Sanaa Lathan News

While older plays can often be interpreted to suit modern tastes and standards, films serve as permanent records of the public attitudes of their times; particularly when considering the ways ethnic minorities were portrayed.  Many a fine film from long ago can contain moments that strike the modern eye as racist, even in cases where the intention was to be racially sensitive.  In the case of black actors from early Hollywood, we can admire the talent of the likes of Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson, Butterfly McQueen and Stepin Fetchit and say they opened door for others, but many have argued that their success came from demeaning their race as a whole by taking the types of roles that were within the white viewers' comfort zones.

Lynn Nottage's world premiere comedy, BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK, already extended one week through May 29 at Second Stage Theatre, opens tonight, May 9. Directed by Jo Bonney, BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK is Ms. Nottage's first play to be produced in New York since she won the Pulitzer Prize for Ruined in 2009. For ticket information, please call the Second Stage Box Office at 212-246-4422 or visit the company's website, www.2ST.com.

Although still in previews, Lynn Nottage's world premiere comedy, BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK, has extended one week through May 29 at Second Stage Theatre (305 West 43rd street). Directed by Jo Bonney, BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK is Ms. Nottage's first play to be produced in New York since she won the Pulitzer Prize for Ruined in 2009. The production will officially open on Monday, May 9. For ticket information, please call the Second Stage Box Office at 212-246-4422 or visit the company's website, www.2ST.com.

This May, FOX delivers major television events, all-new episodes and big guest stars, including an unprecedented ANIMATION DOMINATION crossover event May 1; the one-hour season finale of FAMILY GUY May 22, taking place in a galaxy far, far away; the three-hour, two-night season finale of AMERICAN IDOL, featuring the final performance show May 24 and the final live results show that's sure to captivate America May 25; primetime broadcasts of NASCAR ON FOX races April 30 and May 7; and primetime MLB ON FOX baseball match-ups May 14 and May 21.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) will conclude its 32nd season with the World Premiere of ALL NEW PEOPLE, a new comedy written by Zach Braff.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) has announced that DAVID GARRISON will complete the cast of Lynn Nottage's new play, BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK. This world premiere comedy will also feature the previously announced STEPHANIE J. BLOCK, DANIEL BREAKER, KIMBERLY HÉBERT GREGORY, KEVIN ISOLA, SANAA LATHAN, and KAREN OLIVO. Directed by Jo Bonney, BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK is Ms. Nottage's first play to be produced in New York since she won the Pulitzer Prize for Ruined in 2009.

The New York Times has revealed that Sanaa Lathan will star in Second Stage's production of Meet Vera Stark this season. She joins Stephanie J. Block and Karen Olivo. The production also stars Daniel Breaker, KIMBERLY HÉBERT GREGORY and Kevin Isola in this world premiere comedy, BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK, the new play by Lynn Nottage, directed by Jo Bonney. BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK is Ms. Nottage's first play to be produced in New York since she won the Pulitzer Prize for Ruined in 2009.

With the strong, focused direction of Clay Hillwig and the uniformly consistent and superb performances of an exceptional cast, Circle Players starts off 2011 with its impressively mounted revival of Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun. With a story that is as potent and as relevant today as it was at the time of the play's 1959 Broadway debut, A Raisin in the Sun follows the struggling but proud Younger family as they strive to make their lives better on Chicago's South Side.

Tony Award-winning actor James Earl Jones has joined the fall line-up for The New York Times's TimesTalks event series.

Tony Award-winning actor James Earl Jones has joined the fall line-up for The New York Times's TimesTalks event series.

Twentieth Century Fox Television will once again dominate the San Diego Comic-Con convention, with stars and creators of eleven of its signature shows heading down to the world famous fan gathering next month. The stars and creators of Fox's shows, such as 'Glee' and 'Futurama,' will provide exclusive sneak peeks of its programs as well as have panel discussions.

