J.E. Franklin News

The life and legacy of Woodie King Jr. (1937–2026) will be honored at a special tribute at the Shubert Organization’s Barrymore Theatre.

Producer, director, and New Federal Theatre founder Woodie King Jr. passed away at 88 on January 29 following complications from emergency heart surgery.

Four women writers of the Harlem Renaissance meet in 'Telling Tales Out of School' by Wesley Brown, directed by Woodie King, Jr. at Castillo Theatre/ASP. The play offers a unique perspective on the Harlem Renaissance by providing a character study of four of its most-noted female prime movers. Check out event information here!

NEW FEDERAL THEATRE will hold its 53rd Anniversary Celebration on October 2 at Edison Ballroom, honoring Woodie King, Jr., Gabrielle Kurlander, and Sade Lythcott. The gala is chaired by Kenny Leon and Lynn Whitfield.

Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre (NFT), led by Producing Artistic Director Elizabeth Van Dyke, will hold a 53rd Anniversary Celebration October 2, 2023 at Edison Ballroom, 240 West 47th Street.  

New Federal Theatre (NFT), Elizabeth Van Dyke, Producing Artistic Director, in association with ASP/Castillo Theatre, will present a reading oof Long Time Since by P.J. Gibson, to benefit the Classix Collective. The performance will take place on June 27th at 7pm at Castillo Theatre (543 W. 42nd Street, New York, New York 10036).

New Federal Theatre will present 'Telling Tales Out of School,' a new play by Wesley Brown, from May 2 to 7 as a work in progress at Castillo Theatre/ASP.

Woodie King Jr.’s New Federal Theatre in association with The Peccadillo Theater Company will present the World Premiere of Gong Lum’s Legacy by Charles L. White.

The Tony Awards Administration Committee has announced that they will present the 2020 Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre to four outstanding contributors to the Broadway industry - Fred Gallo, President of PRG Scenic Technologies; Broadway press agent Irene Gandy; stage manager Beverly Jenkins and New Federal Theatre, Woodie King, Jr. Founder.

Woodie King, Jr., Founder and Producing Director of New Federal Theatre (NFT), will retire from leadership of the famed theater company on June 30, 2021, handing the baton to NFT's newly appointed Artistic Director, Elizabeth Van Dyke.

At New Federal Theatre's 50th Anniversary Gala Sunday January 17, special guests will include Debbie Allen, Trazana Beverly, Mya Carter, Patrice Johnson Cevannes, Debbi Blackwell Cook, D.K. Dyson, Joseph Edwards, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Ted Lange, Pauletta Washington, Kevin Maynor, S. Epatha Merskerson, Phylicia Rashad and more.

DeWanda Wise, star of the Netflix series 'She'd Gotta Have It,' and her husband, Alano Miller, best known for the WGN America drama series 'Underground,' will join Ted Lange as co-hosts of New Federal Theatre's '50th Anniversary Virtual Gala' January 17, 2021 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.  

Woodie King Jr., founder of New Federal Theatre has penned an article exclusively for BroadwayWorld, discussing New Federal Theatre's past, present and more.

Woodie King's New Federal Theatre has dedicated its November Readings Series to the memory of the late playwright Ntozake Shange, who died October 27.  The series, now in progress, has been retitled 'Ntozake Shange November Reading Series 2018.'  It runs from November 8 to 18, with readings of eight plays at Castillo Theatre, 543 W 42nd Street. 

From November 8 to 18, Woodie King Jr.'s New Federal Theatre will present 'The November Readings Series,' with readings of eight plays at Castillo Theatre, 543 W 42nd Street.  This series is devoted to brilliant one- and two-character plays, a dramatic form that most theaters neglect.  It will be used to develop African-American writers and to select plays that New Federal Theatre may present as full productions in its 2019-20 season.  The lineup includes works by Trevor Rhone, Howard Craft, Edgar Nkosi White, J.E. Franklin, Ivy Omere, Larry Muhammad, Richie McCall and Reginald T. Jackson.  Suggested donation is $10 and tickets can be purchased at www.castillo.org. The box office number is 212-941-1234.  For complete info, visit:  www.newfederaltheatre.org.

Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff, Artistic Producer), New York City's award-winning pioneer in diversity and multi-ethnic casting in the performing arts since 1968, has announced a starry line-up of talent that will be on hand to celebrate the company's 49th Anniversary Gala Benefit honoring Broadway casting director, producer and director Jay Binder, Tony-nominated composer and lyricist Micki Grant and Leonid Poretsky, MD, a leading endocrinologist and founder of the Friedman Transgender Health & Wellness Program at Lenox Hill Hospital on Monday, April 2.

Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff, Artistic Producer), New York City's award-winning pioneer in diversity and multi-ethnic casting in the performing arts since 1968, will celebrate its 49th Anniversary at its annual Gala Benefit on Monday, April 2, 2018 at the Baruch Performing Arts Center (East 25th Street between Lexington and 3rd Avenues). Honorary Chair for the event is Tony Award-nominated actor/singer and 2016 Rosie Award-winner Norm Lewis. Two-time Tony Award-nominee Brad Oscar will be Master of Ceremonies for the evening.

Break It Down, written and performed by Herb Newsome is a multimedia show that tells the story of the early days of Hip Hop through a live performance of the four elements: DJing, Emceeing, B-Boying and Graffiti Art. Explore the history behind the music set in the Bronx, NY, during a time where urban decay and gang culture inspired a people to create their own form of expression. Playing 10 Characters using music, dance, video, graffiti, and rhyming, the audience will be taken on a journey through the world of Hip Hop.

???????Marjorie Moon, Executive Director Emeritus of Brooklyn's esteemed Billie Holiday Theatre, has joined the team of Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre (www.newfederaltheatre.com) as Administrative Consultant.  

Today, November 16 at 4:30 PM, a Sidewalk Signing and Honors Ceremony will be held onstage at Theater 80 St. Marks, 80 St. Marks Place.