Jeffrey Wright News

Tonight, April 24, 2014, ArtsConnection will celebrate its 35th anniversary at a fundraising gala honoring Time Warner Inc. and internationally-renowned visual artist Vik Muniz. Lisa Garcia Quiroz, Time Warner's Senior VP of Corporate Responsibility and Chief Diversity Officer, will accept the award on behalf of the company.

The Guthrie Theater and The Acting Company (TAC) reunite for a sixth year, presenting Hamlet, Shakespeare's story of a Danish prince's search for vengeance, justice and truth, in repertory with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, a reworking of the same tragedy from the point of view of two minor characters and their static existence in a world beyond their comprehension. This two-week engagement today, April 22 - May 4, on the McGuire Proscenium Stage, will conclude a successful seven-month 42-city tour, during which time these productions played to thousands of adults and students in large and small markets around the United States. Both Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead will showcase the talents of graduates of the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater B.F.A. Actor Training Program, as well as alumni of A Guthrie Experience for Actors in Training.

It was announced today that digital entertainment curator, FilmBuff, will release the horror/comedy “Devil in My Ride,” starring Sid Haig (“Kill Bill: Vol. 2,” “Jackie Brown,” “The Devil's Rejects”) and directed by Gary Michael Schultz.

Showbiz411 writes that Annette Bening is allegedly in talks for the role of 'Goneril' opposite John Lithgow in KING LEAR at Shakespeare in the Park in New York City this summer.

On Thursday, April 24, 2014, ArtsConnection will celebrate its 35th anniversary at a fundraising gala honoring Time Warner Inc. and internationally-renowned visual artist Vik Muniz. Lisa Garcia Quiroz, Time Warner's Senior VP of Corporate Responsibility and Chief Diversity Officer, will accept the award on behalf of the company. The event, which will be attended by leaders from the arts, business, media, and philanthropy worlds, as well as draw celebrities from both NYC and Hollywood, will raise support for ArtsConnection's arts education initiatives for New York City public school students. Emily and Harold Ford, Jr., Linda & Mort Janklow, Lisa and Richard Plepler, Tracey & Robert Pruzan, and Paula and Fareed Zakaria will serve as event co-chairs. Award-winning CNN anchor Don Lemon will host the evening at 583 Park Avenue. He will be joined by Sarah Jessica Parker and Jeffrey Wright who will make a special presentations. The event will be styled by acclaimed designer and ArtsConnection Board Member David Monn.

The Old Globe today announced two of the stars of Shakespeare's classic tragedy Othello, the first show of the Globe's 2014 Summer Shakespeare Festival. Making their Globe debuts are Emmy Award-winner Richard Thomas ('The Americans,' 'The Waltons') as Iago and Kristen Connolly ('House of Cards,' The Cabin in the Woods) as Desdemona. Both artists continue collaborations with Old Globe Artistic Director Barry Edelstein that began in New York: Thomas starred in Edelstein's critically acclaimed production of Timon of Athens at The Public Theater in 2011, and Connolly in three Shakespeare plays that Edelstein helped produce at The Public. Additional casting will be announced at a later date.

The Acting Company will present a staged reading of Nude with Violin, Noel Coward's satire on modern art, criticism, pretension and the value placed on art at 7 pm on Monday, March 24 at the Signature Theatre (Alice Griffin Jewel Box), 480 West 42nd Street (9th-10th Avenues).

The National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC), has announced the nominees for the 2014 NAMIC Vision Awards.

The Old Globe today announced it will present two Shakespeare-themed events. On Monday, April 28 at 7:00 p.m., Tony Award winner Roger Rees will return to the Globe for a one-night-only engagement of What You Will, his hysterical (and somewhat historical) 90-minute gallop through the world of Shakespeare. On Saturday, May 3 at 11:00 a.m., Old Globe Artistic Director Barry Edelstein will offer an encore of Thinking Shakespeare Live!, his 90-minute exploration of the language of Shakespeare. This fast-paced, funny, and altogether fascinating program based on Edelstein's book, Thinking Shakespeare: A How-To Guide for Student Actors, Directors, and Anyone Else Who Wants to Feel More Comfortable with the Bard, reveals a performer's approach to Shakespearean language so audiences may easily understand the poetry of the Bard.

Patti LuPone steps back into the role that led to her 1985 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical as Moll in The Cradle Will Rock on Monday, May 19, 7pm at Broadway's Bernard Jacobs Theatre, 242 West 45th Street. The concert staging of Marc Blitzstein's iconic work will benefit The Acting Company, co-founded by John Houseman, Cradle's original producer in 1937, who directed Ms. LuPone and a cast of Acting Company Alumni in a revival almost 50 years later. Lonny Price (Lincoln Center's Sweeney Todd and Company) will direct; Michael Barrett (Caramoor, NY Festival of Song) will again serve as musical director and play the score as he did in the 1980's production. Tickets will go on sale next month; information on benefit tickets including dinner with Ms. LuPone and the cast is available from 212-258-3111.

