Danai Gurira News

A star-studded host committee, Academy Awards nominees and presenters, along with some of the most powerful industry influencers came together on March 3 rd, 2018 for the 16 th annual 'Night Before' party to benefit MPTF. Funds raised during the legendary evening will be used to support MPTF in providing social services and financial assistance to the entertainment community, as well as it's renowned retirement community and innovative programs for seniors and those who care for them. The organization impacts thousands of people each year who have committed their lives to a career in entertainment. The annual event raised $5 million last night, totaling just over $80 million in the event's history.

Kicking off Women's History Month; ESSENCE turned the spotlight on four remarkable women, during Oscar week, with its popular “BLACK WOMEN IN HOLLYWOOD AWARDS,” held Thursday, March 1, 2018 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA. Returning to its traditional daytime luncheon, the ESSENCE “BLACK WOMEN IN HOLLYWOOD AWARDS” was hosted by actress Yvonne Orji.  This year's program honored actress and comedian Tiffany Haddish; actress Danai Gurira; Emmy-Award winning writer and director Lena Waithe and actress and activist Tessa Thompson.  For the fourth consecutive year, the ESSENCE“BLACK WOMEN IN HOLLYWOOD AWARDS” will air as a primetime special on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network on March 3, 2018 at 10 pm ET/PT.

BLACK PANTHER Becomes Domestic Box Office's 17th Highest Earning Release In Less Than Two Weeks

Continuing its commitment to bringing free Shakespeare to the community and strengthening audience engagement with the arts, The Public Theater will mount its MOBILE UNIT again this spring with a free three-week tour to the five boroughs of Shakespeare's HENRY V, directed by Robert O'Hara.Now in its eighth year, the Mobile Unit's free tour (March 29 - April 21) 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 venues.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company Artistic Director Anna D. Shapiro and Executive Director David Schmitz proudly unveiled today the 2018/19 Season.

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company announces the third production of its 2017-2018 season, Familiar. Written by Danai Gurira and directed by Theatre J artistic director Adam Immerwahr, Familiar will run from February 5 to March 11, 2018.

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network will air Essence's 11th annual 'Black Women in Hollywood Awards' as a primetime special event on Saturday, March 3 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. For over a decade, the star-studded celebration has been at the forefront of honoring Hollywood's most creative and accomplished African-American female visionaries, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes.

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network will air Essence's 11th annual “Black Women in Hollywood Awards” as a primetime special event on Saturday, March 3 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. For over a decade, the star-studded celebration has been at the forefront of honoring Hollywood's most creative and accomplished African-American female visionaries, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes.

PRIMARY STAGES (Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Shane D. Hudson, Executive Director; Casey Childs, Founder) announced today Saturday Night Strings, a special post-show concert series following select Saturday night performances of A WALK WITH MR. HEIFETZ, written by James Inverne and directed by Andrew Leynse. All ticketholders for the evenings of Saturday, February 10 (Mariella Haubs); Saturday, February 17 (Edward W. Hardy of Sterling Strings); and Saturday, February 24 (Luisa Bastidas) are invited to remain after the performance to enjoy live music performed by special guest violinists. The concerts are free for all ticketholders for that evening's performance.

PRIMARY STAGES (Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Shane D. Hudson, Executive Director; Casey Childs, Founder) announced today additional programming and events for the Winter 2018 season.

BLACK PANTHER Soundtrack On Course For Second Week At No. 1 On Billboard 200

According to Variety, Disney-Marvel's BLACK PANTHER is heading for a $235 million debut over the four-day President's Day weekend at 4,020 North American locations, estimates showed Monday.

Heather Raffo's play is challenging, but ultimately rewarding.

NYU Tisch School of the Arts today announced it will honor notable alumnus, screenwriter, Emmy-winning producer and director Eddy Moretti ('98) at its 2018 gala. Moretti will join previously announced honorees Chris Columbus ('80) and Eleanor Columbus ('11) at the annual event, which will be held on Monday, April 16, 2018, at Capitale. 

It's a powerful work and one of the strongest offerings to date in the ongoing Women's Voices Theater Festival. Under Adam Immerwahr's impeccable direction, a supremely talented cast brings out the best of the exceptional script.

nternationally-celebrated Grammy Award winning global superstar Kendrick Lamar and Billboard Magazine's Executive of the Year, Anthony 'Top Dawg' Tiffith, have come together to curate and produce' Black Panther: The Album.'The album will feature music from and inspired by Marvel Studios' Black Panther film including the lead single, 'All The Stars,' featuring Kendrick Lamar and label mate SZA, produced by Sounwave. 'Black Panther' is directed by critically acclaimedfilmmaker Ryan Coogler and stars Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o and Danai Gurira, among others.

Today Marvel Studios kicks off the year-long Marvel Cinematic Universe 10-Year anniversary celebration with an iconic class photo featuring talent and filmmakers from over the last ten years.

Marvel Studios' 'Black Panther' follows T'Challa who, after the death of his father, the King of Wakanda, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation to succeed to the throne and take his rightful place as king. But when a powerful old enemy reappears, T'Challa's mettle as king-and Black Panther-is tested when he is drawn into a formidable conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Faced with treachery and danger, the young king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and secure the safety of his people and their way of life. @MarvelStudios #BlackPanther.

NYU Tisch School of the Arts today announced it will honor notable alumni Academy Award nominated producer, director and screenwriter Chris Columbus ('80) and filmmaker Eleanor Columbus ('11) at its 2018 gala. The annual event will be held on Monday, April 16, 2018, at Capitale."Chris and Eleanor Columbus represent a unique father-daughter partnership, both influenced by their time at the Tisch School of the Arts, and now influencing one another as they create, promote, and support fresh and exciting work," said Allyson Green, Dean, NYU Tisch School of the Arts. "This is the first time we've honored a father-daughter duo at the Tisch Gala, and we are thrilled. Together, Chris and Eleanor understand the importance of supporting and celebrating the next generation of storytellers, both through Maiden Voyage Pictures and also through their support of scholarships and production awards at Tisch."

Kendrick Lamar & SZA Release ALL THE STARS Music Video From BLACK PANTHER