Anna-Deavere Smith News

Just announced, Second Stage Theatre's New York Premiere production of NOTES FROM THE FIELD: DOING TIME IN EDUCATION, the latest work created, written and performed by groundbreaking theatre artist Anna Deavere Smith with music composed and performed by Marcus Shelby and directed by Leonard Foglia, will open on November 2, 2016 at the Tony Kiser Theatre (305 West 43rd Street). Previews will begin on October 15.

Broadway stars and a host of musical presentations are on tap for the upcoming 2016-17 primetime television season. Included in THE LINEUP will be new series starring HAMILTON's Christopher Jackson, FROZEN's Kristen Bell and BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY star Stephen Pasquale.

Second Stage Theatre 2016 Uptown Series' production of ENGAGEMENTS officially opens for an extended run tonight, August 4th.

The performer/playwright's new piece is about how educational practices feed the prison system.

As a leader in educational media for children and students and a key partner with parents and educators across America, PBS today announced SPOTLIGHT EDUCATION, a special week of primetime programming examining the challenges facing today's students and America's education system.

Berkeley Rep today announced that Eric Ting (current artistic director of California Shakespeare Theater) will direct An Octoroon, the final show in Berkeley Rep's 2016-17 season.

Second Stage Theatre 2016 Uptown Series' production of ENGAGEMENTS has been extended by one week and will now play through Saturday, August 20.

Closing out Crowded Fire's 2016 season of new and contemporary plays is the Bay Area premiere of Young Jean Lee's THE SHIPMENT co-directed by Artistic Director Mina Morita and Resident Artist Lisa Marie Rollins. THE SHIPMENT, which took New York by storm in 2009 caused Time Out New York to call her 'one of the best experimental playwrights in America.' As characterized by The New Yorker, Young Jean Lee 'does whatever she can to get under our skin-with laughs and with raw, brutal talk that at times feels gratuitous, and is meant to.'

Urgent and inspiring, Notes from the Field: Doing Time in Education outlines the civil rights crisis currently erupting at the intersection between America's education system and its mass incarceration epidemic. In act one, Anna Deavere Smith introduces the students, parents, teachers, and administrators caught in America's school-to-prison 'pipeline' through her trademark portrait performances.

The Public Theater has announced the 2016 Fall Public Forum line-up, featuring an exciting series of one-night-only events and expanded audience engagement programming to explore the ideas and themes presented on The Public Theater's stages.

The solo performer who specializes in oral history theatre talks of the recent tragedies caused by gun violence.

Today's big news: WAR PAINT, starring Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole, begins tonight at the Goodman, THE ROSE TATTOO with Marisa Tomei starts in Williamstown and more!

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Casey Reitz, Executive Director) has announced three New York Premiere productions for its upcoming 38th season. The season will kick off in October 2016 with the New York Premiere ofNOTES FROM THE FIELD: DOING TIME IN EDUCATION, the latest work created, written and performed by groundbreaking theatre artist Anna Deavere Smith and directed by Leonard Foglia. This marks Ms. Smith and Mr. Foglia's return to Second Stage Theatre, where their previous collaboration, Let Me Down Easy, had its New York Premiere in 2008.

Just announced, the official launch night of the month-long WOMEN AND WAR festival will feature a one-off performance of SEVEN, a documentary play about seven ordinary women who became extraordinary activists, starring Rula Lenska, Miriam Margolyes and Josie Lawrence.

In anticipation of Pride Week, Thank You For Coming Out (TYFCO) is teaming up with Fun Home to hold an improv workshop benefiting the organizations I'm From Driftwood and How We G.L.O.W. Each of the four groups amplify the LGBTQ voice in a different way and aim to promote an understanding among communities. This workshop will encourage empathy, inclusivity and acceptance within the LGBTQ community by using and teaching the ideals of improv - listening, trust, respect, affirmation and connection with each other through the principle of Yes, And. TYFCO and Fun Home's main goal is that both I'm From Driftwood and How We G.L.O.W. can take what they learned back to their organizations and continue to inspire others.

Based on conversations with real women shoplifters, 'Sticky Fingers' is a one-hour, monologue-driven, ensemble dramedy about women who steal. In this age of soul-baring 12-step programs, admitting to shoplifting seems to be one of society's final taboos and as such, most shoplifters are ashamed to talk about their crimes. Most people are unaware that many shoplifters (especially women) do not steal out of need or greed, but often steal because of deeper psychological reasons that they may not know or are unable to acknowledge.

Based on conversations with real women shoplifters, 'Sticky Fingers' is a one-hour, monologue-driven, ensemble dramedy about women who steal. In this age of soul-baring 12-step programs, admitting to shoplifting seems to be one of society's final taboos and as such, most shoplifters are ashamed to talk about their crimes. Most people are unaware that many shoplifters (especially women) do not steal out of need or greed, but often steal because of deeper psychological reasons that they may not know or are unable to acknowledge.

Rashad wins for playing the same role as the first black woman nominated, Claudia McNeil.

The Public Theater and International Rescue Committee announced today that a special free one-night-only Public Forum event, WELCOME HOME: A CELEBRATION OF WORLD REFUGEE DAY, will take place on Monday, June 20 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. Free Public Forum tickets will be distributed, two per person (age 5+), at the Delacorte Theater beginning at 12:00 p.m. on the day of the Forum.

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for theatre, proudly announces that the 27th annual TCG National Conference will take place in Portland, OR from June 8 to 10, 2017. The TCG National Conference provides the largest forum for the national theatre community to assemble for artistic and intellectual exchange. The multi-day event draws hundreds of theatre professionals from around the world for meetings, speeches, performances, and opportunities to explore the local theatre community.