Lorinda Hawkins Smith News

Twelfth Night is a glorious example of how to do Shakespeare right.  This production is full-bodied, fresh, cheeky, lighthearted, inventive, imaginative, and flat-out hilarious.

The award-winning Actors Co-op Theatre Company will present William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, directed by Michael T. Kachingwe and produced by Lorinda Hawkins Smith.

The Hudson Theatre will present a world premiere musical BECAUSE IT'S SUNNY IN L.A. (Especially On Skid Row).  Written and produced by Thaddeus Nagey, in the hope of creating awareness of the homeless population in Los Angeles.

After closing their doors to the public at the beginning of the covid pandemic in 2020, Company of Angels (CoA) has announced that they are reopening with their first mainstage production in 3 years, 'Welcome to the Vantage Point,' an improvised family-friendly comedy show.

A Skeptic and a Bruja by Rosa Fernandez makes its world premiere with Urbanite Theatre in Sarasota, and in Cooperation with freeFall Theatre Company across the bay. The last time freeFall worked in conjuncture with another company was their collaboration with the Hippodrome and their production of Lone Star Spirits, and more recently with their staging of Ebony Rep’s Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill. In speaking with Matthew McGee, freeFall’s Marketing Coordinator, he mentioned this is something the folks at freeFall will continue to explore with future seasons. I for one can attest with first-hand knowledge that this is something that freeFall should continue to do.

A SKEPTIC AND A BRUJA tells the story of two spirit-hunting podcasters, the haunting of a potential bed and breakfast, and ghosts of generational trauma.

Two podcast hosts are brought in to investigate a haunting only to realize that they may have finally found the ghosts they’ve been looking for. This is the jumping off point for a world premiere play coming to freeFall on May 20.

In a deviation from your typical theatrical experience, may I present you Urbanite Theatre’s World Premiere of “A Skeptic and a Bruja.” Much to its title premise, this new work takes you on a paranormal journey.

Justice? Or...Just Me? The Bite by Lorinda Hawkins Smith, based on the Justice? Or...Just Me? book series will be at the Whitefire Theatre in Solofest 2022 Solo Theatre Festival in Black History Month.

Justice? Or...Just Me? The Bite by Lorinda Hawkins Smith, based on the Justice? Or...Just Me? book series will be at the Whitefire Theatre in their Black Voices Solo Theatre Festival this month. The solo play is written, produced and performed by Lorinda Hawkins Smith with direction by Patricia Bean-Kane.

The play reunites the creative duo of award-winning playwright Levy Lee Simon (The Magnificent Dunbar Hotel; For the Love of Freedom: The Haitian Trilogy) and acclaimed director Ben Guillory (who is also Co-founder and Producing Artistic Director of The Robey Theatre Company).

Justice? Or...Just Me? The Bite by Lorinda Hawkins Smith, a world premiere production based on the Justice? Or...Just Me? book series will be at the Hudson Guild Theatre in August (next month). The solo play is written, produced and performed by Lorinda Hawkins Smith with direction by Patricia Bean-Kane.

The Robey Theatre Company announced its Community Creatives Developmental Project to support the advancement of original plays by emerging and established African American voices. The Project has commissioned five playwrights to develop five original plays.

The Robey Theatre Company Playwrights Lab, dedicated to new play development and theatre-making, will begin its summer session on May 22 for ten Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Because of the ongoing Covid health crisis, the summer session will be held virtually, via Zoom.

Recently, The Robey Theatre Company announced a competition for playwrights to write scenes related to the celebration of the year-end holiday of Kwanzaa, for consideration for future production. Our upcoming event presents the talents of this group of writers.

The Vagrancy announces THE LIFE AND DEATH OF written and directed by June Carryl. THE LIFE AND DEATH OF is a short, poetic piece dedicated to Oluwatoyin 'Toyin' Salau featuring an epilogue by librect baker to benefit Black Lives Matter and Black Trans Protesters Emergency Fund  

Every Tuesday in June, The Vagrancy announces BLOSSOMING 2020: the virtual edition.

Orpheus, Eurydice, a trouble-making horse and Death herself converge in a very funny and irreverent reimagining of the Greek myth by surrealist poet, playwright and filmmaker Jean Cocteau. Deaf West Theatre views Cocteau's whimsical, magical and highly visual play, first performed in 1926, through a unique lens: translated from the French into Spoken English by John Savacool, into American Sign Language by Andrew Moore, and slated for a run at the True Colors Festival in Tokyo, Japan at the end of April. Deena Selenow directs Orphée in a visiting production at the Odyssey Theatre, opening March 13 for a four-week run through April 5. Three low-priced previews are set for March 8, March 11 and March 12.

BOOTLEG THEATER is thrilled to announce the world premiere of THE WILLOWS, written by Kerri-Ann McCalla and directed by Jessica Hanna. THE WILLOWS will preview on Friday, April 6 & Saturday, April 7 at 7pm; Sunday April 8 at 2pm; will open on Thursday, April 12 at 7pm and run through Saturday, May 5 at 7pm at the Bootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Blvd. in Los Angeles.

BOOTLEG THEATER is thrilled to announce the world premiere of THE WILLOWS, written by Kerri-Ann McCalla and directed by Jessica Hanna. THE WILLOWS will preview on Friday, April 6 & Saturday, April 7 at 7pm; Sunday April 8 at 2pm; will open on Thursday, April 12 at 7pm and run through Saturday, May 5 at 7pm at the Bootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Blvd. in Los Angeles.