Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures (MGM) announced today acclaimed stage director Liesl Tommy, the first black woman to earn a Tony Award nomination for Best Direction of a Play, is set to direct Respect, a feature film based on the life of music icon Aretha Franklin. As previously announced, Academy Award, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, BAFTA and Grammy Award winner Jennifer Hudson was personally handpicked by Ms. Franklin to portray her on the big screen. Academy Award and Golden Globe winner Callie Khouri (Thelma & Louise, creator of Nashville) will pen the screenplay following the rise of Ms. Franklin's career, from a child singing in her father's church's choir to an iconic and international superstar. The announcement was made today by Jonathan Glickman, President, Motion Picture Group.
The Athena Film Festival (AFF) at Barnard College announced today its film slate, including opening night, closing night, and centerpiece films, as well as additional programming for the 2019 festival. The ninth annual festival, co-founded by the Athena Center for Leadership Studies at Barnard College and Women and Hollywood, will take place February 28 to March 3, 2019, at Barnard College in New York City. AFF showcases films, television and content that tell the extraordinary stories of fierce and fearless female leaders from all walks of life. Stories of ambition, courage, and resilience amplify the voices of strong, bold women, curating a public discourse on gender equality, and changing the cultural conventions surrounding leadership.
The 50th NAACP Image Awards will air LIVE on TV One, a division of Urban One, Inc., on March 30, 2019. For the first time ever, the telecast will take place from the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, California. The announcement was made today by NAACP National Board of Directors Chairman Leon W. Russell, NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson, Chief Executive Officer, Urban One, Inc. & Chairman/CEO, TV One Alfred Liggins and TV One General Manager Michelle Rice.
Goodman Theatre has announced the cast for Twilight Bowl by Pulitzer Prize finalist Rebecca Gilman, an Artistic Associate who marks her ninth production-and seventh world premiere-with the Goodman. Set in a rural Wisconsin bowling alley, the coming-of-age story focuses on six women struggling to define their own version of success. Erica Weiss-co-creator and -executive producer of the upcoming CBS series The Red Line (airing May 2019) and former Goodman Theatre Michael Maggio Directing Fellow-directs the world premiere production.
Manhattan Theatre Club is hosting the Broadway premiere of Choir Boy, by Tarell Alvin McCraney and directed by Trip Cullman. Get to know the cast below as they begin Broadway performances!
From March 9-April 15, 2019, Carnegie Hall presents Migrations: The Making of America, a citywide festival that traces the journeys of people from different origins and backgrounds who helped to shape and influence the evolution of American culture. The five-week festival with more than 100 events will celebrate the many contributions-cultural, social, economic, and political-of the people who helped to build America's culture with musical programming at Carnegie Hall and public programming, performances, exhibitions, and events at more than 70 leading cultural and academic institutions across New York City and beyond.
Beast Mode is written and executive produced by David Schneiderman with executive producers Stefanie Huie and MACRO's Charles D. King, Kim Roth and Poppy Hanks
On Friday, November 2nd, POPS the Club will host a "Casino Masquerade" in partnership with the Los Angeles Athletic Club. The event will take place in LAAC's historic Centennial Ballroom and Olympic Lounge. A festive night of cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, live music, and casino games benefitting POPS the Club, an LA-based nonprofit that transforms the lives of teens who have loved ones in prison.
On Friday, November 2nd, POPS the Club will host a "Casino Masquerade" in partnership with the Los Angeles Athletic Club. The event will take place in LAAC's historic Centennial Ballroom and Olympic Lounge. A festive night of cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, live music, and casino games benefitting POPS the Club, an LA-based nonprofit that transforms the lives of teens who have loved ones in prison. As Parole Commissioner Robert Barton says, "There should be a POPS club in every high school, transforming stigma and shame to hope and healing." Gala organizers call upon all of us to "Pick up our masks, so POPS students can drop theirs." The evening will celebrate POPS 2019 high school graduates and honor author and activist, Christina McDowell, the highly-praised writer of the memoir After Perfect.
OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network announced today that Tina Perry, executive vice president, business and legal affairs, and board member of OWN, has been named general manager of the network effective January 2019 overseeing all business and creative areas of OWN. She will report to OWN Chairman and CEO Oprah Winfrey. After seven years leading OWN as president, Erik Logan will be departing for a position with the World Surf League. Logan will work closely with Perry over the coming months to ensure a smooth transition.
The multi-talented Common was a guest on today's 'Live with Kelly and Ryan.' Common, who is just missing the 'T' in EGOT, speaks to Ryan and Kelly about his desire to do Broadway. Watch the video below!
The American Shakespeare Center (ASC) commemorates three decades of Shakespeare by honoring Classical Theatre of Harlem Artistic Director Ty Jones and the Citizens of Staunton, Virginia at its 30th Anniversary Gala today, September 22 at the Blackfriars Playhouse and Stonewall Jackson Hotel. The celebration will include a diverse array of ASC artists ranging from members of the original Shenandoah Shakespeare Express touring company to recent ASC Theatre Camp students.
Last month, a study of 1,100 popular films showed that there has been no improvement for women behind or in front of the camera in Hollywood over the last decade.
The American Shakespeare Center (ASC) commemorates three decades of Shakespeare by honoring Classical Theatre of Harlem Artistic Director Ty Jones and the Citizens of Staunton, Virginia at its 30th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, September 22 at the Blackfriars Playhouse and Stonewall Jackson Hotel. The celebration will include a diverse array of ASC artists ranging from members of the original Shenandoah Shakespeare Express touring company to recent ASC Theatre Camp students.
Dr. Barbara Ann Teer's National Black Theatre's announces its 50th season as it gears up for a major capital redevelopment project of its current site by launching a new programmatic arm entitled "NBT Beyond Walls". "NBT Beyond Walls" will allow National Black Theatre to work outside the confines of it's formal space, to share pedagogy and artistic offerings with various institutions, constituencies and audiences while helping NBT ignite a local, national and international presence. NBT will also utilize this program period to formalize the documentation and archiving of the institution's legacy in order to capture and preserve its contribution and impact on the field. Taking the institution on a journey beyond it's familiar walls the historic 50th Season will be the theme "Liberation: A Journey Beyond Walls," which will comprise seven signature productions and one international partnership. The international partnership is an exciting opportunity to work with the Kulturhuset Stadsteatern (National Theatre of Sweden), which is officially establishing NBT's international extension, the National Black Theatre of Sweden, opens in November of 2018.
New Spire Arts, in partnership with the African American Cultural and Heritage Society (AARCH), presents Poetry Slam with Sonya Renee Taylor on September 27, 2018 at 6:00 p.m.
Discovery Inc. and Hulu today announced an expansive distribution agreement that will extend Discovery's portfolio of high quality real life entertainment brands to Hulu's on-demand and live TV subscription streaming services. The new partnership makes Hulu the #1 streaming home for popular unscripted series and reinforces Hulu's commitment to offering programming the whole family can enjoy.
