Angela Bassett News

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director), in association with David Shor, announced today that the world premiere of SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE - THE MUSICAL is set to complete the previously announced 2011 - 2012 season. Performances begin June 12, 2012 and the production will play through July 15, 2012 at The Pasadena Playhouse (39 S. El Molino).

Coming off of THE GAME's record-breaking series premiere that drew 7.7 million viewers and becoming the #1 sitcom in ad-supported cable TV history, BET Networks has announced an unprecedented multi-year agreement with Salim and Mara Brock Akil. In addition to their current roles as executive producers and director for THE GAME, the husband and wife team, through Akil Productions, will develop new shows for BET Networks.

Coming off of THE GAME's record-breaking series premiere that drew 7.7 million viewers and becoming the #1 sitcom in ad-supported cable TV history, BET Networks has announced an unprecedented multi-year agreement with Salim and Mara Brock Akil.

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center will present its annual Monte Cristo Award to legendary Broadway and screen actor James Earl Jones, in recognition of his monumental achievements and contributions to the American and international theater community. The award will be presented to Mr. Jones at a gala dinner held in his honor at Bridgewaters - South Street Seaport in New York City on Monday, May 9th at 6:30pm.

Talk show listings for Thursday, May 5

Talk show listings for Thursday, May 5

The Lucille Lortel Awards announced today the details for the 26th Annual Lortel Awards Reception & Ceremony. The Awards Ceremony will be held on May 1, 2011 at 7 p.m. EST at NYU Skirball Center, 566 LaGuardia Place, at Washington Square. Members of the industry may purchase tickets through the Off-Broadway League, while public tickets are $75.00 and are available via phone (212.352.3101), online (http://skirballcenter.nyu.edu) or in person at the Skirball Center's Shagan Box Office (566 LaGuardia Place, Tuesday-Sunday, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.).

In spite of the various troubles that Broadway's SPIDER-MAN director Julie Taymor has recently encountered, on Friday she received the 'Failure is Impossible' award at the George Eastman House Film Festival in Rochester, N.Y.

To commemorate the tenth anniversary of 9/11, the play '110 Stories' will be performed by an illustrious cast in NY this September to benefit a related charity. Participating artists include Alec Baldwin, Matt Dillon, Edie Falco, Sam Shepard, James Gandolfini, Patricia Clarkson, Kathleen Turner, Angela Bassett, John Turturro, Andre Braugher, Josh Lucas, John Hawkes, Michael Shannon, Stelio Savante, Daniel Sunjata, and Michael Stuhlbarg, all schedule permitting.

The Lucille Lortel Awards announced today the details for the 26th Annual Lortel Awards Reception & Ceremony. The Awards Ceremony will be held on May 1, 2011 at 7 p.m. EST at NYU Skirball Center, 566 LaGuardia Place, at Washington Square. Members of the industry may purchase tickets through the Off-Broadway League, while public tickets are $75.00 and are available via phone (212.352.3101), online (http://skirballcenter.nyu.edu) or in person at the Skirball Center's Shagan Box Office (566 LaGuardia Place, Tuesday-Sunday, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.).

Taye Diggs, who began his rise to fame after starring in the original cast of RENT, is preparing for a solo show at Prelude by Barton G at Miami's Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. According to an article from the Miami Herald, Diggs is both excited and terrified about the show. 'I was 175 percent petrified out of my gourd. But then I thought, ‘If I can do this, then f**k the world!' Part of it was that this is Idina's thing. But she was 100 percent supportive,' said Diggs.

TAYE DIGGS, undoubtedly one of the entertainment world's hottest stars, will hit town Friday and Saturday, April 29 and 30 when he performs as the big finale of the Prelude By Barton G Presents Spring performance series presented at Prelude By Barton G restaurant/supper club located in the Ziff Ballet Opera House of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County, 1300 Biscayne Boulevard.

Stars of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the rising young dancers of Ailey II, and gifted students from The Ailey School will come together for a spectacular one-night performance on Tuesday, May 3rd at 7pm on the world famous Apollo stage, where stars are born and legends are made.

Nominations in 14 categories and 3 special awards were announced today by the Off-Broadway League for the 2011 Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway.

Nominations in 14 categories and 3 special awards were announced today by the Off-Broadway League for the 2011 Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway. This year's ceremony will benefit The Actors Fund. A list of nominees follows below.

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center will present its annual Monte Cristo Award to legendary Broadway and screen actor James Earl Jones, in recognition of his monumental achievements and contributions to the American and international theater community. The award will be presented to Mr. Jones at a gala dinner held in his honor at Bridgewaters - South Street Seaport in New York City on Monday, May 9th at 6:30pm.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director) announced their 2011-2012 Season today. The season will include one world premiere musical, one new play starring Academy Award-nominee Angela Bassett (Fences at The Pasadena Playhouse), a Tony Award-winning smash hit, an American classic and will conclude with a new musical to be announced. The 2011-2012 Season begins September 2011.

Richard Schiff is is set to replace Kerry Shale inJack Rosenthal's Smash! at Menier Chocolate Factory. Joining Schiff in the production are previously reported Tom Conti and Natalie Walter. The production runs March 24 to May 8.

A slew of theatre veterans, including Angela Bassett, Sarah Paulson, Aidan Quinn, and Lauren Ambrose, are set to star in new television pilots in the coming months. Basset will star in ABC's 'Identity,' which is about an FBI agent who heads a new Identity Crimes Unit. Sarah Paulson is set for a still untitled NBC comedy about a woman who helps people adjust to career changes. Quinn will star in a BBC detective series called 'Prime Suspect,' while Ambrose is set for FOX's 'Weekends at Bellevue.'

Angela Bassett, Roslyn M. Brock, Loretta Devine, Jason Derlo, Kat Graham, Dul Hill, Anthony Mackie, Judge Greg Mathis, Tia and Tamera Mowry, Sandra Oh, Russell Peters and Anika Noni Rose Among Celebrities Scheduled to Appear on Star-Studded Special