Lorraine Hansberry News

Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) presents their 16th season featuring two new works and one musical revival, which both tackle social issues including homelessness, immigration and race relations. 'We have a thrilling line up as we enter our 16th season at Astoria Performing Arts Center, and all of the work shares the resonant theme of home.

Samuel French has announced the winners of the 2016 Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival, the nation's premier short play competition.

What makes the current production at the Ruskin Group Theatre in Santa Monica so special is its Tony Award winning director Lita Gaithers Owens cast Tony Award nominee Starletta DuPois as Lena "Mama" Younger. DuPois has a long history with A RAISIN IN THE SUN having first been cast as Beneatha, then became known for her role as Ruth in the acclaimed American Playhouse film version, and now Mama. "A true gift at this point in my career is having experienced the life of this play through three extraordinary women characters that the playwright created," DuPois shared. In fact, her emotional and physical understanding of the role so central to the play was thrilling to experience as her entire physical presence totally embodied Mama right down to every moment of her joys, heartbreak, anger, and love for her children, as if DuPois was channeling Mama from her very soul.

With former Tennessee Titan Eddie George, Jenny Littleton of The Doyle and Debbie Show, founding Rep actor Jackie Welch, a collection of audience favorites, and some intriguing new faces added to the mix, Nashville Repertory's five-show season for 2016-17 tackles the many dimensions of love: commitment, dilemma, risk, joy, and disappointment.

Folger Theatre's 2016/17 season kicks off with an inspired stage adaptation of one of literature's most cherished novels, Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen.

The Mountaintop comes to the foothills of the Berkshires when Katori Hall's award-winning play opens at Chester Theatre Company on Thursday, August 18th at 8:00 p.m. A bold re-imagining of the last night in the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., The Mountaintop runs through August 28 at the historic Chester Town Hall at 15 Middlefield Road in Chester, MA.

Musically Human Theatre (MHT), a professional not-for-profit company focusing on musical theatre, has signed a lease with the City of Highland Park for space in the Karger Center at 1850 Green Bay Road, Producing Artistic Director David Norwood announced today.

Victory Gardens Theater announces casting for each of the 2016 IGNITION Festival of New Plays selected works, including The Wayward Bunny by Greg Kotis; BREACH: a manifesto on race in America through the eyes of a black girl recovering from self-hate by Antoinette Nwandu; EOM (end of message) by Laura Jacqmin; Kill Move Paradise by James Ijames; Gaza Rehearsal by Karen Hartman; and Girls In Cars Underwater by Tegan McLeod.

As Theatre Horizon gears up for the upcoming 2016-2017 season, the company announces its second event of the summer. New Voices, New Viewpoints will showcase some rising new voices in American Theatre. Friday, August 19 and Saturday August 20 at 8 p.m. audiences can experience scenes from these new work on the theatre's stage.

Victory Gardens Theater announces casting for each of the 2016 IGNITION Festival of New Plays selected works, including The Wayward Bunny by Greg Kotis; BREACH: a manifesto on race in America through the eyes of a black girl recovering from self-hate by Antoinette Nwandu; EOM (end of message) by Laura Jacqmin; Kill Move Paradise by James Ijames; Gaza Rehearsal by Karen Hartman; and Girls In Cars Underwater by Tegan McLeod.

Two River Theater announces the cast and creative team for its production of August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson. The production will run September 10-October 9, 2016, with the opening night on Friday, September 16 at 8pm.

The Ensemble Theatre Young Performers Present A Double Feature Children's Theatre Experience: ANANSI THE SPIDER AND THE MIDDLE PASSAGE by Frank Higgins & TIME AND TIME AGAIN by Yunina Barbour-Payne.

Ruskin Group Theatre Opens A RAISIN IN THE SUN Featuring Starletta DuPois - Begins July 22nd in Los Angeles

Victory Gardens Theater announces the lineup for the 2016 IGNITION Festival of New Plays, including The Wayward Bunny by Greg Kotis; BREACH: a manifesto on race in America through the eyes of a black girl recovering from self-hate by Antoinette Nwandu; EOM (end of message) by Laura Jacqmin; Kill Move Paradise by James Ijames; Gaza Rehearsal by Karen Hartman; and Girls In Cars Underwater by Tegan McLeod. The 2016 Festival runs August 5-7, 2016 at Victory Gardens Theater, located at 2433 N Lincoln Avenue.

From the Tonys to TUTS we're witnessing a much needed shift in the aesthetics of American theatre. Theatre Under The Stars has been a cornerstone of musical theatre in the city of Houston for 48 years and now it has a new vision, a new presence, and a new artistic advisor -- Sheldon Epps.

The Morrisson Theatre Chorus, under the musical direction of Cesar Cancino, will present its Summer Concert: FROM NEAR AND FAR: MUSIC FROM AROUND THE WORLD on July 22 and 23 at 8:00pm and July 24 at 2:00pm.

Summertime is here, what with Memorial Day and all that it encompasses, and we can think of no better seasonal activity than taking in some local theater. No matter where you are in the Volunteer State, Tennessee theater companies are ready and willing to help transport you to a different world, another time and place where your life can be is transformed magically on a stage very near you!

Rashad wins for playing the same role as the first black woman nominated, Claudia McNeil.

Summertime is here, what with Memorial Day and all that it encompasses, and we can think of no better seasonal activity than taking in some local theater. No matter where you are in the Volunteer State, Tennessee theater companies are ready and willing to help transport you to a different world, another time and place where your life can be is transformed magically on a stage very near you!

La Jolla Playhouse announces the cast and creative team for its world-premiere production of The Last Tiger in Haiti, by UC San Diego MFA playwriting alumnus Jeff Augustin, directed by UC San Diego MFA directing alumnus Joshua Kahan Brody. A co-production with Berkeley Repertory Theatre, The Last Tiger in Haiti runs June 28 - July 24 (press opening: Friday, July 8 at 8:00pm). Tickets are available at LaJollaPlayhouse.org or by calling (858) 550-1010.