Marcus Gardley News

Fresh off the heals of his 2023 musical hit The Color Purple, director Blitz Bazawule has found his next project. According to Variety, the director will be working with Warner Bros. on a new take on the story of Yasuke, the 16th century African warrior. In addition to Warner Bros, three other studios were also interested in the project, resulting in a bidding war.

Watch playwright a.k. payne share their experience bringing FURLOUGH'S PARADISE  to life at the Alliance Theatre and what the Alliance/Kendeda Program means for upcoming playwrights in the video here!

RED BULL THEATER has revealed updated casting for the next offering of a new season of OBIE Award-winning Revelation Readings: Antony & Cleopatra by William Shakespeare. See who is starring!

The world premiere of Kristen Adele Calhoun’s Black Cypress Bayou has already begun at the Geffen Playhouse. Tiffany Nichole Greene directs the cast of: Amber Chardae Robinson, Brandee Evans, Angela Lewis and Kimberly Scott. After a successful opening weekend, Kristen managed to find some time to answer a few of my queries.

Sound Theatre has joined Theatre Puget Sound's Space4Arts Resident Theatre Cohort, finding a permanent home at Seattle Center Armory. Learn more about the partnership here!

Warner Bros. Pictures’ THE COLOR PURPLE movie musical will make its streaming debut on Max next week. Produced by Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Scott Sanders, and Quincy Jones, the film is a bold new take on the classic story of love and resilience, adapted from the beloved novel and the Broadway musical.

Get a first look at Alliance Theatre's FURLOUGH’S PARADISE, which follows Cousins Sade and Mina, raised like sisters but now leading very different lives, as they return to their childhood town for a funeral.

The NAACP Image Award Nominations have been announced, with The Color Purple leading with a total of 16 nominations, with nods for Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks, Taraji P. Henson, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, Halle Bailey, Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, and more. Check out the full list of nominations now!

Yale Repertory Theatre will continue its 2023–24 Season with Escaped Alone by Caryl Churchill, directed by Liz Diamond.

The first 10 minutes of The Color Purple have been released, featuring Whoopi Goldberg's cameo and the opening number, 'Mysterious Ways.' The video also features Tamela Mann, Halle Bailey, David Alan Grier, Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, and Deon Cole. It opens with Bailey and Mpasi singing 'Huckleberry Pie' as Celie and Nettie.

The Acting Company has revealed the cast for their reading of Hamlet. See the full cast and learn how to purchase tickets!

PEAK Performances at Montclair State University is producing two opera-in-concert performances of Blind Injustice, composed by Montclair State University College of the Arts faculty member Scott Davenport Richards (A Star Across the Ocean, Charlie Crosses the Nation) with a libretto by David Cote (Three Way, The Scarlet Ibis).

The digital and physical releases will include hours of bonus features, including a behind the scenes look at turning Alice Walker's novel into a musical. The dozens of features will also have three featurettes with director Blitz Bazawule, producer Orpah Winfrey, the filmmakers and the star-studded cast. Find out how you can watch at home!

Superpower (I) features a tour de force performance by Fantasia, the film's central star. Written and produced by lauded hitmaker The-Dream (Rhianna, Beyoncé, Mariah Carey), the song unites all the emotion of the film into a powerful crescendo and has been shortlisted for Oscar consideration. Watch the new music video now!

The Alliance/Kendeda National Graduate Playwriting Competition will continue to spotlight the best emerging playwrights with a full production for the competition winner and staged readings for four competition finalists.

Submissions are now open for Red Bull Theater's Short New Play Festival 2024. Participate in this exciting opportunity to showcase your talent!

The Color Purple topped the Christmas Day box office with a $18 million debut. The film's debut was 'much bigger' than was anticipated, tying with 2012's Les Miserables film for Christmas Day grosses in movie theaters. The film stars Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks, Taraji P. Henson, Corey Hawkins, H.E.R., Colman Domingo, and more.

Read the reviews for The Color Puprle movie musical! It stars Fantasia Barrino and Danielle Brooks reprising the roles that they previously played on Broadway, plus Taraji P. Henson, Halle Bailey, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, and more. Find out what critics thought of Oprah Winfrey's new film now!

Attendees included the cast of The Color Purple, including Danielle Brooks, Taraji P. Henson, Colman Domingo, Halle Bailey, Ciara, H.E.R., and Phylicia Pearl Mpasi. Also present were Oprah Winfrey, Stephen Spielberg, Alicia Keys, Tyler Perry, Storm Reid, Ariana DeBose, Fatima Robinson, and more. Check out photos!

RED BULL THEATER has announced details of its plans for 2024, celebrating its 20th Anniversary. Highlights include the rolling world premiere of Medea: Re-Versed opening Off-Broadway; a new season of OBIE Award-winning Revelation Readings with an all-star line-up (offered both in-person and online); and an all-new season of the popular Red Bull Theater Podcasts (formerly known as RemarkaBULL Podversations), intimate behind the scenes conversations with great artists.