Black Thought News

DACAMERA, a Houston-based presenter of chamber music and jazz concerts, announced that jazz guitarist Pat Metheny is set to join them on Friday, February 25 at Cullen Theater, Wortham Theater Center. The performance will feature new and reimagined works from Metheny’s Side-Eye project, a rotating platform for upcoming musicians—the latest version showcasing Houston native pianist James Francies and New Orleans drummer Joe Dyson.

The New Group's Black No More is set to officially open on Tuesday, February 15. The complete cast features Leanne Antonio, Rhaamell Burke-Missouri, Elijah A. Carter, Jennifer Damiano, Brandon Victor Dixon, Ryan Fitzgerald, and more.

Tariq TrotterTariq Trotter returned to the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon last night to discuss the new Off-Broadway adaption of Black No More, which he stars in and wrote the music and lyrics for with the Roots. The cast also features Brandon Victor Dixon, Jennifer Damiano, Tamika Lawrence, Ephraim Sykes, Lillias White, and more.

In this latest series from the acclaimed Harvard scholar and documentarian, Gates and director Stacey L. Holman chronicle the vast social networks and organizations created by and for Black people beyond the reach of the “White gaze.”

The New Group has announced that the new musical Black No More will begin previews January 18, in advance of an Official Opening Night now set for Tuesday, February 15, a schedule update due to Covid-19.  Previews were previously slated to begin January 11.

DACAMERA, a Houston-based presenter of chamber music and jazz concerts, announced jazz guitarist Pat Metheny on Friday, February 25 at Cullen Theater, Wortham Theater Center. The performance will feature new and reimagined works from Metheny’s Side-Eye project.

Continuing a tradition in its 36th year that has evolved into the largest such gathering in New York City, BAM hosts the annual Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, January 17 at 10:30am in the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House (Peter Jay Sharp Building, 30 Lafayette Avenue) with activists, musicians, civic leaders, and the public for a communal commemoration and reflection of the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. King.

Daily Show writer, comedian, and artist Josh Johnson has announced the release of Channel Black -- an audio journey that showcases the best in contemporary black comedic talent alongside historical black activists and thought leaders. Today, he shares 'Home Alone' to accompany the release announcement.

The Apollo announced today details of its Winter/Spring 2022 season, with an array of free and ticketed programming in-person at the Apollo's historic theater and online on the Apollo's Digital Stage.

The New Group has announced complete casting for the world premiere production of Black No More.  This new musical features Book by John Ridley, Music and Lyrics by Tariq Trotter, Music Supervision, Orchestrations and Vocal Arrangements by Daryl Waters, Choreography by Bill T. Jones and Direction by Scott Elliott. 

Netflix has released the soundtrack from Lin Manuel Miranda's new film adaption of tick, tick...BOOM! The release features 13 tracks from Jonathan Larson's musical, plus three new bonus tracks sung by Veronica Vasquez, The Mountain Goats, Andrew Garfield, and Alexandra Shipp.

Last night, Netflix hosted the World Premiere of tick, tick...BOOM! with cast members Andrew Garfield, Alexandra Shipp, Robin de Jesús, Joshua Henry, Judith Light and Vanessa Hudgens, and director Lin-Manuel Miranda. tick, tick…BOOM!, is an adaptation of the musical by Jonathan Larson, who revolutionized theater as the creator of Rent.

The New Group has announced that Ephraim Sykes (Ain’t Too Proud, Tony Award nominee; Hamilton) will join the cast of the world premiere production of Black No More.

Oregon Shakespeare Festival, in partnership with Artizen and Museum of Other Realities, will present the first-ever Quills Fest, an annual two-day immersive digital festival at the intersection of live theatre and Extended Reality.

The New Group has announced two new appointments to its staff. Emily Bookwalter has been named as its Director of External Affairs starting October 25, 2021. Shariffa Ali has also been named as its Director of Artistic Projects starting November 2, 2021.

The New Group has announced that Tony Award winner Lillias White will join the cast of the world premiere production of Black No More. A strictly limited engagement will play January 11 – February 27, 2022 at The Pershing Square Signature Center with Opening Night on Tuesday, February 8. Tickets are now on sale to the public. 

Yesterday, at a press conference hosted at Roxbury Community College, the Boston Modern Orchestra Project (BMOP) and Odyssey Opera, two of today's leading innovators on the classical musical scene, unveiled a new five-year initiative to elevate opera by Black composers. 

HBO Max Scene in Black, an audience initiative to amplify Black stories and talent, will include new content from talent and creators, providing resources for discussion and include conversations amongst Black thought leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs and influencers.

The New Group has announced the world premiere of Black No More, a new musical inspired by George S. Schuyler’s 1931 novel of the same name, featuring Book by John Ridley, Music and Lyrics by Tariq Trotter, Choreography by Bill T. Jones, Music Supervision, Orchestrations and Vocal Arrangements by Daryl Waters and Direction by Scott Elliott. 

CBS and The American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards announced that a bevy of stage and screen stars that will appear on 'The Tony Awards® Present: Broadway's Back!' live from The Winter Garden Theatre in New York City, Sunday, Sept. 26 on the CBS Television Network and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.