Initially reported by Blackvoices two months ago as something that was in development, producer Stephen Byrd has confirmed that Chiwetel Ejiofor and Thandie Newton will play the roles of Brick and Maggie the Cat, respectively, in the London theater production of 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof'.
Debbie Allen will again direct the play, and James Earl Jones and Phylicia Rashad will travel overseas and reprise their roles as Big Daddy and Big Mama.
Having established himself as comedian for most of his career with a TV series and numerous films to his credit, including 'Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa', which is currently in theaters, Cedric the Entertainer is taking on another challenging position, doing straight talk on the Great White Way.
In his Broadway debut, Cedric is starring with John Leguizamo and Haley Joel Osment in the revival of David Mamet's American Buffalo, which is playing at the Belasco Theatre.
The play concerns a team of men, Don, Teach, Bob, and Fletcher (who does not appear in the play, but is referred to), who are conspiring to steal a coin collection from a wealthy man.Cedric, who plays Don, the owner a junk shop, is the only one on stage throughout the show.
Cedric The Entertainer literally steals the show during the after-party for his Broadway debut in David Mamet's 'American Buffalo,' which opened at the Belasco Theatre Nov. 17, 2008.
Wilson Morales
'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' producers Stephen Byrd and Partner Alia celebrated the opening of 'American Buffalo' at the after-party on Nov. 17, 2008.
Wilson Morales
Haley Joel Osmet arrives to the after-party for 'American Buffalo' on Nov. 17, 2008.
Wilson Morales
John Leguizamo arrives to the after-party for 'American Buffalo' on Nov. 17, 2008.
Wilson Morales
Golden Brooks and Keith David are attached to star in Robert O' Hara's feature film directing debut with the horror film 'My Place In The Horror'. The film will be produced by Effie T. Brown and her production company, Duly Noted Inc..
A Black family reunion turns deadly when the elders have to make good on an ancient pact with a spirit of an ancestor. Now, it's this generation's turn to make the ultimate sacrifice. It is their duty and their destiny, but they won't give up without a fight to survive.
By Jawn Murray, BlackVoices.com
A rep for Katt Williams confirmed for the BV Buzz that the comic will take some time off to deal with his personal problems.
"Following an arduous 300 shows and an 18-month touring schedule that left him incredibly fatigued, Katt felt compelled to be with his family in an effort to deal with his stress. While doing so, he is under a doctor's care," his publicist Yvette Shearer said in a statement.
News broke this weekend in the Sumter, South Carolina newspaper The Item that Williams had undergone a psychiatric evaluation after exhibiting erratic behavior.
The incident in
(Read: 'No So Funny: The Real Reason Katt Williams Isn't Hosting BET's Hip-Hop Awards')
Comedian Katt Williams arrives to the BET Hip Hop Awards 2007 at the Atlanta Civic Center on October 13, 2007 in Atlanta, GA. Arnold Turner, WireImage.com Eddie Murphy and Katt Williams Black Enterprise Top 50 Hollywood Power Brokers List Party - Red Carpet Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Beverly Hills, California United States February 21, 2007 Photo by Malcolm Ali/WireImage.com To license this image (12862229), contact WireImage: U.S. +1-212-686-8900 / U.K. +44-207-868-8940 / Australia +61-2-8262-9222 / Germany +49-40-320-05521 / Japan: +81-3-5464-7020 +1 212-686-8901 (fax) info@wireimage.com (e-mail) www.wireimage.com (web site) Malcolm Ali, WireImage.com WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 28: Actor Katt Williams arrives at Chingy's Triple Platinum "Cha-Ching!" Party on June 28, 2004 at Pearl Nightclub in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards, Getty Images) People: Katt Williams Copyright: 2004 Getty Images By/Title: Amanda Edwards/Stringer Date Created: 28 Jun 2004 12:00 AM City, State, Country: West Hollywood, CA, United States Credit: Getty Images Collection: Getty Images Entertainment Source: Getty Images North America Date Submitted: 29 Jun 2004 05:14 AM File Size/Pixels/DPI: 504K/3000x2016/300 Keywords: trilby hat diamond earrings, One Person, Party, arriving, hat, smiling, White, Shirt, Half