E. Johnson News

Brooklyn Public Library and Theater of War Productions will present a dramatic reading and reenactment of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s final sermon, The Drum Major Instinct on February 4, 2018, 50 years to the day that King originally delivered the speech, just two months before his assassination. The free performance, staged at the Central Library, will feature actor Samira Wiley reading King's sermon, with a live gospel choir singing original and arranged music composed for the production. The dramatic staging will provide a starting point for a guided community discussion exploring themes of social justice and racial inequality.

Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) and the Cultural Services of the French Embassy will present A Night of Philosophy and Ideas, a free sunset-to-sunrise event bringing philosophers, musicians, artists, and authors from around the world in conversation with the Brooklyn and Greater New York community at the historic Central Library at Grand Army Plaza from 7PM to 7AM on January 27 28. This year's edition commemorates the 50th anniversary of the global 1968 student-led protests and will explore how collective action can inform public affairs and daily life, and motivate national and international change.

There's a lot to like at the World Stage Theater right now. While this production and any subsequent national tour stops is likely to find its most receptive audience in people with an upbringing and faith similar to my own, it's not only for those that can recite every verse of the title song (and many other hymns) without even thinking for a minute, or can identify with the idea of God showing His presence in their lives. The idea of putting yourself on a better path after losing your way is something most everyone, regardless of faith or lack thereof, can understand. Even if the whole idea sounds schmaltzy, at the very least there's reason enough to check out the many talented members of the young cast.

This month, Feinstein's/54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond, just in time for the holidays. Scroll down for details!

The Broadway musical AMAZING GRACE will take its inspirational message on the road as it launches a 23-week national tour, kicking off with an eight-week run at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC, as it inaugurates the new museum's state-of-the-art, 472 seat theatre. The DC run begins tonight, November 17, for a run through January 8, 2018, opening on November 20.

Walnut Street Theatre's 2017-2018 Independence Studio on 3 season continues with the holiday classic, IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY. Directed by Jesse Bernstein, the production begins with previews on October 31st, opens November 2nd and continues through December 17th.

The Broadway musical AMAZING GRACE will take its inspirational message on the road as it launches a 23-week national tour, kicking off with an eight-week run at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC, as it inaugurates the new museum's state-of-the-art, 472 seat theatre. The DC run will begin on November 17 through January 8, 2018, opening on November 20.

November programming has been announced at City Winery Chicago. Highlights of the month include multi-night runs from Jazz vocalist (and Chicago transplant) Lizz Wright (Nov. 1-2), Herb Alpert of Tijuana Brass with his wife, Grammy-winning singer Lani Hall, (Nov. 6-7), and four shows over two days with saxophonist Kurt Elling (Nov. 25-26) plus a benefit for Merit School of Music with Nico Segal (previously known as Donnie Trumpet from the Chance the Rapper-affiliated band, The Social Experiment) and The JuJu Exchange (Nov. 28) and much more.

On Monday, October 16, Sing for Hope held its 11th annual Sing for Hope Gala, uniting New York's philanthropic and cultural leaders for a magical evening in support of the organization's programs and commitment to bring the arts to under-resourced areas at Tribeca Rooftop in downtown Manhattan. BroadwayWorld has photos from the evening below!

The original movie was met with rave reviews, instantly becoming a fan favorite and ultimately a cult classic. Over the years, the media has lauded it a 'turning point in movie history' and a 'game changer.' It is the movie 'Two Can Play That Game.' Now, an adaptation of the hit movie will be hitting the stage and touring across the country.

Walnut Street Theatre's 2017-2018 Independence Studio on 3 season continues with the holiday classic, IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY. Directed by Jesse Bernstein, the production begins with previews on October 31st, opens November 2nd and continues through December 17th.

On Monday, October 16, Sing for Hope will hold its 11th annual Sing for Hope Gala, uniting New York's philanthropic and cultural leaders for a magical evening in support of the organization's programs and commitment to bring the arts to under-resourced areas at Tribeca Rooftop in downtown Manhattan.

A new cast album of Chip Deffaa's long-running Off-Broadway show, 'One Night with Fanny Brice,' starring Mary Cantoni Johnson, is out now. It is available for sale from Amazon, CDBaby, iTunes, Google Music, etc.The album is being officially launched September 24th at the venerable 13th Street Repertory Theater, which will be celebrating 'Mary Cantoni Johnson Day.' The new CD will be available in the theater lobby, 6:30 pm September 24th, at a specially discounted 'album-release' price.

The works of Neil Simon should come with a warning label: be prepared for a thorough, generous douse of comedy.

It's not easy to live in India if you're one of the millions of people who are differently-abled. There are not enough ramps for wheelchairs; the pavements are utterly unfriendly to people who are blind, public transport buses and taxis don't have special facilities and there are a millions of other problems that the differently-abled people face every day in India.

A new cast album of Chip Deffaa's long-running Off-Broadway show, 'One Night with Fanny Brice,' starring Mary Cantoni Johnson, will be released on September 24th. The album will be launched on at the venerable 13th Street Repertory Theater--which will be celebrating 'Mary Cantoni Johnson Day'-- and will be available for sale from Amazon, CDBaby, iTunes, Footlight Records, etc.

Outcry Youth Theatre brings William Golding's classic novel, LORD OF THE FLIES, to bloody, vivid life in this stage adaptation by Nigel Williams. The familiar tale of British private school boys stranded on a remote island will be delivered with an exciting and emotional fervor.

The original movie was met with rave reviews, instantly becoming a fan favorite and ultimately a cult classic. Over the years, the media has lauded it a 'turning point in movie history' and a 'game changer.' It is the movie 'Two Can Play That Game.' Now, an adaptation of the hit movie will be hitting the stage and touring across the country.

Outcry Youth Theatre brings William Golding's classic novel, LORD OF THE FLIES, to bloody, vivid life in this stage adaptation by Nigel Williams. The familiar tale of British private school boys stranded on a remote island will be delivered with an exciting and emotional fervor.