First Lady Michelle News

Netflix and Higher Ground Productions announce the original documentary BECOMING!

The Ailey organization regrets to announce that health concerns related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic will prevent Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's presentation of a June engagement at Lincoln Center, where the Company has performed for audiences each spring since 2013. 

Lincoln Center at Home is maintaining connections to the arts during the COVID-19 pandemic. A free, one-stop portal to all digital offerings from across the iconic campus, offerings include Lincoln Center Pop-Up Classroom, #ConcertsForKids, and an array of archival and livestream performances.

The Actors Fund has announced guest stars for this week's live-streamed talk-show 'Humpday with Hampshire' hosted by 'Schitt's Creek' star, award-winning actress and Screen Actors Guild Nominee Emily Hampshire.

Amy's Victory Dance, a documentary film by Emmy-nominee Brian Thomas, will premiere on April 2 and 5, 2020 as part of the 2020 ReelAbilities Film Festival in New York City. The uplifting and inspiring documentary follows the story of choreographer and dancer Amy Jordan, who, on a beautiful spring day in May 2009, was run over by a 15-ton New York City bus. As she regained awareness, she had no feeling on the right side of her body. Her first thought was, “Am I ever going to dance again?” Her second thought was 'If I survive the night, there will be a Victory Dance.'

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is continuing its a?oeAiley Revealeda?? season during a 21-city North American toura?"including a stop at the McCallum Theatre at 8:00pm, Wednesday, March 25. Led by artistic director Robert Battle, Ailey's 32 renowned dancers will elevate a legacy of innovation and excellence in artistry with diverse works by pre-eminent choreographers, including world premieres that shine a spotlight on social issues, new productions, returning favorites, and timeless treasures by Alvin Ailey. 

Visión Latino Theatre Company (VLTC) will kick off their Fifth Season with a remount of Karen Zacarías, Just Like Us. Performances of Just Like Us will be held at Jedlicka Performing Arts Center (3801 S Central Ave, Cicero, IL). Visión Latino Theatre Company, is a 501(c)3 Not for Profit Theatre Company in Chicago, who produce and perform stories that break down racial boundaries. VLTC's mission is to open the minds of their audiences to Latinx struggles and perseverance through theatre.

SHOWTIME has given a series order to the first season of the hour-long drama FIRST LADIES, starring and executive produced by Oscar, Emmy and Tony® winner Viola Davis, who will play former first lady Michelle Obama. Produced by SHOWTIME and Lionsgate Television, the series will also be executive produced by Julius Tennon, Oscar winner Cathy Schulman (Crash, Five Feet Apart), Jeff Gaspin (Rhythm + Flow, L.A.'s Finest), Brad Kaplan (Mr. Church) and author Aaron Cooley (Four Seats: A Thriller of the Supreme Court), who created the series and will write. The announcement was made today by Jana Winograde, President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks Inc.

To commemorate their 20th year in the Tampa Bay community bringing new, authentic and often original stories based in truth, Powerstories Theatre is switching it up in 2020 with its first Broadway musical opening February 20. In a series of monologues and songs, Working A Musical tells the relatable story of working-class men and women and compels the audience to look at the person behind the job. Based on Studs Terkel's best-selling book of interviews with American workers, Working A Musical is a vibrant depiction of the workers often taken for granted. The homemaker, the schoolteacher, the waitress, the millworker, the mason, the trucker are just a few of the voices represented.

Following five-weeks of exceptional performances in New York City, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will continue its “Ailey Revealed” season during a 21-city North American tour which kicks off during Black History Month. The 2020 engagement opens on February 4th at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. with a gala to benefit Ailey's D.C. programs, including the creation of new works, Arts-In-Education activities, and scholarships to talented young area dancers to attend The Ailey School in New York. Other major cities throughout the tour include Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Berkeley, Seattle, Houston, and Boston, culminating with a Mother's Day performance in Newark on May 10th.

For the first time in Israel, International theater and concert headliner Isaac Sutton will welcome Broadway Star Amanda Jane Cooper (WICKED) as they embark on an Israeli concert tour in March 2020 with the show Broadway-Israel.

Ellen was surprised with a special video message from her friend, former First Lady Michelle Obama! Plus, Ellen showed a preview of “Mazed and Confused,” from the new episode of “Game of Games.”

In Vietnam to raise awareness about the importance of educating young girls, former first lady Michelle Obama sits down with TODAY's Jenna Bush Hager to talk about her plans for 2020, Barack Obama's process for writing his post-presidential book and the importance of voting.

Smithsonian magazine, the flagship publication of the Smithsonian Institution, today announced the honorees of the eighth annual American Ingenuity Awards. This year's awards honor individuals across seven wide-ranging categories: Youth, Visual Arts, Social Progress, Technology, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences and Performing Arts.

Today's top stories: A Bright Room Called Day opens at The Public, and more!

Collaboraction, Chicago's theater for social change, announces a major staff expansion in tandem with their first season at Kennedy-King College in Englewood.

YouTube Originals just announced its next series: BookTube, and released a trailer. The aim is to be like a monthly book club, with one new episode each month featuring a different best-selling author. The idea came after they released a special this past March entitled BookTube: A Discussion with Michelle Obama (Which you can watch here). The critically-acclaimed special starred Former First Lady Michelle Obama and her best-selling novel BECOMING. She was joined by New York Times Best Selling Author John Green (The Fault in Our Stars, Paper Towns, Looking for Alaska) and popular booktubers Ariel Bissett, Jesse George, Jouelzy, Kat O'Keefe, and Franchesca Ramsey.

The next chapter of book clubs is here! Following the critically acclaimed BookTube special, featuring Michelle Obama (Becoming), YouTube has announced BookTube, a new monthly learning series featuring the world's most renowned authors. YouTube has released the official trailer for episode one of 'BookTube' - an all-new series that launches October 17, 2019 on YouTube.com/Learning. A new episode will air the third Thursday of each month.

International theater and concert star, Isaac Sutton, will welcome two Broadway Guest Stars upon his return, on Oct. 5th, to Feinstein's/54 Below, with an encore performance of his acclaimed show, BROADWAY ISRAEL.

International theater and concert star, ISAAC SUTTON, will welcome Broadway's AMANDA JANE COOPER, who recently played a?oeGlindaa?? in Wicked, upon his return to Feinstein's/54 Below with an encore performance of his acclaimed show, BROADWAY ISRAEL.