According to Hollywood Reporter, Nas is helping to develop a musical adaptation of Beat Street for Broadway. During the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival, a 40th anniversary screening was held to revisit, Beat Street, the 1984 dramatic deep dive into hip-hop’s origins.
But that event was just the beginning. Nas reportedly delivered a speech about its importance and why he signed onto the adaption. “Beat Street wasn’t just a film,” he said. “It spread the revolution of hip-hop culture throughout the country and the world. It left an indelible mark, inspiring generations of young artists and creating new hip-hop fans alike. It’s a thrill for me to join the creative team of Beat Street, bringing the raw energy of hip-hop into the fabric of Broadway. It’s an honor to breathe new life into this iconic work and celebrate its enduring legacy.”
As far as Nas’ role with the forthcoming production, the emcee will reportedly “expand and create new material from the film’s soundtrack for the musical” in addition to his responsibilities as producer alongside Arthur Baker. Baker originally served as a composer and music producer for the original film.
The timeline for the project hasn’t been shared. But this professional endeavors marks a trend in musicians’ domination on Broadway. Both Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen and the Sufjan Stevens-inspired Illinoise, snagged several 2024 Tony Award nominations.
Nas will be helping adapt the 1984 film, Beat Street, into a Broadway musical. He announced the project while presenting a screening of the classic hip-hop film at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival on Friday in celebration of the film’s 40th anniversary. In bringing the movie to the stage, he’ll be serving as a producer alongside several key filmmakers from the original. They include Arthur Baker, who was an original co-producer, composer, and music producer as well as Michael Holman, who was an associate producer of the original film.
“Beat Street wasn’t just a film – it spread the revolution of hip-hop culture throughout the country and the world. It left an indelible mark, inspiring generations of young artists and creating new hip-hop fans alike,” Nas told The Hollywood Reporter. “It’s a thrill for me to join the creative team of Beat Street, bringing the raw energy of hip-hop into the fabric of Broadway. It’s an honor to breathe new life into this iconic work and celebrate its enduring legacy.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 15: (L-R) Martin Scorsese, Nas and Robert De Niro attend the “Mean Streets” Screening during the 2024 Tribeca Festival at Beacon Theatre on June 15, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival)
The original cast for Beat Street featured Rae Dawn Chong, Guy Davis, and more in addition to several hip-hop artists. Those included DJ Kool Herc, Afrika Bambataa & The Sonic Force, Doug E. Fresh, Treacherous Three, and Melle Mel. Check out a trailer for the original film below.
“Beat Street” Headed To Broadway
In addition to celebrating the 40th anniversary of Beat Street, Nas also recently made an announcement in honor of the 30th anniversary of his classic album, Illmatic. He’ll be embarking on a tour to perform the project. Be on the lookout for further updates on Nas on HotNewHipHop.
Nathan Lane is a celebrated figure in the world of theater and film. He also boasts a net worth of $25 million as of 2024, according to CelebrityNetWorth. Known for his versatile talent and memorable performances, Lane’s career spans over four decades. It is marked by numerous accolades and critical acclaim. His journey from a small-town actor to a Broadway legend and Hollywood star is a testament to his enduring appeal and remarkable skill.
Born Joseph Lane on February 3, 1956, in Jersey City, New Jersey, Nathan Lane discovered his passion for acting at an early age. Overcoming personal and professional challenges, he has emerged as one of the most respected and beloved performers in the entertainment industry. His contributions to theater, film, and television have earned him substantial financial success and a lasting legacy in the arts.
Broadway Stardom
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 16: Nathan Lane attends God’s Love We Deliver, Golden Heart Awards at Spring Studios on October 16, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Michael Kors)
Nathan Lane’s ascent to stardom began on the Broadway stage, where his dynamic performances quickly earned him a reputation as a formidable talent. His breakthrough role came in the 1992 revival of Guys and Dolls, where he played the lovable rogue Nathan Detroit. This performance garnered Lane his first Tony Award nomination, cementing his status as a Broadway powerhouse.
Lane’s collaboration with director Jerry Zaks in productions such as A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and The Man Who Came to Dinner showcased his comedic genius and versatility. However, it was his portrayal of Max Bialystock in Mel Brooks’ The Producers that solidified his place in Broadway history. The role earned him a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical and broke box office records, further boosting his career and net worth.
