Exclusive: Stars of Broadway will stage a fundraising concert for Joe Biden’s presidential campaign, with plans to stream the event on Oct. 21.
The event, which starts at 8 Pm Et, is organized by the group Broadway for Biden and is called In Our America: A Concert for the Soul of the Nation, with donations going to the Biden Victory Fund.
The lineup of the concert includes Derrick Baskin, Laura Benanti, Victoria Clark, Glenn Close, Chuck Cooper, Darren Criss, André De Shields, Renée Elise Goldsberry, John Goodman, Jayne Houdyshell, Jennifer Hudson, James Monroe Iglehart, Latanya Richardson Jackson, Samuel L. Jackson, Norman Lear, Norm Lewis, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Rita Moreno, Karen Olivo, Ashley Park, Steven Pasquale, Carrie Preston, Kelani Queypo, Chita Rivera, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Phillipa Soo, Ephraim Sykes, Bd Wong, the Broadway Dreams Foundation Choir, and the casts of Six and Kpop.
Liesl Tommy, director of the upcoming Aretha Franklin biopic Respect...
The event, which starts at 8 Pm Et, is organized by the group Broadway for Biden and is called In Our America: A Concert for the Soul of the Nation, with donations going to the Biden Victory Fund.
The lineup of the concert includes Derrick Baskin, Laura Benanti, Victoria Clark, Glenn Close, Chuck Cooper, Darren Criss, André De Shields, Renée Elise Goldsberry, John Goodman, Jayne Houdyshell, Jennifer Hudson, James Monroe Iglehart, Latanya Richardson Jackson, Samuel L. Jackson, Norman Lear, Norm Lewis, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Rita Moreno, Karen Olivo, Ashley Park, Steven Pasquale, Carrie Preston, Kelani Queypo, Chita Rivera, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Phillipa Soo, Ephraim Sykes, Bd Wong, the Broadway Dreams Foundation Choir, and the casts of Six and Kpop.
Liesl Tommy, director of the upcoming Aretha Franklin biopic Respect...
- 10/6/2020
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
Audra McDonald, Tina – The Tina Turner Musical and its star Adrienne Warren, Lachanze, Aziza Barnes’ play Blks and the Off Broadway revival of Ntozake Shange’s For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf were among the big winners at tonight’s inaugural Antonyo Awards for black theater artists on Broadway and Off Broadway.
McDonald took the award for Best Actor in a Play on Broadway for her performance in the Broadway revival of Terrence McNally’s Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune directed by Arin Arbus. Warren, who plays Tina Turner in Tina, was named Best Actor in a Musical on Broadway.
Blks was named Best Play, and Tina took Best Musical.
Created by Broadway Black, a multimedia organization that includes a website and podcast, the Antonyos’ Juneteenth inaugural ceremony included such presenters and performers as McDonald, Tituss Burgess, Alex Newell, Jordan E. Cooper,...
McDonald took the award for Best Actor in a Play on Broadway for her performance in the Broadway revival of Terrence McNally’s Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune directed by Arin Arbus. Warren, who plays Tina Turner in Tina, was named Best Actor in a Musical on Broadway.
Blks was named Best Play, and Tina took Best Musical.
Created by Broadway Black, a multimedia organization that includes a website and podcast, the Antonyos’ Juneteenth inaugural ceremony included such presenters and performers as McDonald, Tituss Burgess, Alex Newell, Jordan E. Cooper,...
- 6/20/2020
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
The first annual Antonyo Awards honoring black Broadway and Off Broadway theater artists is set for streaming on June 19.
Created by Broadway Black, a multimedia organization that includes a website and podcast, the new awards ceremony will feature presenters and performers including Audra McDonald, Tituss Burgess, Alex Newell, Jordan E. Cooper, Teyonah Parris, Ephraim Sykes, Lachanze, Derrick Baskin, Nicolette Robinson, Jelani Alladin, Christiani Pitts, James Monroe Iglehart, Amber Iman, Kalen Allen, Nzinga Williams, Jackson Alexander, Cody Renard Richard, Ashton Muñiz, Shereen Pimentel, Kirsten Childs, Aisha Jackson, Antoine L. Smith, Griffin Matthews, Michael McElroy, Jocelyn Bioh and L Morgan Lee.
Online voting is open to the public through midnight Friday, June 12. Four special “Kinfolk Awards” – the Lorraine Hansberry Award, the Langston Hughes Award, Welcome Award and The Doors of the Theatre are Open Award – will be presented to members of...
Created by Broadway Black, a multimedia organization that includes a website and podcast, the new awards ceremony will feature presenters and performers including Audra McDonald, Tituss Burgess, Alex Newell, Jordan E. Cooper, Teyonah Parris, Ephraim Sykes, Lachanze, Derrick Baskin, Nicolette Robinson, Jelani Alladin, Christiani Pitts, James Monroe Iglehart, Amber Iman, Kalen Allen, Nzinga Williams, Jackson Alexander, Cody Renard Richard, Ashton Muñiz, Shereen Pimentel, Kirsten Childs, Aisha Jackson, Antoine L. Smith, Griffin Matthews, Michael McElroy, Jocelyn Bioh and L Morgan Lee.
Online voting is open to the public through midnight Friday, June 12. Four special “Kinfolk Awards” – the Lorraine Hansberry Award, the Langston Hughes Award, Welcome Award and The Doors of the Theatre are Open Award – will be presented to members of...
- 6/10/2020
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Cast members from the original Dallas, China Beach, Pop’s One Day at a Time and Hulu’s Difficult People will zoom into next week’s livestream Stars in the House series to raise money for The Actors Fund’s Covid-19 efforts.
The series, hosted by Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley, has been featuring TV reunions in recent weeks, with cast members from Sctv, Glee, Desperate Housewives and Taxi and more joining in the remote free-for-alls.
More from DeadlineAnthony Anderson Joins Kelly Rowland, Terrence J & Regina Hall As Host For Bet's 'Saving Our Selves' Covid-19 Relief Fund Special - UpdateSan Diego Comic-Con Cancels 2020 Event, Sets 2021 ReturnSundance Institute Sets $1 Million Coronavirus-Relief Fund For Independent Artists and Organizations
Next week will see the likes of Dallas‘ Patrick Duffy and Charlene Tilton (and others – see the complete line-up below) together again, China Beach‘s Marg Helgenberger and Dana Delany coming ashore, Difficult People‘s Julie Klausner,...
The series, hosted by Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley, has been featuring TV reunions in recent weeks, with cast members from Sctv, Glee, Desperate Housewives and Taxi and more joining in the remote free-for-alls.
More from DeadlineAnthony Anderson Joins Kelly Rowland, Terrence J & Regina Hall As Host For Bet's 'Saving Our Selves' Covid-19 Relief Fund Special - UpdateSan Diego Comic-Con Cancels 2020 Event, Sets 2021 ReturnSundance Institute Sets $1 Million Coronavirus-Relief Fund For Independent Artists and Organizations
Next week will see the likes of Dallas‘ Patrick Duffy and Charlene Tilton (and others – see the complete line-up below) together again, China Beach‘s Marg Helgenberger and Dana Delany coming ashore, Difficult People‘s Julie Klausner,...
- 4/17/2020
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Veteran publicists Kelli Jones and Teal Cannaday have teamed to form their own company, Bespoke Publicity. The newly formed agency, with offices in New York and Los Angeles, will focus on personal publicity.
