James Earl Jones News

Rubicon Theatre continues the company's 16th Not Your Typical Season with a special run of Love, Loss, and What I Wore -- a witty and wise celebration of womanhood adapted by Nora and Delia Ephron, creators of such hits as 'When Harry Met Sally,' 'Sleepless in Seattle,' 'You've Got Mail,' 'The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants' and 'Silkwood.'

Longtime theatreWashington Board Chairman Victor Shargai will be honored with the Helen Hayes Tribute at the 30th Annual Helen Hayes Awards on Monday, April 21, 2014 at the National Building Museum. In addition to serving as theatreWashington's board chair since 1997, Shargai has been instrumental in advocating for the entire Washington theatre community. As a board member and patron of several flagship theatres, he played a leading role in the area's artistic renaissance, which saw the number of professional theatres grow exponentially, creating an environment that now supports more than 200 productions annually.

The Village Voice, the nation's largest alternative weekly newspaper, announced today that tickets will go on sale April 9, 2014 for the 59th Annual Obie Awards on Monday, May 19, 2014, at Webster Hall in the East Village, 125 East 11th Street.

The Drama League has announced that the Emmy-nominated star of Modern Family and Broadway veteran Jesse Tyler Ferguson will host the upcoming 80th Annual Drama League Awards. Considered one of the high points of the theater season, the Annual Awards Luncheon includes a nominees cocktail reception, luncheon ceremony, and awards presentation and that will be held on Friday, May 16, 2014 at the Marriott Marquis Times Square in the Broadway Ballroom (1535 Broadway) beginning at 11:30 a.m. Financier Patisserie, GenSpring Family Offices, and National Life Group are the 2014 Event Sponsors of the 80th Annual Drama League Awards.

Shrunken Shakespeare Company (SSC), in association with Joe Paradise, has announced the full cast for their 2014 Fundraiser Gala, including Broadway, Off-Broadway and TV vets set to perform in Paul Sorvino's world premiere adaption of Lear. The Gala will be held on Monday, April 21st at 7:30pm, at TBG Theatre located at 312 W 36th Street, 3rd Floor in NYC.

The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts announced today that The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, winner of the 2012 Tony Award for Best Musical Revival, will perform today, March 25-30, 2014 at the Ordway.

Ebony Repertory Theatre announced today that performances for Phillip Hayes Dean's (Drama Desk-winner for The Sty of the Blind Pig) powerful and moving play PAUL ROBESON will resume performances on Friday, March 21, 2014 at 8:00 p.m. Two-time Emmy Award-winner Keith David (Fox's new series Enlisted), who stars in this one-man play, returns to the stage after recovering from a knee injury. PAUL ROBESON, directed by Mr. Dean, also includes accompaniment by pianist/musical director Byron J. Smith (working with numerous artists including Wynton Marsalis, Barbra Streisand, BeBe Winans). The production will continue to play through Sunday, March 30, which was part of the previously announced schedule. Three additional performances are set for Friday, April 18 at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, April 19 at 8:00 p.m.; and Sunday, April 20 at 7:00 p.m. to make up for the canceled opening weekend performances (Friday, March 14 at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, March 15 at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, March 16 at 2:00 p.m.). PAUL ROBESON plays at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center (4718 West Washington Boulevard) in Los Angeles. Members of the press are invited to review the production beginning on Saturday, March 22 at 2:00 p.m.

Marin Theatre Company, in association with Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, will stage August Wilson's Fences, the 1950s entry into his Century Cycle (also known as his Pittsburgh Cycle) - a decade-by-decade exploration of the black experience in 20th century America. Directed by Derrick Sanders, the Pulitzer Prize and two-time Tony Award-winning play will feature veteran film and television actor Carl Lumbly as Troy Maxson, Steven Anthony Jones, the artistic director of Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, as Jim Bono and award-winning actor, playwright and director Margo Hall as Rose, as well as Oregon Shakespeare Festival's Eddy Ray Jackson as Cory, Adrian Roberts as Gabriel, Tyee Tilghman as Lyons and two Marin City youths - Jade Sweeney, who attends Willow Creek Academy, and Makaelah Bashir, Bayside Martin Luther King, Jr. Academy - splitting the role of Raynell.

