Hilda Willis News

Pittsburgh Festival Opera is the new name of Western Pennsylvania's innovative and nimble opera company, formerly known as Opera Theater of Pittsburgh. Now an acclaimed American summer opera festival, Pittsburgh Festival Opera's rebranding celebrates the four-decade history of the organization and positions the company as it expands to a six-week season in multiple venues in 2017.

Strong women are in the spotlight as Opera Theater of Pittsburgh announces its 2016 SummerFest season of opera, musical theater, concerts and cabarets, June 22-July 24.

Jujamcyn Theaters and True Colors Theatre Company just presented the 7th Annual August Wilson Monologue Competition at the August Wilson Theatre (245 West 52nd Street). The event, which is free and open to the public, features high school students from Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh, Portland and Seattle performing monologues by the late, legendary American playwright. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from inside the special event below!

Kenny Leon and True Colors Theatre Company have announced their upcoming production of George C. Wolfe's Spunk, an adaptation of three short stories by Zora Neale Hurston directed by Hilda Willis. Spunk will run from today, September 17 - October 13, 2013 at the 14th Street Playhouse located at 173 14th Street, Atlanta, GA.

Kenny Leon and True Colors Theatre Company are proud to announce its 2013-2014 season, opening in September with the classic Spunk by George C. Wolfe, directed by Hilda Willis. Following Spunk, True Colors will produce the regional premiere of David Mamet's Racedirected by John Dillon opening in February and running through March. The season will close in July with Bernard Slade's Same Time Next Year starring Phylicia Rashad and Kenny Leon and directed by Portland Center Stage Artistic Director and Co-Founder of Actor's Express, Chris Coleman. Performances are Wednesday - Saturday @ 8 PM and Saturday and Sunday @ 2:30 PM.

Soul Doctor, about the life and music of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach and his unlikely friendship with Nina Simone, is currently in previews at the Circle in the Square Theatre, with an official opening slated for Thursday, August 15. Soul Doctor has music by Shlomo Carlebach, orchestrated and arranged for Broadway by Steve Margoshes (Smokey Joe's Cafe, The Who's Tommy), book and direction by Daniel S. Wise, and lyrics by David Schechter. Meet the cast of the new musical below!

Kenny Leon and True Colors Theatre Company have announced their upcoming production of George C. Wolfe's Spunk, an adaptation of three short stories by Zora Neale Hurston directed by Hilda Willis. Spunk will run from September 17 - October 13, 2013 at the 14th Street Playhouse located at 173 14th Street, Atlanta, GA.

Kenny Leon and True Colors Theatre Company are proud to announce its 2013-2014 season, opening in September with the classic Spunk by George C. Wolfe, directed by Hilda Willis. Following Spunk, True Colors will produce the regional premiere of David Mamet's Racedirected by John Dillon opening in February and running through March. The season will close in July with Bernard Slade's Same Time Next Year starring Phylicia Rashad and Kenny Leon and directed by Portland Center Stage Artistic Director and Co-Founder of Actor's Express, Chris Coleman. Performances are Wednesday - Saturday @ 8 PM and Saturday and Sunday @ 2:30 PM.

Jujamcyn Theaters (Jordan Roth, President) and True Colors Theatre Company (Kenny Leon, Co-Founding Artistic Director) held the 4th Annual August Wilson Monologue Competition this past Monday, May 7, at at the August Wilson Theatre, where high school students from Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh and Seattle performed monologues by the late, legendary American playwright. See a photo of the judges and competitors below, including Guy Davis, David Gallo, Kenny Leon, Jasmine Guy, James A. Williams, Lynn Nottage, third place finalist Tyler Edwards, second place finalist Christian Helem, Hilda Willis, first place finalist Saidah Wade, and Crystal Dickinson!