Angela Bassett News

After a record breaking 2011 and a best first quarter ever in 2012, Style Media announced today a 25 percent increase in original programming with the addition of five new original series, six series in development and two returning series at the network's upfront presentation held in New York.

Catherine Trieschmann, a Kansas-based playwright whose work has been produced globally at venues ranging from South Coast Repertory of Orange County, the Bush Theatre of London, and the New Theatre of Sydney, is the winner of the 2012 William Inge Theatre Festival's Otis Guernsey New Voices in the American Theatre Award.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Charles Dillingham, interim Executive Director), announced today that South Coast Repertory's (SCR) production of August Wilson's JITNEY, directed by Ron OJ Parson, will transfer to The Pasadena Playhouse immediately following its SCR engagement. Performances will begin June 21 through July 15, with an official press opening on Sunday, June 24, 2012, at 5:00 p.m.

On Monday, April 23, 2012, Theatre Communications Group (TCG) will celebrate its 50th anniversary at a gala honoring Kenny Leon, Judith O. Rubin, and The Shubert Foundation, at Espace (635 West 42nd Street between 11th and 12th avenues).

The New York Post reports that Bobbi Kristina, daughter of the late Whitney Houston, told friends that she would like to portray her mother in the upcoming film biopic.

The Style Network continues to explore the fascinating subculture of all things glam and beauty in the new docu-series CHICAGOLICIOUS which premieres Sunday, June 3 at 9pm ET/PT.

Atlantic Theater Company (Neil Pepe, Artistic Director; Jeffory Lawson, Managing Director) presents the world premiere of STOREFRONT CHURCH, written and directed by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award® winner John Patrick Shanley and starring Bob Dishy, Giancarlo Esposito, Zach Grenier, Ron Cephas Jones and Tonya Pinkins. STOREFRONT CHURCH will begin previews Wednesday, May 16; officially open Monday, June 11; and play a limited engagement through Sunday, June 24 Off-Broadway as the first production to return to Atlantic's main stage Linda Gross Theater in Chelsea following completion of a historic $8.3M renovation.

Philadelphia Theatre Company today announced two selections in their 2012-2013 mainstage season- Seminar by Theresa Rebeck and The Mountaintop by Katori Hall. The remainder of the season will be announced shortly.

Center Theatre Group, host of the August Wilson Monologue Competition (AWMC) in Southern California, has announced that 15 finalists have been selected to compete in the AWMC regional finals to be held at the CTG/Mark Taper Forum on March 26, 2012.

STOMP is making its return to the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. The return of the percussive hit also brings some new sections of the show now updated and restructured and the addition of two new full-scale routines, utilizing props like tractor tire inner tubes and paint cans.

STOMP is making its return to the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. The return of the percussive hit also brings some new sections of the show now updated and restructured and the addition of two new full-scale routines, utilizing props like tractor tire inner tubes and paint cans.

Golden Globe and Grammy Award winner and Academy Award nominee Queen Latifah has signed on to star in and executive produce the Lifetime Original Movie Event, Steel Magnolias, a television adaptation of the iconic play and 1989 film of the same name, reuniting her with her producing duo Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, from the Oscar and Golden Globe winning Chicago and Hairspray. (Zadan and Meron also produce Lifetime's Drop Dead Diva and Smash.) She will take on the role of 'M'Lynn' and star alongside an all-star cast that includes Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad as 'Clairee,' Golden Globe and multiple Emmy winner Alfre Woodard as 'Ouiser,' Grammy winner Jill Scott as 'Truvy,' Adepero Oduye as 'Annelle,' and Condola Rashad as 'Shelby.' The announcement was made today by Nancy Dubuc, President and General Manager of Lifetime Networks.

Abingdon Theatre Company - which has produced 65 new American plays in its 18-year history - concludes its 2011-2012 Season with the world premiere of LIFELINE, a new play by Frank Tangredi, winner of the 2008 Christopher Brian Wolk Award, set to begin previews March 9, prior to its official press opening March 18, at the Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex's Dorothy Strelsin Theatre (312 West 36th Street). Jules Ochoa, who recently helmed HOW I FELL IN LOVE and PHANTOM KILLER, directs.

The New Orleans premiere of Disney's THE LION KING opens tonight, Friday, March 16 at 8 p.m. at the Mahalia Jackson Theater for a limited engagement of five weeks through Sunday, April 15. In New Orleans, THE LION KING plays Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8 p.m., Sunday evenings at 6:30 p.m. and matinees on Saturdays at 2 p.m. and Sundays at 1 p.m., with an additional performance on Thursday, April 12 at 2 p.m.

As first reported on Deadline.com, actor Rick Schroder has joined the cast of the currently untitlted Fox/20th TV drama pilot.

Now in its fouth month at Feinstein's at Loew's Regency, Scott Siegel's BROADWAY BALLYHOO offers its St. Patrick's Day edition on Thursday, March 15th with The Green Goblin, himself, Patrick Page from Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark. He will be joined by Irish Tenor, Bill Daugherty (Brother, Can You Spare a Dime), Elizabeth Stanley (Merrily, We Roll Along), and Amy Warren (The Adding Machine).

San Diego REPertory Theatre (San Diego REP) announces its 37th season that opens with a significant work of Latino drama and continues with six more provocative and eye-opening new American productions. "Our curiosity about the changing world we live in provokes us to look hard and deep for those plays that take us to places we have never been and look at the world through eyes that are not are own," says Sam Woodhouse, co-founder and artistic director, San Diego REP. The search for the productions to be presented during the 2012-2013 season resulted in a collection of seven theatrical events that are about the quest of Americans to become their best selves, individually and together.

Now in its fouth month at Feinstein's at Loew's Regency, Scott Siegel's BROADWAY BALLYHOO offers its St. Patrick's Day edition on Thursday, March 15th with The Green Goblin, himself, Patrick Page from Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark. He will be joined by Irish Tenor, Bill Daugherty (Brother, Can You Spare a Dime), Elizabeth Stanley (Merrily, We Roll Along), and Amy Warren (The Adding Machine).

Abingdon Theatre Company - which has produced 65 new American plays in its 18-year history - concludes its 2011-2012 Season with the world premiere of LIFELINE, a new play by Frank Tangredi, winner of the 2008 Christopher Brian Wolk Award, set to begin previews March 9, prior to its official press opening March 18, at the Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex's Dorothy Strelsin Theatre (312 West 36th Street). Jules Ochoa, who recently helmed HOW I FELL IN LOVE and PHANTOM KILLER, directs.

According to People.com, pop star Rihanna is among a handful of actresses in strong contention to take on the role of Whitney Houston in an upcoming film biopic about the late recording artist.