Jackee to Join Cast of NEWSICAL, Begin. 8/23

Emmy-winning television star Jackée joins the cast of off Broadway's NEWSical The Musical for one-week only − Friday, August 23rd through Tuesday, August 27th. NEWSical The Musical is the forever changing, completely un-sanitized musical mockery of all the news that's fit to spoof. From Honey Boo Boo to Paula Deen, the budget crisis to The Long Island Medium, marriage equality to Kim and Kanye's baby, NEWSical The Musical sets all of today's biggest pop culture headlines to song.

"I am beyond stoked to be joining the cast of NEWSical The Musical," said Jackée from her home in Los Angeles. "The brilliance of Tom D'Angora, coupled with such a formidable cast, made this a production I simply couldn't refuse!"

Producer Tom D'Angora echoed the stars' exuberance at this morning's announcement in New York. "Jackée starring in NEWSical is beyond my wildest dreams and expectations. I have said it before and I will say it again: Jackée is a comedic genius and she can sing her face off. Hands down, I am the luckiest producer in New York Theater this season!"

Jackée is the latest star to grace the NEWSical The Musical stage. Previously, celebrity gossip guru Perez Hilton joined the show for a limited run, followed by Broadway's original Annie, Andrea McArdle, Saturday Night Live's Cheri Oteri and most recently, Carson Kressley.

Larger than life and twice as funny, Jackée continues to entertain and inspire. She currently stars on the CW's The First Family and has a recurring role on BET's Let's Stay Together. She is about to start filming a recurring role on Girl Meets World, Disney Channel?s new spin-off of the popular show Boy Meets World.

Jackée made her television debut in 1983 opposite Morgan Freeman in the daytime soap opera Another World. A year later, she landed her iconic role of Sandra Clark on the NBC sitcom 227. As the breakout star of the series, she became the first African American to win an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series and was also nominated for a Golden Globe. Her performance on 227 inspired NBC to create a television pilot for her entitled Jackée. After departing from 227 in 1989, she starred opposite Oprah Winfrey in the critically acclaimed adaptation of Gloria Naylor?s novel The Women of Brewster Place.

In 1991, Jackée joined Della Reese in The Royal Family. From 1994-1999, she starred as the adoptive mother of Tia and Tamara Mowry's characters on the ABC/WB sitcom Sister, Sister, winning the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for two consecutive years in 1999 and 2000. Jackée has also made guest appearances on Amen, Designing Women, Dave?s World, Hollywood Squares, 7th Heaven, and That's So Raven, before joining the cast of Everybody Hates Chris in 2006.

On stage, Jackée starred as Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson?s Bar and Grill, and in 2003 she played the role of the Madam in The Boys From Syracuse on Broadway. More recently, Jackée performed across the nation in the stage play The Cleanup Woman.

She is proud to be a Global Ambassador to the Women's International Center, for which The National Congress of Black Women presented her with the "Woman of Substance" Award in 2010. A portion of the proceeds from her performances in NEWSical The Musical will benefit the Women's International Center.

NEWSical The Musical features Christine Pedi (Chicago, Sirius XM Host, Talk Radio), Michael West (When Pigs Fly, Forbidden Broadway), Tommy Walker (Evil Dead The Musical), Susan Mosher (Hairspray, Suds), Kristen Manglekoch, and Dylan H. Thompson.

Rick Crom is the show's creator and writer. He has appeared on Broadway in Urinetown, Footloose and The Goodbye Girl. On television, Crom appeared on FX's critically acclaimed series Louie starring comedian Louis C.K.

NEWSical The Musical is directed by Mark Waldrop (When Pigs Fly, My Deah, Inventing Avi, Papermill Playhouse's Gypsy) and produced by Tom D'Angora (Naked Boys Singing!, ICONS, Broadway Diva Christmas, Divas I've Done). Rounding out the creative team are Ed Goldschneider (music director), Jason Courson (set designer), and Krystal Roccaro (stage manager).

The Associated Press calls NEWSical The Musical "The Daily Show set to music!". It was named Best New Musical of 2011 by the Off Broadway Alliance for its infectious melodies, razor-sharp lyrics, biting satire and having more unpredictability than a Courtney Love tweet.

NEWSical The Musical plays at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street). Tickets are $85 - $110 and can be purchased through Telecharge.com or by calling (212) 239-6200 or (800) 432-7250. For performance schedule and more information visit www.NEWSicalthemusical.com.

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