Angela Bassett News

The Wells Fargo Theatrical Diversity Project opening night celebration honors Playhouse Executive Board Member David DiCristofaro of Wells Fargo Bank tonight for his leadership and support of theatrical diversity at The Pasadena Playhouse. The evening is held in conjunction with the official opening night performance of BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY starring Robin Givens.

With Samuel L. Jackson leaving to shoot a film, producers of THEMOUNTAINTOP Jean Doumanian and Sonia Friedman are considering recasting the show, which also stars Angela Bassett, according to Variety.

Producers Jean Doumanian and Sonia Friedman announced today that the Broadway premiere of Katori Hall's The Mountaintop, now playing at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, has extended its run by popular demand, and will now play performances through January 22.

Theatre503 and the Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse presents the world première of The Swallowing Dark, a new play by Lizzie Nunnery. Directed by Theatre503's joint-Artistic Director, Paul Robinson, it stars Wil Johnson (Waking The Dead and Adulthood) and Allyson Ava-Brown (Secret Diary of a Call Girl). It will run at Theatre503 in London from 1 to 26 November, after its premiere at Liverpool's Playhouse Studio from 20 to 29 October.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director) announced today that BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY, by Pearl Cleage, is set as the second production of the 2011 - 2012 season. Pasadena Playhouse Artistic Director Sheldon Epps is also confirmed to direct the production. BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY will replace the engagement of Pastoral which was to have starred Angela Bassett this fall. Performances begin November 1, 2011 and the production will play through November 27, 2011 at The Pasadena Playhouse (39 S. El Molino).

The Guinness Book of World Records has just named THE MOUNTAINTOP star Samuel L. Jackson the highest-grossing actor of all time. Jackson's films have earned over $7.42 billion.

2011 New York Emmy Award winner Paula Zahn hosts the next SundayArts Primetime Special from The Museum of Modern Art. She looks at the Sculpture Garden; 'de Kooning: A Retrospective'; 'Gifted: Collectors and Drawings at MoMA, 1929-1983'; and 'Diego Rivera Murals for the Museum of Modern Art.' The special airs on Thursday, October 27 at 8 p.m. (WLIW will show the program on Thursday, November 3 at 7:30pm)

92nd Street Y feautred Jordan Roth, President of Jujamcyn Theaters, in his popular multi-evening 92nd Street Y conversation series, 'Broadway Talks with Jordan Roth' with Golden Globe Award-winning stage and screen star Angela Bassett. Roth and Bassett discussed her upcoming role opposite Samuel L. Jackson in the Broadway premiere of Katori Hall's The Mountaintop, as well as her remarkable career on the silver screen, at 92nd Street Y (1395 Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street) yesterday. Check out photos from the event below!

92nd Street Y has announced that Jordan Roth, President of Jujamcyn Theaters, will continue his popular multi-evening 92nd Street Y conversation series, 'Broadway Talks with Jordan Roth' with Golden Globe Award-winning stage and screen star Angela Bassett. Roth and Bassett will discuss her upcoming role opposite Samuel L. Jackson in the Broadway premiere of Katori Hall's The Mountaintop, as well as her remarkable career on the silver screen, at 92nd Street Y (1395 Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street) on Sunday, October 23rd at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $29 and are available at www.92Y.org/BroadwayTalks or by calling 212.415.5500.

2011 New York Emmy Award winner Paula Zahn hosts the next SundayArts Primetime Special from The Museum of Modern Art. She looks at the Sculpture Garden; 'de Kooning: A Retrospective'; 'Gifted: Collectors and Drawings at MoMA, 1929-1983'; and 'Diego Rivera Murals for the Museum of Modern Art.' The special airs on Thursday, October 27 at 8 p.m. (WLIW will show the program on Thursday, November 3 at 7:30pm)

Broadway legend Ben Vereen comes to Toronto for one very special night, this Thursday October 20th at The Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts. Mr. Vereen will be performing songs from his new album, Steppin' Out, as well as paying tribute to many iconic singers from the past century. BWW sat down to speak with him about his return to Canada, the Jesus Christ Superstar revival, social media and more!

The Mountaintop starring Samuel L. Jackson (DR. Martin Luther King, Jr.,) and Angela Bassett, directed by the Tony-nominated Kenny Leon (Fences, A Raisin in the Sun), opened on October 13, 2011 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. Broadway Beat was at the opening night after party and takes you inside the celebration below!

Horizon Theatre Company closes its 2011 Season with the final performance of TREE by Julie Hébert on October 16, 2011.

If you're looking for a quick roundup of this week's events in theatre, look no further - here are some of the best articles the week had to offer!

Producers Jean Doumanian and Sonia Friedman confirmed today that tonight's (Friday) performance of The Mountaintop is completely sold out. Tonight, and for all future sold-out performances, 25 standing room tickets will be made available at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre box office for $26.50 each.

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week, or you're just in the mood for a recap of everything theatre, BroadwayWorld's feature, 'This Week in Pictures' is here to satisfy your end of the week fix. Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to the West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more! For last week's biggest events: visit THIS WEEK IN PICTURES: October 1-7.

The Mountaintop starring Samuel L. Jackson (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,) and Angela Bassett, directed by the Tony-nominated Kenny Leon (Fences, A Raisin in the Sun), officially opened tonight at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre.

The Mountaintop starring Samuel L. Jackson (DR. Martin Luther King, Jr.,) and Angela Bassett, directed by the Tony-nominated Kenny Leon (Fences, A Raisin in the Sun), opened last night, October 13, 2011 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. BroadwayWorld was there for the starry arrivals and celebratory after party and brings you photo coverage below!

The Mountaintop starring Samuel L. Jackson (DR. Martin Luther King, Jr.,) and Angela Bassett, directed by the Tony-nominated Kenny Leon (Fences, A Raisin in the Sun), opened last night, October 13, 2011 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. It was an emotional night and BroadwayWorld was there to caputure it all. Below, we bring you Angela Bassett and Samuel L. Jackson's premiere curtain call. The performance marked Jackson's official Broadway debut.

Back in 2009, The Public Theatre presented Tracy Scott Wilson's ambitious and very capable drama, The Good Negro, a work of fiction with one character obviously meant as a stand-in for DR. Martin Luther King, Jr., which depicted the leaders of the 1960s civil rights movement as everyday human beings with normal flaws, making what they accomplished a greater achievement than if it were done by the demi-gods some would make them out to be.  To that end, the playwright showed the fictional King and his colleagues orchestrating a fight for racial equality by pushing only the most media-friendly images of black people before the press.