Jones most recently ran the Status PR New York office after working for Mona Loring at Mlc PR for over a decade. Cannaday was previously at Rogers & Cowan for almost 10 years, before launching her own company Teal Entertainment in 2011. Jones will head New York, with Cannaday running point in Los Angeles.
Clients of Bespoke include Emmy winner Jessica Walter, Mike Colter, Bill Camp, Alison Wright, Holly Taylor, Nicholas Pinnock, Selenis Leyva, Vella Lovell, Mozhan Marnò, Derrick Baskin, Elaine Hendrix, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Micheál Richardson, Alexander Dreymon, Ato Blankson-Wood, Sonya Walger, Boris McGiver, Amy Hargreaves, Mustafa Shakir, Jason Genao, Alberto Rosende and Cornelia Guest, among others. Bespoke also reps unscripted talent including journalist and author Isha Sesay and NFL UK Commentator Jason Bell.
Jones most recently ran the Status PR New York office after working for Mona Loring at Mlc PR for over a decade. Cannaday was previously at Rogers & Cowan for almost 10 years, before launching her own company Teal Entertainment in 2011. Jones will head New York, with Cannaday running point in Los Angeles.
Clients of Bespoke include Emmy winner Jessica Walter, Mike Colter, Bill Camp, Alison Wright, Holly Taylor, Nicholas Pinnock, Selenis Leyva, Vella Lovell, Mozhan Marnò, Derrick Baskin, Elaine Hendrix, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Micheál Richardson, Alexander Dreymon, Ato Blankson-Wood, Sonya Walger, Boris McGiver, Amy Hargreaves, Mustafa Shakir, Jason Genao, Alberto Rosende and Cornelia Guest, among others. Bespoke also reps unscripted talent including journalist and author Isha Sesay and NFL UK Commentator Jason Bell.
- 3/2/2020
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
The producers of Broadway's Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of The Temptations announced today that they will welcome Hamilton alum Nik Walker and Detroit native Matt Manuel to the musical as Otis Williams and David Ruffin, respectively, beginning Friday, February 28, 2020. Derrick Baskin and Ephraim Sykes, the Tony Award nominated original Temptations actors, will depart the production on Wednesday, February 26, 2020.
- 2/19/2020
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
This year’s Grammy nominees for Best Musical Theater Album are “Ain’t Too Proud,” “Hadestown,” “Moulin Rouge!,” “The Music of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child — In Four Contemporary Suites” and “Oklahoma!” Six of the last 10 winners in this category matched up with the Tony Award for Best Musical. So does this bode well for the 2019 Tonys champ, “Hadestown”?
In the musical, songwriter Orpheus and his muse Eurydice fall in love during the warmth of summertime. But as winter approaches, reality sets in: these young dreamers can’t survive on songs alone. Tempted by the promise of plenty, Eurydice is lured to the depths of industrial Hadestown. On a quest to save her, Orpheus journeys to the underworld where their trust is put to a final test.
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The nominated principal soloists on the recording are Reeve Carney, André De Shields,...
In the musical, songwriter Orpheus and his muse Eurydice fall in love during the warmth of summertime. But as winter approaches, reality sets in: these young dreamers can’t survive on songs alone. Tempted by the promise of plenty, Eurydice is lured to the depths of industrial Hadestown. On a quest to save her, Orpheus journeys to the underworld where their trust is put to a final test.
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The nominated principal soloists on the recording are Reeve Carney, André De Shields,...
- 12/8/2019
- by Jeffrey Kare
- Gold Derby
The Grammys took a fairly expansive sweep with this morning’s nominations for Best Musical Theater Album, The Motown sound, Rodgers & Hammerstein, the folk-rock music of Anaïs Mitchell, the reworked radio hits of Moulin Rouge! and Imogen Heap’s Harry Potter musical suites were all represented.
But four of the five nominations did not include composers, since the music was not original to the cast albums. In the case of several, the musical numbers consist largely of oldies, some reworked for contemporary settings. Anaïs Mitchell’s previous concept album for Hadestown was already Grammy-nominated upon its release in 2010.
The nominees:
Ain’t Too Proud: The Life And Times Of The Temptations is a rousing recreation of the Motown sound, focusing largely, but not exclusively, on the title group’s hits. Nominated were original cast members Saint Aubyn, Derrick Baskin, James Harkness, Jawan M. Jackson, Jeremy Pope and Ephraim Sykes and...
But four of the five nominations did not include composers, since the music was not original to the cast albums. In the case of several, the musical numbers consist largely of oldies, some reworked for contemporary settings. Anaïs Mitchell’s previous concept album for Hadestown was already Grammy-nominated upon its release in 2010.
The nominees:
Ain’t Too Proud: The Life And Times Of The Temptations is a rousing recreation of the Motown sound, focusing largely, but not exclusively, on the title group’s hits. Nominated were original cast members Saint Aubyn, Derrick Baskin, James Harkness, Jawan M. Jackson, Jeremy Pope and Ephraim Sykes and...
- 11/20/2019
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
The new musical “Hadestown” emerged as an early winner at Sunday’s Tony Awards, picking up eight prizes, including for director Rachel Chavkin, composer Anaïs Mitchell and featured actor André De Shields.
Meanwhile, Jez Butterworth’s Irish-set drama “The Ferryman” earned four awards, including Best Play as well as one for director Sam Mendes.
“Glee” alum Ali Stroker made history as the first actor in a wheelchair to win the Tony Award, for her turn as the flirty Ado Annie in the Best Musical Revival winner “Oklahoma!” “This award is for every kid who has a disability, a limitation or a challenge who has been waiting to see themselves represented in this arena,” she said just minutes after belting out “I Cain’t Say No” from the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic.
At 87, Elaine May won her first acting Tony for her lead performance in the Kenneth Lonergan revival “The Waverly Gallery,...
Meanwhile, Jez Butterworth’s Irish-set drama “The Ferryman” earned four awards, including Best Play as well as one for director Sam Mendes.
“Glee” alum Ali Stroker made history as the first actor in a wheelchair to win the Tony Award, for her turn as the flirty Ado Annie in the Best Musical Revival winner “Oklahoma!” “This award is for every kid who has a disability, a limitation or a challenge who has been waiting to see themselves represented in this arena,” she said just minutes after belting out “I Cain’t Say No” from the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic.
At 87, Elaine May won her first acting Tony for her lead performance in the Kenneth Lonergan revival “The Waverly Gallery,...
- 6/9/2019
- by Thom Geier
- The Wrap
We’ve unearthed the running order of the 2019 Tony Awards hosted by James Corden on CBS on Sunday, June 9. Over the course of upwards of three-and-half-hours, winners will be announced in 26 competitive categories. Below is the presentation order for the 73rd annual Tonys.
The eight design Tonys will be handed out in the half hour before the show goes live at 8 p.m. Et as will the award for Best Orchestrations. Those winners will be showcased throughout the telecast, with inserts of their acceptance speeches.
As usual, the first award on the broadcast will be one of the featured acting races (this year it is on the musical side of the aisle) while the show closes with a big one, Best Musical. In between, the winners of the other 15 Tonys races will be revealed as detailed in the presentation order below.
See 2019 Tonys online: How to watch 73rd Tony Awards...
The eight design Tonys will be handed out in the half hour before the show goes live at 8 p.m. Et as will the award for Best Orchestrations. Those winners will be showcased throughout the telecast, with inserts of their acceptance speeches.
