Robert Townsend News

NAACP Image® Award-winning Actress Wendy Raquel Robinson and GRAMMY® Award-nominated R&B singer Tank will host the 2019 Bounce Trumpet Awards, an exciting night of inspiration, history and crowd-rousing performances celebrating African-American achievements and contributions. 

Eddie Izzard announces U.S. tour dates for his Eddie Izzard: Wunderbar international tour, opening May 8 in Nashville with his final U.S. performance on July 13 in Seattle. The tour comes to Cleveland on May 29, 2019 at the Connor Palace. The tour is produced by WestBeth Entertainment. For a full list of tour dates, on sale dates and links to tickets, visit EddieIzzard.com.

Eddie Izzard announces U.S. tour dates for his Eddie Izzard: Wunderbar international tour, opening May 8 in Nashville with his final U.S. performance on July 13 in Seattle. The tour is produced by WestBeth Entertainment. For a full list of tour dates, on sale dates and links to tickets, visit EddieIzzard.com.

According to Deadline, Robert Townsend is aiming to bring a stage version of his 1991 film The Five Heartbeats to Broadway. Townsend will write the play with Keenan Ivory Wayans, who also wrote the screenplay.

SF Sketchfest presented by Audible announces even more additions to the lineup for the 18th annual San Francisco Comedy Festival January 10-27.  The 17-day festival features over 200 shows with  major comedy stars and the best up-and-coming comedians from around the world performing in venues across the city bringing non-stop entertainment including sketch, stand-up, alternative comedy, music, improv, films, tributes, live podcasts, storytelling, family shows, workshops, panels and more. Tickets for all shows now on sale at sfsketchfest.com.

Ronn David McPhatter, the son of two rhythm and blues greats, Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Ruth Brown and Clyde McPhatter, will perform his new show "The Son of Legends" at the Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood on Thursday, Dec. 27 at 8:30 PM.   McPhatter has toured for several years as lead singer of the Drifters, the group that his famous father led back in the 1950's. 

SF Sketchfest presented by Audible announces the initial line up for the 18th annual San Francisco Comedy Festival January 10-27, 2019, featuring top comedic talent performing in venues across the city. Audiences can expect another outstanding year of programming and fun as SF Sketchfest will host major comedy stars and the best up-and-coming acts from around the world for non-stop entertainment including sketch, stand-up, alternative comedy, music, improv, films, tributes, live podcasts, storytelling, family shows, workshops, panels and more.

The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage in Santa Monica presents Billy Valentine, today, November 2 at 8:00pm.  Billy Valentine is the third evening of blackbox @ the edye, which transforms The Edye into a club featuring up-and-coming jazz and blues artists.  The series is curated and hosted by The Reverend Shawn Amos; he and his house band perform at select shows during the season as well.   

The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage in Santa Monica presents Billy Valentine, on Friday, November 2 at 8:00pm.  Billy Valentine is the third evening of blackbox @ the edye, which transforms The Edye into a club featuring up-and-coming jazz and blues artists.  The series is curated and hosted by The Reverend Shawn Amos; he and his house band perform at select shows during the season as well.   

Capturing the transcendent spirit of brotherly love like no other song in recent memory, Hugh James' compelling new gospel-soul single and video 'My Brother's Shoes' is a stunning and heartfelt reminder to all of us not to judge the lives of others till we've walked a few miles in their proverbial footsteps.

Austin Film Festival & Writers Conference (AFF) has announced its continued commitment to diversity in filmmaking through its grant from The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, AFF is known for championing writers' contributions to film, television, and new media. The Academy's FilmCraft grant was established to identify and empower future filmmakers from nontraditional backgrounds, cultivate new and diverse talent, promote motion pictures as an art form, and provide a platform for underrepresented artists.

Roundabout Theatre Company's premiere of Theresa Rebeck's Bernhardt/Hamlet begins previews today. Get to know the cast as they begin Broadway performances!

Award-winning British comedian, Simon Amstell, announces a month-long New York City run of his critically acclaimed new show, What Is This?, running June 1st through June 30th at Theatre 80 in the East Village. Following each performance, copies of Simon's new book, Help, will be on sale and Simon will sign copies. This is the only opportunity to purchase the book in North America. Presented by WestBeth Entertainment, tickets are on sale now available at www.SimonAmstell.com

Television and film star Patrika Darbo will host the 9th Annual Indie Series Awards  ceremony on April 4 at The Colony Theatre in Burbank. CA, producers Roger Newcomb, Kevin Mulcahy Jr. and Susan Bernhardt revealed today.  

Cynthia Kaye McWilliams, a member of the cast of the Amazon hit show BOSCH, is helping out SkyPilot Theatre by directing her good friend, Inda Craig-Galvan's play, Tinder…Sucka, as part of the SkyPilot's fundraiser, Return of the Living Fundraiser evening on Friday, Feb 23rd at Theatre Of Arts at 1625 N. Las Palmas in Hollywood. The reception starts at 7PM and the show of 5 ten-minute comedy one acts starts at 8 PM. The evening features silent auctions, drawings and door prizes plus food and drinks. Admission is 15 dollars at the door.  

Segerstrom Center for the Arts welcomes comedian Eddie Izzard in his ne w show Eddie Izzard: Believe Me Tour on Thursday, February 22, 2018 at 7: 30 p.m. in Segerstrom Hall.

From Friday, February 2 through Sunday, February 18, BAMcin matek presents Fight the Power: Black Superheroes on Film.

Austin Film Festival & Writers Conference (AFF), the premier film festival recognizing the writers' contributions to film, television, and new media, announced today a late addition to its film slate. I, TONYA, the darkly comedic tale of American figure skater Tonya Harding and one of the most sensational scandals in sports history, will serve as AFF's second Closing Night Film. Directed by Craig Gillespie, I TONYA stars Margot Robbie as Harding, Sebastian Stan as her ex-husband Jeff Gillooly, and Allison Janney as Harding's acid-tongued mother. Writer Steven Rogers will be in attendance for the screening.