Nambi E. Kelley News

Haven Theatre, in association with About Face Theatre, presents the Midwest premiere of THE TOTAL BENT, a dynamic new rock show about fathers, sons, social upheaval and the choice between salvation and selling out.

Mondo Tragic, Eric Micha Holmes' imaginative, satirical and arresting new play will take center stage at Dr. Barbara Ann Teer's National Black Theatre (NBT) February 27 -- March 3. Directed by Miranda Haymon, the workshop production concludes Holmes' 18-month I AM SOUL Playwright Residency at NBT, as the institution is celebrating its 50th season,  "Liberation: A Journey Beyond Walls."

Casting is set for Theatre of NOTE's production of 'For The Love Of (or, the roller derby play),' which Center Theatre Group is remounting at the Kirk Douglas Theatre as part of the third annual Block Party: Celebrating Los Angeles Theatre. Written by Gina Femia and directed and choreographed by Rhonda Kohl, 'For The Love Of' will begin previews March 7, open March 9 and continue through March 17.

Dramatists Guild Foundation (DGF) has announced the second-ever recipients of the DGF Writers Alliance Grants. These Grants provide $5,000 to both a non-profit theater's production of a new work and $5,000 to the writer or group of writers whose work is being produced. Gary Garrison, who serves on both the DGF Advisory Board and the Writers Alliance Grant selection committee, said: "The DGF's Writers Alliance Grant is the perfect combination of support for both writer AND theater. It acknowledges that the writer has a story that should to be told while also smartly pointing to the theater that should be telling it."

Haven Theatre, in association with About Face Theatre, presents the Midwest premiere of THE TOTAL BENT, a dynamic new rock show about fathers, sons, social upheaval and the choice between salvation and selling out.

Dr. Barbara Ann Teer's National Black Theatre [NBT] announces today the cast of the first workshop production for this years cohort of I Am Soul Playwriting Residency by playwright Lee Edward Colston II. Colston's workshop production (February 13 - 17, 2019) will be The First Deep Breath which will be directed by Malika Oyetimein. This production with feature Vanessa A. Jones & C. Kelly Wright. As part of NBT's Soul Series L.A.B. [Liberating Artistic Bravery], The First Deep Breath will conclude an 18-month residency for Lee Edward Colston II as the institution celebrating NBT's 50th season which is themed "Liberation: A Journey Beyond Walls."

Center Theatre Group has selected three local productions for the third annual Block Party: Celebrating Los Angeles Theatre at the Kirk Douglas Theatre from March 7 through April 28, 2019. Block Party 2019 will remount Theatre of NOTE's "For The Love Of (or, the roller derby play)," Skylight Theatre Company's "Rotterdam" and Antaeus Theatre Company's "Native Son." Each production will have a two-week run with 12 performances. The three visiting companies will receive the full support of Center Theatre Group and its staff in order to fund, stage and market each production.

Haven Theatre, in association with About Face Theatre, is pleased to announce casting for its Midwest premiere of THE TOTAL BENT, featuring text by Stew and music and lyrics by Stew and Heidi Rodewald (Passing Strange) and directed by Jeff Award-winning director Lili-Anne Brown.

Babes With Blades Theatre Company's (BWBTC) 21st season continues with its biennial William Shakespeare production. In 2019, the Shakespeare production is Othello, April 11 - May 25, 2019, directed by Mignon McPherson Stewart and fight directed by Samantha Kaufman, at The Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St. Preview performances are Thursday, April 11 at 8 p.m.; Friday April 12 at 8 p.m.; Saturday April 13 at 8 p.m., Sunday April 14 at 3 p.m.; Thursday April 18 at 8 p.m. and Friday, April 19 at 8 p.m. Opening Night is Saturday, April 20 at 8 p.m.

The Acting Company announces its 2019 Season, which will feature Native Son, by Nambi E. Kelley, adapted from the novel by Richard Wright and directed by Seret Scott playing in rotating repertory with William Shakespeare's Measure for Measure directed Janet Zarish.

Mosaic Theater Company of DC announces an update to our Season Four lineup. The world premiere production of Aaron Davidman's The Shooting Gallery, which was scheduled to run in repertory with the regional premiere of Native Son, has recently undergone exciting creative changes. No longer a solo performance piece, it has expanded to feature two additional actors alongside its author. Additional workshop and rehearsal time, in coordination with director Michael John Garces' busy schedule this spring, will push the production into a future Mosaic season. Mosaic will present a workshop reading of the revamped project on February 11 and 12, 2019.  

Last night, the 2017-2018 class of Dramatists Guild Foundation Fellows presented excerpts of full length works at Playwrights Horizons at 7:00 PM. This presentation caps off a year spent working under the tutelage of Michael Korie (War Paint), Laurence O'Keefe (Heathers), Diana Son (Stop Kiss), and Sheri Wilner (Kingdom City).

Dramatists Guild Foundation would like to formally announce the 2018-2019 class of DGF Fellows. The new Fellows class includes Rae Binstock, Erika Dickerson-Despenza, Mathilde Dratwa, Benjamin Velez and Aryanna Garber, Melissa Li and Kit Yan, Charles Gershman, Nambi E. Kelley, and Zack Zadek.

About Face Theatre is pleased to launch its 2018-19 season with the Chicago premiere of the poetic and political romance THIS BITTER EARTH by award winning playwright and McKnight Fellow Harrison David Rivers, directed by Mikael Burke, recipient of the 2017 Princess Grace Award in Theatre.

City Theatre is thrilled to announce the details of the second show of the season: Pipeline by Dominique Morisseau. Pipeline is a powerful and poetic chronicle of injustice that exposes the cracks in our education system. It is directed by City Theatre's Artistic Producer, Reginald L. Douglas, and will run on the City Theatre Main Stage, October 27 - November 18, 2018. Tickets are on sale now.

Firebrand Theatre, in partnership with TimeLine Theatre Company, is pleased to launch its 2018-19 season with a revival of the Tony Award-nominated Best Musical CAROLINE, OR CHANGE, playing September 22 - October 28, 2018, at The The Den Theatre's Heath Main Stage, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Firebrand Theatre, in partnership with TimeLine Theatre Company, is pleased to launch its 2018-19 season with a revival of the Tony Award-nominated Best Musical CAROLINE, OR CHANGE, playing September 22 - October 28, 2018, at The The Den Theatre's Heath Main Stage, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave.

American Blues Theater announces encore performance run of BUDDY - The Buddy Holly Story, written by Alan Janes, directed by Lili-Anne Brown, with musical direction by Ensemble Member Michael Mahler. BUDDY - The Buddy Holly Story will close as planned on May 26, 2018 and reopen June 29 - September 15, 2018 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Tickets will be on sale for the encore run on May 15, 2018.

About Face Theatre is pleased to launch its 2018-19 season with the Chicago premiere of the poetic and politicalromance THIS BITTER EARTH by award winning playwright and McKnight Fellow Harrison David Rivers, directed by Mikael Burke, recipient of the 2017 Princess Grace Award in Theatre. THIS BITTER EARTH will play November 1 - December 8, 2018 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago.

About Face Theatre is pleased to announce casting for its Chicago premiere of the poetic and political romance THIS BITTER EARTH, by award winning playwright and McKnight Fellow Harrison David Rivers, directed by Mikael Burke, recipient of the 2017 Princess Grace Award in Theatre.