LaTanya Richardson Jackson News

Yesterday, The Tony Awards hosted 'Broadway in Hollywood,' a cocktail party to toast the Broadway community in Los Angeles. The night paid tribute to the honorees of past Tony Awards and friends from the Great White Way. The event was sponsored by La Crema Wines, the official wine of the Tony Awards, and additional support was provided by media partner, The Hollywood Reporter. Check out photos below!

ATLANTA, GA - The music and civil rights activism of legendary singer/songwriter Nina Simone will be celebrated at the 5th Kenyetta: A Festival of Women in Jazz at Spelman College, March 26-28, 2015, with a series of presentations, lectures and musical performances, including a featured concert by the Geri Allen Trio with special guest artist Carmen Lundy.

In 2013, New York Times art critic Holland Cotter described Maren Hassinger as 'another artist awaiting serious study.' The Spelman College Museum of Fine Art agrees and will present Maren Hassinger . . . Dreaming, from today, Feb. 12 to May 16, 2015.

The American Theatre Wing announced today that its annual gala, held this past Monday evening at the Plaza Hotel, was the most successful in the organization's history, raising over $750,000 (besting the previous record, which was set in 2013, by more than $50,000). All proceeds from the evening will benefit the education and outreach programs of the American Theatre Wing, which include SpringboardNYC, the Theatre Intern Network, the National Theatre Company Grants and the Jonathan Larson Grants, and will also support free access for students, aspiring professionals, and the general public to programming on AmericanTheatreWing.org, including the long running 'Working in the Theatre' media program.

Broadway's critically acclaimed production of Denzel Washington in Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun closes tonight at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. It was directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon and originally opened on April 3 for a limited engagement.

Broadway's critically acclaimed production of Denzel Washington in Lorraine Hansberry's A RAISIN IN THE SUN is celebrating a big week. Not only did it take home three 2014 Tony Awards (Best Revival of a Play, Best Director of a Play -- Kenny Leon, and Best Featured Actress in a Play -- Sophie Okonedo) on Sunday night, it has also recouped its entire capitalization. The production, which began previews Saturday, March 8, officially opened on Thursday, April 3 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47 Street), where it will end its limited engagement run this Sunday, June 15.

As part of BroadwayWorld's expansive coverage of the 68th Annual Tony Awards, we are providing the full text of all of the Tony Award acceptance speeches; from the emotional to the bizarre, and everything in between. Keep up with all of the winners' speeches on our continuously updated list.

A RAISIN IN THE SUN has won the 2014 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play. Set on Chicago's South Side, A Raisin in the Sun revolved around the divergent dreams and conflicts within three generations of the Younger family: son Walter Lee (Denzel Washington), his wife Ruth (Sophie Okonedo), his sister Beneatha (Anika Noni Rose), his son Travis (Bryce Clyde Jenkins) and matriarch Lena, called Mama (LaTanya Richardson Jackson).

Sophie Okonedo has won the 2014 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play for A RAISIN IN THE SUN. This is Sophie Okonedo's first Tony nomination and her Broadway debut. She starred as Cressida in the National Theatre's Troilus and Cressida (1999). Okonedo was nominated for an Academy Award for Hotel Rwanda in 2004 and a Golden Globe for Tsunami: The Aftermath in 2006.

On Tony Awards Sunday -- June 8 -- CUNY TV will present 7-1/2 hours of glorious Broadway interviews related to this year's nominated musicals, plays, and individuals - from 12:30 p.m. right up till Tony time (8 p.m. on CBS).

Look, we get it, whether due to budget or geography, you didn't see every show of the Broadway season, but that doesn't mean you can't be fully up-to-date for this Sunday's Tony Awards. To help get you prepared for the theatre's biggest night, BroadwayWorld has put together the ultimate Tonys Crash Course. We've outlined all of the shows nominated in the Best Play and Best Revival of a Play categories, and provided you 'study materials' as only BWW can, by mining our one-of-a-kind archives.

