Anika Noni Rose News

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) and gala co-chairs Carla Crane and Chandra Geiger Gordon are proud to announce A.C.T.'s 2008-09 season gala, Illuminate the Night, featuring an exclusive performance by Judy Kaye, Tony Award-winning star of A.C.T.'s Sweeney Todd and Souvenir. The entertainment for this wonderful evening also includes performances by A.C.T.'s own Master of Fine Arts Program and Young Conservatory students, created and directed by John Carrafa, the Tony Award-nominated choreographer of Urinetown, the Musical on Broadway and at A.C.T.

On Monday, April 27, at 7:00pm in Carnegie Hall, The New York Pops honors Feinstein's at Loews Regency on its tenth anniversary and congratulates Michael Feinstein and Jonathan Tisch for leading this great New York institution.

The American Theatre Wing has extended the deadline to turn in applications for its 2009 SpringboardNYC Program, to be held on June 1 - 12, 2009 in New York City. Due to an overwhelming amount of interest, the American Theatre Wing will now accept applications through April 15.

Country music star, CMA Winner, ACM Winner and four-time Grammy Nominee Joe Nichols has been offered the role made famous by George Strait in the Broadway production of the hit movie, Pure Country. According to producer Randall L. Wreghitt, the musical is in the process of securing the remainder of its financing and casting, and plans to open in early 2010.

On Monday, April 27, at 7:00pm in Carnegie Hall, The New York Pops honors Feinstein's at Loews Regency on its tenth anniversary and congratulates Michael Feinstein and Jonathan Tisch for leading this great New York institution.

The American Theatre Wing has extended the deadline to turn in applications for its 2009 SpringboardNYC Program, to be held on June 1 - 12, 2009 in New York City. Due to an overwhelming amount of interest, the American Theatre Wing will now accept applications through April 15.

Anika Noni Rose, who received an Obie Award for her work in the musical ELI'S COMIN' at The Vineyard, won a Tony Award for her performance in CAROLINE, OR CHANGE, and co-starred with Beyonce Knowles and Jennifer Hudson in the film version of 'Dreamgirls,' stars along with Jill Scott in the upcoming HBO series The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.

Long considered the essential magazine for professional not-for-profit theatre, AMERICAN THEATRE magazine (AT), published ten times annually by Theatre Communications Group (TCG), has been providing theatre professionals, students, advocates and audiences a comprehensive journal since April, 1984. At a time when coverage of the arts may be at an all-time low, the substantive and continuing contributions of AMERICAN THEATRE put it in a class of its own.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) announced today that Clay Aiken will present the Excellence in Media Award to Tyra Banks at the 20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards Presented by IBM and New York presenting partner Prudential. T.R. Knight will present the Vito Russo Award to Suze Orman. Special Recognition awards will be presented to Phil Donahue and The Laramie Project, 10 Years Later - The Lasting Legacy of Matthew Shepard, a two-hour documentary broadcast on Sirius XM Radio.

Walt Disney Studios has has moved up the nationwide release of the upcoming traditionally-animated musical film 'The Princess and the Frog' according to Variety. The release date was moved from Christmas Day to Dec. 11th, 2009.

The American Conservatory Theater Master of Fine Arts Program, ranked fifth in the nation, announces the launch of the M.F.A. 8, a smaller-size class and a new institutional structure, with the incoming class of 2011. The new structure, aimed to re-envision A.C.T.'s institutional culture and the experience of the M.F.A. candidates, includes eight students per class (compared to the admitted class of 12 last year), a full-time faculty, full scholarships for all eight students in their third year, and increased opportunities for students to appear on the A.C.T. mainstage.

Anika Noni Rose, who received an Obie Award for her work in the musical ELI'S COMIN' at The Vineyard, won a Tony Award for her performance in CAROLINE, OR CHANGE, and co-starred with Beyonce Knowles and Jennifer Hudson in the film version of 'Dreamgirls,' stars along with Jill Scott in the upcoming HBO series The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.

The American Conservatory Theater Master of Fine Arts Program, ranked fifth in the nation, announces the launch of the M.F.A. 8, a smaller-size class and a new institutional structure, with the incoming class of 2011.

