Naomi Wallace News

Brian J. Smith is set to guest star in an episode of Syfy's groundbreaking series, DEFIANCE, set to premiere April 2013.

As the nation prepares for the second presidential debate this evening, CENTERSTAGE releases the fourth set of videos in its My America project, an online artistic initiative bringing together 50 of the country's leading playwrights to answer a single question: What is my America?

Strand Theater Company welcomes Baltimore playwright, performer and theater professor Susan McCully with her three-woman show Inexcusable Fantasies, exploring, often comically, her secret and not-so-secret obsessions with Martha Stewart, Harley Davidson, and Grandma's Oil of Olay. The production is a Baltimore premiere and the second offering of the Strand 2012-13 Season, under the leadership of Artistic Director Rain Pryor. It runs November 1-17.

The Horton Foote Prizes, named in honor of the legendary writer, were established in 2010 to award excellence in American Theater. Presented last night, the first Horton Foote Prize was awarded to Ruined by Lynn Nottage for Outstanding New American Play and Middletown by Will Eno for Promising New American Play.This year's recipients are David Lindsay-Abaire's GOOD PEOPLE for Outstanding New American Play, along with Naomi Wallace's THE LIQUID PLAIN for Promising New American Play. Check out photos from this year's celebration below!

CENTERSTAGE announces its electrifying, one-of-a-kind artistic initiative, My America-50 new monologues by 50 of America's leading and emerging playwrights, all filmed by award-winning filmmaker Hal Hartley. The films will debut at the theater today, September 28, and begin a staggered release online at www.centerstage.org/MyAmerica, culminating on Election Day, November 6.

Featuring voices from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Tunisia, Egypt, England, and the U.S., Golden Thread's ReOrient 2012 Festival and Forum once again promises to turn San Francisco into a Mecca for innovative, spirited, and thought-provoking theatre from and about the Middle East. The ReOrient 2012 plays are diverse in style and content from writers with remarkably different backgrounds. The playwrights include MacArthur "Genius" Award winner Naomi Wallace, Middle East America Award winner and recipient of 2012 Steinberg/American Theatre Critics Circle Best New Play Award Yussef El Guindi, leading modernist Egyptian playwright Tawfiq al-Hakim, winner of the William Saroyan Prize Silva Semerciyan, and local writers Elizabeth Benedict and Farzam Farrokhi. ReOrient 2012 performs in two series: Series A runs November 1-18, 2012 at Noh Space (2840 Mariposa St., San Francisco) and Series B runs for only two special performances November 16 and 17, 2012, at Z Space (450 Florida Street, San Francisco). Tickets for the festival are $20 (discounts available) and can be purchased at goldenthread.org.

CENTERSTAGE announces its electrifying, one-of-a-kind artistic initiative, My America-50 new monologues by 50 of America's leading and emerging playwrights, all filmed by award-winning filmmaker Hal Hartley. The films will debut at the theater on September 28, and begin a staggered release online at www.centerstage.org/MyAmerica, culminating on Election Day, November 6.

The Horton Foote Prizes, named in honor of the legendary writer, were established in 2010 to award excellence in American Theater. Presented biennially, the first Horton Foote Prize was awarded to Ruined by Lynn Nottage for Outstanding New American Play and Middletown by Will Eno for Promising New American Play.

INTERNment is the first play to take an in-depth examination of the chaotic, hilarious, and riveting world of primetime television casting, while asking the question: how much are you willing to sacrifice to pursue your dream? The office of DRW Casting is seen through the eyes of up-and-coming casting director Jack Dempsey and two of his interns-Brooklyn-born Riddick and RADA-trained Charles, from London. Individually, these three disparate men lead the audience on an unpredictable and unforgettable training day in the office mailroom. INTERNment is now playing Theatre Asylum Lab and runs through August 31st.

INTERNment is the first play to take an in-depth examination of the chaotic, hilarious, and riveting world of primetime television casting, while asking the question: how much are you willing to sacrifice to pursue your dream? The office of DRW Casting is seen through the eyes of up-and-coming casting director Jack Dempsey and two of his interns-Brooklyn-born Riddick and RADA-trained Charles, from London. Individually, these three disparate men lead the audience on an unpredictable and unforgettable training day in the office mailroom. INTERNment opens tonight, August 18th at the Theatre Asylum Lab and runs through August 31st.

The Lower Depth Theatre Ensemble (LDTE) hosts the celebrated British playwright, Kwame Kwei-Armah, when he travels from Baltimore for the west coast premiere of his play ELMINA'S KITCHEN, tonight, August 11th at The Lost Studio in Los Angeles.

