Diane Rodriguez

Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation has selected Colette Robert as this season’s SDCF Denham Fellow for her upcoming production of The Harriet Holland Social Club Presents the 84th Annual Star-Burst Cotillion in the Grand Ballroom of the Renaissance Hotel, which she also authored. 

The Latinx Theatre Commons (LTC) today shared the creation and inaugural recipient of The Diane Rodriguez Teatrista Award, 'The Diane.' It is the LTC's first award dedicated to an individual working in the theatre field who is committed to increasing Latinx representation across disciplines. With this award, the LTC aims to continue the legacy of Diane Rodriguez (1951-2020), an award-winning, multi-hyphenate theatre artist who tirelessly advocated for other artists and opened doors for future leaders in the field.

Co-Executive Producers The Roots and Wings Project (Jesse Bliss and Gabriela López de Dennis, Co-Producers) and Houston Coalition Against Hate (HCAH) will present MATRIARCH, a transformative theatre experience that explores the roles women play in our patriarchal society, and the urgent need to transform that dynamic.

The Roots and Wings Project (Jesse Bliss and Gabriela López de Dennis, Co-Producers) in association with the Houston Coalition Against Hate will present MATRIARCH.

The Association of Performing Arts Professionals announced the nominees for its APAP Awards. APAP will recognize the nominees and announce the final award recipients at The APAP Honors, as well as celebrate the recipients of the Annual NAPAMA Awards and Halsey & Alice North Award for APAP Board Alumni.

Artists throughout the state of California are uniting for the passage of Senate Bill 805 (SB 805), titled, “The Performing Arts Relief Act,” which the Senate Labor Committee will vote on Wednesday, April 19, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. in Sacramento, CA.   A Coalition of 36 small 99-seat non-profit theaters and freelance performers are banding together to make theater accessible to all.  

The Association of Performing Arts Professionals announced the nominees for its APAP Awards, including Dallas Black Dance Theatre Executive Director Zenetta S. Drew. The APAP Honors, a virtual ceremony, will take place on Thursday, May 6, 2021 from 4:00-5:30 p.m. (EDT). The event is free and open-to-the-public.

CTG is announcing the first step in an ongoing organizational shift with the addition of an existing staff member into the organization’s artistic staff and leadership team. Tyrone Davis will shift from the Education, Engagement and Community Partnerships Department into the Artistic Department. Davis’ new title is Associate Artistic Director.

The pivot continues. Over the course of the last week, we have continued to see more stories about theatres going digital, going outdoors, going to the postal service - all in the name of creating art in a world that we have not seen in our current collective experiences. Much of this pivoting is coming from a need to survive, but what is being discovered is deeply inspired, and likely to impact the form for decades to come. We've seen it ourselves through our BroadwayWorld events platform - what started as a small experiment has grown to sending nearly half a million dollars in ticket revenue to our partners, with thousands of new audience members connecting to these artists in a way we couldn't have predicted one year ago. Beyond the changing art, the industry is at a key moment in institutional evolution - make sure to check out the essay from the late Diane Rodriguez we link to later in the newsletter. But ultimately, artists make art, and we also have some highlights of artists at all points in their careers continuing to find ways to create even as the world we're used to endlessly shifts around us.

The Hot List is back and better than ever! Whether youa??re staying at home or venturing out for a socially distanced experience, you wona??t have to look far to find that art and entertainment lives on. Check out these great options today: Boston Court Pasadenaa??s AT HOME WITH AMANDA MCBROOM and the beginning of their exciting new Book Club, Idris Goodwina??s BARS AND MEASURES; Rooftop Movies at the Montalbán featuring LA LA LAND, ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD, and BLACKKKLANSMAN; South Coast Repertorya??s Online Community Fiesta, MASA; a screening of Ephraim Asilia??s THE DIASPORA SUITE at REDCAT; and a special Talk-back with Mitch Albom and the cast of The Group Repa??s TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE.

The Sol Project announced today full details for the third annual SolFest: A Latinx Theater Festival, produced in partnership with Pregones/Puerto Rican Traveling Theater (Pregones/PRTT) and in collaboration with the Play At Home initiative and North Star Projects.

Artistic Director David Ivers and Managing Director Paula Tomei today announce a new initiative, SCR Community, an online series of free readings, events, interviews and community-centered stories to engage Southern California with the power of live theatre during the COVID-19 pandemic. The series starts on Aug. 17, at 5:30 p.m., with MASA, a live, online fiesta with readings of four short pieces relating to the historical and cultural importance of masa.

Princess Elena's heroic journey to become queen culminates in an epic prime-time finale special of Disney's Emmy® and Imagen Award-winning series 'Elena of Avalor,' premiering SUNDAY, AUGUST 23 (7:00 p.m. EDT/PDT).

The Herb Alpert Foundation and the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) have awarded the 2020 Herb Alpert Award in the Arts (HAAIA) to five exceptional mid-career artists. Now in its 26th year, the annual award provides five unrestricted $75,000 grants to independent artists working in the fields of dance, film/video, music, theatre and visual arts. The recipients will be honored at a virtual ceremony hosted by Herb Alpert, his wife Lani Hall Alpert and the Herb Alpert Foundation on Friday, May 22, 2020.

Noted theatre artist Diane Rodriguez, born June 22, 1951, in San Jose, CA, died today, April 10, 2020, in Los Angeles, of cancer.

San Francisco Playhouse presents Real Women Have Curves by Josefina López. Diane Rodriguez will direct the Playhouse production. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the play, which premiered at San Francisco's Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts on May 25, 1990. The play was adapted into an acclaimed 2002 film starring America Ferrera.

Jon Lawrence Rivera, Artistic Director of Playwrights' Arena a?" the first and oldest theater dedicated to discovering, nurturing, and producing original works written exclusively by Los Angeles playwrights a?" is thrilled to announce the extension of LAS MUJERES DEL MAR (THE WOMEN OF THE SEA) by Janine Salinas Schoenberg, directed by Diane Rodriguez, through Sunday, October 20, 2019.

Jon Lawrence Rivera, Artistic Director of Playwrights' Arena – the first and oldest theater dedicated to discovering, nurturing, and producing original works written exclusively by Los Angeles playwrights, is presenting the world premiere of LAS MUJERES DEL MAR by Janine Salinas Schoenberg, directed by Diane Rodriguez, on Saturday, September 21st, 2019, at 4 PM.

Princess Elena receives new magical powers and, keeping her focus on the future of Avalor, proves herself ready to become Queen—but must first face the ultimate test of courage and character—in the third season of the animated 'Elena of Avalor,' premiering MONDAY, OCT. 7 (12:30-1:00 p.m. EDT), on Disney Channel and DisneyNOW. The Emmy® and Imagen Award-winning series is inspired by diverse Latin cultures and folklore.

Playwrights' Arena announces the cast for LAS MUJERES DEL MAR (THE WOMEN OF THE SEA) by Janine Salinas Schoenberg, which includes Valentina Guerra, Adriana Sevahn Nichols, Gabriela Ortega, Dyana Ortelli, Israel Lopez Reyes, Camila Rozo, Eddie Ruiz