Sidney Poitier News

The American Film Institute (AFI), in partnership with AGBO Films, has announced Angela Chen (AFI Class of 2018) as the recipient of the inaugural AGBO/AFI Conservatory Development Grant. This new program awards $25,000 to a recent AFI Conservatory graduate to develop at least one project, with year-long mentorship from AGBO. Chen will receive the grant for her project TRIAD OF US, which tells the story of a broken Chinese immigrant family and their first-generation children in America. Told from multiple perspectives and based on true events, the story finds the young daughter unveiling dark family secrets as an assassination is executed and a sting operation is underway.

The 2019 ESPYS Presented by Capital One will be hosted by acclaimed actor and comedian Tracy Morgan. Morgan, who currently stars on the critically acclaimed The Last O.G., will be joined by top celebrities from sports and entertainment to commemorate the past year in sports by recognizing major sports achievements, reliving unforgettable moments, and saluting the leading performers and performances. The ESPYS will be broadcast live on ABC on Wednesday, July 10, at 8 p.m. ET from Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

Ford's Theatre Society celebrated the legacy of President Abraham Lincoln at its Annual Gala on Sunday evening, June 2, 2019, at Ford's Theatre (511 10th Street NW). For more than 40 years, the Society has hosted this bipartisan event, which provides crucial support to the non-profit's theatrical and educational programs.

Diversionary Theatre, the Nation's 3rd Oldest LGBT Theatre presents The 3rd Annual Spark New Play Festival featuring a program of new plays never before seen in San Diego.

Geffen Playhouse raised more than $1.3 million for the theater's education, community engagement and artistic initiatives at its 17th annual Backstage at the Geffen fundraiser held May 19, it was announced today. Danny Glover (Lethal Weapon franchise, The Color Purple, Dreamgirls) presented the Artistic Impact Award for Harry Belafonte, which was accepted by daughter Gina Belafonte on his behalf, and Jane Fonda (Grace & Frankie, Book Club, 9 to 5) presented the Distinction in Theater Award to Lily Tomlin.

The American Film Institute (AFI) announced today the first wave of guest presenters who will celebrate Denzel Washington at the 47th AFI Life Achievement Award on June 6, 2019, at a Gala Tribute in Los Angeles. Chadwick Boseman, Jodie Foster, Jamie Foxx, Morgan Freeman (2011 honoree), Michael B. Jordan, Issa Rae, Julia Roberts and Cicely Tyson will all be in attendance to pay tribute to Washington's life and work. In addition, multitalented film, television and music video artist Melina Matsoukas (AFI Class of 2005) will receive the 2019 Franklin J. Schaffner Alumni Medal, recognizing her extraordinary creative talents.  

Made famous by Spencer Tracy, Katherine Hepburn and Sidney Poitier, the film produced in 1967, GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER became an instant classic.  Tackling the controversial topic of interracial marriage, GWCTD remains relevant today.  Expertly adapted for the stage by Todd Kreidler, William Rose's screenplay doesn't lose any of it's warmth, humor, grit and love. 

Geffen Playhouse will honor legendary singer, songwriter, actor and activist Harry Belafonte and groundbreaking performer, comedienne and activist Lily Tomlin during its 17th annual Backstage at the Geffen fundraiser, it was announced today.

It was announced today Steve Silver's Beach Blanket Babylon-a beloved San Francisco institution and the longest running musical revue in the world-will give its final performances on Tuesday, December 31, 2019 (New Year's Eve). Upon its closing, the show will have played a record-breaking 17,216 performances. 

Sarasota Opera is pleased to announce the lineup for the 2019 season of "HD at the Opera House" and "Classic Movies at the Opera House."  The "HD at the Opera House" series will open on Sunday, May 19th and run through October 6th.

52 years after the groundbreaking film, Sierra Rep is thrilled to present Todd Kreidler's stage adaptation of the iconic Academy Award-winning film Guess Who's Coming To Dinner. The production poignantly continues SRT's 40th Anniversary Season. Based on the original screenplay by William Rose and directed by Becky Saunders, this charming, clever romantic comedy opens April 26th and runs through May 19th in the East Sonora Theatre.

And as we look out at what the country has become in recent years, and how social media has illuminated what we have always been, it's necessary to have artists like Suzan-Lori Parks around to keep us thinking, and talking, about what we can aspire to.

The Players Club of Swarthmore presents Six Degrees of Separation, one of the greatest American plays of our time, written by John Guare (The House of Blue Leaves, Landscape of the Body, A Free Man of Color). Six Degrees of Separation examines the threads of chance that link one person to another, in this splendidly funny, often disquieting, exploration of the way human beings define themselves and classify each other. Winner of the 1993 Olivier Award for Best Play and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award. Six Degrees of Separation is directed by Michael Steven Schultz. Tickets are available online at www.pcstheater.org. For group rates, contact groupsales@pcstheater.org.

Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts and Film Independent present a special, one-night only live read of the 1981 comedy My Dinner with Andre, starring Emmy Award-winning writer and comedian John Mulaney ('Saturday Night Live,' Kid Gorgeous) and noted film and Broadway actor Nick Kroll (Loving, Big Mouth, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse), on Tuesday, March 19, 2019, at 7:30 pm. Elvis Mitchell, Film Independent Curator will host.

Centerstage Theatre Company will premiere the stage adaptation of the Academy Award winning Best Picture film classic Guess Who's Coming toDinner? by Todd Kreidler and based on the screenplay by William Rose and runs Feb. 15-24 at Winfree Bryant Middle School Auditorium 1213 Leeville Pike in Lebanon.

Once a month, for only $5 a ticket, come see a movie in this historic building! All movies will begin at 6:30 pm. We have Pop's Kettle Corn, cookies, pretzels, beef sticks, beer, wine, soda, water, and a variety of hot drinks at our concession stand!

The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at the University of British Columbia presents the inimitable, genre-defiant music of Bobby McFerrin on February 17, 2019, at 7pm in the Chan Shun Concert Hall. The concert will feature Gimme5 - McFerrin's newest band comprised of veterans from his a cappella Voicestra group Joey Blake, Dave Worm, Rhiannon, and Judi Vinar - and local choral ensemble musica intima. The program will be based on Circlesinging, a musical practice and philosophy that McFerrin has been honing since he began as a solo a cappella performer, assigning vocal parts to his onstage collaborators and audience members - transforming sold-out houses into glorious impromptu choirs.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) announced today that Golden Globe winner and four-time nominee Jeff Bridges will be honored with the 2019 Cecil B. deMille Award at the 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, January 6, 2019. The highly-acclaimed actor of such legendary films as Crazy Heart, The Big Lebowski, True Grit and The Fabulous Baker Boys will accept the honor at the awards ceremony, hosted by Sandra Oh and Andy Samberg, and airing LIVE coast to coast from 5-8 p.m. PT/8-11 p.m. ET on NBC.

Ovation, America's only arts network, is warming up the winter months with a slate of premium artistic and cultural programming that includes Travel Man, The Pacific: In the Wake of Captain Cook with Sam Neill, the two-part original Ovation special Destination France: The Birthplace of Luxury, and the return of its classic movie strand Red Carpet Cinema every Friday night.

The American Film Institute (AFI) announced today the honorees of AFI AWARDS 2018, celebrating the year's most outstanding achievements in the art of the moving image — with 10 films and 10 television programs deemed culturally and artistically significant.