As usual, the first award on the broadcast will be one of the featured acting races (this year it is on the musical side of the aisle) while the show closes with a big one, Best Musical. In between, the winners of the other 15 Tonys races will be revealed as detailed in the presentation order below.
See 2019 Tonys online: How to watch 73rd Tony Awards...
- 6/9/2019
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
The 73rd annual Tony Awards took place on Sunday, June 10 at New York’s Radio City Music Hall. James Corden hosted the ceremony that aired on CBS. He won an Emmy for his efforts as an emcee of the 2016 Tonys.
While the nominees for these top theater kudos were determined by 48 theater professionals, the winners were voted on by 831 members of the Broadway community. Below, is the full and complete list of 2019 Tonys winners in each of the 26 competitive categories.
Heading into the evening, two new musicals – “Hadestown” and “Ain’t Too Proud” — lead the Tony Awards nominations with 14 and 12 bids respectively including Best Musical. Among new plays, the British import “The Ferryman” and Aaron Sorkin‘s adaptation of Harper Lee‘s classic novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” earned nine nominations each but the latter was snubbed for the top prize. Unlike last year, revivals of plays don’t dominate...
While the nominees for these top theater kudos were determined by 48 theater professionals, the winners were voted on by 831 members of the Broadway community. Below, is the full and complete list of 2019 Tonys winners in each of the 26 competitive categories.
Heading into the evening, two new musicals – “Hadestown” and “Ain’t Too Proud” — lead the Tony Awards nominations with 14 and 12 bids respectively including Best Musical. Among new plays, the British import “The Ferryman” and Aaron Sorkin‘s adaptation of Harper Lee‘s classic novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” earned nine nominations each but the latter was snubbed for the top prize. Unlike last year, revivals of plays don’t dominate...
- 6/9/2019
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
The 2019 Tony Awards take place on Sunday, June 9 at New York’s Radio City Music Hall. The three-hour ceremony hosted by James Corden will air on CBS. Those in the Eastern and Central time zones can see it live while those in the Mountain and Pacific time zones have a three-hour tape delay.
Thirty-four shows were eligible for the 73rd annual Tony Awards. A whopping two dozen of these reaped at least one bid across the 26 Tonys categories when the complete list of nominations was announced on April 30 by two-time Tony winner Bebe Neuwirth and three-time nominee Brandon Victor Dixon. While the nominations were determined by 48 theater professionals, the winners were decided by 831 members of the Broadway community.
The full list of 2019 Tony Awards nominations is below.
See 2019 Tonys online: How to watch 73rd Tony Awards live stream without a TV
Musicals
Best Musical
“Ain’t Too Proud”
“Beetlejuice”
“Hadestown...
Thirty-four shows were eligible for the 73rd annual Tony Awards. A whopping two dozen of these reaped at least one bid across the 26 Tonys categories when the complete list of nominations was announced on April 30 by two-time Tony winner Bebe Neuwirth and three-time nominee Brandon Victor Dixon. While the nominations were determined by 48 theater professionals, the winners were decided by 831 members of the Broadway community.
The full list of 2019 Tony Awards nominations is below.
See 2019 Tonys online: How to watch 73rd Tony Awards live stream without a TV
Musicals
Best Musical
“Ain’t Too Proud”
“Beetlejuice”
“Hadestown...
- 6/9/2019
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
Call them predictions, opinions or hopes, but here are my thoughts on this year’s Tony Awards races. As usual, the roster of nominees includes a mix of consensus categories (famous last words) and the up-for-grabs. Voting closes today, so the curtain is all but drawn on the campaigning and jockeying and strategizing. Nothing left but the arguments, so add mine to the mix.
By the way, this year Tony Award administrators have pledged to crack down on voters who, in years past, might not have paid strict adherence to the rule that requires voters to see every production in a category. The administration has been keeping track of who saw what, and will disqualify fakers.
The 73rd Annual Tony Awards, hosted by James Corden from New York’s Radio City Music Hall, airs Sunday, June 9, on CBS at 8 pm Et (live)/Delayed Pt.
Best Musical
Ain’t Too Proud...
By the way, this year Tony Award administrators have pledged to crack down on voters who, in years past, might not have paid strict adherence to the rule that requires voters to see every production in a category. The administration has been keeping track of who saw what, and will disqualify fakers.
The 73rd Annual Tony Awards, hosted by James Corden from New York’s Radio City Music Hall, airs Sunday, June 9, on CBS at 8 pm Et (live)/Delayed Pt.
Best Musical
Ain’t Too Proud...
- 6/7/2019
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Looking for a handy cheat sheet before entering your predictions for the 2019 Tony Awards? Winners will be announced on June 9 during a live ceremony on CBS hosted by James Corden. Take a look at our racetrack odds below for all of the categories. The predicted winners are indicated in gold.
These official odds for the Tonys are derived from the predictions of our Experts who write about theater year-round, our in-house team of Editors, the Top 24 Users who got the top scores predicting last year’s winners, the All-Star Top 24 who got the highest scores when you combine predictions from the last two years, and all Users who make up the largest (and often savviest) bloc of predictors.
We’re predicting all 26 categories. Below, find out who we’re betting on as of this writing. And there’s still time to make or edit your own predictions before the winners are revealed on Sunday evening.
These official odds for the Tonys are derived from the predictions of our Experts who write about theater year-round, our in-house team of Editors, the Top 24 Users who got the top scores predicting last year’s winners, the All-Star Top 24 who got the highest scores when you combine predictions from the last two years, and all Users who make up the largest (and often savviest) bloc of predictors.
We’re predicting all 26 categories. Below, find out who we’re betting on as of this writing. And there’s still time to make or edit your own predictions before the winners are revealed on Sunday evening.
- 6/7/2019
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
The 2019 Tony Awards are almost upon us. Before you watch the CBS ceremony hosted by James Corden on June 9, make sure to check out these 11 conversations with Tony nominees. Follow the links below to watch all of our exclusive interviews with these nominated performers.
See Tony Awards predictions slugfest: 3 Experts track hottest races [Video & Audio Podcast]
Derrick Baskin (“Ain’t Too Proud”): Baskin portrays Otis Williams, the founder of The Temptations, in “Ain’t Too Proud.” It’s a role so large that he never leaves the stage. His previous Broadway credits include “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” “The Little Mermaid,” and “Memphis.” This is Baskin’s first Tony nomination. (Click here to watch the full interview)
Stephanie J. Block (“The Cher Show”): Block transforms herself like never before to emobdy the pop icon Cher. This marks Block’s third Tony nomination, after previously competing for “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” and “Falsettos.
See Tony Awards predictions slugfest: 3 Experts track hottest races [Video & Audio Podcast]
Derrick Baskin (“Ain’t Too Proud”): Baskin portrays Otis Williams, the founder of The Temptations, in “Ain’t Too Proud.” It’s a role so large that he never leaves the stage. His previous Broadway credits include “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” “The Little Mermaid,” and “Memphis.” This is Baskin’s first Tony nomination. (Click here to watch the full interview)
Stephanie J. Block (“The Cher Show”): Block transforms herself like never before to emobdy the pop icon Cher. This marks Block’s third Tony nomination, after previously competing for “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” and “Falsettos.
- 6/4/2019
- by Sam Eckmann
- Gold Derby
Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations, one of this Broadway season’s unqualified hits, will launch a national tour next year of more than 50 cities and 100 touring weeks, producers Ira Pittelman and Tom Hulce announced today.
