Woodie King News

Dorothi Fox and Arthur French will star in the premiere of 'Imminently Yours' by Karimah, to be presented by The Negro Ensemble Company (NEC) from June 17 to 30 at Theatre 80, 80 St. Marks Place. The play deals with the socio/philosophical issues of expropriation of their land and history by eminent domain in today's politics.  A secret mountain enclave has been inhabited for centuries by descendants of slaves. When its tradition of secrecy is breached by a millenial resident, the remote hamlet is discovered by the state's governor, who aims to evict its elderly residents by eminent domain for nonpayment of taxes, but underestimates the savvy community there. The play depicts an antagonistic society pitted against elders who are peacefully reliving their history. Generations ban together as they learn the past, teach the present and fight for their legacy. Count Stovall directs.

Garry Marshall Theatre presents Deidrie Henry in the Broadway play Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill by Lanie Robertson for 15 performances May 15 to June 2, 2019 (press opening is Friday, May 17). The director is Gregg T. Daniel and playing Jimmy Powers is musical director Abdul Hamid Royal. Daniel most recently directed The Mountaintop for Garry Marshall Theatre.

BMCC's Tribeca Performing Arts Center, 199 Chambers Street, in partnership with New Federal Theatre, will present 'Hatitudes 2019: A Tribute to the Grace and Style of Our Mothers,' a benefit for Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre, on Sunday, May 5, 2019 at 3:00 PM.

Uncle Bobbie's Coffee & Books - home of Cool People, Dope Books and Great Coffee - celebrates GLORY: A Life Among Legends,the new memoir by renowned dancer, educator, producer and author Dr. Glory Van Scott,with a special reading and book discussion on Wednesday, April 17, 7:00 pm, at 5445 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA. The event is free and open to the public.

Garry Marshall Theatre presents the Broadway play Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill by Lanie Robertson for 15 performances May 15 to June 2, 2019 (press opening is Friday, May 17).  The time is 1959, a seedy bar in Philadelphia. The audience is about to witness one of Billie Holiday's last performances, given four months before her death. More than a dozen musical numbers - including "What a Moonlight Can Do," "Crazy He Calls Me," "Easy Living," "Strange Fruit," "Taint Nobody's Biz-ness If I Do," and "God Bless the Child" -- are interlaced with salty, often humorous, reminiscences to project a riveting portrait of the lady and her music.

The Tribeca Talks program will return to entertain and inspire audiences at the 18th annual Tribeca Film Festival, presented by AT&T, taking place April 24 - May 5. This year's lineup will include intimate and once in a lifetime conversations with a diverse list of groundbreaking and critically acclaimed filmmakers, artists, entertainers, and icons.

The Castillo Theatre (Dan Friedman, artistic director; John Rankin, associate managing director) has scheduled two talk backs in-conjunction with its current production of Fred Newman's Billie, Malcolm & Yusuf, directed by award-winning director, Gabrielle Kurlander. The production commemorates the 30th anniversary of Yusuf Hawkins' murder in 1989. The Castillo Theatre is located at 543 West 42nd Street.  Performances Billie, Malcolm & YusufThe Castillo Theatre (Dan Friedman, artistic director; John Rankin, associate managing director) has scheduled two talk backs in-conjunction with its current production of Fred Newman's continues through March 17, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2:00 p.m.

Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre (NFT) has scheduled talk backs to follow five matinee performances of 'Looking for Leroy' by Larry Muhammad, a two-character play that reflects on the legacy of the late Leroi Jones/Amiri Baraka.  Baraka was a leading dramatist the 20th century who defined the role of the Black playwright for our age.  NFT is presenting the world premiere of this play February 28 to March 31 at Castillo Theater, 543 West 42nd Street. 

What is Black theater? How is it defined and by whom? What is the relationship between the Black dramatist, their creation and the Black community at large? 'Looking for Leroy' by Larry Muhammad explores these questions through the legacy of LeRoi Jones/Amiri Baraka, who was one of the most important dramatists the 20th century and who defined the role of the Black playwright for our age. This two-character play imagines five encounters between Baraka, a literary lion now in his 60s, and an intern in his 20s who idolizes him, challenges him and aims to be like him.

