Negro Ensemble Company News

United Solo Theatre Festival, the world's largest solo theatre festival, is pleased to present HEDY! The Life & Inventions of Hedy Lamarr, written and performed by Heather Massie, directed by Joan Kane, on Hedy Lamarr's 102nd Birthday, as part its 7th season at Theatre Row, 410 W 42nd St., NYC, on Wednesday, November 9th @ 7:30PM.

Writers Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma, continues its 25th Anniversary Season with East Texas Hot Links, written by Eugene Lee and directed by Ron OJ Parson. The show runs October 19, 2016 - January 22, 2017 in The Gillian Theatre: 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe. 

Casting is confirmed and tickets are now on sale for the Signature Theatre production of The Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World, by Pulitzer Prize-winner Suzan-Lori Parks and directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz.

After sold out runs across the country, Drew Droege (Drunk History, Bob's Burgers, and the internet's 'Chloe') returns to New York for a three night limited engagement of Bright Colors And Bold Patterns at the Barrow Street Theatre (27 Barrow St, New York) this weekend from September 16 through September 18 before transferring to Celebration Theatre in Los Angeles.

Casting is confirmed and tickets are now on sale for the Signature Theatre production of 'Master Harold' ... and the boys, written and directed by Tony Award winner Athol Fugard.

Colt Coeur Artistic Director Adrienne Campbell-Holt and Festival Associate Producer Brittany Coyne announce the line-up for the company's 3rd Annual #ParityPlaysFest celebrating the work of female & trans playwrights & directors.

Golden Globe award-winning actress and playwright Regina Taylor is this year's recipient of the Distinguished Achievement Award at the 14th Annual Texas State Black and Latino Playwrights Conference Sept. 12-18 at Texas State University. A tribute to the native Texan will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, in the Performing Arts Center Recital Hall.  

Colt Coeur Artistic Director Adrienne Campbell-Holt and Festival Associate Producer Brittany Coyne announce the line-up for the company's 3rd Annual #ParityPlaysFest celebrating the work of female & trans playwrights & directors.

Signature Theatre hosts TheatreFest NYC today, August 30, from 12pm to 4pm at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues). This free open house is for students who are interested in learning more about New York's non-profit theatres.

Signature Theatre will host TheatreFest NYC on Tuesday, August 30, from 12pm to 4pm at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues). This free open house is for students who are interested in learning more about New York's non-profit theatres.

Manhattan Theatre Works and Goode Productions in association with The Theater at the 14th Street Y, present the return of Anais Nin Goes to Hell by David Stallings (Outstanding Original Full-Length Script, Dark Water - NY IT Awards), directed by Antonio Minino (Outstanding Director nominee,Scene/Unseen - PCTF Awards), as part of The Theater Series at The 14th Street Y.

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.

International Women Artists' Salon today announced an evening of revolution showcasing artists from the worlds of music, poetry, theater, painting, dance, film, and animation, premiering Saturday, August 20 at 7:30PM at Dixon Place, located at 161 Chrystie Street. Admission to the hour-long event is free.

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.

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.

The Atlanta Musical Theatre Festival is thrilled to announce the selections for the inaugural Atlanta Musical Theatre Festival (AMTF), which will be held August 1 and 2, 2016, at Actor's Express and Synchronicity Theatre. The AMTF will be two days and nights of original musical theatre performances by local artists, as well as showcase performances of professional productions and educational groups. Performances will be open to the artistic community, the public, and the press. More than twenty submissions were accepted and four shows have been selected for the inaugural event. Tickets are $27.50 for a single event to $80 for a full festival pass (including all taxes and fees), and are on sale now at ActorsExpress.com.

The Riant Theatre (Van Dirk Fisher, Artistic Director), a nonprofit theatre supporting playwrights and theatremakers of diverse cultural backgrounds, is holding the Launch Party for its annual Strawberry One-Act and Theatre Festival on Saturday, June 25, 2016, 3pm at the Poet's Den Theatre (309 East 108th Street, NYC). The evening will include the presentation of 2016 Pioneer of the Arts Award For Outstanding Achievement In Television and Theatre to the Emmy-winning stage, film and TV actor Joe Morton, Tony Nominee and eight time AUDELCO Award winner, Andre De Shields, the acclaimed Broadway and television actress Barbara Montgomery, and multiple Grammy Award winner, Broadway musical director and arranger Chapman Roberts. A reception with food, drinks and dancing will follow. Tickets ($50 before June 15th; $60 after that date) are available through The Riant Theatre's website (www.therianttheatre.com) and by calling the box office at 646-623-3488. They can also be purchased (cash only) at the door.

One of the first and most time-honored FREE Summer Festivals in NYC each year, the LOWER EAST SIDE FESTIVAL, begins today, May 27 and continues through May 29 at Theater for the New City (155 First Ave. at 10th St.).

Beginning in June 2016, The Negro Ensemble Company, Inc. (NEC) will deepen its commitment to discovery, development and presentation of superior theatre with four consecutive weekends of exciting and innovative productions showcasing up-and-coming Black playwrights. The Emerging Playwrights Competition is NEC's 2016 Pilot Project, marking NEC's return to the solid and impressive development and training format that established the company as an American theatre icon for over three decades. Performances will take place June 9th through July 3rd at LaMaMa ETC in The Downstairs theatre, 66 East 4th St., New York, NY 10003. To purchase tickets visit The Negro Ensemble Company website at www.necinc.org or by phone by calling OvationTix at 866-811-4111 Monday thru Friday 9-9 & Saturday and Sunday 10-8. For further information and group rates call the NEC office at 212-582-5860.

The spirit of jazz legends Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald (with a little Tito Puente) was palpable in the Milton Berle room at New York's Friars Club on April 25 for the second-annual production of Triple Threats. Broadway veterans (including Duke's granddaughter, Mercedes Ellington, who also co-produced the show) joined some of America's most accomplished jazz musicians to celebrate the April birthdays of the music greats and to honor those performers who sing, dance, and act at the highest levels.