The coast-to-coast tour of Ain’t Too Proud will kick off at the Providence Performing Arts Center in Providence, Rhode Island, in July 2020, and will include a “homecoming” stop in Detroit, and a return to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
In a statement, Pittelman and Hulce said, “We have been so blown away by the reception for Ain’t Too Proud – not only on Broadway, but also from our pre-Broadway engagements – that we can’t wait to bring the show back to audiences across America. Feedback from cities we have already been to has been extraordinary.”
One of those pre-Broadway runs was at the Kennedy Center,...
The coast-to-coast tour of Ain’t Too Proud will kick off at the Providence Performing Arts Center in Providence, Rhode Island, in July 2020, and will include a “homecoming” stop in Detroit, and a return to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
In a statement, Pittelman and Hulce said, “We have been so blown away by the reception for Ain’t Too Proud – not only on Broadway, but also from our pre-Broadway engagements – that we can’t wait to bring the show back to audiences across America. Feedback from cities we have already been to has been extraordinary.”
One of those pre-Broadway runs was at the Kennedy Center,...
- 5/31/2019
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
“This is a show that is about today. It’s about what’s going on in our country now,” declares director Des McAnuff about his Broadway musical “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations.” McAnuff recently received his sixth Tony nomination for his directorial efforts and chatted with Gold Derby about the creative process behind the hit musical. Watch the exclusive video interview above.
McAnuff was initially hesitant to take on another biographical musical because he didn’t want it to compete and be compared with his Best Musical Tony winner “Jersey Boys.” But when Otis Williams himself asked the director to take up the reigns, the opportunity was “impossible to resist.” Over the course of the initial conversation with Williams, McAnuff says that “it was clear this was very important to him… he was willing to open a vein in order to tell this story.
McAnuff was initially hesitant to take on another biographical musical because he didn’t want it to compete and be compared with his Best Musical Tony winner “Jersey Boys.” But when Otis Williams himself asked the director to take up the reigns, the opportunity was “impossible to resist.” Over the course of the initial conversation with Williams, McAnuff says that “it was clear this was very important to him… he was willing to open a vein in order to tell this story.
- 5/16/2019
- by Sam Eckmann
- Gold Derby
The complete list of nominations for the 2019 Tony Awards has been released. This year, Hadestown leads all nominees with a total of 14 nominations including Best Musical. Other serious Tony contenders this year are Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations which is nominated for 12 awards and Tootsie which garnered 11 nominations.
In Plays, The Ferryman and To Kill a Mockingbird each received 9 nominations, tied for most in Plays and fourth overall. The Ferryman is up for Best Play, while Jeff Daniels is up for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play for his role in To Kill a Mockingbird.
The nominees were announced live today from the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center by two-time Tony winner Bebe Neuwirth and Tony nominee Brandon Victor Dixon. Neuwirth garnered the Tony Award in 1986 for Best Featured Actress in a...
In Plays, The Ferryman and To Kill a Mockingbird each received 9 nominations, tied for most in Plays and fourth overall. The Ferryman is up for Best Play, while Jeff Daniels is up for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play for his role in To Kill a Mockingbird.
The nominees were announced live today from the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center by two-time Tony winner Bebe Neuwirth and Tony nominee Brandon Victor Dixon. Neuwirth garnered the Tony Award in 1986 for Best Featured Actress in a...
- 4/30/2019
- by Matt Bishop
- Age of the Nerd
Refresh for updates The lush, very-downtown musical Hadestown topped the Tony Awards nominations list with 14, with the more traditional jukebox musical Ain’t Too Proud coming in at second with 12, a one-two punch as clear a sign as any that Tony voters are in a very expansive mood this year.
At #3, Tootsie has 11 nominations; The Ferryman 9 and Beetlejuice 8.
But the big surprise were the no-votes in the Best Play category for both To Kill A Mockingbird and Network, particularly for Aaron Sorkin’s gloriously reviewed and wildly popular adaptation of Harper Lee’s novel. That omission might be the single biggest Tony snub in years, if not decades.
Deadline will examine that omission and other surprises in a complete analysis of the Tony nominations by Deadline theater critic Greg Evans, coming shortly. Check back soon.
The nominations for the 2019 Tony Awards were announced live by Brandon Victor Dixon and Bebe Neuwirth...
At #3, Tootsie has 11 nominations; The Ferryman 9 and Beetlejuice 8.
But the big surprise were the no-votes in the Best Play category for both To Kill A Mockingbird and Network, particularly for Aaron Sorkin’s gloriously reviewed and wildly popular adaptation of Harper Lee’s novel. That omission might be the single biggest Tony snub in years, if not decades.
Deadline will examine that omission and other surprises in a complete analysis of the Tony nominations by Deadline theater critic Greg Evans, coming shortly. Check back soon.
The nominations for the 2019 Tony Awards were announced live by Brandon Victor Dixon and Bebe Neuwirth...
- 4/30/2019
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Nominations for the 73rd annual Tony Awards were announced on April 30 by two-time Tony winner Bebe Neuwirth and three-time nominee Brandon Victor Dixon. While the roster of contenders was determined by 48 theater professionals, the winners will be decided by 831 members of the Broadway community.
Three years after making his Emmy-winning debut as the host of these top theater honors, James Corden is returning to preside over the June 9 ceremony from Radio City Music Hall that will air live on CBS. This edition of the Tonys celebrate the best of the 2018/2019 theater season. Corden won a Tony in 2012 for his comic turn in the play “One Man, Two Guvnors.”
The full and complete list below includes all 26 competitive categories.
Musicals
Best Musical
“Ain’t Too Proud”
“Beetlejuice”
“Hadestown”
“The Prom”
“Tootsie”
Best Musical Revival
“Kiss Me, Kate”
“Oklahoma!”
Best Actor (Musical)
Brooks Ashmanskas, “The Prom”
Derrick Baskin, “Ain’t Too Proud”
Alex Brightman,...
Three years after making his Emmy-winning debut as the host of these top theater honors, James Corden is returning to preside over the June 9 ceremony from Radio City Music Hall that will air live on CBS. This edition of the Tonys celebrate the best of the 2018/2019 theater season. Corden won a Tony in 2012 for his comic turn in the play “One Man, Two Guvnors.”
The full and complete list below includes all 26 competitive categories.
Musicals
Best Musical
“Ain’t Too Proud”
“Beetlejuice”
“Hadestown”
“The Prom”
“Tootsie”
Best Musical Revival
“Kiss Me, Kate”
“Oklahoma!”
Best Actor (Musical)
Brooks Ashmanskas, “The Prom”
Derrick Baskin, “Ain’t Too Proud”
Alex Brightman,...
- 4/30/2019
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
“We have a true love for each other,” reveals Ephraim Sykes of the cast and creative team for “Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations” now on Broadway. The actor portrays legendary tenor David Ruffin in the hit musical and was recently nominated for the Drama League Award for his performance. He praises the “synergy” and “family-like vibe” of the cast as one of the many reasons this project resonates with him. Watch the full exclusive video interview above.
From the very beginning, the pieces were in place for a harmonious experience. Sykes auditioned for the show’s initial production at Berkeley Repertory Theatre in 2017. Despite being in Los Angeles for pilot season, the actor fell in love with the script. And when he heard past collaborators Sergio Trujillo (choreographer) and Derrick Baskin (Otis Williams) were attached, “it seems like this has to happen.”
