During ABC's 'Soul of a Nation' special 'Screen Queens Rising,' when the casting was announced, anchor Linsey Davis surprised Brooks with a video from the moment Oprah Winfrey surprised her with the news. Winfrey had previously portrayed Sofia in the 1985 film, earning her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
Fantasia Barrino and Danielle Brooks have joined the upcoming film adaptation of The Color Purple musical as Celie and Sofia, respectively.
The special will reveal the lead actresses who are cast as Celia and Sofia in Warner Bros.’ film adaptation of the beloved musical “The Color Purple” and feature an exclusive clip of “The Color Purple” producer Oprah Winfrey delivering the casting news to one of the actresses.
Today's top stories: MJ officially opened last night! Check out all new photos and read the reviews! Plus, Hangmen is coming to Broadway this Spring, Taraji P. Henson joins The Color Purple film as Shug Avery, and more!
Oscar and Emmy-nominee Taraji P. Henson has joined the upcoming film adaption of The Color Purple musical as Shug Avery. Henson will join the previously announced Corey Hawkins as Harpo and H.E.R. as Squeak. Blitz Bazawule will direct the movie with a script by Marcus Gardley.
Classic Stage Company announced that the upcoming run of black odyssey, written by Marcus Gardley and directed by Stevie Walker-Webb, has been postponed. Originally set to begin performances in Winter 2022, black odyssey will now begin performances later this season at the Lynn F. Angelson Theater (136 East 13th Street, NY, NY 10003).
California Shakespeare Theater has announced its 2022 season at the Bruns Amphitheater featuring two world premiere Shakespearean adaptations: the bilingual Romeo y Juliet adapted by Karen Zacarías and directed by KJ Sanchez, running May 25-June 19; and Lear adapted by Marcus Gardley and co-directed by Eric Ting and Dawn Monique Williams, running September 7-October 2 in partnership with Oakland Theater Project and with support from Play On Shakespeare.
Cal Shakes has announced its '22 season at the Bruns Amphitheater featuring two world premiere Shakespearean adaptations: the bilingual Romeo y Juliet adapted by Karen Zacarías and directed by KJ Sanchez, running May 25-June 19; and Lear adapted by Marcus Gardley and co-directed by Eric Ting and Dawn Monique Williams, running September 7-October 2.
Oakland Theater Project (OTP)has announced its 2022 Season, In the Eye of the Storm, with five in-person shows at OTP’s Oakland Theater at FLAX art & design (1501 Martin Luther King Jr. Way), and a sixth show to be announced at a later date, that commemorates the 10-year anniversary since their founding in 2012.
Building upon Play On Shakespeare's mission to enhance the understanding of Shakespeare's plays in performance, Play On Podcasts bring timeless tales directly to modern audiences.
Roundabout Theatre Company has announced the tenth annual Roundabout Underground Reading Series, a four-night event that includes nightly readings of new works written by emerging artists. The Reading Series will feature new works by Liz Appel, Noah Diaz, Daria Miyeko Marinelli and York Walker. The Roundabout Underground Reading Series is January 18 - 21, 2022 at 5:00PM at the Five Angels Theater (789 Tenth Avenue).
PARADISE SQUARE takes the theme of the proverbial American melting pot deeply to heart. The musical centers on the lower Manhattan neighborhood of Five Points in the 1860s, where many white Irish immigrants and free Black Americans lived together. Though the show's narrator, Paradise Square saloon owner Nelly O'Brien, tells audiences that Five Points was notorious for being a slum, she also makes clear that the neighborhood's inhabitants enjoyed deep friendships and romantic relationships.
The Obie Award-winning The Fire This Time Festival (TFTT) is excited to announce the three dramatists who have been selected to participate in the fourth cycle of their New Works Lab Program: William Watkins, Shamar S. White, and Antu Yacob.
On February 10, 2022 New York City’s Obie Award-winning The Fire This Time Festival will release an anthology entitled 25 Plays from The Fire This Time Festival: A Decade of Recognition, Resistance, Resilience, Rebirth and Black Theatre.
Paradise Square began its pre-Broadway engagement yesterday, November 2, at Chicago's James M. Nederlander Theatre (24 West Randolph Street). The production plays five weeks only through December 5, 2021. Check out the cast performing 'Someone to Love'.
The Acting Company has announced a staged concert reading of award-winning playwright Marcus Gardley's A Wolf in Snakeskin Shoes: Or The Gospel of Tartuffe on Monday, November 8th at 7:00pm at Florence Gould Hall (55 East 59th Street). Gardley returns to The Acting Company after his critically acclaimed play X: or, Betty Shabazz v. The Nation had an extended run off Broadway in 2017.
Experience the opening number for Paradise Square, A New Musical. Featuring Tony Award nominee Joaquina Kalukango (Slave Play), Chilina Kennedy (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), Nathaniel Stampley (The Color Purple), Matt Bogart (Jersey Boys), Kevin Dennis (Assassins) and the ensemble, the show’s exuberant and emotional opening number can be viewed below!
The Acting Company has announced a staged concert reading of award-winning playwright Marcus Gardley's A Wolf in Snakeskin Shoes: Or The Gospel of Tartuffe on Monday, November 8th at 7:00pm at Florence Gould Hall (55 East 59th Street). Gardley returns to The Acting Company after his critically acclaimed play X: or, Betty Shabazz v. The Nation had an extended run off Broadway in 2017.
Classic Stage Company presents John Doyle's highly anticipated staging of Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman's Assassins November 2, 2021, through January 8, 2022. The production officially opens on November 14.
BroadwayWorld has a first listen to 'I'd Be A Soldier' from Paradise Square -which begins previews February 22, 2022 at Broadway's Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th Street), where it opens March 20, 2022.
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