Alexander Hodge will guest star in ABC’s drama pilot “Epic,” hailing from “Once Upon a Time” creators Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis. The actor joins previously announced lead cast members Eleanor Fanyinka and Brittany O’Grady in the ABC Signature production.
“Epic” is described as a romantic anthology series that reinvents fairytales for a new audience. O’Grady will play Luna, who is a fairytale princess made cynical by a broken heart. She doesn’t believe in love stories, which is unfortunate because she is about to find herself caught in the most epic one of all — her own. Fanyinka will play The Seer, a mysterious and playful figure who can lead you down the path of true love. ABC did not provide a character description for Hodge.
Most recently, Hodge was seen as Andrew on the fourth season of the critically acclaimed Issa Rae series “Insecure” on HBO, and...
“Epic” is described as a romantic anthology series that reinvents fairytales for a new audience. O’Grady will play Luna, who is a fairytale princess made cynical by a broken heart. She doesn’t believe in love stories, which is unfortunate because she is about to find herself caught in the most epic one of all — her own. Fanyinka will play The Seer, a mysterious and playful figure who can lead you down the path of true love. ABC did not provide a character description for Hodge.
Most recently, Hodge was seen as Andrew on the fourth season of the critically acclaimed Issa Rae series “Insecure” on HBO, and...
- 4/23/2021
- by Mónica Marie Zorrilla
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: The cast for The CW’s Painkiller is coming together as the Black Lightning spinoff has added Sibongile Mlambo, Alexander Hodge and James Roch.
Painkiller is planned as a planted pilot spinoff that will air as the seventh episode of Black Lightning’s fourth season which is currently airing on The CW. Jordan Calloway will reprise his role as the titular character while Black Lightning showrunner Salim Akil will write, exec produce and direct. Mlambo, Hodge and Roch will assume their roles should Painkiller be greenlit for production.
Mlambo is set to star as Maya, who is described as a “strikingly attractive woman yet is icy and mysterious”. She is a natural leader who immediately gives the impression that she is someone who expects results and is not to be messed around with.
Hodge will step into the role of Philky, a “ruggedly handsome with long raven hair, ink art on his body,...
Painkiller is planned as a planted pilot spinoff that will air as the seventh episode of Black Lightning’s fourth season which is currently airing on The CW. Jordan Calloway will reprise his role as the titular character while Black Lightning showrunner Salim Akil will write, exec produce and direct. Mlambo, Hodge and Roch will assume their roles should Painkiller be greenlit for production.
Mlambo is set to star as Maya, who is described as a “strikingly attractive woman yet is icy and mysterious”. She is a natural leader who immediately gives the impression that she is someone who expects results and is not to be messed around with.
Hodge will step into the role of Philky, a “ruggedly handsome with long raven hair, ink art on his body,...
- 2/16/2021
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Christiani Pitts (The Good Fight), Karen Obilom, (Games People Play), Alexander Hodge (Insecure), Tj Power (Offspring), Sylvaine Strike (District 9), Jeryl Prescott (Swamp Thing) and Tymberlee Hill (Search Party) have been added to the cast of the untitled Netflix rom-com from multiple Grammy winner Alicia Keys.
The new additions join previously announced star Christina Milian, Jay Pharoah and Sinqua Walls. Steven Tsuchida is directing from a screenplay by Dana Schmalenberg and Rheeqrheeq Chainey.
It’s about aspiring pop star Erica, who ends up as the entertainment at her ex-fiancé’s wedding after reluctantly taking a gig at a luxurious island resort while in the wake of a music-career meltdown. She tries to keep their past relationship a secret from his bride-to-be Beverly, but Erica rediscovers her feelings for her ex, Jason, despite his brother Caleb’s attempts to keep them from falling back in love. In this warm and funny...
The new additions join previously announced star Christina Milian, Jay Pharoah and Sinqua Walls. Steven Tsuchida is directing from a screenplay by Dana Schmalenberg and Rheeqrheeq Chainey.
