Debra Lee News

The Paley Center for Media today announced that the 2014 Paley International Council (IC) Summit will conclude with a special keynote conversation on November 21 between Academy Award winner Angelina Jolie and Tom Brokaw about Jolie's experience adapting the beloved book Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption into an epic drama for Universal Pictures, ahead of its December 25 release. The director will explore how her deeply personal connection with the subject of the book, the late Louis 'Louie' Zamperini,and the retelling of his remarkable story, influenced her filmmaking approach.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's two-week spring engagement at Lincoln Center's David H. Koch Theater kicked off in an exceptional way on Wednesday, June 11th with Revelations Celebration on the Plaza - a free grand dance workshop, where hundreds of people learned excerpts of Alvin Ailey's signature American masterpiece Revelations; followed by The Ailey Spirit Gala, a one-night-only benefit performance and party with Honorary Chair Vanessa Williams and sponsored by FedEx Corporation.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's two-week spring engagement at Lincoln Center's David H. Koch Theater kicked off in an exceptional way on Wednesday, June 11th with Revelations Celebration on the Plaza - a free grand dance workshop, where hundreds of people learned excerpts of Alvin Ailey's signature American masterpiece Revelations; followed by The Ailey Spirit Gala, a one-night-only benefit performance and party with Honorary Chair Vanessa Williams and sponsored by FedEx Corporation. The event's Co-Chairs were Gina F. Adams, Lynne & Anthony M. Carvette, Almaz & Marc Strachan, Dr. Eboni Marshall Turman & Rossie E. Turman III, and Pamela D. Zilly & John H. Schaefer. Gala Vice Chairs wereMichele & Timothy Barakett, Natasha Leibel Levine, M.D. & Harlan Levine, M.D., Leslie & Tom Maheras, and Celia & Henry McGee. The evening helped raise over $1 million for Alvin Ailey's extensive educational programs for young people, including AileyCamp and scholarships to The Ailey School.

BET Networks makes its yearly return to Los Angeles for the City of Angels' biggest music festival, the BET Experience at L.A. LIVE, June 27 - 29, 2014.

BET Networks announced today that First Lady Michelle Obama will attend the Leading Women Defined Summit (LWD).

Miami's own Robert Battle, Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, along with Gabrielle Union, Tracy Wilson Mourning, and BET CEO and Ailey Board member Debra Lee met up following today's Alvin Ailey free student performance. Check out a photo below!

Encore! Sessions, produced by Forward and sponsored by Absolut Elyx, made its Los Angeles debut Grammy weekend with an event held on Friday, January 24 at The Standard Hollywood's intimate club mmhmmm, and co-hosted by 300 Entertainment--the new company started by former Warner Music Group recorded music executives Lyor Cohen, Todd Moscowitz and Kevin Liles. The event, named one of 'The Top 10 Grammy Parties' by the Hollywood Reporter, featured performances from 300 artist ASTR, and deejay sets from the Been Trill collective and Wade Crescent.

Led by Artistic Director Robert Battle, Ailey's 2013-14 Season at New York City Center kicked off December 4th with an Opening Night Gala Benefit hosted by Honorary Co-Chair Gabrielle Union. The event's co-chairs were Simin Allison & in memory, Herb Allison, Kathryn & Kenneth Chenault, Daria L. Foster & Erich J. Wallach, Agnes & Gerald Hassell, Debra L. Lee, and Joan & Sandy Weill. The evening helped raise over $2.4 million for the creation of new works and Alvin Ailey's extensive educational programs for young people, including AileyCamp and scholarships to The Ailey School. Check out the pics below!

BET Networks announced today that ithas licensed the rights to air current season episodes of the hit series 'Scandal.'

BET Networks, the foremost entertainment brand for the African-American audience, and AEG, one of the leading entertainment companies in the world and developer/ operator of L.A. LIVE have teamed up to create a one-of-a-kind event, the BET EXPERIENCE AT L.A. LIVE(BETX), today, June 28 - 30, 2013.

On June 12, 2013, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, one of the world's most popular dance companies, kicked off its seven performance engagement at the David H. Koch Theater. The performance marked the Company's historic return to Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts for the first time in over a decade and its first engagement there led by Artistic Director Robert Battle. Scroll down for photos from the opening festivities!

Evidence, A Dance Company paid tribute to the life and legacy of Beth Young, a dance enthusiast and long-time supporter of Evidence, A Dance Company, and recognized Goldman, Sachs & Co. and, Valentino D. Carlotti for supporting the arts and community outreach at The Torch Ball on March 25 at New York City's The Plaza Hotel. Proceeds from the black tie affair support Evidence's mission to promote understanding of the African Diaspora through dance, music and storytelling. Scroll below for photos from the event!

UNCF An Evening of Stars Educating Our Future Presented by Target is back by popular demand. Viewers across the country will be able to watch the 34th airing legendary television event during its rebroadcast nationwide tonight, March 17, on Centric at 8:00 PM EDT.

UNCF An Evening of Stars Educating Our Future Presented by Target is back by popular demand. Viewers across the country will be able to watch the 34th airing legendary television event during its rebroadcast nationwide on Sunday, March 17, on Centric at 8:00 PM EDT.

BET Networks and Wonder Productions have joined forces with the United Nations to present Stevie Wonder with Friends: Celebrating a Message of Peace.

Playwright Donald Margulies has been quoted as calling his Pulitzer Prize-winning play DINNER WITH FRIENDS "a rueful comedy". The story is not just a thoughtful study on divorce, but a turbulent meditation on the minefield of middle age. Happily married Gabe and Karen have been friends with Tom and Beth for many years. While having dinner with Gabe and Karen, Beth tearfully reveals that she is getting a divorce. Over the course of the play, we witness the effects of Tom and Beth's breakup on Gabe and Karen, who first feel compelled to choose sides, and then begin to question the strength of their own seemingly tranquil marriage. The play exposes the same, universal insecurities that people face every time there are shattering changes in their lives. Margulies' characters are normal and real, they are our family, friends, and the people next door.

BET Networks and Wonder Productions have joined forces with the United Nations to present Stevie Wonder with Friends: Celebrating a Message of Peace.

BET Networks, the foremost entertainment brand for the African-American audience, and AEG, one of the leading entertainment companies in the world and developer/ operator of L.A. LIVE have teamed up to create a one-of-a-kind event, the BET EXPERIENCE AT L.A. LIVE(BETX), June 28 - 30, 2013.

It's always hard for me to come up with the best of anything in entertainment. With my backstage theatre background, I'm obsessed with detail, and I can't simply sit back and enjoy any show. As a writer, I'm obsessed with the words, the sentence, the grammar, etc., and I can never read strictly for pleasure. In the pressure cooker of coming up with the best picks for 2012, I have a mixed pot.

The fifth annual BET HONORS will celebrate the outstanding achievements of extraordinary legends in music, literature, entertainment, media, service and education. Acclaimed actress Gabrielle Union hosts the show for a fourth year, honoring renowned poet/author Maya Angelou (Literary Arts), internationally acclaimed musician Stevie Wonder (Musical Arts), Grammy-Award winning songstress Mariah Carey (Entertainer), influential filmmaker Spike Lee (Media), the heroic Tuskegee Airmen (Service) and inspirational coach and mentor Beverly Kearney (Education). The BET HONORS premieres during Black History Month, on Monday, February 13 at 9:00 p.m.*