Akron Watson News

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will soon present its Broadway Center Stage production of Guys and Dolls. Helmed by Marc Bruni, the all-star cast will be led by Tony Award® winner James Monroe Iglehart as Nathan Detroit, Tony Award® winner Jessie Mueller as Miss Adelaide, Steven Pasquale as Sky Masterson, and Tony Award® nominee and Grammy Award® winner Phillipa Soo as Sarah Brown. Watch video highlights of the cast in rehearsals!

Complete casting has been announced for the Kennedy Center's Broadway Center Stage production of Guys and Dolls.

Mr. Holland's Opus is a world premiere new musical currently running at the Ogunquit Playhouse based on the 1995 motion picture of the same title. It is a story set in San Francisco in 1969 about a successful musician and composer, Glenn Holland (Akron Watson) who switches careers to become a first-time music teacher at John F. Kennedy high school so that he can spend more time with his wife, Iris (Anastasia Barzee).

Today's top stories include a new theatre for the upcoming Broadway production of The Piano Lesson, starring Samuel L. Jackson. The revival will now play at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, rather than the previously announced St. James. Plus, casting has been announced for the tour of Tina - The Tina Turner Musical, and more!

Akron Watson, Anastasia Barzee and more will star in Ogunquit Playhouse's World Premiere musical adaptation of Mr. Holland’s Opus (August 13–September 10), featuring book, lyrics, and direction by Tony Award winner BD Wong with music by Tony Award nominee Wayne Barker.

One of the best shows of the season, MAKE THEM HEAR YOU leaves a lasting impression.

Next week, 54 BELOW, Broadway’s Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond.

FEINSTEIN’S/54 BELOW, Broadway’s Supper Club, will present Make Them Hear You: An Ode to Black Musicals Vol. 2. On Monday, July 11, 2022, paying homage to Black Musicals written by Black Creatives.

Paper Mill Playhouse wraps up their successful 2021-2022 Season with the beloved Tony Award nominated musical, Sister Act.  The Millburn theatre has brought the show to exciting new heights with elaborate staging and a wonderful cast.

Get a first look at photos and video of Sister Act, now playing through Sunday, June 26, 2022 at Paper Mill Playhouse (22 Brookside Drive, Millburn, NJ). The cast features Nicole Vanessa Ortiz as Deloris Van Cartier, and more.

Performances begin tomorrow, Wednesday, June 1 for the Broadway musical Sister Act at Paper Mill Playhouse. Sister Act features music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Glenn Slater, book by Cheri Steinkellner and Bill Steinkellner, and additional book material by Douglas Carter Beane.

The cast will feature Nicole Vanessa Ortiz (Paper Mill Debut, Smokey Joe's Cafe Off-Broadway) as Deloris Van Cartier, Akron Watson (Paper Mill Debut, The Color Purple on Broadway) as Curtis, Jennifer Allen (Carnival at Paper Mill, The Bridges of Madison County on Broadway) as Mother Superior, and more!

Stephen DeAngelis will continue his ongoing salute to Broadway and Off-Broadway Standbys, Understudies and Alternates with the next edition of AT THIS PERFORMANCE…™ to be held on Monday, April 18th  at The Green Room 42, Green Fig, Fourth Floor, Yotel NYC, 570 Tenth Avenue (at 42nd Street), New York, NY 10036 at 7 PM. 

Today's top stories include the casting of Lana Gordon in the role of Persephone in Hadestown beginning Tuesday, February 22 at Broadway’s Walter Kerr Theatre. Plus, watch the premiere of the new web series, The Aging Ingenue! In today's episode: Claire gives a killer audition! ... but for which role? Starring Sara Jean Ford, Vishal Vaidya, Ashley Blanchet, and Will Reynolds.

The New Group's just celebrated opening night of Black No More, featuring Leanne Antonio, Rhaamell Burke-Missouri, Elijah A. Carter, Jennifer Damiano, Brandon Victor Dixon, Ryan Fitzgerald, Gaelen Gilliland, Polanco Jones Jr., Zachary Daniel Jones, Tamika Lawrence, Sarah Meahl, Howard McGillin, Mary Page Nance, Oneika Phillips, Nicholas Ranauro, Malaiyka Reid, Mars Rucker, Angela M. Sauers, Tracy Shayne, Theo Stockman, Ephraim Sykes, Tariq 'Black Thought' Trotter, Akron Watson, Nyla Watson, Edward Watts and Lillias White.

The New Group's Black No More is set to officially open on Tuesday, February 15. The complete cast features Leanne Antonio, Rhaamell Burke-Missouri, Elijah A. Carter, Jennifer Damiano, Brandon Victor Dixon, Ryan Fitzgerald, and more.

Tariq TrotterTariq Trotter returned to the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon last night to discuss the new Off-Broadway adaption of Black No More, which he stars in and wrote the music and lyrics for with the Roots. The cast also features Brandon Victor Dixon, Jennifer Damiano, Tamika Lawrence, Ephraim Sykes, Lillias White, and more.

The New Group has announced that the new musical Black No More will begin previews January 18, in advance of an Official Opening Night now set for Tuesday, February 15, a schedule update due to Covid-19.  Previews were previously slated to begin January 11.

The New Group has announced complete casting for the world premiere production of Black No More.  This new musical features Book by John Ridley, Music and Lyrics by Tariq Trotter, Music Supervision, Orchestrations and Vocal Arrangements by Daryl Waters, Choreography by Bill T. Jones and Direction by Scott Elliott. 

JAG Productions' concert staging of the Tony award-winning musical, Next to Normal, delivered a story that was nuanced and powerful.