Alice Walker News

Writer/activist Alice Walker (b. Feb. 9, 1944) made history as the first African-American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her seminal novel The Color Purple (1982), for which she won the National Book Award. THIRTEEN's American Masters presents Alice Walker: Beauty in Truth, premiering nationally Friday, February 7 at 9 p.m. on PBS in honor of Walker's 70th birthday and Black HISTORY Month. Filmmaker Pratibha Parmar's new documentary tells Walker's dramatic life story with poetry and lyricism, and features new interviews with Walker, Steven Spielberg, Danny Glover, Quincy Jones, Gloria Steinem, Sapphire and the late Howard Zinn in one of his final interviews. Watch the trailer below!

After conducting a thorough national search, the Alliance Theatre has announced that Mike Schleifer has been chosen as the new General Manager of the Alliance Theatre, beginning March 3, 2014. Schleifer steps into the position left vacant by Max Leventhal, who served the Alliance for 10 seasons before transitioning to the role of Owners' Representative to the Woodruff Arts Center in September, 2013. Schleifer brings to his new role 19 years of theatre management experience in a variety of company leadership and stage management positions.

From today, January 10 - February 8, 2014, SpeakEasy Stage Company will present THE COLOR PURPLE, the acclaimed Broadway musical based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker and the Warner Bros./Amblin Entertainment motion picture.

Now celebrating its 10th anniversary season, the Alliance/Kendeda National Graduate Playwriting Competition continues to spotlight the best emerging playwrights with a full production for the competition winner and staged readings for four competition finalists. IN LOVE AND WARCRAFT, the 10th competition winner, will premiere on the Hertz Stage January 31 - February 23, 2014. Opening night is February 5, 2014. IN LOVE AND WARCRAFT is written by Madhuri Shekar, a recent graduate of the MFA program at the University of South California, and will be directed by Laura Kepley, Artistic Director of the Cleveland Play House.

From January 10 - February 8, 2014, SpeakEasy Stage Company will present THE COLOR PURPLE, the acclaimed Broadway musical based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker and the Warner Bros./Amblin Entertainment motion picture.

2014 Winter/Spring Cleveland Theater Offerings

Brenda Knight, publisher and founder of Viva Editions, an imprint of Cleis Press, will be appearing on the national radio show Coast to Coast AM with George Noory on Thanksgiving night at 10pm PST to discuss her new book The Grateful Table: Blessings, Prayers and Graces for the Daily Meal. She will also discuss legends from the town she grew up in, Point Pleasant, West Virginia, which was where the mythical Native America figure of the Mothman was first spotted. Shelf Awareness also featured the interview.

American Masters Season 28lLineup through April 2014 begins with a milestone: the series' 200th episode on PBS!

The fourth annual BronzeLens Film Festival (BLFF13) producers have put together a world class array of BronzeLens expert panels, workshops, domestic and international film screenings and signature events that reflect Atlanta's unique position as the Film Capital of the South.

The Associated Press is reporting that world-renowned author, Alice Walker whose many hits include 'The Color Purple' has just signed a deal with publishing powerhouse Simon & Schuster's 37 Ink to release a selected of her journals in 2017. Titled 'Gathering Blossoms Under Fire', it's said to be a mix of new journals that look back on her life, along with a half-century of diary entries about her life.

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N Southport Ave., announces that the hit musical THE COLOR PURPLE, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, is extended through Sunday, November 10 due to popular demand.

Before rehearsals began, Education Dramaturg Ted Sod asked playwright Joshua Harmon to discuss his work on Bad Jews.

On Wednesdays and Thursdays through October 25, Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N Southport Ave., is featuring complimentary dinner for two at Cullen's Irish Pub, adjacent to the theater, with the purchase of two tickets to the Broadway musical THE COLOR PURPLE. The offer is available before the performances on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m., Thursdays at 2 p.m., and Thursdays at7:30 p.m. To make a reservation, call 773.325.1700 and ask for the 'Dinner's on Us' promotion. Gratuity is not included, this offer cannot be combined with other discounts, and it is not valid for use with previously purchased tickets. Hailed as "A genuinely eye-popping achievement!" by The Chicago Tribune and called "Lustrous…Superbly directed…Marvelous!" by the Chicago Sun-Times, THE COLOR PURPLE is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker and runs through October 27, 2013.

Production dates for The Color Purple are September 6-15 in the Wilson Mainstage Auditorium at South Bend Civic Theatre, 403 N. Main Street in South Bend. Performances times are 8:00 PM, Today and Saturday evenings, 7:30 PM Wednesday and Thursday, 3:00 PM Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $21 Today, Saturday and Sunday, $18 Wednesday and Thursday. For tickets call 574-234-1112 or go online at www.sbct.org. Sponsors for the production are Villing and Company, the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County and NIPSCO.

You know you are in for some truly great singing when a featured soloist knocks it out of the park.

Mercury Theater Chicago's production of THE COLOR PURPLE, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, opened last night, Monday, August 26 at 7:30p.m., and will continue through October 27, 2013. THE COLOR PURPLE stars Trisha Jeffrey (Broadway's Rent, All Shook Up, and Little Shop of Horrors and the first National Tour of Sister Act) as 'Celie,' Jasondra Johnson (Crowns at Goodman Theatre) as 'Sophia,' and Adrienne Walker (Marriott Theatre's Dreamgirls) as 'Shug.' This highly anticipated production is led by multiple Jeff Award winners L. Walter Stearns (Director), Eugene Dizon (Musical Director), and Brenda Didier (Choreographer). Check out a look back at last night's festivities below!

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N Southport Ave., presents the Broadway musical THE COLOR PURPLE, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, opening Monday, August 26 at 7:30p.m., and running through October 27, 2013. THE COLOR PURPLE stars Trisha Jeffrey (Broadway's Rent, All Shook Up, and Little Shop of Horrors and the first National Tour ofSister Act) as 'Celie,' JaSondra Johnson (Crowns at Goodman Theatre) as 'Sophia,' and Adrienne Walker (Marriott Theatre's Dreamgirls) as 'Shug.' Check out a first look at highlights of the show below!

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N Southport Ave., presents the Broadway musical THE COLOR PURPLE, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, opening Monday, August 26 at 7:30p.m., and running through October 27, 2013. THE COLOR PURPLE stars Trisha Jeffrey (Broadway's Rent, All Shook Up, and Little Shop of Horrors and the first National Tour ofSister Act) as 'Celie,' Jasondra Johnson (Crowns at Goodman Theatre) as 'Sophia,' and Adrienne Walker (Marriott Theatre's Dreamgirls) as 'Shug.' Check out a first look at the cast below!

Just last week, Oprah Winfrey chatted with The New York Daily News about her long-professed desire to take to the stage. Now according to the New York Times, the media mogul is looking into bringing John Doyle's current reimagined production of THE COLOR PURPLE, which is currently playing at the Menier Chocolate Factory, to Broadway.

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N Southport Ave., presents the Broadway musical THE COLOR PURPLE, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, previewing tonight, August 14, opening Monday, August 26 at 7:30p.m., and running through October 27, 2013.