Dawnn Lewis News

The classic Cyrano de Bergerac story, re-imagined and set in the contemporary world of hip-hop, rap and gospel music, is told in the Disney Channel Original Movie LET IT SHINE, premiering FRIDAY, JUNE 15 (8:00 p.m., ET/PT). (more...)

A rousing, modern day story inspired by the ghostwritten love letters of Cyrano de Bergerac, LET IT SHINE is set in the world of hip-hop, rap and gospel music and expresses the importance of staying true to oneself. The movie premieres June 15, 2012 (8:00 p.m., ET/PT) as part of the popular Disney Channel Original Movie franchise. (more...)

Writer-actress-producer Denise Nicholas, author of the award-winning novel Freshwater Road, and star of Room 222 and In the Heat of the Night, will receive the Integrity Award from the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival, announced Adilah Barnes, co-founder of the non-profit organization which provides venues for multicultural and multidiscipline solo artists. (more...)

Today we are talking to one of the busiest lyricists in show business, Glenn Slater. In the first part of our extensive discussion, besides discussing all aspects of the writing of LOVE NEVER DIES with Andrew Lloyd Webber and its West End debut, Slater also elaborated on the rewriting of the show and how this new Australian production and unprecedented in-theater presentation of it across the US is the ultimate realization of Lloyd Webber’s dream vision for the musical drama - something the Lord shared with me himself when he recently did this column. In addition to all about LOVE NEVER DIES, in this second half of our recent chat Slater and I also trace his career trajectory to date, with a focus on his recent collaborations with composer Alan Menken on the smash hit Disney animated film, TANGLED, along with the currently-running Broadway hit, SISTER ACT, and, the upcoming Spring opening of their new musical, LEAP OF FAITH, starring Raul Esparza, as well as their previous theatre venture, THE LITTLE MERMAID. Plus, Slater shines some light on his upcoming projects, which include a Dreamworks animated musical with Menken, as well as a stage collaboration with his wife, Wendy Leigh Wilf, titled BEATSVILLE - all of that and much, much more! (more...)

Monty Python's SPAMALOT, the Tony Award-winning Best Musical of 2005, just returned to Los Angeles, playing a strictly limited one week engagement through March 4, 2012 at the Pantages Theatre. Tickets for Monty Python's SPAMALOT may be purchased online at www.BroadwayLA.org or by phone at 1-800-982-2787. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Pantages Box Office and all Ticketmaster outlets. Check out photos from opening night below! (more...)

The Disney Channel Original Movie LET IT SHINE a modern day teenage Cyrano de Bergerac story set in the world of gospel music, hip-hop, rhythm and rhyme, stars Tyler James Williams ("Everybody Hates Chris"), Coco Jones (Radio Disney "N.B.T.") and Trevor Jackson ("Cold Case"), in an urban, music-filled journey of finding and believing in one's own voice. The movie is scheduled to premiere June 2012 on Disney Channel. (more...)

On Thursday, January 6th, the Broadway Smash Hit HAIR celebrated its Los Angeles Premiere! Celebrities from the worlds of Broadway, film and television "Let The Sunshine In" on the red carpet at the Pantages Theatre. (more...)

The world premiere of Randy Newman's "Harps and Angels" opened at the Center Group/Mark Taper Forum at the Los Angeles Music Center on Sunday, November 21. Performances continue through December 22, 2010. (more...)

The Screen Actors Guild & SAGIndie Breakthrough Filmmakers Party during AFI FEST 2010 presented by Audi held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on November 9, 2010 in Hollywood, California. (more...)

Leap of Faith opened at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre at the Los Angeles music center October 3/ (more...)

Opening Night of "The 39 Steps" was held last night April 28 at the Ahmanson Theatre at the Music Center. (more...)

Original "Dreamgirls" Loretta Devine, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Jennifer Holliday were amongst the guests in attendance at the opening of the "Dreamgirls" production at the Ahmanson Theater on March 2. The show will play thru April 4. (more...)

Pasadena Playhouse will host a benefit concert for Haiti on Monday, February 1 at 7:30PM. (more...)

In response to the devastating events in Haiti over the last 10 days, Pasadena Playhouse has announced a one-night-only benefit concert in support of three relief funds: Save the Children, UNICEF, and the Clinton Bush Haiti Relief Fund. (more...)

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The Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz stars Ashanti, LaChanze, Joshua Henry, James Monroe Iglehart, Christian Dante White, Tichina Arnold and Dawnn Lewis. (more...)

Colman Domingo will replace Orlando Jones in the title role of The Wiz for the final six performances, June 29 - July 5 at New York City Center. Mr. Jones is leaving the show early in order to shoot his new series "Crash Course" for ABC-TV. The Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz stars Ashanti, LaChanze, Joshua Henry, James Monroe Iglehart, Christian Dante White, Tichina Arnold and Dawnn Lewis. (more...)

The Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz will hold two free post-matinee talkbacks and audience Q&A sessions with Encores! Artistic Director Jack Viertel and members of the company on Wednesday, June 24 and Wednesday, July 1 at New York City Center, 131 W. 55th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenue). (more...)

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Tuesday, June 23, 2009. (more...)

Two-Time Tony Award nominee André De Shields, who created the title role of "The Wiz" in the original Broadway production (1975), caught the ENCORES! production of "The Wiz" last night and visited the members of the cast backstage. (more...)