Vondie Curtis-Hall News

54 BELOW presents Tony Award winner Stew (Passing Strange) in 'The New Stew Review,' Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8 at 8PM. Special guest performers for the evening include Tony nominee De'Adre Aziza (Passing Strange), Luqman Brown (Hurt Village), David Cale (Threepenny Opera), Eisa Davis (Passing Strange), Vondie Curtis-Hall (Dreamgirls), Alex Emanuel (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, Three Days of Rain), and Rebecca Naomi Jones (Passing Strange).

Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre's 44th anniversary will culminate with a special Gala at the BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center (199 Chambers Street) on Sunday evening March 16th. This special event saluting NFT, for over 40 years a seminal force in Black Theater, will be hosted by Danny Glover and Debbi Morgan. Honorary Chairmen are Harry Belafonte and Hon. Mayor David N. Dinkins. The celebration will kick off at 4pm, and feature performances from Daniel Beaty, Impact Repertory Theater (Academy Award Nominee, 'Raise It Up' from the film August Rush), Chuck Jackson, and Valerie Simpson.

Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre will celebrate its 44th anniversary with a special fundraising campaign, 'Love For New Federal Theatre.' Celebrity participants and supporters of NFT themselves, including Phylicia Rashad, Spike Lee, Alicia Keys, Melba Moore, Marla Gibbs, Robert Hooks, Roscoe Orman, Ruby Dee, Avery Brooks, Glynn Turman, Kene Holiday, Chadwick Boseman, Petri Hawkins Byrd, Impotep Gary Byrd, Debbie Allen, Lynn Whitfield, Lamman Rucker, John Amos, Robert Townsend, Leslie Uggams, Ted Lange, Andre DeShields, Mike Tyson and Danny Glover, among others, will fans will have the opportunity to order a limited number of personalized Valentine's Day messages. These celebrity messages will be available for purchase on a first come, first served basis.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Wicked' at Sidetrack, three more versions of 'A Christmas Carol,' four radio productions of 'It's A Wonderful Life,' BET's original 'dancesical,' Davenport's, the 'Black Nativity' and sing-a-long 'Grease' films, the Bar Show and more!

Production begins today on the ABC Family drama series pilot TERMINALES, starring Italia Ricci (UNNATURAL HISTORY), Mary Page Keller (NYPD BLUE), Vondie Curtis-Hall (ER), Aisha Dee (I HATE MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER), Richard Brancatisano (THE ELEPHANT PRINCESS), Abhi Sinha (THE SOCIAL NETWORK), Haley Ramm (RED STATE) and guest stars Barry Watson (7TH HEAVEN) and Rebecca Schull (WINGS).

The original movie ABDUCTED: THE CARLINA WHITE STORY, starring Aunjanue Ellis (The Help), Keke Palmer (True Jackson, VP), and Emmy(R) Award winner Sherri Shepherd (The View), will make its world premiere tonight, October 6, at 8 pm ET/PT on Lifetime.

The original movie ABDUCTED: THE CARLINA WHITE STORY, starring Aunjanue Ellis (The Help), Keke Palmer (True Jackson, VP), and Emmy(R) Award winner Sherri Shepherd (The View), will make its world premiere on Saturday, October 6, at 8 pm ET/PT on Lifetime.

Lifetime has green lit the Original Movie Abducted: The Carlina White Story, starring Aunjanue Ellis (The Help), Keke Palmer (True Jackson, VP), and Emmy(R) Award winner Sherri Shepherd (30 Rock, The View) in the remarkable true story of Carlina White (Palmer), who after being abducted as an infant from a New York hospital, solved her own kidnapping and reunited with her biological parents 23 years later. Production will commence in Vancouver this week, with the movie slated to air later this year. The case is reported to be the first known infant abduction from a New York hospital.

After completing their 40th anniversary year, highlighted by an all-star gala in May, New Federal Theatre will announce its 2011-'12 season.

The Public Theater will continue the 2011-2012 Public Forum season in February with a night of conversation and songs featuring Stew, Heidi Rodewald and Michael Cerveris. This Public Forum event will coincide with the new musical, The Total Bent, premiering in February as part of the Public Lab series. This intimate evening featuring three great singer-songwriters will take place on Monday, February 27 at 9:30 p.m. at Joe's Pub. Member tickets, priced at $15, are on sale now. Single tickets, priced at $20, go on sale Thursday, January 26.

