John Ridley News

Boise Contemporary Theater, the only professional theater in the state of Idaho that focuses entirely on new and contemporary plays, is thrilled to announce the selections for its inaugural BIPOC Playwrights Festival, made possible by the Idaho Women's Charitable Foundation and the Morrison Center Endowment Foundation. The festival will take place August 2-14th at the Velma V. Morrison Center for the Performing Arts.

Broadway In Chicago has announced the reopening of its theatres on October 5, 2021, including two pre-Broadways, PARADISE SQUARE and THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, four direct-from-Broadway productions Disney’s FROZEN, WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME, COME FROM AWAY, MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL and more.

The New Group Off Stage has announced additional weeks for the current streaming-on-demand version of Waiting for Godot, by Samuel Beckett, directed by Scott Elliott, with Ethan Hawke, John Leguizamo, Wallace Shawn, Tarik Trotter and Drake Bradshaw.  

National Alliance for Musical Theatre and its Board have announced Mark Blankenship as New Works Director, a role previously held by Ciera Iveson.

On June 5th, Master Teacher Richard Lawson will be joined for a second time by award winning Casting Director Kim Coleman. Twenty actors will be given the opportunity to have their self-tape auditions assessed and redirected by Mr. Lawson and Ms. Coleman. Classes take place Saturday mornings at 10 AM PST via Zoom.

The New Group in partnership with Nō Studios announces Off Stage Talks, a series of online panels and events to coincide with Waiting for Godot, currently streaming on-demand to June 30 at thenewgroup.org.  

The New Group Off Stage will launch with Waiting for Godot, by Samuel Beckett, with Ethan Hawke, John Leguizamo, Wallace Shawn, Tarik Trotter and Drake Bradshaw. Waiting for Godot will premiere online Thursday, May 6 at 7PM EST.

ABC News announced today it will launch a groundbreaking primetime newscast, the first broadcast network newsmagazine that aims to put Black life in America front and center.

Theatre Journal The Flashpaper, in partnership with Broadway Advocacy Coalition, will host an Open Forum on January 17, 2021, at 3pm to explore precise ways the industry can make theatre more just in 2021 and beyond. 

Today's episode features R.J. Cutler- an award-winning producer and director who has made some of the most significant documentaries of the past quarter century.

The New Group in association with John Ridley's Nō Studios are joining forces through The New Group Off Stage division, and have announced an upcoming slate of projects. The New Group Off Stage will feature theatrical expressions in different media.

On November 14th, Master Teacher Richard Lawson will be joined by award-winning Casting Director Kim Coleman. Twenty actors will be given the opportunity to have their self-tape auditions assessed and redirected by Mr. Lawson and Ms. Coleman. Classes take place Saturday mornings at 10 AM PST via Zoom.

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley is now streaming Jeanne Sakata's Hold These Truths, filmed during the 2018 TheatreWorks production. Presented as part of TheatreWorks's online initiative Voices of Democracy which encourages audiences to a?oeget out the votea?? and stand up for racial justice, Hold These Truths shares the story of a Japanese American who passionately defends his Constitutional rights against an unexpected adversary: his own country.

Apple TV+ today announced 'Five Days At Memorial,' a new limited series from Academy Award winner John Ridley ('12 Years a Slave,' 'American Crime,' 'Guerrilla') and Emmy Award winner Carlton Cuse ('Locke & Key,' 'Jack Ryan,' 'Lost').

Today (July 29) in live streaming: Shoshana Bean visits Backstage Live, The Chaos Twins are back with Tommy Kail, and so much more!

The Black Theatre Network has announced Black Theatre Week: A Virtual Event.

Amid historic upheaval across the nation around issues of race and policing, ABC will present an encore presentation of John Ridley's critically acclaimed feature-length documentary that examines the 1992 uprising in Los Angeles after the verdict was announced in the Rodney King case

Today, Quibi announced What We Keep* (working tite),' a documentary series that brings viewers into the homes of remarkable people and asks a simple but moving question: “Of all that you own, what object means the most to you and why?”

Hercules star Tamika Lawrence, who plays Dottie Moffitt in the 2020 Broadway Revival of Caroline Or Change, will release her single, Don't Worry Bou't It, digitally and for free on Soundcloud, today, May 5th.

Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre, professional Theatre in Residence at the Oakes Center in Summit, will present its annual Meet the Artist new play reading series on Wednesdays, May 6, 13, and 20. All readings will take place on Zoom, and require advance registration.