Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress and singer Leslie Uggams (Roots, Hallelujah, Baby!) joined producer and author Stewart F. Lane and director Sheldon Epps on Wednesday, February 25 at 7 p.m. in discussing Lane’s new book BLACK BROADWAY: African Americans on the Great White Way during a special Black History Month event at the 86th Street Barnes and Noble in New York City. The discussion was hosted by author Tom Santopietro (The Godfather Effect).
BLACK BROADWAY is a gorgeous coffee-table book that chronicles the journey of black theatre in America while also providing a running timeline of African American history. It celebrates the performers, playwrights, songwriters, directors, choreographers and designers who changed theatre throughout America and the world. Author Lane offers a detailed account from Minstrel Shows to Vaudeville, from the Jazz Age to the Golden Age of the American Musical, through the dramas inspired by the Civil Rights Movement to the present day Broadway. The book is also illustrated with breathtaking never-before-seen photographs of legendary African American stars.
Uggams worked with Lane when he produced Thoroughly Modern Millie on Broadway. She played the irrepressible jazz singer Muzzy Van Hossmere. Uggams also won a Tony Award for playing Georgina in the ground-breaking Broadway musical Hallelujah, Baby! which chronicled the African American struggle for equality during the first half of the 20th century.
BLACK BROADWAY is available at Barnes and Noble and other retail and online outlets.