Producers Jed Bernstein and Adam Zotovich announced today that Tony Award-winners James Earl Jones and Vanessa Redgrave will return to the New York stage this Fall to star opposite one another in the Broadway Premiere of Alfred Uhry‘s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Driving Miss Daisy. Directed by David Esbjornson (The Goat, Or Who Is Sylvia?), Driving Miss Daisy will begin performances on October 7, 2010, at the John Golden Theatre (252 West 45th Street), with an official opening on Monday, October 25, 2010.

Twentieth Century Fox Television will once again dominate the San Diego Comic-Con convention, with stars and creators of eleven of its signature shows heading down to the world famous fan gathering next month. In addition to exclusive sneak peeks of its programs and panel discussions with the stars and creators of its shows, the studio will unveil its brand new larger and more central booth on the convention floor. The sleek new design includes a 25-foot multi-media cyclone tower stretching high into the rafters allowing the booth to instantly transform between various properties, and provides generous space for autograph signings, premium giveaways and merchandise sales.

Twentieth Century Fox Television will once again dominate the San Diego Comic-Con convention, with stars and creators of eleven of its signature shows heading down to the world famous fan gathering next month. The stars and creators of Fox's shows, such as 'Glee' and 'Futurama,' will provide exclusive sneak peeks of its programs as well as have panel discussions.

THE CLEVELAND SHOW, the highest-rated new scripted half-hour this season among Adults 18-34 and Teens, has been picked up for a third season, it was announced today by Kevin Reilly, President, Entertainment for Fox Broadcasting Company.

This May FOX delivers major television events, all-new episodes and big guest stars, including 'FOX Rocks,' a week of music-themed FOX programming April 29 through May 5; primetime broadcasts of NASCAR ON FOX races May 1 and May 8; two not-to-be-missed one-hour installments of FAMILY GUY, including the milestone 150th episode May 2 and the latest 'Star Wars' saga-inspired season finale May 23; a BONES episode written by best-selling author and series inspiration, Kathy Reichs, May 6; the two-part season finale of FRINGE, featuring the long-awaited face-off between Walter Bishop (John Noble) and William Bell (guest star Leonard Nimoy), May 13 and May 20; the May 18 GLEE episode directed by Joss Whedon and guest-starring Neil Patrick Harris, Molly Shannon, Idina Menzel and Jonathan Groff; a special preview of Matt Nix's ('Burn Notice') new action comedy THE GOOD GUYS May 19; the AMERICAN IDOL-themed 21st season finale of THE SIMPSONS with guest voices Ryan Seacrest, Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi and Ellen DeGeneres May 23; the climactic and historic series conclusion of the groundbreaking and award-winning 24, May 24; and the three-hour, two-night season finale of AMERICAN IDOL, featuring the final performance show May 25 and the final live results show that's sure to captivate America May 26.

Debbie Allen's hit Broadway production of Tennessee Williams' Cat On A Hot Tin Roof will come to an end tonight, 10th April at London's Novello Theatre.

Michael Riedel reports in The New York Post today that the next cast to step into the roles of the Broadway hit GOD OF CARNAGE may feature an all-star African-American cast. The top of producers' lists is film star Eddie Murphy, followed by a host of other celebrities including Nia Long, Sanaa Lathan, Sean Combs, Wesley Snipes, Regina King, Mo'Nique and Chris Rock.

Just days after opening in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", Broadway stars James Earl Jones, Phylicia Rashad and Sanaa Lathan will headline one of the biggest events in the West End calendar, the launch of the 10th Annual Whatsonstage.com Awards, the "theatregoers choice".

The award-winning smash hit Broadway production of Tennessee Williams's 'CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF', which enjoyed a sell out run on Broadway last year with an all black cast, will open in London's West End this winter. 'CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF' will open at the Novello Theatre on Tuesday 1 December, following previews from 21 November. The limited season will finish on Saturday 10 April 2010.