Diversity News

Native Son - the leading organization championing Black gay and queer men – has unveiled its illustrious, annual year-end Native Son 101 List highlighting Black gay and queer men who made an impact in 2022. Created by Native Son Founder Emil Wilbekin, the 101 List recognizes leaders in the Black gay and queer community who have made significant contributions, achieved culture-making milestones, and those who are using their platforms to break through glass ceilings in their respective roles, professions, and areas of expertise.

From January 17 through May 24, Imagining Digital features seven online events, as well as the continuation of Imagining: A Gibney Journal, a bimonthly online publication. Black Diaspora, a virtual, peer support program serving up-and-coming, Black and Afro-Latinx-identified dance and performance artists from various cultural backgrounds and aesthetic traditions, also continues February 11 – June 12 with nine sessions, including co-presentations in the 2023 BlackLight Summit.

Development is underway for the new musical RUTKA. Selections from the show's exhilarating indie rock score will be presented on Monday, January 23, 2023 at the Bruno Walter Auditorium at the New York Public Library for Performing Arts at Lincoln Center. 

Playwrights Horizons (Adam Greenfield, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) has extended the New York premiere of Bruce Norris's provocative, critically lauded play Downstate, directed by Pam MacKinnon, a second and final time, to January 7, 2023.

The band is publicly releasing their new podcast Transmissions from Deep Ellum. Produced by Osiris Media and distributed by NPR affiliate WBGO FM, the podcast documents the writing, recording and creative process behind the new record. The podcast is available via podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Watch the video now!

 In February 2023, Chatham Baroque welcomes back soprano Sherezade Panthaki for The Isle of Delos, a program featuring the sublime music of Èlisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre, a keyboard prodigy in the court at Versailles turned composer extraordinaire. Panthaki will join Chatham Baroque artistic directors Andrew Fouts (violin), Patricia Halverson (viola da gamba) and Scott Pauley (theorbo), as well as other guest artists, for this celebration of France's foremost woman composer and contemporaries.

This January, four dynamic new plays will receive 20-hour workshops culminating in readings presented to the public and livestreamed during the third annual UCSB LAUNCH PAD Amplify Reading Series Festival on January 13 and 14, 2023. 

A TERRIBLE SHOW FOR TERRIBLE PEOPLE is an official selection in the ORLANDO FRINGE WINTER MINI-FEST 2023 taking place January 12-15. Creator and producer Bonnie He will be performing two shows at the new Fringe ArtsSpace Mainstage at 54 W. Church Street, Orlando, FL 32801.

On Sunday, January 22, 2023, Savona Bailey-McClain, Executive Director of the West Harlem Art Fund and her organization will present a panel discussion for Master Drawings New York at the Academy of Arts and Letters.

CLASSIC WHITNEY: ALIVE!, the critically acclaimed hit solo show from Broadway's Kevin Smith Kirkwood, returns to Joe's Pub with its newest incarnation-- CLASSIC WHITNEY: THE SEASON OF LOVE SHOW!

Center Repertory Company will present Obie Award-winning Cuban American author Caridad Svich's compelling play Red Bike, which examines a crumbling American dream and the economic-social-cultural divide through the eyes of an 11-year-old growing up in small-town America.

The Grand Rapids Symphony has announced the extensions of both its current contract with the Grand Rapids Federation of Musicians, as well as that of Music Director Marcelo Lehninger.

Arrow of Time, a new audio play by Allyson Dwyer, will premiere as part of Exponential Festival's 2023 digital programming.

Added to the list were Disney’s beloved “The Little Mermaid,” John Waters’ “Hairspray,” Brian De Palma’s adaptation of “Carrie,” and the 1950 film version of “Cyrano de Bergerac.” Also included were Marvel Studios’ “Iron Man” and the unforgettable romantic comedy “When Harry Met Sally.”

Marjorie Waldo, President & CEO of Arts Garage, today reminded theater fans of an upcoming and thought-provoking production by powerful local playwright Tyler Ellman.

OZ Arts Nashville's 'Conversations at OZ,' an annual fundraiser celebrating the art of conversation with community leaders and vibrant personalities, will take place in person once again on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at 7 pm in its expansive creative warehouse.

Soho Rep and the NAATCO National Partnership Project will present Public Obscenities, a bilingual play performed in Bangla and English from writer-director Shayok Misha Chowdhury, co-commissioned and produced by the two organizations, February 15-March 26, 2023.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Cultural Affairs has announced over $58 million in Cultural Development Fund grants to 1,070 cultural organizations across the five boroughs.

Mariah Carey has a special cameo in the new Broadway musical, Some Like It Hot! The popstar, who was revealed to be a producer on the musical, also recorded the pre-show announcement, which plays for the audience before every show. Check out a video here!

Following on from a highly successful run at Birmingham Rep, which continues until Sat 31 Dec, Jack and the Magic Beanstalk will tour to ten community venues across Birmingham. Tickets will be free or at low cost thanks to the generous support of the Sir Barry Jackson Trust.