Justin Ellington News

Tune in right here at 7:30pm to watch The 65th Annual Drama Desk Awards and check back for a full list of winners, updating live!

Broadway Black, the multimedia organization highlighting the achievements of Black theatre artists, has announced the inaugural Antonyo Awards, a celebration of the Black Broadway and Off-Broadway community.

On the heels of a limited online run, Jocelyn Bioh's School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls directed by Lili-Anne Brown, is now extended and available for streaming through May 31.

Mario Cantone will host this year's Lucille Lortel Awards, which are being presented as a virtual broadcast and benefit for The Actors Fund on Sunday, May 3, at 7pm. The online event will bring together theatre performers, industry veterans, and fans worldwide in a celebration of Off-Broadway.

The 65th Annual Drama Desk Awards has partnered with 'Stars in the House' to live stream this year's Nominations. Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley, the hosts of the virtual daily series benefiting the Actors Fund, will announce the nominees.

Two dozen nominations of outstanding actors, directors, designers and ensembles were announced today by The Boston Theater Critics Association (BTCA) for the 38th Annual Elliot Norton Awards.

Nominations for the 35th Annual Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway were announced today by theatre veterans Jeremy Jordan and Ashley Spencer. The Awards will be presented during a special online event on Sunday, May 3, broadcast on the official website - www.LortelAwards.org - beginning at 7:00pm ET. A virtual 'host' and presenters will be announced at a later date. As always, the Lortel Awards will be a benefit for The Actors Fund and fans are encouraged to make donations at actorsfund.org/Lortel. The Lucille Lortel Awards are produced by the Off-Broadway League and the Lucille Lortel Theatre Foundation. Additional support is provided by TDF.

Today, Goodman Theatre makes available for online streaming its production of Jocelyn Bioh's School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play directed by Lili-Anne Brown, while performances are suspended to mitigate spread of COVID-19.

Goodman Theatre continues its 2019/2020 Season with the Chicago premiere of School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play. This a?oeuproarious comedy that also pulls at the heartstringsa?? (The Hollywood Reporter), written by Jocelyn Bioh, arrives on the heels of a critically acclaimed, extended run Off-Broadway at MCC Theater. Chicago favorite Lili-Anne Brown returns to the Goodman to direct, after last season's celebrated production of Lottery Day. Full casting is below.

Audible, the world's largest producer and seller of original spoken-word entertainment and audiobooks, today announced two new limited engagement events this February and March at the Minetta Lane Theatre, Audible's creative home for live performances in New York.

Huntington Theatre Company announces the award-winning creative team of Huntington Playwriting Fellow Lydia R. Diamond's (Stick Fly on Broadway and the Huntington, Smart People at the Huntington) stage adaptation of Toni Morrison's first novel The Bluest Eye. Ms. Diamond's stage adaptation of this profound piece of American literature by the Pulitzer and Nobel Prize-winning author will be directed by one of American Theatre's a?oeTheatre Workers You Should Know,a?? Awoye Timpo (In Old Age at New York Theatre Workshop, Good Grief at the Vineyard Theatre). The Bluest Eye begins performances at the Huntington Avenue Theatre (264 Huntington Avenue, Boston) Friday, April 24, 2020 and runs through Sunday, May 24, 2020.

Goodman Theatre has announced casting for two upcoming Chicago premiere productions in its 2019/2020 Season. Jocelyn Bioh's School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play comes to the Goodman following its acclaimed off-Broadway engagement in a new production directed by Lili-Anne Brown (Lottery Day); and American Mariachi, directed by Goodman Resident Artistic Associate Henry Godinez in a co-production with Dallas Theater Center, featuring live mariachi music on stage. School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play appears March 7 - April 12, 2020; tickets ($20-$70) are on sale now. American Mariachi appears April 25 - May 31; tickets ($20-$70) go on sale February 28 at 10am. Both productions appear in the 856-seat Albert Theatre. For tickets, visit GoodmanTheatre.org, call 312.443.3800 or purchase at the Goodman Theatre box office (170 N. Dearborn).

The Drama League presents DirectorFest,  the only festival in the United States dedicated to the art of contemporary stage directing.  The festival series that began January 10, 2020 continues with an evening of short plays with The Lover  by Harold Pinter, directed by NJ Agwuna,  and Appearances by Tina Howe, directed by Lindsey Hope Pearlman.  

Five and a half years ago, the town of Ferguson, Missouri, became the focus of national attention following shooting of teenager Michael Brown on August 9, 2014. The unarmed, black 18-year-old was shot dead by Darren Wilson, a 28-year-old white police officer, for allegedly robbing a convenience store on Canfield Drive, the same street on which Brown lived. Protests and media attention focused on the town for a year, while the community of Ferguson was left in turmoil.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announced complete casting for two productions today: The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington by James Ijames, directed by Whitney White (April 2 a?" May 17, 2020); and Catch as Catch Can by Mia Chung, which also announced ensemble member Amy Morton as director (June 4 a?" July 26, 2020).

Currently in previews, a?oeUntil the Flooda?? will open at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre on Wednesday, January 29 at 8 p.m. Written and starring Dael Orlandersmith and directed by Neel Keller, a?oeUntil the Flooda?? will continue through February 23. 

The Drama League (Artistic Director Gabriel Stelian-Shanks, Executive Director Bevin Ross) presents the 36th annual Directorfest, the only festival in the United States dedicated to the art of contemporary stage directing. Directorfest began January 10 and concludes on February 4, 2020 at various locations around NYC: The New Ohio Theatre (154 Christopher Street), The Drama League Theater Center (32 Avenue of the Americas), LaGuardia Performing Arts Center (31-10 Thomson Avenue), and Joe's Pub (425 Lafayette Street). For festival details and tickets, visit directorfest.org or call (212) 244-9494 x102. Industry/Theatre Professionals may request tickets by emailingDirectorFest@dramaleague.org.

Performances begin on January 24 for a?oeUntil the Flooda?? at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre. Written and starring Dael Orlandersmith and directed by Neel Keller, a?oeUntil the Flooda?? will continue through February 23. The opening is set for January 29.

The Drama League (Artistic Director Gabriel Stelian-Shanks, Executive Director Bevin Ross) will present the 36th annual *DirectorFest, the only festival in the United States dedicated to the art of contemporary stage directing.

The Drama League (Artistic Director Gabriel Stelian-Shanks, Executive Director Bevin Ross) announced today the acting company for the 36th annual DirectorFest, the only festival in the United States dedicated to the art of contemporary stage directing. Directorfest will take place January 10 - February 4, 2020 at various locations around NYC: The New Ohio Theatre (154 Christopher Street), The Drama League Theater Center (32 Avenue of the Americas), LaGuardia Performing Arts Center (31-10 Thomson Avenue), and Joe's Pub (425 Lafayette Street). For festival details and tickets, visit directorfest.org or call (212) 244-9494 x102.