Length, Posed, Eye Contact Orientation: Vertical Object Name: 51004093AE020_chingy Amanda Edwards, Getty Images Katt Williams, host 2006 BET Hip-Hop Awards - Show Fox Theatre Atlanta, Georgia United States November 12, 2006 Photo by Rick Diamond, WireImage.com To license this image (11347017), contact WireImage: U.S. +1-212-686-8900 / U.K. +44-207-868-8940 / Australia +61-2-8262-9222 / Germany +49-40-320-05521 / Japan: +81-3-5464-7020 +1 212-686-8901 (fax) info@wireimage.com (e-mail) www.wireimage.com (web site) Rick Diamond, WireImage.com LAS VEGAS, NY - NOVEMBER 18: Comedian Katt Williams poses at the "Comic Relief 2006" show at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace November 18, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The benefit was held to help families in the Gulf Coast affected by Hurricane Katrina. (Photo by Ethan Miller, Getty Images) Ethan Miller, Getty Images
Katt Williams Pictures
'Quantum of Solace' grossed about $70 million dollars over the weekend, making it the top film at the box office and the highest grossing James Bond opener ever. It surpassed the $40 million dollars that the previous film, 'Casino Royale' did when the world didn't know who Daniel Craig was, except for those who had seen him in small roles in independent films. Since it's a sequel to the last film, which was well received by critics and audiences, there was a certain eagerness to find out where James Bond would go in his quest for vengeance. At the same time, with no new competition for Bond to go up against, first place was theirs for the taking.
As Director J.J. Abrams is touring around the Globe showing footage of next year's potential blockbuster, the trailer to 'Star Trek' has now leaked online.
Set to be released on May 8, 2009, the cast includes Zachary Quinto, Leonard Nimoy, Eric Bana, Chris Pine, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, Anton Yelchin, Zoe Saldana, John Cho, Bruce Greenwood, Winona Ryder, Rachel Nichols, Jennifer Morrison, Chris Hemsworth, Clifton Collins Jr., Ben Cross, and Tyler Perry.
Wanda Sykes has come out of the closet and is proudly stating that she is, indeed, "proud to be gay."The Gender Benders
BlackVoices.com takes an up-close and intimate look at how androgyny has crossed into mainstream entertainment culture via the work and depictions of transgendered people, transvestites, transsexuals, cross-dressers and gay icons. Sometimes dramatic, sometimes comedic, and often-times jarring, these gender-bending images leaves a lasting impression on all who bore witness. Take a gander.
Name: Flip Wilson
Profession: Actor/Comedian
Gender Bender: As the strong-looking, colorfully-dressed, flirtatious and outspoken Geraldine Jones, Wilson is credited with negotiating race and class bias by positively characterizing the average, working class black female.
Claim to Fame: After being featured on shows such as 'Laugh-In,' 'The Ed Sullivan Show' and 'The Tonight Show,' he landed his very own sketch variety show, which debuted on NBC in 1970.
Factoid: Flip Wilson was born Clerow Wilson, Jr. in Jersey City, NJ on December 8, 1933. On November 25, 1998 he succumbed to complications of liver cancer.
Name: Milton Berle
Profession: Actor/Comedian
Gender Bender: During his television heyday, "Uncle Miltie" (as many referred to him as) donned wigs and dresses during his slapstick comedy antics.
Claim to Fame: In 1948, NBC brought 'Texaco Star Theater' from radio to television, later naming Berle as the permanent host. The vaudevillian-styled show became a ratings hit, winning Emmy Awards after its first season.
Factoid: Milton Berle was born Mendel Berlinger in New York City on July 12, 1908. He passed away at the age of 93 on March 27, 2002.
Name: RuPaul
Profession: Singer/Actor/Drag Performer/Former Talk Show Host
Gender Bender: RuPaul, born RuPaul Andre Charles, became not only the first drag queen supermodel after signing a contract with M.A.C. cosmetics but he was also the first drag queen to have his own talk show.
Claim to Fame: At the height of the supermodel era, RuPaul released a dance/house album called 'Supermodel of the World' lead by the hit single 'Supermodel (You Better Work).' It became an MTV hit and topped the dance charts.
Factoid: On his 'Foxy Lady' album, he covered Diana Ross's 'Work That Body' and also appeared on her music video for the single, 'I Will Survive.'