SEEDerrick Baskin...
From the very beginning, the pieces were in place for a harmonious experience. Sykes auditioned for the show’s initial production at Berkeley Repertory Theatre in 2017. Despite being in Los Angeles for pilot season, the actor fell in love with the script. And when he heard past collaborators Sergio Trujillo (choreographer) and Derrick Baskin (Otis Williams) were attached, “it seems like this has to happen.”
SEEDerrick Baskin...
- 4/19/2019
- by Sam Eckmann
- Gold Derby
“I love when art can heal,” confesses Derrick Baskin. The actor is dipping into the healing power of performance via his lead role in the hit new musical “Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations.” Baskin portrays living legend and founder of The Temptations, Otis Williams, and described his his journey in the show to Gold Derby. Watch the exclusive video interview above.
Baskin received the chance to meet with Otis Williams during the creative process and describes the musician as “warm” and always open to sharing his “wealth of knowledge.” Though Baskin admits he didn’t know too much about the man behind the famous music, he now concludes “it’s a bit eerie” how similar they are. Regarding the difficult decisions that Williams had to make when creating The Temptations, Baskin says he “understands where he’s coming from, based on our personalities.”
SEE...
Baskin received the chance to meet with Otis Williams during the creative process and describes the musician as “warm” and always open to sharing his “wealth of knowledge.” Though Baskin admits he didn’t know too much about the man behind the famous music, he now concludes “it’s a bit eerie” how similar they are. Regarding the difficult decisions that Williams had to make when creating The Temptations, Baskin says he “understands where he’s coming from, based on our personalities.”
SEE...
- 4/15/2019
- by Sam Eckmann
- Gold Derby
00The Tony Awards Administration Committee met for the third time in the 2018-2019 Broadway season, and announced eligibility rulings for the 73rd Annual Tony Awards. Seven productions were discussed in the meeting: “King Kong,” “Choir Boy,” “True West,” “Be More Chill,” “Kiss Me Kate,” “Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations” and “What the Constitution Means to Me.”
The committee made the following decisions:
Christiani Pitts and Eric William Morris will be eligible for Lead Actress/Actor in a Musical for their respective performances in “King Kong.”
Peter England’s projection design will be considered eligible along with his scenic design in the Best Scenic Design of a Musical category, for “King Kong.”
Jeremy Pope will be considered eligible for Lead Actor in a Play for his performance in “Choir Boy.”
Will Roland will be considered eligible for Lead Actor in a Musical category for his performance in “Be More Chill.
The committee made the following decisions:
Christiani Pitts and Eric William Morris will be eligible for Lead Actress/Actor in a Musical for their respective performances in “King Kong.”
Peter England’s projection design will be considered eligible along with his scenic design in the Best Scenic Design of a Musical category, for “King Kong.”
Jeremy Pope will be considered eligible for Lead Actor in a Play for his performance in “Choir Boy.”
Will Roland will be considered eligible for Lead Actor in a Musical category for his performance in “Be More Chill.
- 4/14/2019
- by Sam Eckmann
- Gold Derby
Derrick Baskin was sick of musicals when Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations arrived in his life. He’d performed on Broadway in Memphis, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and The Little Mermaid, and was enjoying the change of pace that was Hulu’s Difficult People when his agent came calling with the job that could put Baskin into his first starring role. As Otis Williams, founder of the group that gave the world “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination” and one after another of the greatest songs of the 1960s and ’70s, Baskin would be a first among equals, the singer who first envisioned what The Temptations could and would be.
“I immediately tried to shut him down,” Baskin recalls in this Deadline interview. But the actor had a change of heart, and now finds himself leading what is easily the biggest hit musical of this Broadway season,...
“I immediately tried to shut him down,” Baskin recalls in this Deadline interview. But the actor had a change of heart, and now finds himself leading what is easily the biggest hit musical of this Broadway season,...
- 4/12/2019
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Playwrights Kenneth Lonergan, Harvey Fierstein and Mart Crowley – each of whom had older works produced on Broadway this season – will be eligible for Tony Awards, the Tony administration committee has determined.
The eligibilities were among a raft of such rulings made by the committee today in the third of four planned meetings. Other rulings focused mostly on category eligibility for performers in ensemble cast productions.
In the cases of Crowley and Lonergan, the two playwrights will benefit from a new Tony rule that allows living authors and composers of plays and musicals that had not previously been staged on Broadway to be eligible along with the producers in the Best Revival of a Play/Musical category. This season, Crowley’s The Boys in the Band and Lonergan’s The Waverly Gallery were staged on Broadway after debuting years ago Off Broadway..
As for Fierstein, he’s eligible for this season’s Torch Song due to another new rule: Authors and composers of Best Revival nominees are eligible with producers even if those authors and composers have previously won Tonys for the works – so long as the revivals have been “substantially reworked.” (Fierstein made significant changes to the former Torch Song Trilogy for the recent Torch Song).
Other determinations made today by the committee:
Christiani Pitts and Eric William Morris will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actress/Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical categories for their respective performances in King Kong; Peter England’s projection design will be considered eligible along with his scenic design in the Best Scenic Design of a Musical category, for his work on King Kong Jeremy Pope will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play category for his performance in Choir Boy Will Roland will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical category for his performance in Be More Chill; Beowulf Boritt and Alex Basco Koch will be considered jointly eligible in the Best Scenic Design of a Musical category for their work on Be More Chill; Corbin Bleu will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical category for his performance in Kiss Me, Kate; Derrick Baskin will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical category for his performance in Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations; Robert Brill and Peter Nigrini will be considered jointly eligible in the Best Scenic Design of a Musical category for their work on Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations; Heidi Schreck will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play category for her performance in What the Constitution Means to Me.
Nominations for the 2019 Tony Awards will be announced April 30. The 73rd Annual Tony Awards will air live on Sunday, June 9 at 8 Pm Et/delayed Pt) from New York’s Radio City Music Hall on CBS. James Corden will host.
The eligibilities were among a raft of such rulings made by the committee today in the third of four planned meetings. Other rulings focused mostly on category eligibility for performers in ensemble cast productions.
In the cases of Crowley and Lonergan, the two playwrights will benefit from a new Tony rule that allows living authors and composers of plays and musicals that had not previously been staged on Broadway to be eligible along with the producers in the Best Revival of a Play/Musical category. This season, Crowley’s The Boys in the Band and Lonergan’s The Waverly Gallery were staged on Broadway after debuting years ago Off Broadway..
As for Fierstein, he’s eligible for this season’s Torch Song due to another new rule: Authors and composers of Best Revival nominees are eligible with producers even if those authors and composers have previously won Tonys for the works – so long as the revivals have been “substantially reworked.” (Fierstein made significant changes to the former Torch Song Trilogy for the recent Torch Song).
Other determinations made today by the committee:
Christiani Pitts and Eric William Morris will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actress/Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical categories for their respective performances in King Kong; Peter England’s projection design will be considered eligible along with his scenic design in the Best Scenic Design of a Musical category, for his work on King Kong Jeremy Pope will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play category for his performance in Choir Boy Will Roland will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical category for his performance in Be More Chill; Beowulf Boritt and Alex Basco Koch will be considered jointly eligible in the Best Scenic Design of a Musical category for their work on Be More Chill; Corbin Bleu will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical category for his performance in Kiss Me, Kate; Derrick Baskin will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical category for his performance in Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations; Robert Brill and Peter Nigrini will be considered jointly eligible in the Best Scenic Design of a Musical category for their work on Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations; Heidi Schreck will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play category for her performance in What the Constitution Means to Me.