It’s about aspiring pop star Erica, who ends up as the entertainment at her ex-fiancé’s wedding after reluctantly taking a gig at a luxurious island resort while in the wake of a music-career meltdown. She tries to keep their past relationship a secret from his bride-to-be Beverly, but Erica rediscovers her feelings for her ex, Jason, despite his brother Caleb’s attempts to keep them from falling back in love. In this warm and funny...
- 10/13/2020
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
The first annual Antonyo Awards honoring black Broadway and Off Broadway theater artists is set for streaming on June 19.
Created by Broadway Black, a multimedia organization that includes a website and podcast, the new awards ceremony will feature presenters and performers including Audra McDonald, Tituss Burgess, Alex Newell, Jordan E. Cooper, Teyonah Parris, Ephraim Sykes, Lachanze, Derrick Baskin, Nicolette Robinson, Jelani Alladin, Christiani Pitts, James Monroe Iglehart, Amber Iman, Kalen Allen, Nzinga Williams, Jackson Alexander, Cody Renard Richard, Ashton Muñiz, Shereen Pimentel, Kirsten Childs, Aisha Jackson, Antoine L. Smith, Griffin Matthews, Michael McElroy, Jocelyn Bioh and L Morgan Lee.
Online voting is open to the public through midnight Friday, June 12. Four special “Kinfolk Awards” – the Lorraine Hansberry Award, the Langston Hughes Award, Welcome Award and The Doors of the Theatre are Open Award – will be presented to members of...
Created by Broadway Black, a multimedia organization that includes a website and podcast, the new awards ceremony will feature presenters and performers including Audra McDonald, Tituss Burgess, Alex Newell, Jordan E. Cooper, Teyonah Parris, Ephraim Sykes, Lachanze, Derrick Baskin, Nicolette Robinson, Jelani Alladin, Christiani Pitts, James Monroe Iglehart, Amber Iman, Kalen Allen, Nzinga Williams, Jackson Alexander, Cody Renard Richard, Ashton Muñiz, Shereen Pimentel, Kirsten Childs, Aisha Jackson, Antoine L. Smith, Griffin Matthews, Michael McElroy, Jocelyn Bioh and L Morgan Lee.
Online voting is open to the public through midnight Friday, June 12. Four special “Kinfolk Awards” – the Lorraine Hansberry Award, the Langston Hughes Award, Welcome Award and The Doors of the Theatre are Open Award – will be presented to members of...
- 6/10/2020
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
A few weeks ago over at Broadway Sessions we were joined by an incredible lineup of artists for our Black History Month Celebration It was an amazing night full of beautiful moments from everyone involved. Performers included Nikki James Tony Award-Winner, Olivia Donalson Aladdin, Arica Jackson Head Over Heels, Laurissa 'Lala' Romain South Pacific, Kathryn Allison Wicked, Brennyn Lark Les Miserables, Antoine Smith Mj The Musical, Brynn Williams Spongebob, Carmen Ruby Floyd Hello Dolly, Joy Woods Little Shop Of Horrors, Olutayo Bosede Moulin Rouge, Crystal Joy Motown, Salome Smith Little Shop Of Horrors, L. Steven Taylor The Lion King, Imari Hardon Avenue Q, Anthony Chatmon Be More Chill, Ayana George Mj The Musical, Anastacia McClesky Waitress, Christiani Pitts King Kong, Jay McKenzie Beautiful.
- 2/18/2020
- by Ben Cameron
- BroadwayWorld.com
Two of Broadway’s more imposing figures are calling it quits: King Kong and The Cher Show have posted closing notices, the latest exits in the annual post-Tony culling.
Each production will play its final performance on Sunday, Aug. 18.
Though Cher star Stephanie J. Block and costume designer Bob Mackie won Tony Awards at the ceremony June 9, the wins apparently didn’t translate into a big enough box office boost to keep the beat going on. For the week ending June 23 – a prime week for the post-Tony b.o. benefits to make themselves known – The Cher Show grossed $858,578, about 58% of its potential at the Neil Simon Theatre.
