sets, first-rate costumes, and impressive production values, the 2015 Tony Award-winning revival production of THE COLOR PUPLE---currently slaying audiences for a week-long stop at Orange County's Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa through June 24---is decidedly more subdued and scaled-down by comparison, allowing the songs, the story, and the cast performances to shine on their own merits instead. The resulting show is a powerful, uplifting one, bathed in a loving, spiritual embrace that shines a light on the struggles, the insecurities, the passions, and the tenacity of African-American women living in the early decades of the 20th Century. I can say without hesitation that this revival production is an excellent way to experience this beautiful, touching, and ultimately triumphant musical.

Based on L. Frank Baum's nostalgic classic, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The Wiz is considered a feel-good favorite sparkling with heart-pounding soul, unforgettable gospel and infectious rock rhythms. Grammy Award-winner for Best Cast Show Album and ranked as one of the highest watched live television musicals, this reimagined familiar favorite will have you ready to 'Ease on Down the Road' to meet The Wiz for yourself!

The Muny announced today its full cast, design and production team for the theatre's centennial season production of The Wiz, June 19 - 25. 

The Muny announced today that Emmy and Writers Guild Award-nominated Amber Ruffin will provide new material for the script of The Muny's production of The Wiz, June 19 - 25. Ruffin has been working with The Wiz's original book writer, William F. Brown, on The Muny production, with the full support of Charles Michael Smalls, son of The Wiz composer Charlie Smalls. The Muny production is directed by Denis Jones with choreography by Camille A. Brown and music direction by Darryl Archibald. The Wiz is proudly sponsored by Wells Fargo Advisors.

The Muny announced today that Grammy Award-winner Nathan Lee Graham will play the title role in The Wiz. Starring alongside Graham will be Jared Grimes as Scarecrow, Mykal Kilgore as Lion and James T. Lane as Tinman. In its first Muny staging in 36 years, The Wiz is the second production of the historic outdoor theatre's centennial season. The Wiz is directed by Denis Jones and choreographed by Camille A. Brown with music direction by Darryl Archibald. The Wiz is proudly sponsored by Wells Fargo Advisors.

Initial casting has been announced for The Muny's production of THE WIZ - part of their 100th season. Grammy Award winner Nathan Lee Graham will star as The Wizard, Jared Grimes will portray the scarecrow, Mykal Kilgore will ring to life the Lion, and James T. Lane will ease on down the road as the Tinman.

The Broadway Across America engagement of the 2016 Tony Award Winning Revival of THE COLOR PURPLE presented a performance brimming with soul and spirit to The Hobby Center. Based on Alice Walker's 1982 novel, the show follows the difficult journey of Celie (Adrianna Hicks), a young black mother in early-20th century Georgia. A story of coming of age and growing-into-her-own, Celie navigates prejudice, star-crossed love, motherhood, and a wealth of hurt as she relies on faith and sisterhood to push her through to better days.

The Muny announced today the directors, choreographers and music directors for The Muny's 2018 centennial season, which opens on June 11 with the first production in the world of Jerome Robbins' Broadway since it's Tony - award winning Broadway and national tour productions.

THE COLOR PURPLE The Musical at the Hippodrome is a joy and a delight. The dramatic, often painful, sometimes hilarious story and the strong, well-defined characters function at a masterful theatrical level. Don't miss this one, hurry and buy a ticket. You will not be disappointed.