A star-studded countdown to the 68th Annual Tony Awards ceremony begins on CUNY TV with the all-new special, 2014 TONY AWARDS PREVIEW, co-hosted by entertainment reporter Pat Collins and four-time Tony winner Harvey Fierstein, a nominee this year for his play Casa Valentina. Collins and Fierstein team up at Hudson Scenic Studio in Yonkers, where the set for the CBS telecast is being built, and with delightful banter introduce segments consisting of clips and interviews in all of the leading categories, including Best Play, Best Musical and Best Revivals.

Yesterday Julianne Moore hosted an afternoon tea in honor of Tony nominee LaTanya Richardson Jackson, currently starring as Lena Younger in A RAISIN IN THE SUN. Held at Lady Mendl's at the Inn at Irving Place, an impressive group of women from theatre, film and television, including LaTanya's fellow Tony nominated costars Sophie Okonedo and Anika Noni Rose, gathered to salute LaTanya. Although she was unable to attend, First Lady Michelle Obama did send a note which was read aloud by Julianne Moore after Ms. Moore made a toast to LaTanya. Samuel L. Jackson and Bart Freundlich crashed the party to enjoy the afternoon with their wives.

A star-studded countdown to the 68th Annual Tony Awards ceremony begins on CUNY TV with the all-new special, 2014 TONY AWARDS PREVIEW, co-hosted by entertainment reporter Pat Collins and four-time Tony winner Harvey Fierstein, a nominee this year for his play Casa Valentina. Collins and Fierstein team up at Hudson Scenic Studio in Yonkers, where the set for the CBS telecast is being built, and with delightful banter introduce segments consisting of clips and interviews in all of the leading categories, including Best Play, Best Musical and Best Revivals.

Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun, which is currently playing at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th Street), just released a 68-page digital souvenir book in honor of Hansberry's birthday, May 19. Click here to download the special souvenir book now!

The 59th Annual Village Voice Obie Awards, celebrating achievement in the Off-Broadway and off-off Broadway theater, were given out at a ceremony last night at Webster Hall in Greenwich Village. The awards ceremony was co-hosted by Tamara Tunie and Hamish Linklater. The awards were presented by Betsy Aidem, Harvey Fierstein, Lena Hall, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Andy Karl, David Bar Katz, Cristin Milioti, Kelli O'Hara, Lily Rabe and Stephen Trask.

The 80th Annual Drama League Awards Ceremony and Luncheon was held earlier this afternoon, May 16, at the Marriott Marquis Times Square, where winners were announced for Distinguished Production of a Play, Distinguished Production of a Musical, Distinguished Revival of a Play, Distinguished Revival of a Musical, and the much coveted Distinguished Performance Award. This year's event was hosted by Broadway veteran Jesse Tyler Ferguson. The big winners of the day included A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, All the Way, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, The Glass Menagerie, and Neil Patrick Harris. Click here for a list of all the nominees! BroadwayWorld was there for the special event and below, you can check out full photo coverage of all of the red carpet fashion!

The 80th Annual Drama League Awards Ceremony and Luncheon is being held this afternoon, May 16, at the Marriott Marquis Times Square, where winners will be announced for Distinguished Production of a Play, Distinguished Production of a Musical, Distinguished Revival of a Play, Distinguished Revival of a Musical, and the much coveted Distinguished Performance Award. This year's event, which began at noon, is hosted by Broadway veteran Jesse Tyler Ferguson. BroadwayWorld is updating the winners live! Check back in to find out who took home the big awards!

An all-new THEATER TALK celebrates Tony® Award nominees from A Raisin in the Sun and Aladdin, all moving toward the June 8 awards ceremonies with considerable momentum.

The Village Voice, the nation's largest alternative weekly newspaper, announced today that the Lifetime Achievement Award Obie will go to the esteemed ESTELLE PARSONS. The OBIE Awards Ceremony Will Be Co-hosted by Tamara Tunie and Hamish Linklater, and presented by Betsy Aidem, Harvey Fierstein, Lena Hall, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Andy Karl , David Bar Katz, Cristin Milioti , Kelli O'Hara , Lily Rabe and Stephen Trask.