Robert Townsend News

“boy: a new musical” made it's stage debut in a concert fundraiser at SDMT stage on Monday, May 16th. “boy: a new musical” is still in the development stage, and the concert was a fundraiser to help them continue to work on the show and present it to industry professionals in New York. 

CHELSEA TABLE + STAGE will present acclaimed performer Billy Valentine – the Billboard chart-topping singer and songwriter best known for his work on The Five Heartbeats, “Boston Legal” and “Sons of Anarchy” – on Saturday, June 8 at 7:00 PM.

After re-opening the doors of The Marsh Berkeley in August 2021, performing to sold out crowds and standing ovations, fan favorite Don Reed will return to The Marsh San Francisco with Going Out, with new material added.

Comedian, actor, writer, director and Kid In The Hall, Bruce McCulloch has announced the off-Broadway run of his new show, Bruce McCulloch: Tales of Bravery and Stupidity, running June 1 – 12 at SoHo Playhouse.

In her first hour-long comedy special directed by the legendary Robert Townsend, Ms. Pat recalls growing up poor in Atlanta during the Reagan era, what she learned spending five days in juvenile detention, how her mom made her get baptized at local churches to get money, and much much more. Watch a clip from the new special now!

SF Sketchfest, co-founded and directed by David Owen, Cole Stratton and Janet Varney, the longest-running comedy festival in the U.S. The event mixes major comedy stars and up-and-coming comedians from around the world for sketch, stand-up, alternative comedy, music, improv, films, tributes, live podcasts, workshops, and panel discussions.

After re-opening the doors of The Marsh Berkeley to sold out crowds and standing ovations, fan favorite Don Reed returns for an extended run of Going Out. Hailed by Theatrius as “Brilliant! Inspiring and funny,” the work has been applauded by critics, with the San Francisco Examiner declaring, “Hilarious! Reed can do it all, with grace, humor, and empathy.”

On Sunday, October 17, Columbus native and author Wil Haygood and Hollywood director and actor Robert Townsend will be live on stage at the Lincoln Theatre to discuss Black filmmaking and the history of Blacks in the film industry.

Multi-award-winning entertainer Vanessa Williams has penned a moving book foreword that shines the spotlight on an amazing tale of spying and slavery during the Revolutionary War while unveiling an unlikely heroine.

Learn about Ms. Pat on Netflix. This is Ms. Pat’s first hour-long comedy special with Netflix. She was previously seen in season 2 of the Netflix stand-up comedy series,The Degenerates. The special will be shot at the Atlanta Comedy Theater on Sept 25.

SF Sketchfest announces dates for the 20th anniversary of the comedy festival. After hitting pause on the live festival in 2021 due to COVID, the San Francisco Comedy Festival returns to celebrate its milestone 20th year January 7-23, 2022.

The Marsh couldn't have chosen anyone more fitting for its return to live in-person performances than fan favorite Don Reed, whose partnership with The Marsh encompasses many hit shows over the past decade. Starting August 21st, Reed performs his brand-new one-man show 'Going Out' at The Marsh Berkeley. BroadwayWorld talks to Reed about the show.

The Marsh Berkeley returns to live theater with fan favorite Don Reed and his newest solo work, Going Out.

In anticipation of the 30th Anniversary Screening and Cast Reunion of The Five Heartbeats at the Tribeca Film Festival, star Michael Wright will guest on radio's It's Showtime with Rikki Lee on Friday June 4 at 3 PM Central.

EgoPo’s 2020-21 season continues with a presentation of Lawrence Theatre Company’s newest play, Three OG’s, as a live, virtual reading at 8pm on January 22nd, 2021. Written by Lawrence Theatre Company’s founder, Derrell Lawrence, Three OG’s stars John Canada Terrell, Brian Anthony Wilson and Lawrence’s Artistic Director, Damien J. Wallace.

Interview wtih Jill Townsend, the Artistic Director of San Diego Musical Theatre on their streaming benefit concert 'SDMT Stars Under The Stars' September 25-27th

Multitalented artist, filmmaker and author Sean Kanan will host the Indie Series Awards, producers announced today. The 11th Annual ISAs ceremony will be held Thursday, June 18, 2020, at 9:00 PM ET.

SF Sketchfest announced a new series of Live from the Archive videos that will be released each Tuesday beginning on May 5, 2020. The series will feature many never-before-seen performances, tribute conversations and panel discussions from the past 19 years and will include appearances by many comedy and entertainment luminaries.

The Marsh San Francisco has long been known as the city's breeding ground for new performance. Like theater companies the world over, The Marsh is also having to invent new ways of engaging with audiences while in-person performances are suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Their creative solution is called MarshStream, which offers a mind-boggling variety of programming seven days a week, including game nights, live performance readings, performance development classes, and archived performance streams. Content is being offered via Zoom, YouTube, Instagram, Spotify, Google Podcasts and iTunes. For weekly event schedules and additional information, visit www.themarsh.org. BroadwayWorld recently caught up with Stephanie Weisman, The Marsh's Founder/Artistic Director, to learn more about MarshStream and check in on how she and The Marsh are weathering the pandemic.

Jimmy Kimmel's Comedy Club at The LINQ Promenade proudly announces a new limited engagement with comedian, actor and original cast member of In Living Color, Tommy Davidson. The fiercely funny industry veteran is returning to the spotlight with new stand up material for his limited engagement beginning April 5. Tickets are now on sale.