Nominations for the 2019 Tony Awards will be announced April 30. The 73rd Annual Tony Awards will air live on Sunday, June 9 at 8 Pm Et/delayed Pt) from New York’s Radio City Music Hall on CBS. James Corden will host.
- 4/11/2019
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
The incoming Broadway musical about the enduring music and volatile career of the Temptations features many elements associated with a prestige show. There’s a name director, an award-winning book writer, a cast whose collective resume includes stints in shows like Hamilton and Chicago, and a score overflowing with pop songs that are engrained in the culture.
Then there’s the bong.
The prop, complete with whiffs of artificial smoke, appears during a scene in which the Motown group parties together on the road later in their career. “That’s funny — that’s rock & roll!
Then there’s the bong.
The prop, complete with whiffs of artificial smoke, appears during a scene in which the Motown group parties together on the road later in their career. “That’s funny — that’s rock & roll!
- 3/21/2019
- by David Browne
- Rollingstone.com
As we’re now about halfway through the Broadway season, there are currently seven productions of musicals set to open this spring. Could we be seeing any of them contend at this year’s Tony Awards? Below, we recap the plot of each musical as well as the awards history of its author, cast, creative types, the opening, and (where applicable) closing dates.
“Be More Chill” (previews begin February 13; opens March 10)
In this musical adaptation of Ned Vizzini’s 2004 novel of the same name, Jeremy Heere is your average, nothing-special teenager at Middleborough High School in nothing-special New Jersey. That is, until the day he finds out about ‘The Squip.’ Thus begins a journey that pits Jeremy’s desire to be popular against his struggle to remain true to his authentic self.
With a book by Drama Desk nominee Joe Tracz and a score by Joe Iconis, this production is...
“Be More Chill” (previews begin February 13; opens March 10)
In this musical adaptation of Ned Vizzini’s 2004 novel of the same name, Jeremy Heere is your average, nothing-special teenager at Middleborough High School in nothing-special New Jersey. That is, until the day he finds out about ‘The Squip.’ Thus begins a journey that pits Jeremy’s desire to be popular against his struggle to remain true to his authentic self.
With a book by Drama Desk nominee Joe Tracz and a score by Joe Iconis, this production is...
- 2/1/2019
- by Jeffrey Kare
- Gold Derby
The less you know about the Temptations, the more you’ll get out of “Ain’t Too Proud,” a finger-snapping, hand-clapping new jukebox musical passing through Los Angeles’ Ahmanson Theatre en route to Broadway, where it is scheduled to open at the Imperial next spring. This nearly-all-black show’s got a lot going for it, between the sheer quality of the beloved R&B vocal group’s catalog and director Des McAnuff’s experience with such material (including the Four Seasons tuner “Jersey Boys” and “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical”), and yet, considering that the Temptations — who are, incredibly enough, still touring — have several SoCal playdates this September, it’s hard to compete with the thrill of seeing the actual group in concert.
Of course, we could debate all day whether today’s Temptations are still the same Temptations that broke through in the ’60s and ’70s with such hits as “My Girl,...
Of course, we could debate all day whether today’s Temptations are still the same Temptations that broke through in the ’60s and ’70s with such hits as “My Girl,...
- 8/26/2018
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
A musical about the great Temptations is headed to Broadway. Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations, directed by Des McAnuff and produced by Ira Pittelman and Tom Hulce, will begin performances at the Imperial Theatre in spring 2019.
The musical, which follows the classic Motown vocalists – and their signature dance moves – from “the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame,” had its world premiere at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, where it became the highest grossing production in that theater’s nearly 50-year history. The musical later broke the single-week box office record at Washington D.C.’s Eisenhower Theater in the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, according to producers.
Producers describe the show as the “story of brotherhood, family, loyalty, and betrayal,” all playing out against a backdrop of civil unrest and set to Temptations classics like “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination,...
The musical, which follows the classic Motown vocalists – and their signature dance moves – from “the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame,” had its world premiere at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, where it became the highest grossing production in that theater’s nearly 50-year history. The musical later broke the single-week box office record at Washington D.C.’s Eisenhower Theater in the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, according to producers.
Producers describe the show as the “story of brotherhood, family, loyalty, and betrayal,” all playing out against a backdrop of civil unrest and set to Temptations classics like “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination,...
- 8/24/2018
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations, a new musical about one of R&B’s premier vocal groups, will hit Broadway in Spring 2019. The production will run at the Imperial Theater in New York, New York, producers announced Thursday, although no opening date has been set.
Ain’t Too Proud launched in September 2017 at the Berkeley Repertory Theater in Berkeley, California, before moving this year to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. It is currently playing at the Center Theater Group in Los Angeles, California,...
Ain’t Too Proud launched in September 2017 at the Berkeley Repertory Theater in Berkeley, California, before moving this year to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. It is currently playing at the Center Theater Group in Los Angeles, California,...
- 8/24/2018
- by Ryan Reed
- Rollingstone.com
Vulture Watch What's going on with Julie and Billy? Has the Difficult People TV show been cancelled or renewed for a fourth season on Hulu? The television vulture is watching all the latest TV cancellation and renewal news, so this page is the place to track the status of Difficult People, season four. Bookmark it, or subscribe for the latest updates. Remember, the television vulture is watching your shows. Are you? What's This TV Show About? Streaming on the Hulu paid subscription platform, Difficult People stars Julie Klausner, Billy Eichner, James Urbaniak, Andrea Martin, and Cole Escola. Recurring players include Derrick Baskin, Gabourey Sidibe, Shakina Nayfack, Tracee Chimo, Fred Armisen, Jackie Hoffman, and John Cho. Created by Klausner, the series centers on aspiring comics Julie Kessler (Klausner) and Billy Epsetein (Eichner). These best friends, who are trying make it on the...
- 12/15/2017
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Network: HuluEpisodes: 28 (half-hour)Seasons: ThreeTV show dates: August 5, 2015 -- September 26, 2017Series status: CancelledPerformers include: Julie Klausner, Billy Eichner, James Urbaniak, and Andrea Martin.TV show description: A single camera comedy, this series was created by co-star Julie Klausner. It follows two comedian best friends who are trying to make it in New York City. They hate everyone -- except each other.Billy (Billy Eichner) works as an unenthusiastic waiter while he tries to get work in comedy. Nate (Derrick Baskin) and Denise (Gabourey Sidibe) are the married couple who co-own the cafe where Billy works. Matthew (Cole Escola) is a co-worker that Billy despises.Read More…...
- 12/10/2017
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
This isn't going to be easy. The Difficult People TV show has been cancelled by Hulu. The third season just dropped to the streaming service on August 7th of this year. Creator Julie Klausner and her co-star, Billy Eichner, have confirmed the cancellation on social media and Klausner has given an interview about it (check it out, below). A Hulu comedy, Difficult People stars Julie Klausner, Billy Eichner, James Urbaniak, Andrea Martin, and Cole Escola. Recurring players include Derrick Baskin, Gabourey Sidibe, Shakina Nayfack, Tracee Chimo, Fred Armisen, Jackie Hoffman, and John Cho. The series centers on aspiring comics Julie Kessler (Klausner) and Billy Epsetein (Eichner). These best friends, who are trying make it on the New York City comedy scene, hate everyone and everything — except each other. Read More…...