Film & Television Success
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 16: Nathan Lane attends God’s Love We Deliver, Golden Heart Awards at Spring Studios on October 16, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Michael Kors)
While Nathan Lane’s heart has always belonged to the theater, his talents have also shone brightly on the silver screen and television. His film career includes memorable roles in The Birdcage, where he starred alongside Robin Williams, and provided a hilarious and heartfelt performance that resonated with audiences. Other notable films include Mouse Hunt, Stuart Little, and The Lion King, where he voiced the iconic character Timon.
Lane’s television work has been equally impressive, with guest appearances on popular shows like Modern Family and The Good Wife. His role in the television adaptation of The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story as F. Lee Bailey demonstrated his dramatic range, earning him critical praise and expanding his already impressive portfolio. These ventures into film and television have significantly contributed to his $25 million net worth, showcasing his ability to captivate audiences across different mediums.
Awards & Honors
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 02: Nathan Lane and Robin Williams pose backstage at the hit play. “Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo” at The Richard Rogers Theater on April 2, 2011, also in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic)
Throughout his illustrious career, Nathan Lane has received numerous awards and honors that reflect his exceptional talent and dedication to the arts. In addition to his multiple Tony Awards, Lane has been honored with Drama Desk Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His contributions to the entertainment industry were further recognized with a special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2022. Further, Lane’s impact extends beyond his performances. He is also a passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and an active supporter of charitable organizations. His openness about his own experiences as a gay man has made him an influential figure in the fight for equality and representation in the arts.
Billy Porter is a multifaceted artist whose talents span acting, singing, and fashion iconography. He has made an indelible mark on Broadway and Hollywood. With a career that defies traditional boundaries, Porter’s unique blend of charisma and advocacy has earned him critical acclaim and a substantial net worth. As of 2024, Billy Porter’s net worth is reported to be $5 million, according to Celeb Worth Magazine. This figure represents not just financial success but achievements in a career that has been both groundbreaking and inspirational. Further, Porter’s journey from the stages of Broadway to the red carpets of Hollywood tells a story of relentless pursuit of self-expression.
A Broadway Phenomenon: The Rise Of Billy Porter
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 10: Billy Porter attends the 80th Annual Golden Globe. Awards at The Beverly Hilton on January 10, 2023 also in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/FilmMagic)
Billy Porter’s ascent to fame is rooted in his Broadway career. His performances have consistently drawn both audience admiration and critical acclaim. Perhaps most notably, his role as Lola in the musical Kinky Boots stands as a career-defining moment. It also earned him a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical in 2013. This role showcased Porter’s exceptional range and ability to connect with audiences. Beyond Kinky Boots, Porter’s Broadway repertoire includes roles in productions such as Miss Saigon, Grease, and Smokey Joe’s Café, each contributing to his reputation as one of Broadway’s most versatile and dynamic performers.
Breaking Barriers: Advocacy & Representation
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 14: Billy Porter and Adam Smith attend The Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards Preview Celebration – Milos Private Party on March 14, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for Related)
Beyond his contributions to theater and film, Billy Porter has become a prominent advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and representation. His unabashed openness about his sexuality and his experiences as a gay black man in America have made him a powerful voice in the fight for equality and visibility. Porter’s fashion choices, particularly his appearances on red carpets wearing bold, gender-nonconforming outfits, have also made him an icon of self-expression and inclusivity. These moments are not just fashion statements but acts of political defiance, challenging traditional norms and advocating for a more accepting and diverse society.
A Lasting Impact: Contributions To Art & Culture
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 06: Billy Porter attends The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)
Billy Porter’s influence extends beyond his performances; his contributions to art and culture have left a lasting impact. His Emmy-winning role in the television series Pose has been praised for its groundbreaking portrayal of the LGBTQ+ community and the ballroom culture of the 1980s and ’90s. Through this role, Porter has not only entertained but educated, shedding light on important historical and societal issues. Additionally, his music career, which includes the release of several albums and singles, adds another layer to his artistic output, further cementing his status as a multidisciplinary artist.
Alicia Keys has had a prolific 2023. This year, she released a new Christmas album, celebrated the 20th anniversary of her album, The Diary Of Alicia Keys, and toured North America. As 2023 comes to a close, Keys has set her sights on an exciting 2024, announcing that her musical, Hell’s Kitchen will be coming to Broadway in the new year. The stage jukebox musical premiered off-Broadway just last month at the Newman Theater in New York. The current iteration opened on November 19 and will run through January 7, 2024.
