Sidney Poitier News

Today's Theater Stories features the Ethel Barrymore Theatre! Learn about Ethel Barrymore herself, shows to have graced the theatre's stage, including An Evening with Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin, Chaplin, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, The Band's Visit, The Inheritance, and many more!

From the depths of the ATL, Horizon Theatre is spotlighting the stories bubbling up from artists from the Beltline to the West End to Buford Highway. Southbound: True Life Tales from the ATL and Beyond is the newest original show from Horizon.

Golden Globe-winning actor, playwright, and activist Regina Taylor is partnering with Southern Methodist University’s Meadows School of the Arts, and is seeking collaborators to create a multifaceted, activist-driven initiative, the black album. mixtape.

John Guare's Six Degrees of Separation will continue The Ensemble Company's 2021 season (its third) at its home at Penguin Point Productions. Six Degrees of Separation runs May 7th through 17th, 2021 at Penguin Point Productions' venue, located in the Oviedo Mall at 1220 Oviedo Mall Blvd in Oviedo.

John Guare's Six Degrees of Separation will continue The Ensemble Company's 2021 season (its third) at its home at Penguin Point Productions. Six Degrees of Separation premiered in 1990 and was nominated for both the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play. 

Today, in a historical first, the NAACP announced that it will be awarding two recipients, NBA superstar Stephen Curry and The Women’s National Basketball Players Association, with the Jackie Robinson Sports Awards. Additionally, Misty Copeland will be honored with the prestigious Spingarn Medal.

What happens to a dream deferred? In the South Side of Chicago, a poor black family struggles to stay afloat as they search for financial stability and a place to call home. Tensions flare as the generations reach for different dreams and prejudice seeps into their lives.

BroadwayWorld is saddened to report that playwright, actor, director, and theatrical producer Douglas Turner Ward has passed away. He was 90 years old.

There is a particular snobbery surrounding musical theatre: critics say that in a moment of high drama, crisis or emotion, the most unrealistic thing to do would be to break into song. Musicals are too camp, annoying and definitely not cool. They appeal to the coach parties of tourists rocking up in Leicester Square every weekend (those were the days!). However, musicals are not representations of real life, nor do they pretend to be. A successful musical has a magical combination of highly memorable music, an engaging storyline, incredible choreography and visually impressive set and costume design. It’s not a coincidence that the best musical theatre performers are called a triple threat, as they act, sing and dance, often without any perceivable effort.

There is much work to be done for the equity of Blacks in theater and when Broadway reopens, hopefully, it will be a new and truly inclusive Black Broadway. The book, Black Broadway: African Americans on the Great White Way, is a thorough examination of the history of the Black contribution to Broadway. The publishers of Black Broadway, Square One Publishing, have released a Kindle version and in honor of Black History Month, the ebook is available for $1.99 for the month of February. 

Today we're learning all about ground-breaking African-American playwright Lorraine Hansberry- best known as the first African-American female author to have a play performed on Broadway.

Today, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) announced that seven-time Golden Globe winner and 15-time nominee Jane Fonda will be honored with the coveted Cecil B. deMille Award at the 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards.

Arizona State Universitytoday established The Sidney Poitier New American Film School, one of the largest, most egalitarian film schools in the country, operating in three cities across Arizona and California.

Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. To sustain the tradition while venues around the world remain closed, BAM will launch events virtually, connecting communities across the nation.

At New Federal Theatre's 50th Anniversary Gala Sunday January 17, special guests will include Debbie Allen, Trazana Beverly, Mya Carter, Patrice Johnson Cevannes, Debbi Blackwell Cook, D.K. Dyson, Joseph Edwards, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Ted Lange, Pauletta Washington, Kevin Maynor, S. Epatha Merskerson, Phylicia Rashad and more.

DeWanda Wise, star of the Netflix series 'She'd Gotta Have It,' and her husband, Alano Miller, best known for the WGN America drama series 'Underground,' will join Ted Lange as co-hosts of New Federal Theatre's '50th Anniversary Virtual Gala' January 17, 2021 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.  

Riverside Center for the Performing Arts and Producing Artistic Director, Patrick A'Hearn have announced a lineup of shows for its 24th season of bringing Broadway's Best to Virginia.

Brooklyn Academy of Music today announced details of its 35th Annual Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., which brings together artists, activists, civic leaders, and the public for a communal commemoration and reflection on the life and legacy of Dr. King, on Monday, January 18, 2021.

New Federal Theatre will hold a 50th Anniversary Gala Celebration as a virtual event January 17, 2021 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The Gala will be accessible from the theater's website, and will honor Cliff Frazier, Ron Himes, S. Epatha Merkerson, Ed Pitt, Phylicia Rashad, Oz Scott, Beth Turner, Glynn Turman and Douglas Turner Ward.  

Millions know the name Harvey Korman from the television show, The Carol Burnett Show, and many movies, including Blazing Saddles and High Anxiety. However, Harvey’s greatest role was as a father to his children and a tireless advocate for his son Christopher. Now grown up and thriving, Christopher Korman has released his memoir (written with Ron Brawer) about his dad, OMG! It’s Harvey Korman’s Son! available on Amazon.