Throughout February, Queens Library will celebrate Black History Month with more than 100 free events and programs at all 62 of its branches. Inspired by Maya Angelou's works, this year's theme, "Black Migrations: Traveling Shoes," seeks to pay homage to the African-American diaspora, highlighting the movement and cultural contributions of people of African descent around the world.

Set to open at the Atrium in Rancho Mirage on January 23 and run through February 17, 2019, White is a funny, 90-minute play that draws on both life and art to examine issues of racism, sexism, gender and identity - a perfect fit for CVRep's 2018/19 seasonal theme of 'a handful of isms.'

The Castillo Theatre (Dan Friedman, artistic director; John Rankin, associate managing director) is proud to announce that it will produce a revival of the 1991 play by Fred Newman, Billie, Malcolm & Yusuf, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Yusuf Hawkins' murder in 1989.  Billie, Malcolm & Yusuf will be directed by award-winning director, Gabrielle Kurlander.  The production includes blues and rap music. The Castillo Theatre is located at 543 West 42nd Street in Manhattan. Performances are between February 15 and March 17, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2:00 p.m.

Set to open at the Atrium in Rancho Mirage on January 23 and run through February 17, 2019, White is a funny, 90-minute play that draws on both life and art to examine issues of racism, sexism, gender and identity - a perfect fit for CVRep's 2018/19 seasonal theme of 'a handful of isms.'

Actor Nixon Cesar has joined the cast of the world premiere production of Paul Calderon's play, Master of The Crossroads which will open at The Bridge Theater next month for a limited run.

Actor Nixon Cesar has joined the cast of the world premiere production of Paul Calderon's play, Master of The Crossroads which will open at The Bridge Theater next month for a limited run.

Actor Nixon Cesar has joined the cast of the world premiere production of Paul Calderon's play, Master of The Crossroads which will open at The Bridge Theater next month for a limited run.

Set to open at the Atrium in Rancho Mirage on January 23 and run through February 17, 2019, White is a funny, 90-minute play that draws on both life and art to examine issues of racism, sexism, gender and identity - a perfect fit for CVRep's 2018/19 seasonal theme of 'a handful of isms.'

Woodie King's New Federal Theatre has dedicated its November Readings Series to the memory of the late playwright Ntozake Shange, who died October 27.  The series, now in progress, has been retitled 'Ntozake Shange November Reading Series 2018.'  It runs from November 8 to 18, with readings of eight plays at Castillo Theatre, 543 W 42nd Street. 

From November 8 to 18, Woodie King Jr.'s New Federal Theatre will present 'The November Readings Series,' with readings of eight plays at Castillo Theatre, 543 W 42nd Street.  This series is devoted to brilliant one- and two-character plays, a dramatic form that most theaters neglect.  It will be used to develop African-American writers and to select plays that New Federal Theatre may present as full productions in its 2019-20 season.  The lineup includes works by Trevor Rhone, Howard Craft, Edgar Nkosi White, J.E. Franklin, Ivy Omere, Larry Muhammad, Richie McCall and Reginald T. Jackson.  Suggested donation is $10 and tickets can be purchased at www.castillo.org. The box office number is 212-941-1234.  For complete info, visit:  www.newfederaltheatre.org.

The Billie Holiday Theatre at RestorationART, in association with Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company, is presenting Colman Domingo's Dot under the direction of Tony Award-winning director Kenny Leon (American Son currently on Broadway starring Kerry Washington, A Raisin in the Sun and August Wilson's Fences) and starring Emmy Award-winning Billie Holiday Theatre alumna Denise Burse ('Black Mirror,' Tyler Perry's 'House of Payne') as Dotty. The production began previews on October 20th, opened on October 25th and will run through November 18th at The Billie Holiday Theatre, 1368 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY 11216. Scroll down for full coverage of the evening's festivities.