The Public Theater announced the line-up today for the 2014 free Shakespeare in the Park season, continuing a 52-year tradition of free theater in Central Park. Since 1962, over five million people have enjoyed more than 150 free productions of Shakespeare and other classical works and musicals at the Delacorte Theater. Conceived by founder Joe Papp as a way to make great theater accessible to all, The Public's free Shakespeare in the Park continues to be the bedrock of the Company's mission to increase access and engage the community. This summer, free Shakespeare in the Park will feature a comedy and a tragedy with Jack O'Brien directing MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING and Daniel Sullivan directing KING LEAR.

The Guthrie Theater and The Acting Company (TAC) reunite for a sixth year, presenting Hamlet, Shakespeare's story of a Danish prince's search for vengeance, justice and truth, in repertory with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, a reworking of the same tragedy from the point of view of two minor characters and their static existence in a world beyond their comprehension. This two-week engagement April 22 - May 4, on the McGuire Proscenium Stage, will conclude a successful seven-month 42-city tour, during which time these productions played to thousands of adults and students in large and small markets around the United States. Both Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead will showcase the talents of graduates of the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater B.F.A. Actor Training Program, as well as alumni of A Guthrie Experience for Actors in Training.

The Acting Company will present a benefit staged reading of Murderers, a new play by Jeffrey Hatcher (Never Gonna Dance, Tuesdays with Morrie) at 7 pm on Monday, February 24 at the Mainstage Theater (Playwrights Horizons), 416 West 42nd Street (9th-10thAvenues). The performance-starring Acting Company Alumna and Tony-winner Harriet Harris (Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, Encores!Little Me), Marylouise Burke (TV's Alpha House) and Reg Rogers (The Big Knife)-will be followed by a reception with the cast and director, Ian Belknap, Artistic Director of The Acting Company. Tickets @ $35 and $60 (Patron) are available from 212-258-3111.

Performances begin this Saturday, February 8 as The Old Globe presents Shakespeare's spellbinding romance The Winter's Tale. Artistic Director Barry Edelstein makes his Old Globe directorial debut with the show, the first indoor Shakespeare production at the Globe in over a decade. The Winter's Tale will run Feb. 8 - March 16, 2014 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Preview performances run Feb. 8 - Feb. 12. Opening night is Thursday, Feb. 13 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE, or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.

The Old Globe today announced the complete cast and creative team for Shakespeare's spellbinding romanceThe Winter's Tale. Artistic Director Barry Edelstein makes his Old Globe directorial debut with the show, the first indoor Shakespeare production at the Globe in over a decade. The Winter's Tale will run Feb. 8 - March 16, 2014 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the OldGlobe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Preview performances run Feb. 8 - Feb. 12. Opening night is Thursday, Feb. 13 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE, or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.

The nominees for THE 45TH NAACP IMAGE AWARDS were announced today during a live press conference at the TV One presentation to the Television Critics Association during its Winter 2014 Press Tour in Pasadena, CA. David Oyelowo ('Lee Daniels' 'The Butler'), Joe Morton (ABC's 'Scandal'), Keke Palmer (VH1's 'CrazySexyCool'), Bresha Webb (TV One's 'Love That Girl') and Gina Torres (USA's 'Suits') announced the categories and nominees with NAACP Image Awards Committee Chairman, Leonard James and President and CEO of TV One, Alfred Liggins.

The Acting Company will present a benefit staged reading of The Real Inspector Hound by Tom Stoppard at 7 pm on Monday, January 13 at the Pearl Theatre, 555 West 42nd Street (9th-10th Avenues). The performance--starring John Glover (Macbeth), Francesca Faridany (Macbeth), Julia Coffey, Lee Aaron Rosen Acting Company Members Sam Tsoutsouvas, Michele Tauber, Andy Weems, Stephen Pilkington (The Winslow Boy) and Andy Nagosky--will be followed by a reception with the cast and director, Ian Belknap, Artistic Director of The Acting Company.

After 27 years, Tom Stoppard's seminal work, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead returns to the New York stage directed by Tony-winner John Rando (Urinetown, A Christmas Story). Presented by The Acting Company in rotating repertory with Hamlet, directed by Ian Belknap, performances begin tonight, January 9 and run through February 1 at the Pearl Theater, 555 West 42nd Street, NYC.

After 27 years, Tom Stoppard's seminal work, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead returns to the New York stage directed by Tony-winner John Rando (Urinetown, A Christmas Story). Presented by The Acting Company in rotating repertory with Hamlet, directed by Ian Belknap, performances begin January 9 and run through February 1 at the Pearl Theater, 555 West 42nd Street, NYC.