The Lower Depth Theatre Ensemble presents the West Coast premiere of ELMINA'S KITCHEN, written by award-winning playwright Kwame Kwei-Armah, directed by Gregg T. Daniel. This gut-wrenching drama is set in the notorious "Murder Mile" section of London's East End. ELMINA'S KITCHEN examines the bitter clash of values between three generations of black men and its effect on their family and community. The play runs tonight, August 11 through September 9. Fridays & Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 4pm. The Lost Studio, 130 S. La Brea, Los Angeles, Calif.

The Lower Depth Theatre Ensemble (LDTE) is thrilled to be hosting the celebrated British playwright, Kwame Kwei-Armah, when he travels from Baltimore for the west coast premiere of his play ELMINA'S KITCHEN, Saturday, August 11th at The Lost Studio in Los Angeles.

The Lower Depth Theatre Ensemble presents the West Coast premiere of ELMINA'S KITCHEN, written by award-winning playwright Kwame Kwei-Armah, directed by Gregg T. Daniel. This gut-wrenching drama is set in the notorious "Murder Mile" section of London's East End. ELMINA'S KITCHEN examines the bitter clash of values between three generations of black men and its effect on their family and community. The play runs August 11 through September 9. Fridays & Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 4pm. The Lost Studio, 130 S. La Brea, Los Angeles. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!

Stage and screen star Sanaa Lathan (A Raisin in the Sun, Contagion) returns to the title role in Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage's By the Way, Meet Vera Stark for its West Coast premiere at the Geffen Playhouse. Lathan, who originated the character of Vera Stark in the critically acclaimed New York run, will once again take the stage as the 1930's era maid turned movie star, reunited with original cast member Kimberly Hebert Gregory (Spike Lee's Red Hook Summer) reprising her role as fellow aspiring African American actress Lottie. Broadway vet and Geffen alum Merle Dandridge (Spamalot, Rent, Aida) will take on the spicy role of Anna Mae, who fakes a Brazilian accent for a slice of fame, and former leading lady of ABC's Man Up, Amanda Detmer, will portray Gloria Mitchell, the white starlet dubbed "America's little sweetie pie" and Vera's first employer. Helmed by award-winning director Jo Bonney, the West Coast premiere cast also features Kevin Carroll (Paid in Full, Being John Malkovich), Spencer Garrett (Iron Man 3, Air Force One) and Geffen alum Mather Zickel (Extraordinary Chambers, Rachel Getting Married).

INTERNment is the first play to take an in-depth examination of the chaotic, hilarious, and riveting world of primetime television casting, while asking the question: how much are you willing to sacrifice to pursue your dream? The office of DRW Casting is seen through the eyes of up-and-coming casting director Jack Dempsey and two of his interns-Brooklyn-born Riddick and RADA-trained Charles, from London. Individually, these three disparate men lead the audience on an unpredictable and unforgettable training day in the office mailroom. INTERNment opens August 18th at the Theatre Asylum Lab and runs through August 31st.

The Lower Depth Theatre Ensemble presents the West Coast premiere of ELMINA'S KITCHEN, written by award-winning playwright Kwame Kwei-Armah, directed by Gregg T. Daniel. This gut-wrenching drama is set in the notorious "Murder Mile" section of London's East End. ELMINA'S KITCHEN examines the bitter clash of values between three generations of black men and its effect on their family and community. The play runs August 11 through September 9. Fridays & Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 4pm. The Lost Studio, 130 S. La Brea, Los Angeles, Calif.

From new leadership and fresh artistic initiatives to hit shows including Into the Woods and The Whipping Man-CENTERSTAGE finished the 2011-12 Season stronger than ever. As it looks to its 50th Anniversary Season, the theater is poised to enter a new era as Baltimore's leading professional theater company and a major player on the national theater scene.

Producers Carole Black and Pat Mitchell announced today that EMOTIONAL CREATURE, the new play written by Tony Award®-winning playwright, performer, activist, and The Vagina Monologues author Eve Ensler, will get a New York premiere this fall.

INTERNment is the first play to take an in-depth examination of the chaotic, hilarious, and riveting world of primetime television casting, while asking the question: how much are you willing to sacrifice to pursue your dream? The office of DRW Casting is seen through the eyes of up-and-coming casting director Jack Dempsey and two of his interns-Brooklyn-born Riddick and RADA-trained Charles, from London. Individually, these three disparate men lead the audience on an unpredictable and unforgettable training day in the office mailroom. INTERNment opens June 11th at the Elephant Theatre and runs through June 24th.