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It Takes Courage

Usher moves effortlessly from R&B to Broadway's Chicago, while Ethan Hawke, Carol Kane, Jimmy Smits and a host of luminaries come out for the opening of Mother Courage.

(© Joseph Marzullo/Retna)

The ever-changing cast of Broadway's Chicago got a really popular new addition on August 22, when R&B superstar Usher joined the cast for a six-week run as lawyer Billy Flynn. Here, Usher arrives at the Ambassador Theatre for his debut performance, to the delight of his screaming fans.

(© Joseph Marzullo/Retna)

The new star seems right at home on stage during his curtain call!

(© Joseph Marzullo/Retna)

Among the many celebrities on hand to share in the big occasion was the beautiful Spanish film star Penelope Cruz.

(© Joseph Marzullo/Retna)

Recording legend Clive Davis greeted Usher's godfather, Tony Award winner Ben Vereen, outside the theater.

(© Joseph Marzullo/Retna)

Talk show host (and Oprah's best pal) Gayle King was happy to be there...

(© Joseph Marzullo/Retna)

...as were Chicago producers Fran and Barry Weissler, who were all smiles.

(© Joseph Marzullo/Retna)

And, last but not least, here's Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad.

(© Joseph Marzullo/Retna)

The previous night, August 21, was another memorable moment in theater history: the official opening of the Shakespeare in the Park production of Mother Courage and Her Children starring Meryl Streep and Kevin Kline. Not surprisingly, tons of stars were on hand to witness the event, including Ethan Hawke, who returns to Broadway this fall in The Coast of Utopia.

(© Joseph Marzullo/Retna)

Also making the scene was the wonderful Amy Irving, who will co-star with Hawke in The Coast of Utopia.

(© Joseph Marzullo/Retna)

Here is the delightful Carol Kane, on her night off from playing Madame Morrible in Wicked.

(© Joseph Marzullo/Retna)

Legendary fashion designer Calvin Klein was among the first-nighters.

(© Joseph Marzullo/Retna)

So was Emmy Award winner S. Epatha Merkerson, a fixture of the long-running TV series Law & Order.

(© Joseph Marzullo/Retna)

The great opera singer Jessye Norman added glitter to the festivities.

(© Joseph Marzullo/Retna)

The always ebullient Rosie Perez, who's performed at The Public, was another happy-to-be-there first nighter...

(© Joseph Marzullo/Retna)

...and so was the cool-as-can-be Jimmy Smits, who himself has performed at the Delacorte as Orsino in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.

 

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