Written by Rick Elice, directed by Jason Moore and starring Block, Teal Wicks and Micaela Diamond as Cher at various points in her life, the jukebox bio-musical opened Dec. 3, 2018, to mixed reviews, with most critics praising Block even when less than dazzled with the glitzy rest.
Each production will play its final performance on Sunday, Aug. 18.
Though Cher star Stephanie J. Block and costume designer Bob Mackie won Tony Awards at the ceremony June 9, the wins apparently didn’t translate into a big enough box office boost to keep the beat going on. For the week ending June 23 – a prime week for the post-Tony b.o. benefits to make themselves known – The Cher Show grossed $858,578, about 58% of its potential at the Neil Simon Theatre.
Written by Rick Elice, directed by Jason Moore and starring Block, Teal Wicks and Micaela Diamond as Cher at various points in her life, the jukebox bio-musical opened Dec. 3, 2018, to mixed reviews, with most critics praising Block even when less than dazzled with the glitzy rest.
- 6/26/2019
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
00The Tony Awards Administration Committee met for the third time in the 2018-2019 Broadway season, and announced eligibility rulings for the 73rd Annual Tony Awards. Seven productions were discussed in the meeting: “King Kong,” “Choir Boy,” “True West,” “Be More Chill,” “Kiss Me Kate,” “Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations” and “What the Constitution Means to Me.”
The committee made the following decisions:
Christiani Pitts and Eric William Morris will be eligible for Lead Actress/Actor in a Musical for their respective performances in “King Kong.”
Peter England’s projection design will be considered eligible along with his scenic design in the Best Scenic Design of a Musical category, for “King Kong.”
Jeremy Pope will be considered eligible for Lead Actor in a Play for his performance in “Choir Boy.”
Will Roland will be considered eligible for Lead Actor in a Musical category for his performance in “Be More Chill.
The committee made the following decisions:
Christiani Pitts and Eric William Morris will be eligible for Lead Actress/Actor in a Musical for their respective performances in “King Kong.”
Peter England’s projection design will be considered eligible along with his scenic design in the Best Scenic Design of a Musical category, for “King Kong.”
Jeremy Pope will be considered eligible for Lead Actor in a Play for his performance in “Choir Boy.”
Will Roland will be considered eligible for Lead Actor in a Musical category for his performance in “Be More Chill.
- 4/14/2019
- by Sam Eckmann
- Gold Derby
Playwrights Kenneth Lonergan, Harvey Fierstein and Mart Crowley – each of whom had older works produced on Broadway this season – will be eligible for Tony Awards, the Tony administration committee has determined.
The eligibilities were among a raft of such rulings made by the committee today in the third of four planned meetings. Other rulings focused mostly on category eligibility for performers in ensemble cast productions.
In the cases of Crowley and Lonergan, the two playwrights will benefit from a new Tony rule that allows living authors and composers of plays and musicals that had not previously been staged on Broadway to be eligible along with the producers in the Best Revival of a Play/Musical category. This season, Crowley’s The Boys in the Band and Lonergan’s The Waverly Gallery were staged on Broadway after debuting years ago Off Broadway..
As for Fierstein, he’s eligible for this season’s Torch Song due to another new rule: Authors and composers of Best Revival nominees are eligible with producers even if those authors and composers have previously won Tonys for the works – so long as the revivals have been “substantially reworked.” (Fierstein made significant changes to the former Torch Song Trilogy for the recent Torch Song).
