Forrest McClendon News

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) continues its 2018-19 season with Paula Vogel's "A Civil War Christmas: An American Musical Celebration." Elizabeth VanDyke will direct. Performances will be held in the Harriet S. Jorgenson Theatre from November 29th - December 9th, 2018. For tickets and information please visit crt.uconn.edu or call (860) 486-2113.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater and producer Brian A. Moreland have partnered on a two-week intensive workshop of playwright Keenan Scott II's Thoughts of a Colored Man. Directed by Taye Diggs, with choreographer Jenny Parsinen, associate director Shannon Stoeke, and music and vocals by Madison McFerrin, the piece takes a raw and honest look at the limitations, stereotypes and obstacles that the world attempts to place on men of color through their discussions of love, race, education, family, and history.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater and producer Brian A. Moreland have partnered on a two-week intensive workshop of playwright Keenan Scott II's Thoughts of a Colored Man. Directed by Taye Diggs, with choreographer Jenny Parsinen, associate director Shannon Stoeke, and music and vocals by Madison McFerrin, the piece takes a raw and honest look at the limitations, stereotypes and obstacles that the world attempts to place on men of color through their discussions of love, race, education, family, and history.

Theatre Philadelphia, the region's marketing and leadership organization for theatre, proudly announces the 2018 nominees for the Barrymore Award for Excellence in Theatre. Celebrating the rich, diverse professional theatre scene in the Greater Philadelphia region, the Barrymore Ceremony will be held on Monday, November 5th at 7pm at the Bok Building at 1901 S. 9th Street in South Philadelphia. Guests will continue the festivities with an after-party Celebration at the same location. Tickets for artists, supporters, and the general public are now on sale at www.theatrephiladelphia.org.

The world premiere of The Beast in the Jungle officially opened last night off-Broadway. BroadwayWorld attended opening night and you can check out photos of the cast's opening night bows below!

Just last night, Syracuse University celebrated Taye Diggs (Class of 1993) at Syracuse University's Lubin House (11 E 61st Street). In honor of his directorial debut with 'Thoughts of a Colored Man,' they presented a reading of the new play, by Keenan Scott II with music by Madison McFerrin, for fellow alumni and invited guests.

Stage and screen star Taye Diggs will make his directorial debut with a private industry reading of Thoughts of a Colored Man on a Day When the Sun Set Too Early, today and tomorrow, November 16 & 17, 2017 at Ripley-Grier in New York City. Written and conceived by Keenan Scott II, Thoughts of a Colored Man is a powerful and moving play featuring music by Madison McFerrin and choreography by Jenny Parsinen. BroadwayWorld has photos, shot on film, of the company in rehearsal below!

Producer Brian Moreland announced today that stage and screen star Taye Diggs will make his directorial debut with a private industry reading of Thoughts of a Colored Man on a Day When the Sun Set Too Early, Thursday and Friday, November 16 17, 2017 at Ripley-Grier in New York City.

Lantern Theater Company announced today that its 2017/18 season opener Red Velvet will extend its run to meet audience demand and will now close on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. The following performances have been added:

Lantern Theater Company will launch its 24th season with the regional premiere of Red Velvet, Lolita Chakrabarti's stirring play based on the true story of 19th century actor Ira Aldridge, who made history as the first African-American actor to portray Othello in 1833 London.

Lantern Theater Company announces complete casting for its upcoming 2017/18 season, which begins this week with the Philadelphia premiere of Red Velvet by Lolita Chakrabarti. Theater critics and members of the press are invited to attend Red Velvet opening night on Wednesday, September 13 at 7 p.m.

Lantern Theater Company will launch its 24th season with the regional premiere of Red Velvet, Lolita Chakrabarti's stirring play based on the true story of 19th century actor Ira Aldridge, who made history as the first African-American actor to portray Othello in 1833 London. Longtime Lantern artistic collaborator Peter DeLaurier will direct a cast that includes Tony Award nominee Forrest McClendon as Ira Aldridge, with David Bardeen, Damon Bonetti, Liz Filios, Adam Hammet, David Pica, Ebony Pullum, and Lauren Sowa. Theater critics and members of the press are invited to attend opening night on Wednesday, September 13 at 7 p.m. A full schedule is included in the fact sheet below.

Lantern Theater Company will launch its 24th season with the regional premiere of Red Velvet, Lolita Chakrabarti's stirring play based on the true story of 19th century actor Ira Aldridge, who made history as the first African-American actor to portray Othello in 1833 London.

The 2017 Tony nominations were announced this morning. If you haven't checked them out yet, what are you waiting for?! CLICK HERE to check out a full list of this year's nominees, and HERE for reactions from the lucky few!

Quintessence Theatre Group continues producing progressive classic theatre and launces its seventh season with David Hare's translation of Bertolt Brecht's Mother Courage and Her Children, with original music by Michael Friedman.

Quintessence Theatre Group continues producing progressive classic theatre and launces its seventh season with David Hare's translation of Bertolt Brecht's Mother Courage and Her Children, with original music by Michael Friedman.

Quintessence Theatre Group continues producing progressive classic theatre and launces its seventh season with David Hare's translation of Bertolt Brecht's Mother Courage and Her Children, with original music by Michael Friedman.

Quintessence Theatre Group continues producing progressive classic theatre and launces its seventh season with David Hare's translation of Bertolt Brecht's Mother Courage and Her Children, with original music by Michael Friedman.

The widespread news coverage earlier this year of the discovery in Scotland of a previously unknown first edition of the collected works of William Shakespeare is bringing greater interest to the national traveling exhibition "First Folio! The Book That Gave Us Shakespeare" that will be on display at the William Benton Museum of Art at UConn from Sept. 1 to 25.

The widespread news coverage earlier this year of the discovery in Scotland of a previously unknown first edition of the collected works of William Shakespeare is bringing greater interest to the national traveling exhibition "First Folio! The Book That Gave Us Shakespeare" that will be on display at the William Benton Museum of Art at UConn from Sept. 1 to 25.