David Oyelowo News

Hero Theatre announced today that Jeanine Mason (Roswell New Mexico, Grey's Anatomy, So You Think You Can Dance) and acclaimed actor and musician Zach Villa (Karyn Kusama's Destroyer) will star in the first two plays of a four-play cycle about the Cuban-American experience titled, The Floating Island Plays.

In celebration of International Women's Day, YouTube has unveiled a slate of female-focused programming including a new short film, “Brave Girl Rising,” written and performed by refugees, and a new animated series, “Sherwood” starring Anya Chalotra, Tyler Posey, Jamie Chung, Aneurin Barnard and guest starring Joseph Fiennes) which casts Robin Hood as a girl who uses code to right the wrongs of the world in the 23rd century. Additionally, YouTube today debuted the trailer and announced the premiere date for the highly-anticipated YouTube Original Special “If I Could Tell You Just One Thing.” Based on the best-selling book where award-winning actress Priyanka Chopra-Jonas meets three inspiring women from different worlds - Diane Von Furstenberg, Awkwafina, Simone Biles - to find out what they have learned from facing adversity, embracing their flaws, and how to find balance with traditional expectations. The special will premiere exclusively onPriyanka Chopra's YouTube Channel on March 27th.

Aquila Theatre, the foremost producer of touring classical theatre in the United States, announces its next productions, William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream and Mary Shelly's Frankenstein, adapted by Desiree Sanchez and Peter Meineck. Directed by Aquila's Executive Artistic Director Desiree Sanchez, both plays will be performed in repertory for one weekend only - Friday, April 5th through Sunday, April 7th - at the Mezzanine Theatre at A.R.T./New York Theatres (502 West 53rd Street, NYC). For tickets and more information, visit aquilatheatre.com.

Following the success of her Sense and Sensibility at the Folger Theatre in 2016, Wall Street Journal's Playwright of the Year 2017 Kate Hamill, returns to D.C. with her adaptation of William Makepeace Thackeray's classic novel Vanity Fair. Hamill's vibrant and colorful tale about society's foibles is a co-production with San Francisco's American Conservatory Theater. Directed by Jessica Stone and featuring Rebekah Brockman as Becky Sharp, the production will run at the Lansburgh Theatre (450 7th Street, NW) from February 26 through March 31, 2019.

LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) today announces its spring season 2019, running from 5 February to 11 April at the drama school's West London campus. Directed by industry professionals, LAMDA's productions showcase graduating acting and technical students' talent as they prepare to embark on their professional careers. LAMDA graduates have gone on to enjoy illustrious careers on stage, screen and behind the scenes, with alumni including Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Ruth Wilson and David Oyelowo. As part of its commitment to offer local residents increased access to the dramatic arts, half price tickets are available for Hammersmith & Fulham residents.

The Athena Film Festival (AFF) at Barnard College announced today its film slate, including opening night, closing night, and centerpiece films, as well as additional programming for the 2019 festival. The ninth annual festival, co-founded by the Athena Center for Leadership Studies at Barnard College and Women and Hollywood, will take place February 28 to March 3, 2019, at Barnard College in New York City. AFF showcases films, television and content that tell the extraordinary stories of fierce and fearless female leaders from all walks of life. Stories of ambition, courage, and resilience amplify the voices of strong, bold women, curating a public discourse on gender equality, and changing the cultural conventions surrounding leadership.

The 50th NAACP Image Awards will air LIVE on TV One, a division of Urban One, Inc., on March 30, 2019. For the first time ever, the telecast will take place from the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, California. The announcement was made today by NAACP National Board of Directors Chairman Leon W. Russell, NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson, Chief Executive Officer, Urban One, Inc. & Chairman/CEO, TV One Alfred Liggins and TV One General Manager Michelle Rice.

Today, the five nominees for this year's prestigious EE Rising Star Award were announced at BAFTA's headquarters, 195 Piccadilly in London.

BBC One's Les Miserables series is coming soon to PBS. According to Variety, the cast recently chatted at a premiere event about the lasting impact of this timeless story, what they're doing to keep it relevant, and more.

HBO salutes Ailey at 60 with a social media video series to launch during Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's 60th Anniversary New York City Center season November 28 - December 30. This tribute video series will introduce new audiences to the Ailey legacy through moving commentary from music, film, and TV stars - Jussie Smollett, Vanessa Williams, Jillian Hervey, and Black Thought - who share how Ailey has inspired their artistry, impacted American culture, and continues to reach people of all ages backgrounds around the globe.

BBC One has released the all new trailer for its upcoming Les Miserables series, coming soon to PBS.

The nonprofit Sundance Institute announced today the showcase of new independent feature films selected across all categories for the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. The Festival hosts screenings in Park City, Salt Lake City and at Sundance Mountain Resort, from January 24 - February 3, 2019.

Take the ultimate journey into the unknown with the heart-pounding sci-fi thriller THE CLOVERFIELD PARADOX, arriving on Blu-ray and DVD February 5, 2019 from Paramount Home Media Distribution.  Featuring over 25 minutes of never-before-seen bonus content including behind-the-scenes interviews with the cast and crew, THE CLOVERFIELD PARADOX Blu-ray and DVD are must-own discs for your collection.  The film will also be available as part of the new Cloverfield 3-Movie Collection on Blu-ray and DVD.

 MasterClass, the online education company that enables anyone to learn from the best in the world, announced today that Oscar-nominated filmmaker Mira Nair will offer her first ever online class exclusively through its platform. In her new class on independent filmmaking, Nair will share her methods for directing powerful performances, maximizing budgets, and bringing authentic stories to life. Nair's class is now available at www.masterclass.com/mn. Enrollment for the class is $90 for lifetime access, or $180 per year for the All-Access Pass, which grants unlimited access to all new and existing classes.

Audiences have two weeks left to catch Ken Urban's arresting new drama A Guide for the Homesick, with its 'mesmerizing performances' (Aleks Sierz, Theatre Times) by the talented Douglas Booth and Clifford Samuel. This gripping new drama completes its hit run on 24 November 2018. The production is directed by Jonathan O'Boyle and produced by Stage Traffic Productions.

New young writer/director AJ presents his one woman play, AISHA, which through rhythmic verse, heavily influenced by contemporary spoken word, discusses the practice and repercussions of child marriage; a practice still perpetrated in the UK, with the Home Office estimating that between 5,000 and 8,000 young people a year are at risk.

Token Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director David Rhee and Managing Director Erik Kaiko with Founding Board Members Stephenie Park and Helen Young, is proud to announce the arrival of Token Theatre and its Inaugural Season: Our Town by Thornton Wilder and a New Play by Artistic Director David Rhee.

Following the initial images of Dominic West (Jean Valjean), David Oyelowo (Javert) and Lily Collins (Fantine) back in July, BBC One has released images of Olivia Colman (Madame Thénardier), Adeel Akhtar (Monsieur Thénardier), Josh O'Connor (Marius) and Ellie Bamber (Cosette).

On Wednesday October 10, LAMDA Alumnus John Lithgow and LAMDA Chair The Rt Hon Shaun Woodward launched the American Friends of LAMDA (AFLAMDA) West Coast Program at the drama school's annual US showcase in West Hollywood. LAMDA is committed to selecting the most talented students, regardless of background or financial circumstance. Patrons will join the program for $1500 or $2500 a year, with their support contributing to LAMDA's Scholarship Fund to assist American students.

The Philly POPS will make its 40th Anniversary Season debut with performances by Broadway star Leslie Odom Jr. on September 28, 29 and 30 at the Kimmel Center.