Passing Strange 2008

Though I hadn't seen Passing Strange during its earlier stint Off-Broadway, I took my seat well aware that writers and critics and audience members alike have been grasping for the words that best describe the type of theatrical entertainment that has now settled into the Belasco Theatre. Two and a half hours later I believe I was able to succinctly categorize Passing Strange in its truest form. Now, please pay attention because I put a lot of thought into this.

It is difficult to imagine a greater fan of the recent Tony Award-winning Passing Strange than Spike Lee. After seeing the show twice in the same weekend during its stint at The Public Theater, Lee's 'nightmare,' he tells Blackbook.com was that 'at some point it was going to close and that it was just all going to all go away.' Hence the inspiration for his new documentary, 'Passing Strange,' which documents the stage show he filmed in July just prior to the show's closing. After winning several awards at Sundance, 'Passing Strange' is now playing at the IFC in New York, on the IFC channel and will soon be broadcast on PBS. Lee sat down this week with original creators Stew and Heidi Rodewald and Blackbook.com to discuss of 'Strange.'

Lincoln Center today announced updated programming information for its Alice Tully Hall Opening Nights Festival.

Spike Lee -- the director of such memorable films as 'Inside Man,' the upcoming 'Miracle at St. Anna,' (release 9/26/08), 'Do The Right Thing,' 'Malcolm X,' and 'She's Gotta Have It,' -- will direct a film of the award-winning Broadway musical PASSING STRANGE, it has been announced by Steve Klein, who is a co-producer of PASSING STRANGE on Broadway and will produce the film with Mr. Lee.

The long, strange trip is coming to an end: Passing Strange, the rock musical that was born at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, enjoyed an extended off-Broadway run at The Public Theater, and then burst onto Broadway with its original cast intact is scheduled to close this Sunday - but not until it's saved on film. On Saturday, celebrated director Spike Lee will shoot two of the show's final performances to preserve it for future generations!

Stew, Heidi Rodewald and members of the cast and band of the Tony Award-winning 'PASSING STRANGE' will celebrate the release of their Original Cast Album with a July 13th, late-night (11:30pm) concert at Joe's Pub.

The Broadway musical PASSING STRANGE will end its run at the Belasco Theatre (111 W. 44 St.) following the matinee performance on Sunday, July 20. The show will have played 20 previews and 165 performances.

Spike Lee -- the director of such memorable films as 'Inside Man,' the upcoming 'Miracle at St. Anna,' (release 9/26/08), 'Do The Right Thing,' 'Malcolm X,' and 'She's Gotta Have It,' -- will direct a film of the award-winning Broadway musical PASSING STRANGE, it has been announced by Steve Klein, who is a co-producer of PASSING STRANGE on Broadway and will produce the film with Mr. Lee.

Stew, Heidi Rodewald and members of the cast and band of the Tony Award-winning 'PASSING STRANGE' will celebrate the release of their Original Cast Album with a July 13th, late-night (11:30pm) concert at Joe's Pub.

NEW YORK VOICES's Rafael Pi Roman catches up with Stew, author and lyricist of the Tony-moninated musical 'Passing Strange.'

NEW YORK VOICES's Rafael Pi Roman catches up with Stew, author and lyricist of the Tony-moninated musical 'Passing Strange.'

What happens when you give a couple of cast members of Passing Strange the hot new gadget - The Flip - and let them loose on their fellow cast members? Click now to watch Part 2 as Karen Pittman takes you backstage of Passing Strange!

'Passing Strange' will celebrate its 100th performance at the Belasco Theatre on Sunday, May 25th with its 3:00pm performance.

'Passing Strange' will celebrate its 100th performance at the Belasco Theatre on Sunday, May 25th with its 3:00pm performance.

To celebrate the release of their cast recording, the 'Passing Strange' cast, crew and creative team will throw a listening party, which will be free and open to the public, at Saju Bistro on Tuesday, May 27 at 9:30pm.

'Passing Strange' adds a performance on Sunday, May 25th at 8pm.

'Passing Strange' will be the first Broadway musical to release its cast recording on iTunes.

Enter now to win tickets to the Broadway hit PASSING STRANGE! PASSING STRANGE is the coming-of-age story of a middle-class youth seeking to find 'the real' by embarking on a journey of escape and exploration: he leaves the confines of his upbringing and discovers that the further he travels the more it is that the voyage within is the one that counts.

On May 11, 2008 CBS will be broadcasting the Visa Signature Tony's Preview Concert which will feature songs from all twelve Tony eligible musicals currently on Broadway. Passing Strange, among that list, was recently cut out of the broadcast lineup because they planned to perform the song 'We Just Had Sex'.

The new musical Passing Strange opened on Broadway at the Belasco Theatre (111 West 44th Street) on February 28, 2008.

What happens when you give a couple of cast members of Passing Strange the hot new gadget - The Flip - and let them loose on their fellow cast members? Click now to watch Part 1 as Chad Goodridge takes you backstage of Passing Strange!

Ghostlight Records is proud to announce that it will record the Original Cast Album of the critically acclaimed new Broadway musical PASSING STRANGE in front of a LIVE audience in a recording session on stage at the Belasco Theatre (111 West 44th Street) on Monday, April 14 from 2pm to 5pm. Release date for the recording is expected for June 2008.

The Broadway community turned out Tuesday night, April 1st to fete DANIEL BREAKER, the 'breakout' star of the new musical PASSING STRANGE (at the Belasco Theater) and his bride-to-be director KATE WHORISKEY, who will tie the knot in Manhattan on Daniel's one day off from his hit Broadway show on Monday, April 7.