Beginning March 28, 2024, Broadway performances will take place at the Shubert Theatre in New York, with tickets on sale now. The show’s runtime clocks in at 2.5 hours with an intermission. It will play eight performances a week, with two shows each on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Throughout the past month, Alicia Keys has been heavily promoting her latest endeavor and is taking it to the next level with its upcoming Broadway adaptation. As we await the premiere of her Broadway musical, here is what we know so far about Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen.
Alicia Keys handles the music and lyrics of Hell’s Kitchen and does not appear in the production. This is not her first introduction to Broadway as she previously served as a producer and musical composer for Stick Fly in 2012. The music for Hell’s Kitchen includes songs from Alicia Keys’ discography, such as “Fallin’,” “No One,” “Girl On Fire,” “If I Ain’t Got You,” and “Empire State Of Mind.” According to the musical’s website, these songs “appear alongside previously unreleased and entirely new music from Keys.”
In addition to Alicia Keys, the creative team behind Hell’s Kitchen includes many notable names in theater. Pulitzer Prize finalist Kristoffer Diaz handles the book, Tony Award Nominee Camille A. Brown choreographed the show, and Tony Award nominee Michael Greif serves as its director. Musical orchestrators for Hell’s Kitchen include Adam Blackstone and Tom Kitt, with arrangements by Keys and Blackstone. The official cast for the Broadway adaptation has yet to be announced. Leading stars for the off-Broadway show include Maleah Joi Moon, Shoshana Bean, Brandon Victor Dixon, Kecia Lewis, and more.
Hell’s Kitchen Is Loosely Based On Alicia Keys’ Life
Hell’s Kitchen is inspired by Alicia Keys’ own life. According to Playbill, “The musical centers on 17-year-old Ali and her mother, sharing a cramped apartment near Times Square. Ali wants to live out her NYC dream, but mom is scared her daughter will repeat her own mistakes.” The musical’s title, Hell’s Kitchen, refers to the New York neighborhood where Keys lived during her childhood. Of the area, she told CBS News, “When I lived there, it was how it sounds. There was a lot of desolation there, there was a lot of drug addiction there, there was a lot of prostitution there. It was side-by-side, the desolation and the possibility. And I think that’s what kind of gave me a lot of hunger and grit.”
So far, the reception for Hell’s Kitchen has been mostly positive. The Guardian gave the show a glowing 5-star review, saying that “Hell’s Kitchen is a marvel! A live-wire theater adaptation of Alicia Keys’ hit list that brings the house down.” Variety also positively reacted to the show, writing that it is “a sparkling story with iconic music and absolute powerhouse vocals.” Other publications like The New York Times, Vulture, and the Los Angeles Times positively reviewed Hell’s Kitchen as well.
Former New York Times theater critic Ben Brantley told CBS News that while he had only seen previews of the show, he noted that the changes to Alicia Keys’ popular songs to fit the plot might “de-jukebox-ify the show.” He said, “I like it when familiar songs sound fresh. You like to think that, especially her fan base, will have listened to those songs so often, that they may be sort of startled.” After Hell’s Kitchen makes its Broadway debut, we will see how the reception compares to its initial feedback. For now, this is all we know about Alicia Keys’ Broadway musical. Check back in with HotNewHipHop for the latest updates.
Film adaptations are typically quite polarizing, as it’s easy to butcher the source material. However, an adaptation is especially thrilling when it’s a revival of a classic film. This is the case for the upcoming The Color Purple. Based on the 1982 novel of the same name by Alice Walker, the first film adaptation of The Color Purple was released in 1985. It featured a star-studded cast and was directed by veteran filmmaker, Steven Spielberg.
In the years since then, the film has come to be widely regarded as a classic. Furthermore, its success inspired the creation of the similarly named Tony Award-winning musical. It is on this Broadway musical that the upcoming 2023 musical film is based. With an exciting new cast, The Color Purple is set to be theatrically released soon.
The Color Purple revolves around Celie, an African-American woman in the early 20th century. She has a troubled upbringing and faces severe abuse and oppression both in childhood and adulthood. Throughout the story, Celie struggles with her identity and self-worth as she deals with years of trauma. However, she comes to find strength through her relationships with other women.
As Celie navigates her challenging life, the story explores important themes such as racism, sexism, and the power of female friendships. Through her journey, Celie gradually gains confidence and independence, breaking free from the chains of oppression. While the story can be quite sad and dark at certain points, it is also incredibly empowering and emotionally charged. Furthermore, since the upcoming film remake is a musical, it promises to be punctuated with several great musical renditions.
