Angela Bassett News

Emmy Award nominee Maura Tierney and two-time Tony Award nominee Courtney B. Vance have joined the cast of LUCKY GUY on Broadway. Tierney will be making her Broadway debut, while Vance will be returning to Broadway for the first time in 20 years. The production stars two-time Academy Award-winner Tom Hanks, making his Broadway debut, in a new play by three-time Academy Award-nominee Nora Ephron and directed by two-time Tony Award-winner George C. Wolfe.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the man and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the leader merge in Katori Hall's award-winning drama The Mountaintop, receiving its Philadelphia premiere at Philadelphia Theatre Company on January 18-February 17 at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets). Directed by Patricia McGregor, the two-person cast features Sekou Laidlow and Amirah Vann.

Underground Railway Theater presents the recent Broadway hit and the 2010 Oliver Award Winner for Best New Play, The Mountaintop by Katori Hall. The Mountaintop is presented in celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. Underground Railway Theater's Associate Artistic Director, Megan Sandberg-Zakian, directs The Mountaintop. The press performance for The Mountaintop is Monday, January 14 at 7:30PM.

FilmDistrict announced today that they have bumped up the release of their upcoming thriller, OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN, to March 22, 2013. The film was previously set for an April 5 theatrical release.

Broadway alum, film and TV actress Sara Niemietz released last month her new Christmas album titled 'Christmas Favorites'. Get a first listen below!

Valarie Pettiford is making a limited number of signed CDs available just in time for the holidays via her website. Her second solo album, VELVET SKY is a collection of original lullabies; a perfect gift for the parents or expecting parents on your holiday gift-giving list. The Digital Album is also Available on iTunes, Amazon and Online Retailers.

Busy Philipps, star of the TBS original comedy series 'Cougar Town,' and Taye Diggs, star of the ABC drama 'Private Practice,' will reveal the 19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations on Wednesday, Dec. 12. The announcement will be telecast live on TNT at 9 a.m. (ET)/6 a.m. (PT) and webcast live on tnt.tv and tbs.com. SAG-AFTRA Co-President Roberta Reardon and Executive Vice President Ned Vaughn will introduce Phillips and Diggs to the assembled media. Just prior to the nominations announcements, SAG Awards Committee Vice Chair Daryl Anderson and Committee Member Woody Schultz will announce the stunt ensemble honors nominations at 8:50 a.m. (ET) / 5:50 a.m. (PT).

ISLAND SONG, a new musical anthology with music by Derek Gregor and words by Sam Carner, will have a one-night-only developmental concert at (le) Poisson Rouge tonight, November 12, 2012. Showtime is at 7PM. Doors open at 6PM.

ISLAND SONG, a new musical anthology with music by Derek Gregor and words by Sam Carner, will have a one-night-only developmental concert at (le) Poisson Rouge Monday, November 12, 2012. Showtime is at 7PM. Doors open at 6PM.

FilmDistrict has officially nabbed the rights for the upcoming White House invasion thriller, OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN, prepping it for a nationwide release on April 5, 2013.

ISLAND SONG, a new musical anthology with music by Derek Gregor and words by Sam Carner, will have a one-night-only developmental concert at (le) Poisson Rouge Monday, November 12, 2012. Showtime is at 7PM. Doors open at 6PM.

Today, Valarie Pettiford releases her second solo album, "Velvet Sky", a collection of original lullabies.

Stage and screen star Sanaa Lathan (A Raisin in the Sun, Contagion) returns to the title role in Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage's By the Way, Meet Vera Stark for its West Coast premiere at the Geffen Playhouse. Lathan, who originated the character of Vera Stark in the critically acclaimed New York run, once again takes the stage as the 1930's era maid turned movie star, reunited with original cast member Kimberly Hebert Gregory (Spike Lee's Red Hook Summer) reprising her role as fellow aspiring African American actress Lottie. By the Way, Meet Vera Stark opened at the Gil Cates Theater at the Geffen Playhouse on September 26, 2012. Check out photos of the stars at opening night below!

That notion is borne home stunningly by Katori Hall's acclaimed play The Mountaintop, now presented in its Nashville premiere-just 12 months after its critically lauded Broadway premiere with Samauel L. Jackson and Angela Bassett-in an astonishingly crafted production directed by Jackie Welch Schlicher and starring Mary McCallum and Rashad "thaPoet" Rayford.

Today, September 18, 2012, Pettiford will release her second solo album, "Velvet Sky", a collection of original lullabies. She brings a tenderness and wealth of emotion to the thirteen tracks on this new album, all of which were written especially for her by two legendary writing teams - Ron Abel (music)/Chuck Steffan (lyrics) and Michael Orland (music)/Jamie Wooten (lyrics). The songs range from playful numbers that are meant to inspire play between parents and their children, as well as softer tracks to lull babies (of all ages) to sleep.

INDEPENDENT LENS announced today that acclaimed actor and filmmaker Stanley Tucci will host the upcoming season of INDEPENDENT LENS which moves to Mondays at 10 PM on PBS this fall. Get a first look below!

On the eve of his assassination, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., cools down in a lonely Memphis hotel room after delivering the speech of a lifetime - when an unexpected visit from a feisty, young hotel maid pushes King into a confrontation with his doubts, fears and haunting premonitions. A soul-stirring hit in London and on Broadway, The Mountaintop's humorous, magical storytelling fuses theatricality with spirituality to reach a summit that will leave audiences breathless. The Mountaintop is written by playwright Katori Hall and will be directed by Rep Artistic Associate May Adrales, who returns to The Rep after directing last season's critically-acclaimed production of Yellowman. The Mountaintop runs in The Rep's Stiemke Studio from September 26 - November 4, and opens Friday, September 28.

According to Deadline, Angela Bassett will co-executive produce and star in Ben Ripley's legal drama 'Vanishing Point' on NBC.

Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) announced today that it has partnered with acclaimed Director, Jamie Lloyd, to form Jamie Lloyd Productions.

The Broadway Ballyhoo careens into its 9th smash month at Feinstein's at Loew's Regency. This week's August 2nd cast will feature Natalie Toro, along with Drama Desk Nominee Christine Pedi, currently starring in Newsical the Musical (she is also a popular radio personality on Sirius Radio), Janine Divita (Anything Goes, and soon to star in Edwin Drood on Broadway in the fall), and Broadway rising star Felipe Tovalaro. As always, the Broadway Ballyhoo will have its surprises, as well.