Amiri Baraka News

Today, November 16 at 4:30 PM, a Sidewalk Signing and Honors Ceremony will be held onstage at Theater 80 St. Marks, 80 St. Marks Place.

On Wednesday, November 16 at 4:30 PM, a Sidewalk Signing and Honors Ceremony will be held onstage at Theater 80 St. Marks, 80 St. Marks Place. 

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University begins performances of FINGERSMITH by Alexa Junge, based on the novel by Sarah Waters, directed by Bill Rauch. Performances begin on Sunday, December 4, 2016 and run through Sunday, January 8, 2017 at the Loeb Drama Center, 64 Brattle Street, Cambridge.

The historic Theatre Training Workshops of Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre will move uptown next month to Dwyer Cultural Center at 258 St. Nicholas Ave. (at 123rd Street).  They were previously held in spaces adjoining the theater's offices at 292 Henry Street.  The workshops have been a fertile training ground for leading African-American playwrights and actors.

August in August' is a brand new annual live performance series teaming Joseph Grant Jr., ambassador of arts and culture for the councilman and theatrical producer Andrea J. Fulton of the Anderson & Bert Cade Fulton Foundation. Joint efforts result in the mounting of August Wilson's Tony nominated Two Trains Running directed by Sabura Rashid as its upcoming offering starting August 26th 2016. The production of 'Two Trains Running' will be featured at Fulton Park in Brooklyn on Aug. 26 from 6 to 9 p.m., and Aug. 27 at Herbert Von King Park from 4 to 7p.m. Both performances are FREE. August in August actually began Aug. 13 with the first installation of the series 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom performed at Fulton Park in Brooklyn, produced by the Bed-Stuy Theatre Group.

August in August' is a brand new annual live performance series teaming Joseph Grant Jr., ambassador of arts and culture for the councilman and theatrical producer Andrea J. Fulton of the Anderson & Bert Cade Fulton Foundation. Joint efforts result in the mounting of August Wilson's Tony nominated Two Trains Running directed by Sabura Rashid as its upcoming offering starting August 26th 2016. The production of 'Two Trains Running' will be featured at Fulton Park in Brooklyn on Aug. 26 from 6 to 9 p.m., and Aug. 27 at Herbert Von King Park from 4 to 7p.m. Both performances are FREE. August in August actually began Aug. 13 with the first installation of the series 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom performed at Fulton Park in Brooklyn, produced by the Bed-Stuy Theatre Group.

August in August' is a brand new annual live performance series teaming Joseph Grant Jr., ambassador of arts and culture for the councilman and theatrical producer Andrea J. Fulton of the Anderson & Bert Cade Fulton Foundation. Joint efforts result in the mounting of August Wilson's Tony nominated Two Trains Running directed by Sabura Rashid as its upcoming offering starting August 26th 2016. The production of 'Two Trains Running' will be featured at Fulton Park in Brooklyn on Aug. 26 from 6 to 9 p.m., and Aug. 27 at Herbert Von King Park from 4 to 7p.m. Both performances are FREE. August in August actually began Aug. 13 with the first installation of the series 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom performed at Fulton Park in Brooklyn, produced by the Bed-Stuy Theatre Group.

American Blues Theater kicks off its 31st Season - 'Define Yourself' - with a pair of one acts, including Dutchman by Amiri Baraka, directed by Chuck Smith and the World Premiere of TRANSit by Darren Canady, directed by Lisa Portes. Dutchman and TRANSit run August 26 - September 25, 2016 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago. The official press opening is Thursday, September 1 at 7:30 pm.

Woodie King Jr.'s New Federal Theatre (NFT) held a festive Gala Benefit on Sunday, June 26 from 2:00 to 5:30 PM at Trump Place, 220 Riverside Boulevard (enter West 70th Street) honoring Novella Nelson and Melvin Van Peebles, two of many actors and directors who have worked at NFT over the theatre's 46 year history. Mr. Van Peebles was introduced by Academy Award winner Estelle Parsons. Ms. Nelson was introduced by former Mayor David Dinkins. Scroll down for photos from the event!