The Trailers
On May 22, 2023, the first trailer for The Color Purple was released, giving audiences their first look at the film. Without giving too much a way, the trailer highlights the key themes of the film, as well as most of its central characters. Additionally, the relationship between sisters Celie and Nettie is put front and center, showcasing their bond. The second trailer reveals a little bit more, with Celie and Nettie’s relationship still at the heart of it. While a lot is still yet to be seen, one thing can be said for sure, and it is that the film features stunning visuals. On its teaser poster, the film is described as “A bold new take on the beloved classic.”
Oprah Winfrey, a co-producer on the film, told Essence in a recent interview, “I think women in particular will be healed from this movie and its portrayal of sisterhood.” Winfrey portrayed Sofia in the 1985 film adaptation, and subsequently helped bring the broadway musical to life. Overall, the film promises to depict a strong message of sisterhood, and we are here for it.
In The Color Purple, Fantasia Barrino, in her film debut, stars as the leading woman, Celie. Rounding off the main cast are Taraji P. Henson as Shug Avery, Danielle Brooks as Sofia, Gabriella Wilson (H.E.R.) as Squeak, and Colman Domingo as Mister. Other central characters include young Nettie, played by Halle Bailey, older Nettie played by Ciara, and young Celie played by Phylicia Pearl Mpasi. Aunjanue Ellis, Jon Batiste, and Tamela Mann among others, also star in supporting roles. Evidently, the cast is as impressive as they come. Under Blitz Bazawule’s direction, the performances are expected to be just as impressive.
Release Date
The Color Purple is slated to be released on Christmas Day, December 25, 2023. The cast and crew have only had great things to say about the film. Furthermore, with the new trailer, audiences are even more excited to see it. Hopefully it does justice to the acclaimed, Tony-winning musical.
Singer and actress Gabriella Wilson, better known as HER (but she should really consider going by her real name, already), told Entertainment Tonight in 2021 that she wanted to win an EGOT (one each from the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards) shortly after taking home an Oscar for her Judas And The Black Messiah track “Fight For You.” Then, last year, she picked up an Emmy for producing on Netflix’s We The People with the Obamas. This month, she’ll take an earnest swing for the final award, a Tony, with a producer credit on the upcoming Broadway show, Here Lies Love.
Co-written by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, Here Lies Love follows a narrative centered on former Philippines first lady, Imelda Marcos. It’s fitting, then, that Wilson is also producing, as she proudly represents her Filipina heritage in her work, such as the designs on her dress in Disney’s Beauty And The Beast: A 30th Celebration. Should the show win a Tony Award next June, it’ll make her the youngest woman to ever achieve an EGOT by ten years; the current youngest woman is Jennifer Hudson, who was 38 when she won in 2021, becoming the 17th person overall, the third youngest person, and just the second Black woman to win ever. She was most recently succeeded by Viola Davis, the 18th person and third Black woman, last year.
HER shared a preview video of the show on her Instagram on Sunday, sharing the opening date, July 20. Check it out below.
A video of a naked Jesse Williams captured onstage in a shower scene from ‘Take Me Out’ the Broadway play d has been posted online and went viral, prompting an outcry from the producers and the union that represents actors and stage managers. The video created by an inconsiderate theater attendee shared a full-frontal nude scene singling out Williams got everyone talking just, hours after Williams was nominated for a Tony Award for best performance by a featured actor in a play. Williams plays a gay baseball player who comes out at the height of his success and encounters problems because of it.
Audience members attending the production at New York’s Second Stage Theater are required to lock their phones away in Yondr pouches – special lock bags crafted for private, phone-free events that prevent access to the devices until they are unlocked upon exiting – per the venue’s requirements. “Whoever did this knew not only that they were filming actors without their consent, but also that they were explicitly violating the theater’s prohibition on recording and distribution,” says Kate Shindle, president of Actors’ Equity Association.
During an appearance on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, which was evident that the video had not been leaked during the taping, Williams shared, “I don’t like any of it. I’ve learned in my minutes in theater, which is all a first for me, is don’t read into it. Because it creates more insecurity.” “How insane, though, that this is your stage debut and you’re, like, fully naked. I mean, that’s doubly scary,” said Cohen, to which Williams responded, “I’m told its quite insane, but it’s a first so I have nothing to compare it to and I won’t be scared of anything after this, that’s for sure” And based on the thousands of tweets that were posted by fans within a few hours of the video going viral its safe to say that Williams does not need to feel insecure.
For sure Jessie Williams has three legs and one can for sure cure the ND acne on my face
(@TamarBraxtonHer)