Angela Bassett News

Akeelah and the Bee is a family-fun production that highlights an 11-year old African-American girl's journey of surviving the inner-city challenges of the Chicago projects to her acrimonious success as a finalist/winner of the Scripps National Spelling Bee.  The stage adaptation remained true to the movie's original theme about overcoming obstacles (poverty, bullying, inner-city woes such as shooting and drugs, racial and societal stereotypes, etc.), while stressing the importance of the strong community ties and love that undergird Akeelah's rise to success. 

From his initial recognition as a young jazz lion, he has expanded his vision as an instrumentalist, composer, bandleader and educator, crossing stylistic boundaries while maintaining an unwavering creative integrity. In the process, he has become an avatar of contemporary artistic excellence.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater has announced Cornelius Smith Jr. (ABC's Scandal and All My Children) will perform in Arena Stage's 2020/21 Season.

Producers Harriet Newman Leve, Ellen DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi, Lily Tomlin and Jane Wagner have announced a 2020 Broadway bound production of Last Summer at Bluefish Cove.

Due to popular demand, Living the Shuffle, Robert Townsend's one-man rollercoaster-ride through the ups and downs of show business, will return to The Marsh Berkeley in February 2020.

The Drama League (Artistic Director Gabriel Stelian-Shanks, Executive Director Bevin Ross) announced today the acting company for the 36th annual DirectorFest, the only festival in the United States dedicated to the art of contemporary stage directing. Directorfest will take place January 10 - February 4, 2020 at various locations around NYC: The New Ohio Theatre (154 Christopher Street), The Drama League Theater Center (32 Avenue of the Americas), LaGuardia Performing Arts Center (31-10 Thomson Avenue), and Joe's Pub (425 Lafayette Street). For festival details and tickets, visit directorfest.org or call (212) 244-9494 x102.

Last night, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's 2019-2020 holiday season engagement at New York City Center kicked off with a star-studded Opening Night Gala Benefit performance and party led by Artistic Director Robert Battle, with award-winning actress and singer Renée Elise Goldsberry as honorary chair. 

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater kicks off its five-week holiday season with a one-night only gala benefit on Wednesday, December 4 at 7pm, complete with an exceptional performance at New York City Center and dinner-party at the Hilton New York Grand Ballroom.

Due to popular demand, The Marsh Berkeley announces that it has extended Living the Shuffle, a one-man rollercoaster-ride through the ups and downs of show business. Renowned actor/director Robert Townsend has worked with Hollywood icons like Beyoncé, Denzel Washington, Eddie Murphy, Morgan Freeman, James Earl Jones, and many more.

The Drama League announced today the 2020 line-up of DirectorFest: The 36th Annual Directors Festival, the only festival in the United States dedicated to the art of contemporary stage directing. For its 36th year, the festival will include six fully-staged productions, a showcase concert of a new musical, a town hall, and conversations with directors including 2017 Tony Award Winner Rebecca Taichman (Indecent), 2014 Tony Award Winner and 2010 Drama League Founders Award for Excellence in Directing Kenny Leon (A Soldier's Play), and Intimacy Director Claire Warden (HBO's Mrs. Fletcher).

GRAMMY-nominated recording artist Deborah Cox hits an emotional core and the charts with the new R&B single, 'Easy Way.' The triple-threat artist returns with an impressive debut at No. 2 on TIDAL's streaming chart, and the single is catching fire among fans, digital and streaming sites including Apple, Spotify, and Pandora, among others. 'Easy Way' is written by hit-maker Rico Love, and produced by Rico and DTown. Rico production credits include Usher, Beyoncé, Diddy, Chris Brown, Keri Hilson, Fergie, and Fantasia.

THE APOLLO, directed by Oscar® and Emmy® winner Roger Ross Williams, chronicles the legacy of New York City's landmark Apollo Theater, covering the rich history of the storied performance space over its 85 years. What began as a refuge for marginalized artists emerged as a hallowed hall of black excellence and empowerment. In the film, Williams reflects on the struggle of black lives in America, the role that art plays in that struggle, and the part the Apollo Theater continues to play in the cultural conversation.

Actress Angela Bassett hosted this year's The Rape Foundation Annual Brunch. The brunch was attended by industry notables and emceed by actors David Schwimmer and Eric McCormack. Additional guests included actress and producer Elizabeth Olsen, actress Christina Hendricks, former Miss. America Olivia Jordan, actor Jason Behr and actress KaDee Strickland, and actress Tamara Taylor to name a few.

The Marsh Berkeley presents Living the Shuffle, a one-man rollercoaster-ride through the ups and downs of show business. Renowned actor/director Robert Townsend has worked with Hollywood icons like Beyoncé, Denzel Washington, Eddie Murphy, Morgan Freeman, James Earl Jones, and many more. Now, the trailblazing filmmaker gives audiences a front row seat to his career, from the dangerous streets of Chicago to performing Julius Caesar at a pimp convention in New York City, then creating the breakout film that would launch his career, Hollywood Shuffle, and becoming a Black film pioneer.

THE GREEN ROOM 42 a?" the new intimate concert venue dubbed Broadway's a?oeoff-night hotspota?? by The New York Times a?" will present Emmy Award-winning actor and comedian Leslie Jordan in his return engagement with the acclaimed evening a?oeOver-Exposeda?? for two performances only on Friday, October 18 at 9:30 PM and Saturday, October 18 at 7:00 PM.

On 'The Late Late Show With James Corden,' James asked Angela Bassett about her recent birthday and what possessed her to celebrate with a pile of broccoli with a candle in the middle; and, Angela tells James about the birthday gift she received from her husband that will come in handy all NBA season. And, Jim Gaffigan talks about keeping track of birthdays for five children every year. Watch the clip below!

The Apollo Theater announced today it will present a free screening of the HBO Documentary Film The Apollo on Friday October 4th at 7:00 p.m., in advance of its HBO premiere. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with members of the creative team. Tickets will be available today on the Apollo website.

The Television Academy and Emmy Awards telecast producers Don Mischer Productions and Done+Dusted today announced the first group of talent set to present the iconic Emmy statuettes at the 71st Emmy Awards on Sunday, September 22 and  Tony winner Billy Porter and stage veteran Viola Davis are among the first group .See the full list of presenters below!

The sequel to the hit film Black Panther is set to release on May 6, 2022, according to Variety. The news was revealed at D23 expo today, August 24.

Over the last decade, Ryan Murphy has become one of the most influential creators in entertainment. The screenwriter, director and producer has won six Emmy Awards out of 28 nominations and a Tony Award in 2019 for Best Revival of a Play, as a producer. He has also earned three Grammy Award nominations, as a producer.