By Karu F. Daniels, BlackVoices.com

Making his big Broadway debut in the hit show 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' must've gotten acclaimed actor Terrence Howard brimming with creative juices.

The hazel-eyed hottie (and star of such movies as 'Pride,' 'Crash' and 'Get Rich or Die Tryin'') has reportedly signed a record deal with Columbia Records.

A spokesperson for the storied record label has confirmed reports that the Academy Award nominee is on the roster, which boasts talents such as Beyonce, Ricky Martin, Wyclef Jean and Bow Wow.

A yet to be titled opus under the moniker Terrence Howard Presents Me and the Band of Kings may see the light of day as early as fall.

Howard, who flexed much hip-hop muscle in his breakthrough Oscar nominated role as a rapping pimp in 'Hustle & Flow,' has an affinity for music – while promoting one of his film projects, he strum a guitar and serenaded supermodel Tyra Banks on her talk show.

In the meantime, his next film, 'Iron Man' arrives in theaters May 2.

Academy Award nominee Laurence Fishburne is set to return to Broadway next month playing the role of late civil rights activist and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.

Tickets went on sale last month for the one-man drama scheduled to start performances at the Booth Theatre April 12.

The star of films such as 'What's Love Got to Do with It?' and the 'Matrix' trilogy won Tony, Drama Desk and Theatre World Awards for his performance in August Wilson's 'Two Trains Running' in 1992.

Fishburne's next film '21' – co-starring Kevin Spacey and Kate Bosworth -- opens March 28.

Written by George Stevens Jr., 'Thurgood' traces Marshall's childhood in the backstreets of Baltimore to the Supreme Court of the United States. "Along the way," production notes state, "he overcame many adversities but through them all, remained focused and positive to maintain the great country he wanted to serve. And did."

The play made its premiere in 2006 at the Westport Country Playhouse in Connecticut and was directed by Leonard Foglia. It starred James Earl Jones as Marshall, who died in 1993. Jones is currently starring in the hit Broadway play 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.'



It's been 20 years since his last Broadway role but Morgan Freeman is gearing up for a triumphant return next month.

On April 27, the Academy Award winning actor will take center stage in Mike Nichols' Broadway revival of Clifford Odets' 'The Country Girl.' Frances McDormand and Peter Gallagher will also star in the classic backstage story about a once great theater star now down on his luck, who is offered a major role by a hotshot director with the chance to make a major comeback.

The roles were originally played on Broadway in 1950 by an all white cast. The 1954 film adaptation starred Oscar winner Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby and William Holden.

Freeman, who won his own Oscar for his supporting role in Clint Eastwood's 'Million Dollar Baby,' last appeared on Broadway in 1988 in 'The Gospel at Colonus.'

The 70-year-old Memphis native received a Tony nomination for 'The Mighty Gents' in 1978 and appeared on Broadway in 'Purlie,' 'The Dozens' and 'Hello, Dolly!'

The former 'Electric Company' star – who enjoyed recent box-office success alongside Jack Nicholson in 'The Bucket List' -- is the recipient of three Obie Awards for his work in 'Coriolanus,' 'Gospel at Colonus' and Alfred Uhry's Pulitzer Prize-winning play 'Driving Miss Daisy,' which was made into an acclaimed movie he starred in.