The Archives of La MaMa just launched La MaMa's Digital Collections Website (catalog.lamama.org). Its development was made possible by a generous 'hidden archival collections' grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources. The site, which premieres on June 27, 2016 as part of La MaMa's 55th anniversary season, is freely available for use by artists, scholars, educators, and the interested public. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the collection!

Timely and Timeless.  Defunkt continues to enthrall and engage Portland audiences with a trio of unforgettable evenings that use the power of theater to explore the world in which we live.  Buy Season Tickets Here

Woodie King Jr.'s New Federal Theatre (NFT) will hold a Gala Benefit on Sunday, June 26 from 2:00 to 5:30 PM at Trump Place, 220 Riverside Boulevard (enter West 70th Street) honoring Novella Nelson and Melvin Van Peebles, two of many actors and directors who have worked at NFT over the theatre's 46 year history.

Woodie King Jr.'s New Federal Theatre (NFT) will hold a Gala Benefit on Sunday, June 26 from 2:00 to 5:30 PM at Trump Place, 220 Riverside Boulevard (enter West 70th Street) honoring Novella Nelson and Melvin Van Peebles, two of many actors and directors who have worked at NFT over the theatre's 46 year history.  Mr. Van Peebles will be introduced by Academy Award winner Estelle Parsons.  Ms. Nelson will be introduced by former Mayor David Dinkins.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) Artistic Director Carey Perloff is thrilled to announce the appointment of Andy Donald as the company's new Associate Artistic Director. Andy will take on producing and presenting duties within the artistic department, as well as taking the lead in the commissioning and development of new work. Andy will begin his role as Associate Artistic Director on July 5, 2016.

From tonight, March 12, to April 2, August Strindberg Repertory will present Strindberg's DAMASCUS II, adapted by Edgar Chisholm, directed by Robert Greer.

In one of those strange theater-going coincidences, the night after I saw two one-act plays at the Guthrie, I attended opening night of Penumbra's presentation of two one-act plays. Both paired plays by different playwrights linked by a common theme. But unlike the theater comedies THE CRITIC and THE REAL INSPECTOR HOUND, THE DUTCHMAN and THE OWL ANSWERS are dense and meaty dramas dealing with heavy issues. They might not make you laugh (except, occasionally, uncomfortably), but they will definitely make you think. Written in the '60s as part of the Black Arts Movement, these plays take an unforgiving look at the racism, sexism, and classism of the day, that still have implications in today's world. A stellar ensemble cast and top-notch production design tie the two very different plays together and highlight the playwrights' messages. Though they are not easy to watch and I can't say I understood everything that was going on, I certainly came away with much to chew on, and a greater understanding of our shared history. Which is pretty much a given at Penumbra Theatre.

 From March 12 to April 2, August Strindberg Repertory will present Strindberg's 'Damascus II,' adapted by Edgar Chisholm, directed by Robert Greer. This is the second installment of the three-part work in which Strindberg first introduced true surrealism to the stage in the theatrical representation of the dream. Strindberg's tale of life in decadent artists' circles of 1890s Sweden will be brought to life in 1960s California and its leading character, an alienated writer, has been re-envisioned as an author modeled on Amiri Baraka.

From March 12 to April 2, August Strindberg Repertory will present Strindberg's DAMASCUS II, adapted by Edgar Chisholm, directed by Robert Greer.

American Blues Theater, under the continued leadership of Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, announces the lineup for its 2016 - 2017 Season, "Define Yourself."

The New Colony will launch its 2016 Season with the world premiere of the racially charged family drama BYHALIA, MISSISSIPPI, by Co-Artistic Director Evan Linder, directed by Tyrone Phillips and co-produced with Definition Theatre Company.