Asa Benally News

This December the Yale Indigenous Performing Arts Program (YIPAP) will be offering two exciting free workshops for Native artists! Both programs will be hosted online on zoom. 

AUDELCO has announced the nominees for its 2020 'VIV' Awards, honoring excellence in Black Theatre.

Tune in right here at 7:30pm to watch The 65th Annual Drama Desk Awards and check back for a full list of winners, updating live!

The 65th Annual Drama Desk Awards has partnered with 'Stars in the House' to live stream this year's Nominations. Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley, the hosts of the virtual daily series benefiting the Actors Fund, will announce the nominees.

'I'm tired of Negro dreams. All they ever do is break your heart,' contemplates an unemployed nightclub singer after an audition that turned out to be for a mistress rather than for an entertainer in Pearl Cleage's ravishingly written post-Harlem Renaissance portrait, Blues for an Alabama Sky.

Keen Company is presenting the New York Premiere of Blues for an Alabama Sky by Pearl Cleage.  LA Williams directs a cast that features Alfie Fuller, Jasminn Johnson, John-Andrew Morrision, Khiry Walker, and Sheldon Woodley.  The design team includes You-Shin Chen (scenic), Asa Benally (costumes), Oona Curley (lighting), and Lindsay Jones (original music & sound design). Casting is by Billy Hopkins Casting. Fran Rubenstein serves as Production Stage Manager and Drew Francis is the Production Manager.

Today Keen Company Artistic Director Jonathan Silverstein announced the cast for the New York Premiere of Blues for an Alabama Sky by Pearl Cleage. LA Williams will direct a cast that features Prema Cruz, Alfie Fuller, John-Andrew Morrision, Khiry Walker, and Sheldon Woodley. The design team includes You-Shin Chen (scenic), Asa Benally (costumes), Oona Curley (lighting), and Lindsay Jones (original music & sound design). Casting is by Billy Hopkins Casting. Fran Rubenstein will serve as Production Stage Manager and Drew Francis will be the Production Manager.

Mobile Unit's production of MEASURE FOR MEASURE opens today, Friday, November 22. Directed by LA Williams, the free sit-down run of MEASURE FOR MEASURE follows a three-week tour to correctional facilities, homeless shelters, social service organizations, and community centers in all five boroughs. MEASURE FOR MEASURE will run in the Shiva Theater through Sunday, December 8.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) will begin previews for the MOBILE UNIT's production of Shakespeare's MEASURE FOR MEASURE on Monday, November 18. Directed by LA Williams, the free sit-down run of MEASURE FOR MEASURE follows a three-week tour to the five boroughs that brought Shakespeare to audiences who have limited or no access to the arts. MEASURE FOR MEASURE will run through Sunday, December 8 with an official press opening on Friday, November 22.

MEASURE FOR MEASURE, directed by LA Williams. MEASURE FOR MEASURE will begin its run at The Public on Monday, November 18, following a three-week tour to correctional facilities, homeless shelters, social service organizations, and community centers. The production will have an official press opening on Friday, November 22.

Continuing its commitment to bringing free Shakespeare to the community and strengthening audience engagement with the arts, The Public Theater, under the leadership of Artistic Director Oskar Eustis and Executive Director Patrick Willingham, will mount its MOBILE UNIT again this fall with a free three-week tour to venues across the city of Shakespeare's MEASURE FOR MEASURE, directed by LA Williams. The Mobile Unit's free tour (October 24-November 16) brings Shakespeare and other works to audiences who have limited or no access to the arts by visiting correctional facilities, homeless shelters, social service organizations, and other community organizations. Following the tour to the five boroughs, there will also be a free three-week engagement of MEASURE FOR MEASURE in The Public's Shiva Theater running Monday, November 18 through Sunday, December 8, with an official press opening on Friday, November 22.

Pocahontas will breathe new life into the story of America's first heroine. In this original telling, we meet Pocahontas just before she is set to leave her beloved home in Virginia to begin a new chapter with husband, John Rolfe, in England.

Westport Country Playhouse will stage the gripping drama, "Skeleton Crew," written by 2018 MacArthur "Genius Grant" Fellow Dominique Morisseau and directed by LA Williams, from June 4 through June 22.

Dominique Morisseau's Skeleton Crew, the third of her Detroit trilogy of plays, opened at the Westport Country Playhouse. The theater company lives up to its tag line, 'Theater worth talking about,' in this powerfully written and well-acted ensemble play.

Westport Country Playhouse will stage the gripping drama, "Skeleton Crew," written by 2018 MacArthur "Genius Grant" Fellow Dominique Morisseau and directed by LA Williams, from June 4 through June 22. 

'Too Heavy for Your Pocket' is now on stage at George Street Playhouse (GSP) through May 19. It enjoys the superb direction of LA Williams and features a marvelous four-person cast that brings an important and moving story to life.

INTAR and Radio Drama Network present the World Premiere of Then They Forgot About the Rest, a new play by Georgina Escobar, directed by David Mendizabal, opening tonight Monday April 22nd for a limited Off-Broadway engagement through May 12th.

The critically acclaimed drama 'Too Heavy for Your Pocket,' winner of the prestigious 2017 LaurentsHatcher Foundation Award, will open at George Street Playhouse on April 23. Broadwayworld.com had the pleasure of interviewing Donnell E. Smith who plays Bowzie in the show.

Critically acclaimed drama Too Heavy for Your Pocket, winner of the prestigious 2017 Laurents/Hatcher Foundation Award, will open at George Street Playhouse on April 23 and close the Playhouse's 2018-19 season as it prepares to move to its permanent new home at The New Brunswick Performing Arts Center this fall.

INTAR (Lou Moreno, Artistic Director/John McCormack, Executive Director) and Radio Drama Network (Melina Brown, President) today announced the cast for the World Premiere of Then They Forgot About the Rest, a new play by Georgina Escobar, directed by David Mendizabal. Performances will begin April 13th for a limited Off-Broadway engagement through May 12th. Opening Night is set for April 22nd.