Amiri Baraka News

For anyone in the theatre industry, an added stressor of this summera??s health and political chaos has been the complete loss of our industrya??s traditional in-person activity.

Portland Center Stage announces the new series Community Voices Project and launches it with the release of 12 works from celebrated Black artists based in Portland: Cycerli Ash, Ayanna Berkshire, Bobby Bermea, Delphon 'DJ' Curtis Jr., Phil Johnson, Treasure Lunan, Tamera Lyn, Lauren Modica, Vin Shambry, Ithica Tell, Wanda Walden, and Damaris Webb.

Play-PerView has announced its upcoming lineup for August, which includes a virtual performance of Amiri Baraka's Dutchman, reuniting Dulé Hill, Jennifer Mudge, and Chris Myers.

While the live-performance season is on hold nationwide, The Seeing Place continues to produce great plays by distinguished playwrights. Up next is an online reading of DUTCHMAN, a one-act drama by Amiri Baraka (produced and published in 1964 under the playwright's original name LeRoi Jones).

In response to the disproportional effects of COVID-19 on the Black community, continued State-sponsored violence and criminalization of Black skin. The Black Theatre Commons (BTC) is drawing on our mission to activate our collective resources to amplify, nurture, and support Black theatres and practitioners through advocacy, convening, networking, and knowledge-sharing. 

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

Broadway Black, the multimedia organization highlighting the achievements of Black theatre artists, will present the inaugural Antonyo Awards, a celebration of the Black Broadway and Off-Broadway community.

RiseUpNewark.com, Mayor Ras Baraka, Mayor to the City of Newark, and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) will present a virtual 'Teach In' called, 'Protest to Power: Lessons from Newark, The Making of Newark's First Black Mayor, Ken Gibson.'

The Resident Acting Company, formed two years ago by members of the Pearl Theater Company, announced today that they will present Play Dates With The RAC, three online Zoom Events.

Hammonds House Museum, through their new Hammonds House Digital programming, is creating and curating rich arts and cultural experiences that reach audiences beyond the walls of the museum. 

Beloved actress Shirley Knight passed away from natural causes on April 22nd at the home of her daughter, Kaitlin Hopkins, in San Marcos, TX.

BWW Reviewer Peter Nason chooses the greatest theatrical works (non-musical) from 1920-2020; see if your favorites made the list!

DUTCHMAN by Amiri Baraka has an essence all its own that is complicated, lyrical, and timeless. This production by Monument Theatre Company pushes at the edges of comfort and makes you as an audience member not only pay attention but also become a part of what is happening on the stage.

Baruch Performing Arts Center continues its Milt Hinton Jazz Perspectives Concert Series with pianist Vijay Iyer and trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith performing selections from their 2016 album A Cosmic Rhythm With Each Stroke on April 17, 2020 at 8PM. The concert will be held at Baruch Performing Arts Center, 55 Lexington Avenue (25th Street between Third and Lexington Avenues), NYC. Tickets are $16-$51 and can be purchased online at https://ci.ovationtix.com/1091/production/1014634?performanceId=10437252.

Baruch Performing Arts Center continues its Milt Hinton Jazz Perspectives Concert Series with pianist Vijay Iyer and trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith performing selections from their 2016 album A Cosmic Rhythm With Each Stroke on April 17, 2020 at 8PM. The concert will be held at Baruch Performing Arts Center, 55 Lexington Avenue (25th Street between Third and Lexington Avenues), NYC. Tickets are $16-$51 and can be purchased online at https://ci.ovationtix.com/1091/production/1014634?performanceId=10437252.

During Black History Month, The Robey Theatre Company will present a staged reading of a new play, Looking for Leroy by Larry Muhammad.

'... About 26 years ago, I was in New York playing a gig at Nel's on 14thStreet. Late night, the 5 Train would stop running and you would have to catch a shuttle from 180thStreet, which ran really infrequently, so I decided to catch the 4 Train uptown to Gun Hill Road and walked down to the corner of Bainbridge and Gun Hill to catch the BX 28 (which used to be the BX 15). So here it was, about 3:00 in the morning and I'm standing across the street from Montefiore Hospital, watching a Black squirrel dart in and out of the sparse shrubs next to the building, when suddenly, an old man popped out from behind the parking garage, just behind the bus shelter where I was standing. The man was about 5'5', wearing slacks, a collared shirt, fall coat and a Totes hat. In his left hand, he carried two shopping bags stuffed with collard greens. There was something in the way he walked... a rather slew-footed stride, that told me he was from the islands.'

Steppenwolf Theatre Company will host two bold visiting companies as part of LookOut, a year-round series that presents the work of artists and companies across genre and form. Steppenwolf's 1700 Theatre will be the home to two productions from impressive Chicago storefront theatres next year: First Floor Theater and Definition Theatre.

The Town Hall today announced the inaugural Lena Horne Prize for Artists Creating Social Impact, the first major entertainment award to be named after a woman of color, honoring excellence at the intersection of arts and activism. The award, named after the celebrated actress, singer and activist Lena Horne, will recognize today's leading artists that are using their platform to promote awareness and create social change, and will be presented to the soon-to-be-announced recipient at an event at The Town Hall, a national historic landmark, in February 2020. The recipient of the Lena Horne Prize was selected by an advisory board that includes Lena Horne's daughter Gail Lumet Buckley, as well as an esteemed list of entertainers and philanthropists including Harry Belafonte, Billy Porter, Judy Collins, Deesha Dyer, Roxane Gay, Bob Santelli, Bruce Cohen, Jose Antonio Vargas, and more. The recipient will receive a $100,000 donation to be directed to a charity of their choice.

Two-time Tony Award and two-time Olivier Award winner Patti LuPone has donated a portion from her personal archive to Columbia University's Rare Book & Manuscript Library.