The Drama League will honor three theatre luminaries at this year's 80th Annual Drama League Awards set for Friday afternoon, May 16, 2014 at the Marriott Marquis Times Square (1535 Broadway).

Due to an injury to lead actor Keith David, the opening performance of PAUL ROBESON by Phillip Hayes Dean has been postponed. A new performance schedule will be announced shortly.

Ford's Theatre Society 2013-2014 season continues with the quirky Tony-winning musical comedy 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,' directed by Peter Flynn, today, March 14 through May 17, 2014, at Ford's Theatre (511 Tenth Street NW, Washington, D.C.).

Ebony Repertory Theatre (ERT - Founder/Producer Wren T. Brown) announced that they will present Phillip Hayes Dean's (Drama Desk-winner for The Sty of the Blind Pig) powerful and moving play Paul Robeson. Dean will also stage the ERT production, which will mark his Los Angeles directorial debut. MR. Brown further announced that two-time Emmy Award-winner Keith David (Fox's upcoming new series Enlisted) will star in this one-man play, with music. Performances will run today, March 12 - 30, 2014 with an official press opening on March 14 at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center (4718 West Washington Boulevard) in Los Angeles.

After years, of toil, good luck, bad luck, plans made, plans dashed, things are looking up for fans of the best-selling and Pulitzer Prize winning novel A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES. Shelton Street Theatrical, LLC, the international stage rights holder to the novel which has sold millions of copies in 25 different languages, has announced plans to launch the play.

Shrunken Shakespeare Company's 2014 Fundraiser Gala will be hosting the New York City premiere of "Lear" adapted by and starring Paul Sorvino. This cut of William Shakespeare's "King Lear" will be presented as a staged reading, produced by SSC in collaboration with director and producer Joe Paradise. In addition to Sorvino and Paradise, actor/comedian Wayne Powers, Michael Sorvino, and Tyler Hollinger of The Public Theatre and The Mint, will also be taking part in "Lear." Complete casting is to be announced. The Gala will take place on Monday, April 21 at 7:30pm, at The Barrow Group located at 312 W. 36th Street, 3rd Floor.

Previews begin tomorrow night, Saturday, March 8, for the return to Broadway of Tony Award-winner and two-time Academy Award-winner Denzel Washington, starring as Walter Lee Younger in Lorraine Hansberry's A RAISIN IN THE SUN. This new production begins previews nearly 55 years to the day that A RAISIN IN THE SUN had its Broadway premiere (March 11, 1959) at the same theatre, the Ethel Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th Street). Scroll down to learn more about the cast!

Rapper Common (formerly known as Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr.) may be heading to the Broadway stage as boxer Jack Jefferson in Howard Sackler's play 'The Great White Hope.'

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center will commemorate its 50th Anniversary this year through a variety of programming and special events. The year will include its 14th Annual Monte Cristo Award, which will celebrate and honor the work of legendary theater, film, and television actress Meryl Streep this Spring. The O'Neill will unveil a special exhibition at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts; and on the same date, they will celebrate the launch of its book The O'Neill: The Transformation of Modern American Theater through Yale University Press.

The Little Orchestra Society is reaching out to fellow New Yorkers to help craft its new name. Long time fans of the Orchestra and new enthusiasts alike will have the opportunity to submit their favorite names for an institution beloved by generations of concert-goers. Today through March 9th, music lovers are invited to visit the Orchestra's website: littleorchestra.org, and recommend a new name for an Orchestra known for its audience engagement, inclusive educational mission and commitment to innovative music and multi-disciplinary performances. The Orchestra's new name will be announced later this year.

BLUE MAN GROUP returns to Washington for one week only at the National Theatre, May 6 though 11.

The 7th Annual Thomas Barbour Playwrights' Award contenders will be showcased on March 10, 20, 24 at 7:00 pm at Guild Hall at The Little Church, 1 E. 29th St., New York, NY 10016 (b/w Fifth Ave. and Madison Ave.)