Ashanti to Join "The Wiz"

Someone really hates me. I was all set to buy tix for “The Wiz”, set to hit Broadway again for a short few weeks when I got this news. Who will be playing Dorothy?...ASS-shanti!

She’s gonna be playing the role from June 12^th to July 5^th at the NYC Center. Source

Excuse me whist I go make arrangements. My soul just died.

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The Wiz is Back!

Word is that the black version of The Wizard of Oz, The Wiz, is returning to Broadway this summer.
It’ll have a run from June 12th through July 3rd and no one has been cast yet for any parts. Source
I’m so going to see this! Brewer and I will be on hand for one…or more performances.

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Anna Nicole Smith...The Musical

Anna Nicole Smith: The Musical is a go. Britain’s Royal Opera is planning a show that will cover her life from the time she was a stripper to her drug over dose and death.
The show will have music by Mark-Anthony Turnage and the libretto will be by Richard Thomas who co-created Jerry Springer: The Opera.
But the company’s director of opera, Elaine Padmore, insists the show “is not going to be tawdry; it is going to be witty, clever, thoughtful and sad.” She says, “It is not just a documentary about her, but a parable about celebrity and what it does to people.” Source
If she were still alive It would be ok (and by ‘OK’ I mean stupid but nothing to quibble over). But since she’s not around to defend herself against what is sure to be a hot mess, I’d call this wildly inappropriate.

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"New York" Gets Legit Acting Gig

Reality star, Tiffany “New York” Pollard will be getting a real chance to act soon. She’ll be joining The Vagina Monologues on its US tour.
“It’s kind of a serious actress type thingy and that’s what I’m striving to be,” she said. vh1
Dear God! After hearing her moan, “This di@k is propa!” whilst having nasty sexo with Flav, I can only imagine what her performance will be like.

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Leona to Play Mimi on Broadway?

Mimi says that she wants X-Factor winner Leona Lewis to play her in a musical about her life.
A source said: "Not only is she exotic, she's the only one who they reckon would be able to tackle Mariah's eight-octave vocal range."Supposedly if Leona cant do it, Vannessa Hudgens, Eva Longoria, and Mariah herself are being looked at to play the role. Source
So this is basically Glitter on Broadway. I think I’d be better on ice. I’d pay real money to see Mimi riffing across a cold slab of ice in sparkly leotard.

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The Hip-Hop Monologues?

I just heard about some Jim Jones, off off Broadway musical called The Hip-Hop Monalogues. I have no idea what it was about but according to Necole Bitchie it went a little something like this:
The off-broadway musical “Hip-Hop Monologues: Inside the Life & Mind of Jim Jones,” was basically a theatrical listening party for Jones’ upcoming album, Pray IV Reign. Half the time I was utterly confused trying to follow the story line while bopping my head to the beats. The majority of the singing was handled by Skull Gang’s Starr, while MTV ‘Real World: Syndey’ alum Parisa Montozaran played a reporter from E! Harlemworld Stories (lol!), and Dr. Benjamin Chavis killed his role as a compasionate Judge. But before I go on tearing the musical apart, I can’t stress the brilliance behind the concept…I mean seriously who else in hip hop turned a listening party into a musical?! Ummm…no one! Groundbreaking…I say YES! As for the album, Pray IV Reign, the songs were a mix of hood joints like “Frenemies” to party joints “Pop Champagne“. I left the theater wondering who is “Frenemies” about…Cam’ron maybe? Anywhoo, check out some pics I snapped trying to bypass the mob scene. Source
Why god? WHHHHHHYYY?!?!

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Aubrey's Infesting Broadway

Aubrey O’Day of the pop group Danity Kane is now on Broadway. She debuted as Amber Von Tussle, in the John Water’s hit “Hairspray” on Friday (July 18, 2008). Apparently before she became a member of Danity Kane Aubrey’s interests were more in musical theater. She says, "I've been doing it for a very long time, and this is my first love. My dream in life was to be on Broadway, so this is actually allowing me to fulfill my dreams." Source
It’s bad enough we have to deal with her presence on the music scene but now Broadway too! She’s like a disease. Excuse me whilst I take some penicillin. All this Aubrey is making me fill ill.

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New York Does the Theater?

New York’s got an acting gig! And no, I’m not talking about the performance she executes so flawlessly on I Love New York. No, no, my friends. Tiffany “New York” Pollard will be in a little play called Relationship Games and her character is described as an arrogant, self-centered, unemployed, man-eater from the south side of Chicago (HA!).
I’ve never been much of a fan of Nigra plays but trust and believe that if I were in Chicago that weekend I’d be in the front row. Hey Pabz, wanna take a weekend trip? Let me know!

Ticket Information:
Relationship Games
March 14th-15th
Arie Crown Theater
2301 S. Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL
(847-791-6458)
Ticketmaster