Name: Wesley Snipes
Profession: Actor
Gender Bender: Snipes's character, "Noxeema Jackson," in 'To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar' is a drag queen who, along with fellow drag queens Vida Boheme and Chi-Chi, sets off on a road trip to Los Angeles only to have their car break down along the way.
Claim to Fame: Though his first movie was 'Wildcats' with Goldie Hawn, Snipes, made a name for himself in two popular black films of the early 90s, playing Nino Brown in 'New Jack City' and as Shadow Henderson in Spike Lee's 'Mo' Betta Blues.'
Factoid: Snipes holds a fifth degree black belt and also practices Capoeira, a Brazilian martial arts.
Name: Boy George
Profession: Singer/Songwriter
Gender Bender: Influenced by David Bowie and Iggy Pop, Boy George's androgynous look made him a stand-out in his group Culture Club.
Claim to Fame: Culture Club's 1983 debut, 'Kissing To Be Clever,' included the #1 song 'Do You Really Want To Hurt Me.'
Factoid: Boy George, real name: George Alan O'Dowd, later confessed to being bisexual and dating his Culture Club drummer Jon Moss for whom he wrote a great deal of his hit songs for.
Name: Sylvester
Profession: Musician/Drag Performer
Gender Bender: Sylvester got his start performing with a group of transvestites called The Cockettes in San Francisco. Record label pressure to reshape his image resulted in his reportedly showing up to meetings in full-on drag.
Claim to Fame: His first solo album, 'Step II,' which was released in 1978, earned him the name "The Queen of Disco" following the success of two disco classics, 'You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real),' and 'Dance (Disco Heat).'
Factoid: Before he passed away from complications due to AIDS, Sylvester (real name: Sylvester James) lived out one of his dreams, singing back-up for his idol Aretha Franklin on her album 'Who's Zoomin' Who?'
Name: Felicity Huffman
Profession: Actress
Gender Bender: As "Bree" in 'Transamerica,' Huffman plays a man-to-woman pre-operative transsexual who finds out that she has a son before her final surgical operation.
Claim to Fame: Huffman has gained popularity as the character Lynette Scavo on ABC's 'Desperate Housewives.'
Factoid: In 2005, Oprah Winfrey granted Felicity's "Wildest Dream" when she got to sing backup for her idol Tina Turner on Winfrey's talk show.
Name: Grace Jones
Profession: Model/Actress/Singer
Gender Bender: On the cover of her 1981 album, 'Nightclubbing,' Jones flaunted an androgynous look, with square-cut hair and a padded suit jacket, cigarette in mouth. Her height and overall new look was said to have influenced the cross-dressing movement of the 1980s.
Claim to Fame: Jones began her career as a model in New York and was once a muse to Andy Warhol. Her disco recordings were welcomed by a loyal gay following. Jones also appeared in 'Boomerang' as Helen Strangé.
Factoid: Jones was born in Spanish Town, Jamaica.
Name: Dustin Hoffman
Profession: Actor
Gender Bender: In 'Tootsie,' Hoffman played Michael Dorsey, an unemployed actor, who takes on the role of "Dorothy Michaels" a female soap opera actress and later falls in love with the show's leading actress.
Claim to Fame: Dustin Hoffman's first memorable role was in the 1967 film 'The Graduate' as a young college grad named Benjamin Braddock who gets himself into a messy situation by having an affair with a married woman and falling in love with her teenage daughter.
Factoid: In 1982, he reportedly wanted to play the title role in 'Gandhi,' but ended up signing up for 'Tootsie.' Oddly enough, he lost the Oscar for 'Tootsie' to Ben Kingsley who played Gandhi.
It doesn't matter what the title of film is, folks will always see a James Bond film. Yet, in this 22nd installment there is a catch: you need to see the previous film to pick up the pace. In the first sequel of the Bond franchise, 'Quantum of Solace' packs a lot of punch in a film filled with the usual car chases, stunt driven action scenes and beautiful women.
If you thought there was something missing from 'Casino Royale', then this film fills in the blanks. Daniel Craig returns as James Bond and in 'Solace', he is much bolder, less emotional, and more deadly then ever. While the plot gets confusing at times, the film still has the excitement that fans want to see.
Beginning from where 'Casino Royale' left off, Bond's still reeling from the death his girlfriend Vesper and in pursuit of her last boyfriend, who may have had a hand that led to her demise. When clues lead him and his boss M (Judi Dench) to Mr. White, they are left knowing that they can't trust anyone in their own organization, and that Mr. White and his associates are more dangerous than they expected them to be.