- 11/15/2017
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
“Difficult People” isn’t for everyone, but that’s a big factor in its charm. The always whipsmart, fast-paced comedy created by Julie Klausner is extremely insular in its focus on Julie (Klausner) and Billy (Billy Eichner), pop culture-obsessed New York comedians whose bad attitudes are often the cause of their problems. But that focus means that as the show has progressed, the characters have had the chance to… well, maybe not “grow,” in the traditional sitcom sense. However, they do seem capable of change.
Which is good news, as Season 3 of a series like this could easily fall into a more-of-the-same trap. The core principles of “Difficult People” haven’t been altered — Julie and Billy are still best friends, and still relatively disdainful of anyone outside their friendship. But, based on the five episodes screened, “Difficult People” isn’t interested in treading water this season, contributing to a richer,...
Which is good news, as Season 3 of a series like this could easily fall into a more-of-the-same trap. The core principles of “Difficult People” haven’t been altered — Julie and Billy are still best friends, and still relatively disdainful of anyone outside their friendship. But, based on the five episodes screened, “Difficult People” isn’t interested in treading water this season, contributing to a richer,...
- 8/8/2017
- by Liz Shannon Miller
- Indiewire
Vulture Watch What's going on with Julie and Billy? Has the Difficult People TV show been cancelled or renewed for a fourth season on Hulu? The television vulture is watching all the latest TV cancellation and renewal news, so this page is the place to track the status of Difficult People, season four. Bookmark it, or subscribe for the latest updates. Remember, the television vulture is watching your shows. Are you? What's This TV Show About? Streaming on the Hulu paid subscription platform, Difficult People stars Julie Klausner, Billy Eichner, James Urbaniak, Andrea Martin, and Cole Escola. Recurring players include Derrick Baskin, Gabourey Sidibe, Shakina Nayfack, Tracee Chimo, Fred Armisen, Jackie Hoffman, and John Cho. Created by Klausner, the series centers on aspiring comics Julie Kessler (Klausner) and Billy Epsetein (Eichner). These best friends, who are trying make it...
- 8/8/2017
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Normally a packed Italian restaurant and bar in the East Village of New York City, San Marzano has been transformed into Lola’s D’s Café (more on that name change in a bit), a less busy café run by Denise (Gabourey Sidibe) and Nate (Derrick Baskin), where Billy Epstein (Billy Eichner) works on Difficult People. During Et’s visit to the set of the Hulu comedy, which just so happens to be a day they’re filming scenes from the season three finale, things are noticeably different.
For one thing, there’s that name. Normally called D’s Café, the place has been taken over by Lola, an outspoken transgender waitress played by the bitingly funny Shakina Nayfack. “Lola saved us from Sephora,” Denise explains to the staff -- Billy, Lola, Denise, Nate and Matthew (Cole Escola), who has triumphantly returned from a Supermarket Sweep-turned-Scientology fiasco -- gathered around a table. But there’s...
For one thing, there’s that name. Normally called D’s Café, the place has been taken over by Lola, an outspoken transgender waitress played by the bitingly funny Shakina Nayfack. “Lola saved us from Sephora,” Denise explains to the staff -- Billy, Lola, Denise, Nate and Matthew (Cole Escola), who has triumphantly returned from a Supermarket Sweep-turned-Scientology fiasco -- gathered around a table. But there’s...
- 8/7/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
Next up at Encores Off-Center is Kurt Vonnegut's God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater. The first musical written by the blockbuster team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, the Off-Center production will star Skylar Astin, Derrick Baskin, Jeff Blumenkrantz, Nick Choksi, Eddie Cooper, Kevin Del Aguila, Santino Fontana,Clark Johnson, James Earl Jones, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Kevin Ligon, Marla Louissaint, Liz McCartney, Bonnie Milligan, Brynn O'Malley, and Kate Wetherhead. Check out a sneak peek of the cast in action below...
- 7/27/2016
- by BroadwayWorld TV
- BroadwayWorld.com
Next up atEncores Off-Center is Kurt Vonnegut's God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater. The first musical written by the blockbuster team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, the Off-Center production will star Skylar Astin, Derrick Baskin, Jeff Blumenkrantz, Nick Choksi, Eddie Cooper, Kevin Del Aguila, Santino Fontana, Clark Johnson, James Earl Jones, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Eddie Korbich, Marla Louissaint, Liz McCartney, Bonnie Milligan, Brynn O'Malley, and Kate Wetherhead.
- 7/20/2016
- by BroadwayWorld TV
- BroadwayWorld.com
Three episodes were provided prior to broadcast.
There’s not a lot left to do and say within the 30-minute, struggling creative-type, self-aware comedy genre. Shows like Louie and Girls honed in on the structure and voice of sitcoms like this over the past few years, letting replicators flourish (Broad City) or flounder (Flaked). There’s always a downtrodden hero, a partner in crime, and a plan to somehow “make it,” along with all of the other people who seem to be getting ahead. Some shows have slowly been pushing at the boundaries of what even defines this type of series, like You’re The Worst‘s deeply dark second year, and the cool thing about Hulu’s returning anarchic little sitcom, Difficult People, is that it knows this, and sets its sights on its peers with weaponized glee.
“When did comedies become 30-minute dramas?” Julie Kessler asks best-friend-forever Billy Epstein (Klausner and Eichner,...
There’s not a lot left to do and say within the 30-minute, struggling creative-type, self-aware comedy genre. Shows like Louie and Girls honed in on the structure and voice of sitcoms like this over the past few years, letting replicators flourish (Broad City) or flounder (Flaked). There’s always a downtrodden hero, a partner in crime, and a plan to somehow “make it,” along with all of the other people who seem to be getting ahead. Some shows have slowly been pushing at the boundaries of what even defines this type of series, like You’re The Worst‘s deeply dark second year, and the cool thing about Hulu’s returning anarchic little sitcom, Difficult People, is that it knows this, and sets its sights on its peers with weaponized glee.
“When did comedies become 30-minute dramas?” Julie Kessler asks best-friend-forever Billy Epstein (Klausner and Eichner,...
- 7/11/2016
- by Mitchel Broussard
- We Got This Covered
New York City Center today announced casting for the Encores Off-Center production of Kurt Vonnegut's God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater. The first musical written by the blockbuster team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, the Off-Center productionwill star Skylar Astin, Derrick Baskin, Jeff Blumenkrantz, Nick Choksi, Eddie Cooper, Kevin Del Aguila, Santino Fontana, Clark Johnson, James Earl Jones, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Eddie Korbich, Marla Louissaint, Liz McCartney, Bonnie Milligan, Brynn O'Malley, and Kate Wetherhead.
- 6/27/2016
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
Because "our lives are garbage and it's the world's fault," watch the official trailer for the second season of the Difficult People TV show. Season two premieres on Hulu, Tuesday, July 12, 2016. The trailer includes a quick cameo by Hamilton's Lin-Manuel Miranda, as well as scenes with Nathan Lane and Fred Armisen.
Creator Julia Klausner stars with Billy on the Street host Billy Eichner. The Venture Bros' James Urbaniak recurs, as do Gabourey Sidibe, Cole Escola, and Derrick Baskin. The Difficult People TV series is executive produced by Klausner, Tony Hernandez, Amy Poehler, Scott King, and Dave Becky. Read More…...
