Latest news with #MajesticTheatre
CBS News
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Broadway star Audra McDonald on "emotional dive" into her latest role
When Audra McDonald won her first Tony Award at 23, it was just the beginning of a record-breaking Broadway career. Earlier this month, she received her 11th Tony nomination, making her the most Tony-nominated actor of all time. McDonald received the nomination for her portrayal of Mama Rose in the latest Broadway revival of "Gypsy." If she wins this Sunday, she'll make history as the performer with the most Tonys ever. Before she discovered the stage, McDonald described herself as a hyperactive kid who would express her emotions frequently. "I had big feelings. I had music in my heart. And so once I found theater, it was like I have a place to put my big feelings now," she said. Those emotions are on full display as Mama Rose, a character based on the real-life mother of famed burlesque entertainer Gypsy Rose Lee. It is currently being shown at the Majestic Theatre. In the musical, Mama Rose is an intense stage mom. McDonald first stepped into the role during a concert at Carnegie Hall in 2022, performing the musical's emotional climax "Rose's Turn." "It was the same time of year that I was getting ready to send my daughter off to college. And I was dealing with all this rage I was having at my sweet, wonderful daughter," McDonald said. "And I burst into tears and I realized it's because my baby's leaving and I'm sad. So then that was my first sort, like, emotional dive into Rose." McDonald is the first Black woman to portray Mama Rose on Broadway. Director George C. Wolfe guided her interpretation of what Rose would be experiencing in the 1920s and 30s, with not one word of the original script changed. "George talks a lot about Rose's obsession with the kids becoming stars is because being a star protects you in some way. You got star money, you could eat. You got star money, maybe you won't be lynched," McDonald explained. "And so she as a single woman at this time, abandoned three times by her husbands, abandoned by her mother, not really treated all that well by her father, she's tryin' to protect these babies." Behind the Curtain The "CBS Mornings" interview went backstage to find out what happens when the curtain closes. McDonald and her co-star Danny Burstein are "of a certain age," she laughed, noting they don't run up the stairs after performances. McDonald showed how she warms up to take on the demanding role. "One thing that a lotta singers do is humming. Just like (humming), you're doing things like that just to sort of and people do that, whether you're singing or not. It's good just to sort of make sure that everything's sort of moving and healthy. And you know, to do it eight times a week," she said. Inspiring the next generation Despite her countless accolades, McDonald still struggles with being called a legend. "If it can mean something to some little Black girl somewhere who says 'She did it and she looks like me so I can do it,' great," she said. "But I can't really comprehend what that means to me about me. You know what I mean? 'Cause I can't, you know, as I see how dirty my closet is, and the fact that I have not done laundry in four weeks." When asked about her own legends, McDonald became emotional while naming the likes of Diahann Carroll, Ruby Dee and Lena Horne. "They're not here. And they meant a lot to me. I could see them. They were doing it. They looked like me," she said. The 78th Annual Tony Awards will take place this Sunday, June 8, 2025, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. You can watch the on CBS and stream live on Paramount+
USA Today
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
A Betty Boop musical shouldn't work. But with Jasmine Amy Rogers, it's 'phenomenal.'
A Betty Boop musical shouldn't work. But with Jasmine Amy Rogers, it's 'phenomenal.' Show Caption Hide Caption Betty Boop, Broadway star? New musical reimagines the pop-culture icon Betty Boop trades her cartoon world for New York City in "Boop! The Musical," starring Jasmine Amy Rogers and featuring songs by David Foster. NEW YORK — In high-school choir, Jasmine Amy Rogers discovered Audra McDonald, the six-time Tony-winning Broadway legend. 'I cried the first time I heard her voice,' recalls Rogers, 26. 'I was seeing a Black woman do something I don't think I'd ever seen before and it changed my life. I was able to look at myself in a different way. Now she's right next door, which is out of this world.' The powerhouse performers are starring just steps away from each other on 44th Street: McDonald in 'Gypsy' at the Majestic Theatre, and Rogers in 'Boop! The Musical' at the Broadhurst. They are also both nominated for best leading actress in a musical at the Tony Awards, airing June 8 from Radio City Music Hall (8 ET/5 PT on CBS and streaming on Paramount+). 'I'm just the luckiest girl in the world,' says Rogers, who is making her Broadway debut as Betty Boop, the spit-curled, baby-voiced flapper whose visage has become a familiar staple of American pop culture. The unlikely musical comedy imagines if Betty traded her black-and-white, pen-and-ink world for the hustle and bustle of present-day New York, where she falls in love with a dashing trumpeter (Ainsley Melham) and brings down a corrupt mayoral candidate (Erich Bergen). Betty made her first appearance in 1930 in Fleischer Studios' 'Dizzy Dishes.' Many of her earliest cartoons centered on Betty being chased and preyed upon by creepy men, although the stage show helps bring the sexpot into the 21st century, showing how she has always been a subversive, feminist icon, with varied careers and an unwavering moral compass. 