News

This afternoon’s weekly Broadway box office report should shine a light on at least one aspect of Saturday night’s Manhattan blackout, but for some New Yorkers and out-of-towners the impact was more immediate: Comedy club-goers got Dave Chappelle, Times Square visitors got impromptu performances from the likes of Hadestown, Come From Away and Waitress, and Sunday matinee audiences got a one-of-a-kind show-must-go-on performance at Disney’s The Lion King.

Consolidated Edison has apologized for, but has not explained the causes of, a power outage that left a reported 72,000 Manhattan customers – including most Broadway theaters – without electricity on Saturday night. While Be More Chill, Beautiful, Burn This and Beetlejuice – all located on the east side of Broadway – went on without a hitch, most shows canceled.

For the complete roster of cancelations, check back with Deadline later this afternoon for our weekly Broadway box office report, with financial data provided by the Broadway League.

Exclusive: Saturday Night Live co-head writer and “Weekend Update” co-anchor Michael Che and Damon Wayans Jr. (Fox’s New Girl) have signed on as executive producers on indie boxing film I Am Maurice, based on an original script by comedian Wil Sylvince and Bryan Kennedy. Jerry Lamothe is directing the pic, which follows Maurice (played by Sylvince), a downtrodden immigrant with aspirations of becoming a boxer and seeking a better life in America after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

The project launched a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign that garnered support and pledges from fellow comedians including Dave Chappelle, Leslie Jones, Chris Rock as well as Che and Wayans, among others. As part of their pledges, Rock and Jones will make cameo appearances in the film.

Sylvince and Kennedy will produce under their Brilliant Minds Productions banner along with Marshall exec producer Chris Bongirne.

Sylvince has been featured on Comedy Central, HBO, Showtime,...

In the world of film, we usually are familiar with those in front of the cameras. Yet, how well are we acquainted with the producers? Screenwriters? Directors? How do they all come together and work on a project? How do they financially build and promote these projects? When the project is completed, where can it be showcased? One of the main goals for filmmakers is to see their work premiere in film festivals. But not all films have their debut at the Cannes or Sundance. For those reasons, comedian Wil Sylvince created the ShortCuts Film Festival; which is sponsored by NBC. This yearly event takes place in New York and in Los Angeles. It was founded as an outcome of his own experience of...

Bam and IFC announce the lineup for the second installment of Get It Out There: Comedy by Bam & IFC, a new comedy showcase that encourages comics to experiment with humor for new forms of funny. Get It Out There returns Wednesday, May 30 at 9pm (bar opens at 8pm) in the BAMcafé (30 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn, NY) and is free and open to the public. From IFC Curated by Caroline Creaghead (Creaghead & Company), the second installment features Todd Barry (Comedy Central presents Todd Barry), Kate Berlant (Crime and Punishment at Cake Shop), Kurt Braunohler (IFC.s Bunk), and Wil Sylvince (HBO.s Def Comedy Jam, Bet.s ComicView), hosted by Greg Barris (MTV.s Warren the Ape). For more information,...

Damon Wayans Jr. brings top comedic chops to his role as Brad on ABC’s Happy Endings (Wednesdays at 10/9c) — no surprise given the very funny family tree from which he fell. So when the producers of the freshman comedy got wind that Damon Wayans Sr. was game to return to the small screen via his son’s show, they immediately got to work breaking Brad’s dad.

Here, the alum of such TV fare as In Living Color, My Wife and Kids and The Underground previews his Happy father’s day, shares a peek at his CBS comedy pilot,...

We just discovered that comedian Kevin Hart and Tony Rock are two comics who are about to step up to the plate for a cause- and this one cause is for Haiti.

After the devastation of the Earthquake that hit Haiti last month, there have been several known organizations that have had benefits to raise some financial support for Haiti, and comedy is one of the avenues that have also contributed.

With tons of benefits across the country for Haiti, there haven't been too many comedians of the stature of Hart or Rock who stepped up to donate their time to do a benefit show; until now.

We hear that Hart and Rock are going to perform in New York at the Theatre at Westbury on Long Island, NY on Feb. 20th. As we stated, there will be donations as one dollar of every ticket sold will go to relief efforts in Haiti.