Other determinations made today by the committee:
Christiani Pitts and Eric William Morris will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actress/Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical categories for their respective performances in King Kong; Peter England’s projection design will be considered eligible along with his scenic design in the Best Scenic Design of a Musical category, for his work on King Kong Jeremy Pope will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play category for his performance in Choir Boy Will Roland will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical category for his performance in Be More Chill; Beowulf Boritt and Alex Basco Koch will be considered jointly eligible in the Best Scenic Design of a Musical category for their work on Be More Chill; Corbin Bleu will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical category for his performance in Kiss Me, Kate; Derrick Baskin will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical category for his performance in Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations; Robert Brill and Peter Nigrini will be considered jointly eligible in the Best Scenic Design of a Musical category for their work on Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations; Heidi Schreck will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play category for her performance in What the Constitution Means to Me.
Nominations for the 2019 Tony Awards will be announced April 30. The 73rd Annual Tony Awards will air live on Sunday, June 9 at 8 Pm Et/delayed Pt) from New York’s Radio City Music Hall on CBS. James Corden will host.
The eligibilities were among a raft of such rulings made by the committee today in the third of four planned meetings. Other rulings focused mostly on category eligibility for performers in ensemble cast productions.
In the cases of Crowley and Lonergan, the two playwrights will benefit from a new Tony rule that allows living authors and composers of plays and musicals that had not previously been staged on Broadway to be eligible along with the producers in the Best Revival of a Play/Musical category. This season, Crowley’s The Boys in the Band and Lonergan’s The Waverly Gallery were staged on Broadway after debuting years ago Off Broadway..
As for Fierstein, he’s eligible for this season’s Torch Song due to another new rule: Authors and composers of Best Revival nominees are eligible with producers even if those authors and composers have previously won Tonys for the works – so long as the revivals have been “substantially reworked.” (Fierstein made significant changes to the former Torch Song Trilogy for the recent Torch Song).
Other determinations made today by the committee:
Christiani Pitts and Eric William Morris will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actress/Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical categories for their respective performances in King Kong; Peter England’s projection design will be considered eligible along with his scenic design in the Best Scenic Design of a Musical category, for his work on King Kong Jeremy Pope will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play category for his performance in Choir Boy Will Roland will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical category for his performance in Be More Chill; Beowulf Boritt and Alex Basco Koch will be considered jointly eligible in the Best Scenic Design of a Musical category for their work on Be More Chill; Corbin Bleu will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical category for his performance in Kiss Me, Kate; Derrick Baskin will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical category for his performance in Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations; Robert Brill and Peter Nigrini will be considered jointly eligible in the Best Scenic Design of a Musical category for their work on Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations; Heidi Schreck will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play category for her performance in What the Constitution Means to Me.
Nominations for the 2019 Tony Awards will be announced April 30. The 73rd Annual Tony Awards will air live on Sunday, June 9 at 8 Pm Et/delayed Pt) from New York’s Radio City Music Hall on CBS. James Corden will host.
- 4/11/2019
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
When Broadway’s King Kong opened earlier this month, critics did their best to one-up Beauty on how to kill a Beast. Big, hairy gloom might have settled over the cast following the show’s Nov. 8 opening, particularly after the publication of a New York Times pan that was unorthodox, if not downright bizarre. In place of a traditional review, Times critics Ben Brantley and Jesse Green published their back and forth conversation, taking turns lobbing brickbats. (“Ugh,” said Green; “aaaaaaaaargh,” responded Brantley)
Escaping the crossfire was Eric William Morris, the talented and appealing actor who plays Carl Denham, the 1930s-era New York movie director who heads off to Skull Island, along with unknown actress Ann Darrow (Christiani Pitts) in search of the legendary gorilla. Morris turns in a fine performance as Denham, playfully manipulating audience perceptions. Is he a hero? A scoundrel? Or worse?
Familiar to theater-goers and TV watchers alike,...
Escaping the crossfire was Eric William Morris, the talented and appealing actor who plays Carl Denham, the 1930s-era New York movie director who heads off to Skull Island, along with unknown actress Ann Darrow (Christiani Pitts) in search of the legendary gorilla. Morris turns in a fine performance as Denham, playfully manipulating audience perceptions. Is he a hero? A scoundrel? Or worse?