'She has such a strong sense of right and wrong, and loves other people,' Rogers says. The character's popularity peaked nearly 90 years ago, meaning many audiences seeing 'Boop!' will be introduced to her for the first time. 'It's liberating, because we've gotten to take so much ownership of her. It's really, really special to get to bring new life to Betty.' How Jasmine Amy Rogers 'completely transforms' into Betty Boop For Rogers, 'it's been a long, long road' to playing Betty on Broadway. In early workshops of the show, she was originally cast as Trisha, a teenage Boop superfan now portrayed by actress Angelica Hale. But when the youthful character was reconceived, she went back to the drawing board and auditioned to play Betty herself. Initially, "I kind of blew it,' Rogers says. 'I was so nervous to the point where I couldn't get any of the dancing down. I was just a wreck.' But after finishing her stint on the 'Mean Girls' national tour, Rogers was eager to take another crack at the role. 'I contacted my agents and was like, 'I need to get back in. I just have this feeling.'' After a half dozen rounds of auditions, Rogers was eventually cast as Betty, and led the musical's out-of-town tryout in Chicago in late 2023. To inhabit Betty, 'the physicality was very nerve-racking for me,' she admits. The newcomer enrolled in tap classes, and trained fastidiously with associate choreographer Rachelle Rak, figuring out how an animated siren might walk and stand. She also perfected Betty's high-pitched voice, which sits quite comfortably in the soft palate of her mouth. 'It's almost effortless; it just flies out,' Rogers says. 'The way I speak day-to-day is probably more harmful for me than Betty's voice.' Rogers is a 'a triple threat,' says David Foster, who composed the musical's score. 'She has charisma and that's something you just can't buy. She's so confident, and every microsecond that she's on stage, she's Betty. Her facial expressions, her body movements – she completely transforms into that character and doesn't let up for one split second. It's pretty phenomenal." Just a few years ago, the Tony nominee was a restaurant hostess Rogers was born in Boston and started doing theater in Milford, Massachusetts. Her very first show was 'Peter Pan,' where she memorably out-sang the girl playing Tiger Lily. "I had no sense of, 'This is her song and maybe don't scream over her,'" she remembers. 'I was just fully belting at 7 years old in the little chorus of tribe members. But I just fell in love with it from that moment and never stopped.' Her first professional gig was in the 2019 musical 'Becoming Nancy' in Atlanta, helmed by 'Boop!' director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell. She followed that with Dion DiMucci bio-musical 'The Wanderer' at New Jersey's Paper Mill Playhouse. 'I got to act in a way that I hadn't yet in my career," Rogers says. "That solidified for me, 'Oh, I'm in the right place and doing the thing I love. This is just meant to be.'" Between jobs, she supplemented her income as a babysitter, as well as a hostess at Jacob's Pickles on New York's Upper West Side. She worked there for two months before booking "Mean Girls" in 2022. 'That was a little side hustle I had for a while,' Rogers recalls, laughing. 'It's a good restaurant, but I hope I never have to be a hostess ever again. It was not for me!' "Boop! The Musical" is now playing at the Broadhurst Theatre (235 W. 44th Street).
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First Post
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- First Post
Tanvi The Great: Anupam Kher shares a warm hug with Robert De Niro at Cannes 2025; calls him 'the greatest actor of all times' WATCH
Legendary Hollywood actor Robert De Niro is currently in Cannes where he received the honorary Palme d'Or award for Lifetime Achievement. Meanwhile, acclaimed Indian actor Anupam Kher is also in attendance for the world premiere of Tanvi the Great. The two long-time friends took the opportunity to catch up during the festival where Anupam Kher spoke about the film to him. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He also introduced debutante Shubhangi to Robert De Niro, who graciously offered her his best wishes. Their warm interaction highlighted the spirit of mutual admiration and cross-cultural support that festivals like Cannes continue to inspire. Sharing the beautiful video of him meeting De Niro and their conversation, Kher wrote, 'IN CANNES: BEST HUG FROM THE GREATEST ACTOR OF ALL TIMES! ❤️ It was the most amazing feeling to meet my friend #RobertDeNiro, his graceful wife #Tiffany and their beautiful daughter #Jia in #Cannes! Their love and affection touched me deeply. Congratulated him for getting the most prestigious award Palme d'Or award at the opening of #CannesFilmFestival. Told him about the #WorldPremiere of #TanviTheGreat in Cannes! He met #Shubhangi (Tavi) and our other crew members very warmly! Showed him the first poster (to be released tomorrow) of our film! He LOVED it. Thank you dearest Mr. De Niro for your love, warmth, that wonderful hug, the delicious lunch and your infectious BRILLIANCE over the years! Having you as a friend is the biggest blessing I could have ever asked for! 