The American Theatre Wing is now accepting applications for its 2009 SpringboardNYC Program, to be held on June 1 - 12, 2009 in New York City. At this two week college-to-career transition program, students have the opportunity to participate in training sessions and workshops in preparation for finding jobs in the New York theatre community while living in New York. Taught by industry professionals, sessions include on-your-feet audition training with directors and casting directors and seminars with the industry's leading agents and managers, as well as intimate conversations with working actors.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) and gala co-chairs Carla Crane and Chandra Geiger Gordon are proud to announce A.C.T.'s 2008-09 season gala, Illuminate the Night, featuring an exclusive performance by Judy Kaye, Tony Award-winning star of A.C.T.'s Sweeney Todd and Souvenir. The entertainment for this wonderful evening also includes performances by A.C.T.'s own Master of Fine Arts Program and Young Conservatory students, created and directed by John Carrafa, the Tony Award-nominated choreographer of Urinetown, the Musical on Broadway and at A.C.T.

The Vineyard Theatre -- where Marian Seldes originated her role in Edward Albee's Pulitzer Prize-winning play THREE TALL WOMEN in 1993 -- honored the Tony Award-winning actress at the theatre's annual gala on Monday, February 9th at 6 PM at The Rainbow Room (30 Rockefeller Plaza, 65th floor) in Manhattan.

Victor Garber, Kate Mulgrew, Charles Grodin, Bill Irwin, Annie Parisse, Veanne Cox and Nathan Lee Graham have joined the previously announced list of celebrity participants who will be on hand to salute the beloved actress Marian Seldes, when Ms. Seldes and the Union Square Partnership are honored at the annual Vineyard Theatre Gala on Monday, February 9 at 6 p.m. at the Rainbow Room (30 Rockefeller Plaza, 65th floor).

Tony Award-winners Nathan Lane and Anika Noni Rose are set to participant in The Vineyard Theatre's star-studded tribute to Tony Award-winning actress Marian Seldes and The Union Square Partnership at the theatre's annual gala on Monday, February 9th at 6 PM at The Rainbow Room (30 Rockefeller Plaza, 65th floor) in Manhattan. The Gala, which will benefit the Vineyard Theatre, one of the nation's leading theatres devoted to producing new works, will include salutations to Ms. Seldes -- who originated her role in Edward Albee's Pulitzer Prize-winning play THREE TALL WOMEN in 1993 at The Vineyard -- and celebrate its theme of community spirit and neighborhood involvement by also honoring The Union Square Partnership. Nathan Lane, who will host the evening, starred opposite Ms. Seldes Off-Broadway in Terrence McNally's DEDICATION, OR THE STUFF OF DREAMS. Mr. Lane is best-known for his Tony Award-winning performances in THE PRODUCERS, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, and LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSION!. Anika Noni Rose, who received an Obie Award for her work in the musical ELI'S COMIN' at The Vineyard, won a Tony Award for her performance in CAROLINE, OR CHANGE, and co-starred with Beyonce Knowles and Jennifer Hudson in the film version of 'Dreamgirls,' is set to perform.

Victor Garber, Kate Mulgrew, Charles Grodin, Bill Irwin, Annie Parisse, Veanne Cox and Nathan Lee Graham have joined the previously announced list of celebrity participants who will be on hand to salute the beloved actress Marian Seldes, when Ms. Seldes and the Union Square Partnership are honored at the annual Vineyard Theatre Gala on Monday, February 9 at 6 p.m. at the Rainbow Room (30 Rockefeller Plaza, 65th floor).

Walt Disney Studios has released new images from the upcoming traditionally-animated musical film 'The Princess and the Frog.' The upcoming film will be set in New Orleans and feature the Walt Disney Studio's first black princess. Oprah Winfrey recently joined the cast as Eudora, the mother to Princess Tiana voiced by stage and screen star Anika Noni Rose. The film also stars such stage (and movie) greats as John Goodman, Jenifer Lewis, Keith David, Michael-Leon Wooley and Peter Bartlett. Currently appearing in SHREK THE MUSICAL, Broadway favorite Jen Cody is also in the film as well, voicing Charlotte LaBouff.