Familiar to theater-goers and TV watchers alike,...
- 11/30/2018
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Let’s get this straight: It’s all about the puppet, stupid.
The main attraction of King Kong, now officially open for awestruck audiences at the art deco Broadway Theatre in New York City, is naturally the much-anticipated 20 foot tall, 2,000 pound wonder of the world that’s been shipped in from Australia for all of us to admire. And it doesn’t disappoint. Except when it does.
Critics, of course, will lament the death of our musical tradition (yet again) with the eruption of King Kong onto the sacred Broadway...
The main attraction of King Kong, now officially open for awestruck audiences at the art deco Broadway Theatre in New York City, is naturally the much-anticipated 20 foot tall, 2,000 pound wonder of the world that’s been shipped in from Australia for all of us to admire. And it doesn’t disappoint. Except when it does.
Critics, of course, will lament the death of our musical tradition (yet again) with the eruption of King Kong onto the sacred Broadway...
- 11/9/2018
- by Jerry Portwood
- Rollingstone.com
Update, with video Eighth wonder of the world? King Kong probably isn’t even the eighth wonder of Broadway – those kids in The Ferryman aren’t giving up their spots anytime soon – but the big ape does provide some roaring good thrills.
Picking over Hollywood’s Depression Era beauty-and-the-beast tale for what still works and ditching what doesn’t – the casting of the African American Christiani Pitts as Ann Darrow swiftly does away with the freighted Fay Wray blonde beauty ideal – director Drew McOnie has captured a wildly impressive 1.2-ton puppet, even if the musical surrounding it is considerably less memorable.
So let’s cut to the chase. The monkey in this reported $35 million production is amazing, a 20-foot-tall hybrid of animatronics, puppetry and human performance. Fifteen puppeteers, mostly onstage, work the beast with ropes, poles and pulleys – a show in themselves as they slide down cables like ninjas. Each...
Picking over Hollywood’s Depression Era beauty-and-the-beast tale for what still works and ditching what doesn’t – the casting of the African American Christiani Pitts as Ann Darrow swiftly does away with the freighted Fay Wray blonde beauty ideal – director Drew McOnie has captured a wildly impressive 1.2-ton puppet, even if the musical surrounding it is considerably less memorable.
So let’s cut to the chase. The monkey in this reported $35 million production is amazing, a 20-foot-tall hybrid of animatronics, puppetry and human performance. Fifteen puppeteers, mostly onstage, work the beast with ropes, poles and pulleys – a show in themselves as they slide down cables like ninjas. Each...
- 11/9/2018
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
A new Broadway season is gearing up, and there are currently three productions of musicals (all new) set to open this fall. Could we be seeing any of them contend at next year’s Tony Awards? Below, we recap the plot of each musical as well as the awards history of its author, cast and creative types and the opening and (where applicable) closing dates.
“King Kong” (previews begin October 5; opens November 8)
In this musical adaptation of Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack’s classic 1933 film of the same name, an ambitious young actress and a maverick filmmaker voyage from the bustling streets of 1930s New York to an uncharted island to capture the greatest wonder the world has ever seen. At the center of this 21st-century reimagining: a 2,000-pound, 20-story gorilla, and the woman who risks everything to help him.
With a book by Tony-winning playwright Jack Thorne...
“King Kong” (previews begin October 5; opens November 8)
In this musical adaptation of Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack’s classic 1933 film of the same name, an ambitious young actress and a maverick filmmaker voyage from the bustling streets of 1930s New York to an uncharted island to capture the greatest wonder the world has ever seen. At the center of this 21st-century reimagining: a 2,000-pound, 20-story gorilla, and the woman who risks everything to help him.
With a book by Tony-winning playwright Jack Thorne...
- 9/27/2018
- by Jeffrey Kare
- Gold Derby
Broadway’s beast is offering a peek at its beauty: Check out the photo below of King Kong‘s Christiani Pitts, seen in costume and with the big ape for the first time.
