Al Sharpton News

Fountain Hills Theater announces the second production in their 2018-19 season-their 17th season as a full-time youth theater-"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," February 15-March 3, 2019. 

NBC's proud comedy legacy, which has opened doors for countless comedians, is ready to “Bring the Funny” with a new competition series for the next generation of comedy lovers. The series will feature the world's best comedic acts and, for the first time on television, embrace every style of comedy performance in one competition.

The Castillo Theatre (Dan Friedman, artistic director; John Rankin, associate managing director) is proud to announce that it will produce a revival of the 1991 play by Fred Newman, Billie, Malcolm & Yusuf, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Yusuf Hawkins' murder in 1989.  Billie, Malcolm & Yusuf will be directed by award-winning director, Gabrielle Kurlander.  The production includes blues and rap music. The Castillo Theatre is located at 543 West 42nd Street in Manhattan. Performances are between February 15 and March 17, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2:00 p.m.

Fountain Hills Theater is excited to announce the second production in their 2018-19 season-their 17th season as a full-time youth theater-"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," February 15-March 3, 2019. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is spelled W-O-N-D-E-R-F-U-L and follows six awkward adolescents through their daunting and hilarious championship quest. As they navigate the tournament's pressures, the eccentric coterie finds a new sense of belonging. Along the way, they learn that there is more to life than winning a trophy.

Fountain Hills Theater is excited to announce the second production in their 2018-19 season-their 17th season as a full-time youth theater-"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," February 15-March 3, 2019.

The Apollo Theater and SiriusXM announced today that they will present Say It Loud…With Your VOTE!, a bi-partisan political special at the Apollo on Thursday, November 1 at 7:00 pm.  The exclusive event, produced in association with SiriusXM, is part of the Apollo Theater Uptown Hall series and will air across multiple SiriusXM channels debuting on November 2.    

The Apollo Theater today announced special guests and additional programming for Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud at 50, a one-night-only concert produced by the Apollo Theater and curated by musical director and multi-Grammy Award winner Christian McBride.

Arena Stage announces the D.C.-area premiere of Turn Me Loose, Gretchen Law's intimate, no-holds-barred drama about the extraordinary and explosive life of Dick Gregory, who spent his later years in the nation's capital.

From 'I Say A Little Prayer' to 'Think' to her signature classic 'RESPECT,' Aretha Franklin was a musical phenomenon and a transcendent figure in American culture. As the nation mourns the passing of the 'Queen of Soul' Aretha Franklin, BET Networks will commemorate her life and legacy by broadcasting Aretha Franklin's funeral service in its entirety beginning Friday, August 31 at 10 AM ET on BET, BET Her and BET.com

Arena Stage announces the D.C.-area premiere of Turn Me Loose, Gretchen Law's intimate, no-holds-barred drama about the extraordinary and explosive life of Dick Gregory, who spent his later years in the nation's capital.

At GREAT SALT LAKE FRINGE FESTIVAL, there is the joy of discovering a glittering jewel, along with an ineptly led misfire of a good idea. And an immediately endearing new voice.

The Apollo Theater today announced that it will bring to its iconic stage two new performances that continue its commitment to articulating and projecting the African American narrative through arts and culture.  In October 2018, The Apollo will celebrate the 50th anniversary of "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud," the Godfather of Soul James Brown's seminal Black Power anthem, with the premiere of Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud at 50 under the musical direction of six-time GRAMMY®- Award-winner Christian McBride.  In May of 2019, in a co-production between The Apollo, Baltimore Center Stage, and Mosaic Theater, Kelvin Roston Jr. will pay homage to Donny Hathaway in the New York premiere of the one man play Twisted Melodies.  Tickets for both productions will go on sale July 1st.

Today, the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) continues its 22-year legacy of providing a platform for diverse storytelling and emerging filmmakers, by announcing the 2018 official selections in all screening categories. The festival returns to Miami Beach, FL from June 13-17. 

Marking the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, NAN President and Founder Rev. Al Sharpton will host the “Keepers of the Dream Awards” on April 18, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. The awards, given each year to mark the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s death, honor those who have continued to advocate for the principles that Dr. King gave his life for.

 On the heels of announcing that Steven Tyler's documentary OUT ON A LIMB would open the 49th Annual Nashville Film Festival, the festival continued its lineup of major talent participation with today's announcement of the Music Films/Music City Selections for the 2018 Festival (May 10-19, 2018). Films featuring artists as diverse as David Letterman, Ronnie and Johnny Van Zant, Brian “Head” Welch of KoRn, The Edge and Al Sharpton are included in this competition of films about music, musicians and the impact music has on our lives.

AT&T hosted its 2nd annual The Humanity of Connection at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on Thursday, March 15th celebrating the power of human connectivity and the technologies that chronicle and connect the remarkable achievements of African Americans.

Marking the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, NAN President and Founder Rev. Al Sharpton will host the “Keepers of the Dream Awards” on April 18, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. The awards, given each year to mark the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s death, honor those who have continued to advocate for the principles that Dr. King gave his life for.

The New Black Fest and The Lark, two theater organizations dedicated to celebrating and advocating for stories that explore the intersection of art and social justice, are proud to announce the fifth annual The New Black Fest at The Lark. This week-long event is aimed at showcasing diverse and provocative work in a festival of Black theater artists from throughout the Diaspora, and will feature talkbacks, a panel event, and staged readings of four plays-in-progress. The festival will take place April 9-13, 2018, and will include works by 2017 Djerassi Writer in Residence France-Luce Benson (Deux Femmes On the Edge De La Revolution), 2018 Laurents/Hatcher Foundation Award recipient Donja R. Love (soft), 2015 Princess Grace Award-Winner Jonathan Payne (Brother Rabbit), and artist, activist, and The New Black Fest alum Liza Jessie Peterson (Sistergurls and the Squirrel) who has performed excerpts of her one-person play The Peculiar Patriot in over 35 penitentiaries across the country.

Today, NBC News announced the world premiere of HOPE & FURY: MLK, THE MOVEMENT AND THE MEDIA, a new documentary film that examines how Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and leaders of the civil rights movement used the power of print and visual media, especially television, to awaken America to the shame and injustice of racial inequality. From executive producer and NBC News Chairman Andrew Lack, the two-hour network event will premiere on NBC on March 24th at 8:00 pm ET and on MSNBC on March 25th at 9:00 pm ET.

The 17th annual Tribeca Film Festival, presented by AT&T, revealed its feature film lineup championing the discovery of emerging voices and celebrating new work from established filmmaking talent. To close the Festival, Tribeca will World Premiere The Fourth Estate, from Oscar®-nominated director Liz Garbus, which follows The New York Times' coverage of the Trump administration's first year. The Centerpiece Gala will be the World Premiere of Drake Doremus' sci-fi romance Zoe starring Ewan McGregor, Lea Seydoux, Rashida Jones, and Theo James. The 2018 Tribeca Film Festival takes place April 18-29.