Wilkie Ferguson

Carbonell Awards Announce 120 Finalists for 2023-2024 Theater Season

Gary Schweikhart, board president of the Carbonell Awards, South Florida's Theater & Arts Honors, has announced the top six finalists in 20 competitive categories for the 2023-2024 theater season. A total of 89 professional productions at 29 theatres were evaluated by a diverse group of more than 40 judges representing all three participating counties (Broward, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach).

Review: EDINBURGH 2024: WILLY'S CANDY SPECTACULAR, Pleasance Dome

Willy’s Candy Spectacular, written by Richard Kraft and Andy Fickman is a musical parody of the infamous Willy Wonka immersive experience in Glasgow back in February, in which families paid £35 for tickets and were greeted with an empty warehouse, two jellybeans for each child and a bizarre character known as The Unknown.

Cast Announced For WILLY'S CANDY SPECTACULAR: A MUSICAL PARODY At Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Richard Kraft and Andy Fickman announce the cast for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival's staged reading of WILLY'S CANDY SPECTACULAR: A MUSICAL PARODY, featuring Julie Dawn Cole and Paris Themmen from the original Willy Wonka film.

JELLY'S LAST JAM Enters Final Two Weeks of Performances at Pasadena Playhouse

Pasadena Playhouse's production of the Tony Award-winning musical JELLY'S LAST JAM, directed by Kent Gash will close this month. Learn how to purchase tickets.

Photos: Celebrities on the Red Carpet at Opening Night of JELLY'S LAST JAM at Pasadena Playhouse

Pasadena Playhouse is now presenting a new production of the Tony Award winning musical Jelly’s Last Jam, featuring a book by George C. Wolfe, music by Jelly Roll Morton, and lyrics by Susan Birkenhead with musical adaptation and additional music composed by Luther Henderson. Check out photos from the opening night red carpet here!

Photos/Video: First Look at Pasadena Playhouse's JELLY'S LAST JAM

Get a first look at Pasadena Playhouse's new production of the Tony Award winning musical Jelly’s Last Jam, now on stage through through June 23, 2024. The production features a book by George C. Wolfe, music by Jelly Roll Morton, and lyrics by Susan Birkenhead with musical adaptation and additional music composed by Luther Henderson. 

Interview: John Clarence Stewart's the Jelly in JELLY'S LAST JAM

Next up at the Pasadena Playhouse, the Tony Award-winning Jelly’s Last Jam opening June 2, 2024 (with previews starting May 29th). Kent Gash directs the cast led by John Clarence Stewart as Jelly Roll Morton, Cress Williams, Jasmine Amy Rogers; Wilkie Ferguson III, Karole Foreman, Eric B. Anthony, Doran Butler, Chante Carmel, Cyd Charisse Glover-Hill, Summer Nicole Greer, Janaya Jones, Grasan Kingsberry, Amber Liekhus, Davon Rashawn, Joe Aaron Reid, Naomi C. Walley and Hannah Yosef. I had the chance to chat with John Clarence while he was navigating Los Angeles traffic.

VIDEO: Go Inside Rehearsals for JELLY'S LAST JAM at Pasadena Playhouse

Get a first look at rehearsals for the new production of the Tony Award winning musical Jelly’s Last Jam at Pasadena Playhouse, featuring a book by George C. Wolfe, music by Jelly Roll Morton, and lyrics by Susan Birkenhead with musical adaptation and additional music composed by Luther Henderson.  

Video: See Stewart, Williams, and Rogers in Teaser for Pasadena Playhouse's JELLY'S LAST JAM

Watch a teaser for Jelly's Last Jam at Pasadena Playhouse in the video here!

Cast Set For JELLY'S LAST JAM at Pasadena Playhouse

Full casting has been announced for the new production of the Tony Award winning musical Jelly’s Last Jam.

Review: Musical Theatre West Revisits Classic 42ND STREET in Long Beach

For the most part, MTW's brand-new, admirably plucky 2024 production—now on stage through February 25—succeeds as an entertaining, visually cheerful show, filled with strong performances, a rousingly robust orchestra, and dynamic, zestfully tap-tastic dance numbers. Despite its lack of any real, serious stakes, the show itself is still a fun time.

Slow Burn Theatre Company Presents SISTER ACT, February 3- 18

Get ready to laugh with 'SISTER ACT'! Slow Burn Theatre presents this hilarious musical comedy in February.

Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID Comes to Slow Burn Theatre

Recently honored by the Carbonell Awards with the Bill von Maurer Award for Theatrical Excellence, Slow Burn Theatre Company presents Disney’s The Little Mermaid in the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts Saturday, December 16 through Sunday, December 31.

Celebration Theatre Hosts 40th Anniversary Fundraiser Event This Week

Celebration Theatre has announced a 40th Anniversary special event on Wednesday, October 18 at 7pm.

Review: FETCH CLAY, MAKE MAN at Kirk Douglas Theatre

In FETCH CLAY, MAKE MAN, Will Power investigates the friendship as a fascinating dual study in individual character and cultural identity. Under Debbie Allen’s rocking direction at the Douglas, the play is as exciting as it is thoughtful.  THE BEAR’s Edwin Lee Gibson and Ray Fisher act the daylights out of it.

Interview: Playwright Will Power Reveals the Inner Workings of FETCH CLAY, MAKE MAN

Will Power’s Fetch Clay, Make Man (a co-production of Center Theatre Group and The SpringHill Company) will open June 18, 2023, at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. Debbie Allen, in her CTG directorial debut, directs this account of the unlikely (but real life) friendship between the great Cassius Clay and the controversial Stepin Fetchit; with the cast of Ray Fisher, Edwin Lee Gibson, Wilkie Ferguson II, Alexis Floyd and Bruce Nozick. I managed to spar with Will over a few behind-the-scenes queries.

THE BEAR's Edwin Lee Gibson To Star In Center Theatre's Group's New Production FETCH CLAY, MAKE MAN

2022 Golden Globe nominee and Obie Award winner Edwin Lee Gibson (The Bear) will star as Stephin Fetchit (a stage name for Lincoln Perry) in Will Power's Fetch Clay, Make Man at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City, California via the Centre Theatre Group and LeBron James' The SpringHill Company.

Ray Fisher to Reprise Role as Muhammad Ali in FETCH CLAY, MAKE MAN at Center Theatre Group

Drama Desk nominee Ray Fisher will put his gloves on again to play the role of heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali in Will Power’s “Fetch Clay, Make Man,” after previously performing the role Off-Broadway.

Interview: Wren T. Brown's Perpetually Behaving with ERT & AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'

Ebony Repertory Theatre (ERT) will begin their 15th anniversary season with the Tony Award winning Ain’t Misbehavin’ opening May 4, 2023.  ERT’s producing artistic director Wren T. Brown directs the cast of Yvette Cason, Wilkie Ferguson III, Connie Jackson, Marty Austin Lamar and Natalie Wachen. Wren found some time from his many ERT duties to answer a few of my queries.

AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' to Open Ebony Repertory Theatre 15th Anniversary Season

Ebony Repertory Theatre will present the Tony Award-winning musical AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ as its 15th Anniversary Season Opening Production.