Forest Whitaker News

92nd Street Y has announced that Jordan Roth, President of Jujamcyn Theaters, will continue his popular multi-evening 92nd Street Y conversation series, 'Broadway Talks with Jordan Roth' with Golden Globe Award-winning stage and screen star Angela Bassett. Roth and Bassett will discuss her upcoming role opposite Samuel L. Jackson in the Broadway premiere of Katori Hall's The Mountaintop, as well as her remarkable career on the silver screen, at 92nd Street Y (1395 Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street) on Sunday, October 23rd at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $29 and are available at www.92Y.org/BroadwayTalks or by calling 212.415.5500.

Last night, the American Film Institute awarded Morgan Freeman with their 39th Life Achievement Award in Culver City, Los Angeles. During the evening, clips of Freeman's films were presented by stars such as Clint Eastwood, Tim Robbins, Forest Whitaker, Garth Brooks and Betty White.

Spike TV has announced that it will present two of its most celebrated honors to entertainment giants Keith Richards and Sean Penn during the 2011 'Guys Choice' event.

Olivia Wilde, Zoe Saldana, Ben Barnes, John Hannah, J.K. Simmons, and Nora Arnezeder join Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Irons, and Dennis Quaid to round out the cast of the dramatic thriller THE WORDS.

Writer Damon Runyon invented Broadway - and Broadway invented the American Musical! Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) will open its 2011 Nutmeg Summer Series with the classic American musical, Guys and Dolls based on Runyon's comic tales of Broadway running June 2-12 in the Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre (Lower Jorgensen).

Two women test the bonds of sisterhood in John Henry Redwood's bittersweet comedy,The Old Settler. ICT artistic director caryn desai [sic] directs Ryan Vincent Anderson, Veralyn Jones, Tarina Pouncy and Karen Malina White in a four-week run, June 3 through June 26 at International City Theatre in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center.

Nominations for the 56th Annual Drama Desk Awards will be announced at a news conference on Monday, May 2, 2011, at 9:30 AM at the New York Friars Club, 57 East 55th Street, in Manhattan. A continental breakfast will be available at 8:45 AM. Drama Desk and Tony winners Audra McDonald and Liev Schreiber will announce the nominations in the various categories. In addition, there will be remarks by Drama Desk President Isa Goldberg, Drama Desk Awards Executive Producer Robert R. Blume, Nominating Committee Chairperson Barbara Siegel and Randie Levine-Miller, Drama Desk Director of Special Events, who has produced this event at the Friars Club for the past 15 years.

Rockjazz pianist ELEW today announced the details of an upcoming benefit he is holding on Thursday, March 31 at the Gramercy Theater in New York City, in cooperation with Live Nation and Party With Purpose to benefit the relief efforts of humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders and Save The Children for victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami.

Actress/Director Phylicia Rashad made her Los Angeles directorial debut with the Ebony Repertory Theatre's production of Lorraine Hansberry's classic play A RAISIN IN THE SUN. Ebony Repertory Theatre (ERT) is proud to return this groundbreaking play to Los Angeles for its first fully-staged production in over twenty years. Preview performances began on March 23, 2011, Nate Holden Performing Arts Center with Opening Night on Friday, March 25th. The play runs through April 17, 2011 (4718 W. Washington Blvd.) in Los Angeles.

Rockjazz pianist ELEW today announced the details of an upcoming benefit he is holding on Thursday, March 31 at the Gramercy Theater in New York City, in cooperation with Live Nation and Party With Purpose to benefit the relief efforts of humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders and Save The Children for victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami.

Talk show listings for Monday, March 7.

Photos from The Essences Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon held at Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, California on February 24th, 2011.

David Letterman: Sen. Rand Paul, Bright Eyes

David Letterman: Rainn Wilson, Henry 'Hank' Aaron, the Mountain Goats

David Letterman: Amy Poehler, Dusty the Cat, Deerhunter