The Public Theater announced new February dates today for THE TOTAL BENT by Stew and Heidi Rodewald and directed by Joanna Settle. The shift in dates for this Public Lab production is due to an unforeseen construction-related delay that prevented the show from getting into the theater on the scheduled start date. The Public Theater's building renovation has been underway since fall 2008 and is expected to be completed on time this summer.

The Public Theater will continue the 2011-2012 Public Forum season in February with a night of conversation and songs featuring Stew, Heidi Rodewald and Michael Cerveris. This Public Forum event will coincide with the new musical, The Total Bent, premiering in February as part of the Public Lab series. This intimate evening featuring three great singer-songwriters will take place on Monday, February 27 at 9:30 p.m. at Joe's Pub. Member tickets, priced at $15, are on sale now. Single tickets, priced at $20, go on sale Thursday, January 26.

After completing their 40th anniversary year, highlighted by an all-star gala in May, New Federal Theatre will announce its 2011-'12 season.

Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre (NFT) celebrated its 40th anniversary with a special Gala at the historic Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street) last night, May 22nd. This special event saluting NFT, for 40 years a seminal force in Black Theater, was co-hosted by Randall Pinkston (CBS News) and Lynn Whitfield. Chairmen for the event were Laurence Fishburne, John Morning and Susan Taylor. The Honorary Chair was Dr. Maya Angelou. BroadwayWorld was there for the festivities, and brings you coverage of the starry arrivals below!

Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre (NFT) celebrated its 40th anniversary with a special Gala at the historic Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street) last night, May 22nd. This special event saluting NFT, for 40 years a seminal force in Black Theater, was co-hosted by Randall Pinkston (CBS News) and Lynn Whitfield. Chairmen for the event were Laurence Fishburne, John Morning and Susan Taylor. The Honorary Chair was Dr. Maya Angelou. BroadwayWorld was there for the festivities, and brings you coverage of the event below!

Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre (NFT) will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a special Gala at the historic Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street) on Sunday evening, May 22nd. This special event saluting NFT for 40 years a seminal force in Black Theater, will be co-hosted by Randall Pinkston (CBS News) and Emmy Award-winner Lynn Whitfield.

Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre (NFT) will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a special Gala at the historic Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street) on Sunday evening, May 22nd. This special event saluting NFT, for 40 years a seminal force in Black Theater, will be co-hosted by Randall Pinkston (CBS News) and Lynn Whitfield. Chairmen for the event are Laurence Fishburne, John Morning and Susan Taylor. The Honorary Chair is Dr. Maya Angelou

Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre (NFT) will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a special Gala at the historic Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street) on Sunday evening, May 22nd. This special event saluting NFT, for 40 years a seminal force in Black Theater, will be co-hosted by Randall Pinkston (CBS News) and Lynn Whitfield. Chairmen for the event are Laurence Fishburne, John Morning and Susan Taylor. The Honorary Chair is Dr. Maya Angelou.

Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre (NFT) will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a special Gala at the historic Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street) on Sunday evening, May 22nd. This special event saluting NFT for 40 years a seminal force in Black Theater, will be co-hosted by Randall Pinkston (CBS News) and Emmy Award-winner Lynn Whitfield.

Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre (NFT) will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a special Gala at the historic Edison Ballroom on Sunday evening, May 22nd. This special event saluting NFT, for 40 years a seminal force in Black Theater, will be co-hosted by Randall Pinkston (CBS News) and Lynn Whitfield. Chairmen for the event are Laurence Fishburne, John Morning and Susan Taylor. The Honorary Chair is Dr. Maya Angelou. In addition to celebrating NFT's vital contribution to the arts internationally, the Gala will feature special awards for 13 individuals that changed the cultural life of our nation: Sidney Poitier, Ntozake Shange, Ruby Dee, Alicia Keys, Mayor David Dinkins, Imhotep Gary Byrd, George Faison, Amiri Baraka, Rev. Malcolm Boyd, Elizabeth McCann, Carla Pinza, Terrie Williams and Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin (for the National Black Theatre Festival).