Shonda Rhimes News

Television series creator-showrunner Jenji Kohan (Orange is the New Black, Weeds) has been named the recipient of the Writers Guild of America West's 2019 Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television Writing Achievement, presented to a Guild member who has “advanced the literature of television and made outstanding contributions to the profession of the television writer.” She will be honored at the WGAW's 2019 Writers Guild Awards L.A. show on Sunday, February 17, 2019.

Viveca Chow is one of Broadway's rising stars having recently made her debut in the 2017 revival of Miss Saigon. In an effort to share her art, opinions, advice and more, she is now authoring the new blog Vivaaace. We're featuring her recent post giving students all the advice and encouragement they need to nail their BFA auditions.

IAMA Theatre Company has named playwright Sanaz Toossi as the 2019 recipient of the Rhimes Unsung Voices Playwriting Commission. The commission, sponsored by award-winning writer and producer Shonda Rhimes (Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, How To Get Away With Murder), was created to help grow and nourish budding playwrights and artists with emphasis on cultural inclusion and the goal to showcase fresh, creative, thought-provoking work.

The ABC Television Network has ordered three additional episodes of “Grey's Anatomy,” bringing the 2018-2019 season to 25 episodes total. This year, the show will become the longest-running prime-time medical drama ever during the second half of season 15. The midseason return of “Grey's Anatomy” will air THURSDAY, JAN. 17 (8:00-9:01 p.m. EST), on The ABC Television Network, streaming and on demand.

The Producers Guild of America has announced the nominees for its 31st Annual Producers Guild Awards, to be presented at the Fairmont Century Plaza hotel in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 18, 2020.

David Lynch is announced as the latest instructor for MasterClass in 2019. The Twin Peaks Director joins fellow Instructors Natalie Portman, Jodie Foster, Timbaland, and Neil Gaiman slated to launch classes in early 2019.

SAG-AFTRA Foundation and BroadwayWorld have partnered for a filmed Conversations Q&A series to recognize and celebrate the vibrant theatre community in New York City and the actors who aspire to have a career on the stage and screen.

HBO salutes Ailey at 60 with a social media video series to launch during Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's 60th Anniversary New York City Center season November 28 - December 30. This tribute video series will introduce new audiences to the Ailey legacy through moving commentary from music, film, and TV stars - Jussie Smollett, Vanessa Williams, Jillian Hervey, and Black Thought - who share how Ailey has inspired their artistry, impacted American culture, and continues to reach people of all ages backgrounds around the globe.

Directors Guild of America President Thomas Schlamme today announced that FX Networks will be the recipient of the Guild's 2019 Diversity Award. The Award is being given for the network's commitment to, and leadership in, inclusive hiring in DGA-covered categories – and for the example they set for the rest of the industry. The Award will be presented at the 71st Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, February 2, 2019.

As part of its ongoing commitment to support and inspire the work of female directors and creators, SeriesFest organizers announced today an expansion of their “Featuring Women” platform through a new mentorship initiative with Shondaland, prolific storytelling company founded by Shonda Rhimes. Through this partnership, SeriesFest will launch their first-ever Women Directing Mentorship initiative, anchored with the unique opportunity to shadow a director for an episode of a Shondaland production. Submissions are now open on www.seriesfest.com and close on March 4, 2019. The winner will be announced in June 2019 at SeriesFest: Season 5.

As a centerpiece to its yearlong Ailey Ascending 60th Anniversary celebration and a kickoff to its five-week holiday season, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will host a star-studded gala benefit on Today, November 28th at 7pm, complete with a performance for the ages at New York City Center and dinner-party at the New York Hilton Midtown Grand Ballroom. The gala honors Prudential Financial for its generous support and commitment to Ailey for over three decades, especially its educational and community programs.  The Honorary Chairs for the evening are screen icons Angela Bassett and Cicely Tyson. Bassett, a Golden Globe Award winner, stars in the hit television series 9-1-1, and was most recently featured in the 2018 blockbusters Black Panther and Mission: Impossible - Fallout. Tyson - known for a myriad of roles across television and film, including Roots, Fried Green Tomatoes, and most recently How to Get Away With Murder - has received three Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and on November 18th made history as the first black woman to receive an Honorary Academy Award.

 MasterClass, the online education company that enables anyone to learn from the best in the world, announced today that Oscar-nominated filmmaker Mira Nair will offer her first ever online class exclusively through its platform. In her new class on independent filmmaking, Nair will share her methods for directing powerful performances, maximizing budgets, and bringing authentic stories to life. Nair's class is now available at www.masterclass.com/mn. Enrollment for the class is $90 for lifetime access, or $180 per year for the All-Access Pass, which grants unlimited access to all new and existing classes.