🕉🙏 Also a big THANK YOU to dearest #Tiffany for your hospitality and generosity! And for shooting this video! Jai Ho!' HARD WORK…. BEING HONEST…. and OPTIMISM are a LETHAL combination for sure shot SUCCESS!😎 Walked the #RedCarpet for the film #TwoProsecutors! Watched it at the #MajesticTheatre! Thank you @ @ for your generosity! हालांकि #TanviTheGreat का… — Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) May 15, 2025 Congratulations to dear #RobertDeNiro for Palme d'Or Award at the #CannesFilmFestival2025. You are literally the #Godfather of Acting. It is my honour and privilege to share screen with you. And to call you my friend. Thank you for the INSPIRATION and the BRILLIANCE over the… — Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) May 14, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Tanvi The Great is directed by Anupam Kher and is set to release soon.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Audra McDonald Becomes Most-Nominated Performer in Tonys History: 'Doesn't Seem Real'
Audra McDonald is among the newly announced 2025 Tony Award nominations, for Lead Actress in a Musical as Mama Rose in the Broadway revival of She is now the most Tony-nominated performer in the awards' history with 11 total over her career McDonald reacted to the recognition in a statement, saying she was 'so incredibly grateful to share this with the world' Audra McDonald is making Tony Awards history — again. Upon the Thursday, May 1 announcement of this year's Tony nominations, the 54-year-old star is officially the most recognized performer in the theater awards' history. Already the record holder for most acting wins with six, McDonald is now the most Tony-nominated performer thanks to her leading turn in the acclaimed revival of Gypsy at Broadway's Majestic Theatre bringing her to 11 nods. In a statement, McDonald praised her fellow nominees and noted that Mama Rose, her role in the Jule Styne, Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Laurents musical, had never been played by a Black performer on Broadway until this season. Related: Oprah Winfrey Brought to Tears After Performance of Broadway's Gypsy: 'I Want to Be a Better Human Being' 'I'm so honored to have been nominated for Gypsy alongside Joy Woods, Danny Burstein and Camille A. Brown. As a Black actor, Rose was never a character I thought I would play until my dear friend Gavin Creel planted the idea in my head,' she said. (Tony-winning Broadway star Creel died in September 2024 at age 48.) 'It took a long time for the idea to germinate, and I never would've been able to get here without the vision of our director George C. Wolfe, and the immense talent of our creative team and cast,' concluded McDonald. 'I feel so incredibly grateful to share this Gypsy with the world and to be a part of the legacy of one of the most perfect musicals ever written.' Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, the Gilded Age star said, 'I'm so lucky. The one thing I always wanted to do growing up, one thing that gave me joy and kind of gave me purpose and made me feel most like myself was to perform theater. And so to be at this point and to have that kind of recognition is just overwhelming. I'm grateful, and it doesn't seem real, because I don't know how to process that.' With her 2014 win for playing Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, McDonald became the most Tony-awarded performer in history with six, and the only one with wins in all four acting categories. Before her Gypsy recognition, she was tied for most acting nominations with Julie Harris and Chita Rivera at 10 each. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Gypsy has been revived countless times on Broadway since Ethel Merman originated the role of Rose, with stars like Tyne Daly, Angela Lansbury, Bernadette Peters and Patti LuPone playing the iconic character. Screen versions include those starring Rosalind Russell (1962), Bette Midler (1993) and a filmed version of the 2015 London revival starring Imelda Staunton. Related: Audra McDonald Once 'Snapped' When a Cellphone Rang During Performance: 'I Scared the S--- Out of the Audience' 'I am so honored to be a part of this production," McDonal told PEOPLE in October ahead of the production's opening. "Gypsy is a perfect musical. We have an absolutely stellar cast, all led by the brilliant George C. Wolfe who is a true theater visionary.' Leading this year's Tony nominations, announced by Sarah Paulson and Wendell Pierce on Thursday, were musicals Buena Vista Social Club, Death Becomes Her and Maybe Happy Ending, plus new plays John Proctor is the Villain and The Hills of California. The 2025 Tony Awards will take place on Sunday, June 8, at Radio City Musical Hall in New York City. Broadway veteran and Wicked star Cynthia Erivo will host the ceremony. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
NEWS OF THE WEEK: Carlos Santana hospitalised after medical emergency during sound check
A rep for Santana told TMZ that the legendary guitarist was at the Majestic Theatre in San Antonio, Texas, when he suffered a medical emergency due to suspected dehydration. Eyewitnesses told the outlet that the incident happened during a sound check, and the musician was taken out on a gurney before being put into an ambulance. Santana was transported to a San Antonio hospital, where he remained under observation as of early Tuesday evening, according to his rep, who added that the star is "doing well". Tuesday night's concert was cancelled as a result of the 10-time Grammy winner's health scare.