Pitts (A Bronx Tale) plays Ann Darrow, the character made famous by Fay Wray in the 1933 film (and later played by Jessica Lange and Naomi Watts on the big screen). Written by Jack Thorne with a score by Marius de Vries and songs by Eddie Perfect, King Kong is directed and choreographed by Drew McOnie.
King Kong begins previews at the Broadway Theatre on Friday, October 5, with an opening on Thursday, November 8.
Kong, a 20-foot-tall, 2,000-pound mix of animatronics and puppetry, is designed by Sonny Tilders. Check out the behind-the-scenes video above for a good look at the creature.
Co-starring with Pitts are Eric William Morris as Carl Denham, and Erik Lochtefeld as Lumpy. The musical is...
Pitts (A Bronx Tale) plays Ann Darrow, the character made famous by Fay Wray in the 1933 film (and later played by Jessica Lange and Naomi Watts on the big screen). Written by Jack Thorne with a score by Marius de Vries and songs by Eddie Perfect, King Kong is directed and choreographed by Drew McOnie.
King Kong begins previews at the Broadway Theatre on Friday, October 5, with an opening on Thursday, November 8.
Kong, a 20-foot-tall, 2,000-pound mix of animatronics and puppetry, is designed by Sonny Tilders. Check out the behind-the-scenes video above for a good look at the creature.
Co-starring with Pitts are Eric William Morris as Carl Denham, and Erik Lochtefeld as Lumpy. The musical is...
- 9/24/2018
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Academy Award nominee Chazz Palminteri will join the cast of his Broadway musical A Bronx Tale in the role of Sonny beginning May 24.
Written by Palminteri, A Bronx Tale features music by Oscar, Grammy, and Tony Award winner Alan Menken and lyrics by Grammy Award winner and Oscar and Tony Award nominee Glenn Slater.
Based on the critically acclaimed play that inspired the now-classic film, the musical draws on the wisdom of the stoops of the Bronx in the 1960s, where a young man is caught between the father he loves and the mob boss he’d love to be. Featuring an original doo-wop score, the story is about respect, loyalty, love and family.
The musical is directed by two-time Oscar winner Robert De Niro and four-time Tony Award winner Jerry Zaks, with choreography by Tony nominee Sergio Trujillo. The show opened on December 1, 2016 and is now playing on Broadway...
Written by Palminteri, A Bronx Tale features music by Oscar, Grammy, and Tony Award winner Alan Menken and lyrics by Grammy Award winner and Oscar and Tony Award nominee Glenn Slater.
Based on the critically acclaimed play that inspired the now-classic film, the musical draws on the wisdom of the stoops of the Bronx in the 1960s, where a young man is caught between the father he loves and the mob boss he’d love to be. Featuring an original doo-wop score, the story is about respect, loyalty, love and family.
The musical is directed by two-time Oscar winner Robert De Niro and four-time Tony Award winner Jerry Zaks, with choreography by Tony nominee Sergio Trujillo. The show opened on December 1, 2016 and is now playing on Broadway...
- 5/3/2018
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
A Bronx Tale welcomes Christiani Pitts 'Jane' and Will Coombs 'Young Calogero' to the cast.
- 8/31/2017
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
A Bronx Tale welcomes Christiani Pitts 'Jane' and Will Coombs 'Young Calogero' to the cast.
- 8/28/2017
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
Cast members from A Bronx Tale boogied on down to Broadway Sessions on a recentThursdaynight. Stars Ariana DeBose, Bradley Gibson, Christiani Pitts and Kirstin Tucker gave us some insight into the kind of talent that keeps the box office burning up over on Belmont Avenue. Cast members tested their Alan Menken musical knowledge and even got our audience up and dancing Bronx Tale-style. The evening also featured performances by Broadway vet Jr Bruno and vocalist Lillian Andrea de Leon. Check out highlights here.
- 5/3/2017
- by Ben Cameron
- BroadwayWorld.com
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