Toni-Leslie James News

The Museum of Broadway has added new costumes including the feathered finale dress worn by Stephanie J. Block in The Cher Show (2018) designed by Tony Award-winning costume designer Bob Mackie, as well as a dress worn by Eartha Kitt in The Wild Party (2000) and a dress worn by Audra McDonald in Marie Christine (1999).

Full casting has been announced for A Wonderful World, A New Musical about the Life and Loves of Louis Armstrong, which was previously announced to star James Monroe Iglehart.  The production also welcomes multiple Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award nominee Vanessa Williams to the lead producing team.  Find out more about the show, and the cast, here!

On September 11, 2001 the world stopped. On September 12, their stories moved us  all. Broadway In Boston has announced the return of COME FROM AWAY, the true story  of the small town that welcomed the world. Performances at the Citizens Bank Opera House August 8-13, 2023 as part of the Lexus 22/23 Broadway In Boston Season.  

Come From Away, the multi award-winning ‘Best Musical’ across the globe, has announced dates and venues for its first ever tour of the UK and Ireland. This critically acclaimed show comes direct from the West End where it celebrated over 1000 performances and played to more than 850,000 people at the Phoenix Theatre.

A Transparent Musical is making its world premiere at Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum through June 25, 2023. Check out a first look at production photos here!

David Geffen School of Drama at Yale will present its Design Showcase in New York City.

The hit Broadway revival of August Wilson's The Piano Lesson is featured in the latest episode of “Working in the Theatre” with director LaTanya Richardson Jackson and set designer Beowulf Boritt. The episode features exclusive interviews and discussion on their collaboration on August Wilson's The Piano Lesson.

Broadway in Portland has announced the return of the national tour of COME FROM AWAY, a Broadway musical about the true story of the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed the world on September 11, 2001.

The cast of A Transparent Musical, from the creators of the hit Amazon series, has now been determined. See who is starring, and learn how to purchase tickets!

The American Theatre Guild will present the must-see engagement of COME FROM AWAY, a Broadway musical about the true story of the small town that welcomed the world. This production is part of the BROADWAY IN EUGENE SERIES and will take the Hult Center stage for eight performances April 25–30, 2023.

New York City Center Encores! presents Dear World, which features music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, book by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, running through March 19, 2023. This madcap romp is directed and choreographed by Josh Rhodes, who helmed Herman's Mack & Mabel (2019 Encores!), with new Encores! Music Director Mary-Mitchell Campbell leading The Encores! Orchestra. Read reviews for the production!

Geffen Playhouse has announced the full cast for the U.S. premiere of Ava: The Secret Conversations, written by and featuring Academy Award, Golden Globe and Emmy Award-nominated Elizabeth McGovern (Once Upon a Time in America, Downton Abbey) as Ava Gardner, and directed by Tony Award-nominated Moritz von Stuelpnagel (Bernhardt/Hamlet, Present Laughter).

Come From Away isn’t just a must-see, it’s a must-feel, so take advantage of seeing this tremendous production in person, while it’s at the Providence Performing Arts Center and get “all the feels.”

The Broadway revival of August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson will be filmed for the Lincoln Center Theatre on Film and Tape Archives. See how to purchase tickets to The Piano Lesson, and more!

The 1/52 Project, the financial grant program funded largely by Broadway designers, has announced that applications are now being accepted for early-career designer recipients to benefit from $100,000 in grants.

On January 29, the Broadway revival of August Wilson's The Piano Lesson concludes its run at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, having played 27 previews and 124 regular performances. The production is the highest grossing revival of a play on Broadway and the highest grossing Wilson production on Broadway ever.

The titular prop piano in the hit Broadway revival of August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson will be donated to The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture after the culmination of the production’s recently-extended run.

Marika Aubrey was born and raised in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. She emigrated to the US six years ago and currently resides in New York City. She is currently on tour with COME FROM AWAY, portraying Captain Beverly Bass. I had the chance to chat with her about her life and career both on and off the stage.

The Broadway revival of August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson has officially become the highest grossing Wilson play on Broadway in history.

Casting changes have been announced through the end of the extended run of The Piano Lesson on Broadway, which concludes on January 29, 2023. See how to purchase tickets and more.