By Bridget Bland, BlackVoices.com
Fans can't get enough of the lives of R&B sensation Keyshia Cole and her controversial family.
On Tuesday night, BET premiered the first two episodes of the third season of 'Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is' and they couldn't have dreamed up how successful the show would be -- scoring incredible ratings, amassing over one million viewers.
Not only was it the network's#1 original series season premiere telecast for this year, the second episode scored the best ratings in the history of the network for an original program.
Coming out next month is 'A Good Day To Be Black and Sexy', an independent film that was officially and screened selected by both Sundance and AFI this year and was one of the few urban films picked up for distribution.
Being released through Magnolia Pictures on December 5, the film charts focuses on themes of sexuality and relationships among blacks in Los Angeles. The film's story is told through six different vignettes, which all come together in one day.
The film is directed by Dennis Dortch and stars Kathryn Taylor, Valley Jones, Chonte' Harri, Marcuis Harris, Mylika Davis (II), Jerome Hawkins, and Kareem J. Grimes.
Blackvoices has learned that Grammy-winner American soul singer, songwriter, and actress Erykah Badu has landed a leading role opposite Mos Def in the indie film, 'Bobby Zero'. The film will be produced by Effie Brown's Los Angeles-based production company Duly Noted. Also attached to the film are Peter Dinklage and Clifton Collins.
Mos Def will play the romantic lead in the story of a down-on-his-luck social satirist who gives up his artistic aspirations to work at an advertising agency.
The talented bohemian and his agoraphobic girlfriend hit rock bottom after years of struggling as a couple. To make ends meet, Bobby goes corporate with the advertising job and is confronted by his past beliefs, stepping outside the box and discovering that there the world is not what he expected.
By Bridget Bland, BlackVoices.com
It's almost that time of the year again. The holiday season is fast approaching and two-time Grammy Award nominee Ledisi is ready to spread some Yuletide cheer with her new Christmas album, 'It's Christmas,' which is in stores now.
The powerhouse singer-songwriter recently wowed the audience at "Black 2: Broadway's" benefit show last week at the historic Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York City with her rendition of Louis Armstrong's classic ballad 'What A Wonderful World,' which is featured on the new Verve Music release.
"Ledisi is a divine creation of soul and song," said Kevin-Anthony, the lead producer of the philanthropic event, which promotes arts for the black theater community. "She has tremendous talent and a tremendous journey ahead of her." (Exclusive video from the event is below.)
On December 4, she will kick off a 10-city "Christmas" tour at the Carolina Theatre in Durham, North Carolina. Following that date, she will make stops in Atlanta, her hometown of New Orleans, and Los Angeles. Complete tour dates listed below.
"This is my first Christmas album and I'm looking forward to performing the songs live in front of an audience," Ledisi told BlackVoices.com of the upcoming jaunt.
Coming out next January is an uplifting drama about love and family adapted from the book of the same name by renowned pastor and author Bishop T. D. Jakes. 'Not Easily Broken'stars Morris Chestnut and Taraji P. Henson.
Directed by Bill Duke, the film also features Maeve Quinlan, Jenifer Lewis, Kevin Hart, Cannon Jay, April Betts.
'Not Easily Broken' revolves around a couple whose strength and faith are tested after the wife is injured in a car crash and the husband becomes attracted to another woman.
Music producer/performer Timbaland (Tim Mosley), who has previously contributed to the soundtracks of more than 50 film and TV projects such as 'Get Smart', 'Romeo Must Die,' and 'Bad Boys,' will produce writer/director Richard Zelniker's 'Vinyl' along with the production company Duly Noted, headed by Effie T. Brown. Timbaland will spearhead through his own firm Mosley Media Group and serve as the Executive Producer while Brown will be the producer.
'Vinyl', which follows five young women who face dramatic, life-altering choices about their friendships and their relationships with members of an up and coming rock and roll band, illustrates both Timbaland and Brown's diverse interests.
Brown says, "Richard and I knew that Timbaland and Mosley Media Group would be the perfect partner to make 'Vinyl' a reality – bringing real life experience to a strong character-driven film with a completely new sound from a rock band that has yet to be heard.
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