Creator Julia Klausner stars with Billy on the Street host Billy Eichner. The Venture Bros' James Urbaniak recurs, as do Gabourey Sidibe, Cole Escola, and Derrick Baskin. The Difficult People TV series is executive produced by Klausner, Tony Hernandez, Amy Poehler, Scott King, and Dave Becky. Read More…...
- 6/24/2016
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Today in 2008, The Little Mermaid opened at the Lunt Fontanne Theatre, where it ran for 685 performances. The Little Mermaid is based on the animated 1989 Disney film of the same name and the classic story of The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen. The musical's book is by Doug Wright, music by Alan Menken and lyrics by the late Howard Ashman written for the film and new lyrics by Glenn Slater. The musical had a pre-Broadway tryout in Denver, Colorado in July through early September 2007. The original cast featured Sierra Boggess in the title role of Ariel, Sean Palmer as Prince Eric, Brian D'Addario and Trevor Braun alternate as Flounder, Norm Lewis as King Triton, Sherie Rene Scott as Ursula, Tituss Burgess as Sebastian, Tyler Maynard as Flotsam, Derrick Baskin as Jetsam, Jonathan Freeman as Grimsby, and John Treacy Egan as Chef Louis.
- 1/10/2016
- by Stage Tube
- BroadwayWorld.com
Upper West Siders, Victoria Clark, Jessica Fontana, Hunter Ryan Herdlicka, Howard McGillin, Mary Beth Peil, Sherie Rene Scott and Allyson Tucker and other Broadway favorites, Derrick Baskin, Joe Carroll, Corey Cott, Brian Cross, Chris Houlihan, Andrea Jones, Erin Mackey, Alexandra Silber, Daniel J. Watts and Betsy Wolfe along with singer-songwriters Jane Kelly Williams and Shaina Taub celebrate the holidays and raise funds for much needed repairs for the historic Church of St Paul and St. Andrew. This evening,December 14,'Raise The Roof A Broadway Holiday-ish Benefit Celebration' will be filled with song, poetry and jubilee from this all-star lineup.
- 12/14/2015
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
Upper West Siders, Victoria Clark, Jessica Fontana, Hunter Ryan Herdlicka, Howard McGillin, Mary Beth Peil, Sherie Rene Scott and Allyson Tucker and other Broadway favorites, Derrick Baskin, Joe Carroll, Corey Cott, Brian Cross, Chris Houlihan, Andrea Jones, Erin Mackey, Alexandra Silber, Daniel J. Watts and Betsy Wolfe along with singer-songwriters Jane Kelly Williams and Shaina Taub celebrate the holidays and raise funds for much needed repairs for the historic Church of St Paul and St. Andrew.
- 12/4/2015
- by Reilly Hickey
- BroadwayWorld.com
Network: Hulu
Episodes: Ongoing (half-hour)
Seasons: Ongoing
TV show dates: August 5, 2015 -- present
Series status: Has not been cancelled
Performers include: Julie Klausner, Billy Eichner, James Urbaniak, and Andrea Martin.
TV show description:
A single camera comedy, this series was created by co-star Julie Klausner. It follows two comedian best friends who are trying to make it in New York City. They hate everyone -- except each other.
Billy (Billy Eichner) works as an unenthusiastic waiter while he tries to get work in comedy. Nate (Derrick Baskin) and Denise (Gabourey Sidibe) are the married couple who co-own the cafe where Billy works. Matthew (Cole Escola) is a co-worker that Billy despises.
Read More…...
Episodes: Ongoing (half-hour)
Seasons: Ongoing
TV show dates: August 5, 2015 -- present
Series status: Has not been cancelled
Performers include: Julie Klausner, Billy Eichner, James Urbaniak, and Andrea Martin.
TV show description:
A single camera comedy, this series was created by co-star Julie Klausner. It follows two comedian best friends who are trying to make it in New York City. They hate everyone -- except each other.
Billy (Billy Eichner) works as an unenthusiastic waiter while he tries to get work in comedy. Nate (Derrick Baskin) and Denise (Gabourey Sidibe) are the married couple who co-own the cafe where Billy works. Matthew (Cole Escola) is a co-worker that Billy despises.
Read More…...
- 8/31/2015
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Today in 2009, The Little Mermaid closed at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, where it ran for 685 performances. The Little Mermaid is based on the animated 1989 Disney film of the same name and the classic story of The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen. The musical's book is by Doug Wright, music by Alan Menken and lyrics by the late Howard Ashman written for the film and new lyrics by Glenn Slater. The original cast featured Sierra Boggess in the title role of Ariel, Sean Palmer as Prince Eric, Brian D'Addario and Trevor Braun alternate as Flounder, Norm Lewis as King Triton, Sherie Rene Scott as Ursula, Tituss Burgess as Sebastian, Tyler Maynard as Flotsam, Derrick Baskin as Jetsam, Jonathan Freeman as Grimsby, and John Treacy Egan as Chef Louis.
- 8/30/2015
- by Stage Tube
- BroadwayWorld.com
Throughout TV history, there have been plenty of duos who've had the sort of close-knit, we-can-finish-each-other's-sentences friendships you don't often see in real life: Mary and Rhoda, Chandler and Joey, Abbi and Ilana. Add Difficult People's double act to that list — although the lead characters' Bff bond may be the only good thing they have going for them. Part of Hulu's latest round of original series (the first two episodes start streaming today), the cringe-comic sitcom stars Billy on the Street's Billy Eichner and comedian Julie Klausner as thirtysomething pals who are trying,...
- 8/5/2015
- Rollingstone.com
With cheers, tears, and special surprises we're looking at you Celia Keenan-Bolger, nine original cast members of the hit Broadway musical, The 25Th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee - Derrick Baskin, Deborah S. Craig, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Dan Fogler, Lisa Howard, Jose Llana, Jay Reiss, and Sarah Saltzbergplus Jenni Barber - reunited for a special one-night-only 10 Year Anniversary benefit concert last night, July 6.
- 7/7/2015
- by Walter McBride
- BroadwayWorld.com
The nine original cast members of the hit Broadway musical, The 25Th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee - Jenni Barber, Derrick Baskin, Deborah S. Craig, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Dan Fogler, Lisa Howard, Jose Llana, Jay Reiss, and Sarah Saltzberg - will reunite for a special one-night-only 10 Year Anniversary benefit concert on Monday, July 6 at 730pm at Town Hall 123 West 43rd Street. BroadwayWorld caught up with the companyin rehearsal - see what they had to say about the nostalgia, the concert and more...
- 6/27/2015
- by BroadwayWorld TV
- BroadwayWorld.com
The nine original cast members of the hit Broadway musical, The 25Th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee - Derrick Baskin, Deborah S. Craig, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Dan Fogler, Lisa Howard, Jose Llana, Jay Reiss, and Sarah Saltzberg - will reunite for a special one-night-only 10 Year Anniversary benefit concert on Monday, July 6 at 730pm at Town Hall 123 West 43rd Street. BroadwayWorld has just learned that Celia Keenan-Bolger, who was originally slated to participate, will no longer take part in the event. A show rep told usDue to the demands of being mom to a newborn, Celia Keenan-Bolgerhas had to withdraw from the upcomingSpelling Beereunion concert. The role of Olive Ostrovsky will be played by Jenni Barber, who took over the role on Broadway.
- 6/26/2015
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
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