Zora Neale Hurston News

Hedgepig Ensemble Theatre  in partnership with Ma-Yi Theater Company, American Players Theatre, and The Classical Theatre of Harlem is thrilled to announce the curated 2020 EXPAND THE CANON plays. 

San Francisco's premier Black theatre company Lorraine Hansberry Theatre has announced the appointment of Bay Area theatre titan Margo Hall as its new Artistic Director.

Tennessee Shakespeare Company today announced its 13th performance season celebrating the essential power of our togetherness, in any form that is safe, inspired by history's classical creations while in isolation or quarantine.

Woodie King Jr., founder of New Federal Theatre has penned an article exclusively for BroadwayWorld, discussing New Federal Theatre's past, present and more.

Organizers today announced the second phase of the Harlem Renaissance 100, a multi-year celebration originally kicked off in February of this year to commemorate the milestone 100th Anniversary of the Harlem Renaissance and the artistic brilliance born from that movement.

Wynn Handman, the famed New York acting teacher and Artistic Director of The American Place Theatre, died at home April 11, 2020 of Covid-19 related pneumonia. He was 97.

Thirdwing, a digital theater company designed to develop plays directly for streaming as well as for the live stage, launched just before massive closures due to COVID-19. This meant that Thirdwing's first live stage offering, Rachel Carey's THE FEMALE GENIUS, running from April 14 - April 18 at The Wild Project in NYC, was canceled.

HUDSON STAGE announces the cast of its world premiere of the riveting and provocative new play by Joshua Allen, THE OCTOBER STORM.

The Apollo Theater announced today its first multi-work commissioning initiative dedicated to the creation of a diverse, 21st century American performing arts canon, Apollo New Works. Made possible with the support of a $2 million grant from the Ford Foundation for the creation of new work by artists of color, the initiative is also funded by a $1 million grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for the Apollo's Master Artist in Residency, a central component of the program.

To mark its golden anniversary year, the Audelco Award-winning Black Spectrum Theatre Company (BSTC) today announced details for its 50th anniversary season comprised of a series of special programs highlighting African-American achievements in film, theater, literature and music. As the major highlight of this milestone season, the historic theatre will also host its 50th Anniversary Gala celebrating its rich legacy and honoring legendary performers Louis Gossett Jr., Leslie Uggams, Ben Vereen, and BSTC Founder and Executive Producer Carl Clay on Saturday, April 25, 2020 at 6PM. Tickets for Gala Only - $150. Ticket Package is inclusive of Gala, afterparty and overnight stay at the LaGuardia Plaza Hotel - $400.

Michelle Aguillon has been working as an actor and director in Boston for over 25 years. Her work has spanned from Company One to the Nora Theatre to the Umbrella Theatre Company in Concord. How does she think the past decade treated Boston theatre? She says, a?oeI am excited to see more diversity in Boston theatre a?" not only in casting but behind the scenes as well, with writers, directors, and designers. We are going to see more stories about 'the other' a?" those who have endured being mostly shut out or ignored, stories rarely told from their point of view.a??

Tennessee Shakespeare Company presents its annual Southern Literary Salon featuring two celebrated female authors reflecting America at the same time in stark contrasts: Margaret Mitchell (Georgia) and Zora Neale Hurston (Alabama). The event is Sunday, Feb. 23 on TSC's Owen and Margaret Wellford Tabor Stage, located at 7950 Trinity Road in Memphis.

What do young artists (many with intersecting, marginalized identities) think about where Boston theatre will go in the 2020s? a?oeNo one's gonna want to work with me after reading this,a?? Geena Forristall laughed when asked. Although a light-hearted comment, it is backed up with an all too unfortunate truth. As a non-binary theatre artist who uses they/ them pronouns, Forristall admits to being limited in where they can work in Boston. a?oeMaybe it's just me being picky, but I just won't work for theatres whose leadership refuses to respect my identity.a??

Beginning Monday, November 11, young adventurers will get to go back in time to meet some of the world's most inspiring historical figures – when they were kids – and learn about the character skills that helped shape their vision and lead to their success. XAVIER RIDDLE AND THE SECRET MUSEUM, a new animated adventure-comedy series based on the New York Times bestselling children's book series, Ordinary People Change the World, by Brad Meltzer and illustrator Christopher Eliopoulos, debuts with five back-to-back episodes on PBS stations nationwide (check local listings), the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel and PBS KIDS digital platforms.

BroadwayWorld has just learned that Kenita R. Miller has just joined the company of Tony Award-winning and Olivier Award-winning musical Come From Away, now in its third smash hit year on Broadway. Miller will play 'Hannah,' previously played by Q. Smith.

Theater Resources Unlimited presents the Writer-Producer Speed Date, a unique opportunity to pitch a project to a roomful of New York producers and artistic directors on Sunday, October 13, 2019 from 4:30pm to 8:30pm at the newly opened 797 Studios, 797 Eighth Avenue (betw. 48th and 49th), 3rd floor, NYC.

Studio Theatre is extending its season-opening production of Doubt: A Parable, adding five performances through October 13, 2019. John Patrick Shanley's masterpiece received the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize for its compelling interrogation of certitude and scandal within the Catholic Church. Studio's production is directed by the theatre's Associate Artistic Director Matt Torney and is anchored by DC theatre treasure Sarah Marshall, distinguished by having performed at Studio more than any other actor. Joining Marshall are Christian Conn (Studio Theatre's Venus in Fur) as Father Flynn, Amelia Pedlow as Sister James, and Tiffany M. Thompson as Mrs. Muller.

 Tennessee Shakespeare Company, founded in Memphis and led by Producing Artistic Director Dan McCleary, announced its 2019-20 performance season. Titled a?oeDiscover to Yourself,a?? the 12th season is the professional Actors' Equity Association theater company's largest yet.

'Don't roll your eyes at me,' a person of influence instructs a promising young musical theatre writer. 'I'm the chair of the Second-Coming-Of-Sondheim Award so I know what the f... I'm talking about!'