Negro Ensemble Company News

The REP, Point Park University's professional theatre company, closes its 2014-2015 season with the world premiere of Pittsburgh playwright Anthony McKay's entertaining family drama, Endless Lawns.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad will join Event Chair and Arena Stage Board member Shawna Watley (Senior Policy Advisor with Holland & Knight) as the Honorary Chair for The Blood Quilt World Premiere Celebration on Thursday, May 7, 2015. The new play by Katori Hall (The Mountaintop, Our Lady of Kibeho) is directed by Kamilah Forbes and runs April 24-June 7, 2015 in the Kreeger Theater.

The REP, Point Park University's professional theatre company, closes its 2014-2015 season with the world premiere of Pittsburgh playwright Anthony McKay's entertaining family drama, Endless Lawns.

Woodie King's National Black Touring Circuit's 2015 Black History Month Play Series will feature "Adam," the story of legendary Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, and a reading of Ossie Davis' seminal play "The People of Clarendon County" from February 8 - 22 in Harlem, Queens and the Bronx. It's produced in conjunction with Voza Rivers/New Heritage Theatre Group. Tickets are $20. For more information call 212-353-1176.

Inspired by both titles of William Shakespeare's popular, musical comedy, Tennessee Shakespeare Company (TSC), the Mid-South's professional classical theatre, continues its seventh season of plays with a turn-of-the-century musical hall production of Twelfth Night, or What You Will.

Primary Stages has launched the Primary Stages Off-Broadway Oral History Project, a new endeavor to capture the oral history of the New York Off-Broadway and Off-Off Broadway theatre movement through the first-hand accounts of the pioneers who created it.

Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman's Pulitzer Prize-winning play YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU opened on September 28, 2014, at the Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street). The production is directed by six-time Tony Award-nominee and Drama Desk Award winner Scott Ellis (The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Twelve Angry Men, 1776). Scroll down to learn more about the full cast and watch interviews with the company below!

Woodie King Jr's New Federal Theatre kicks off its 45th season with Karima's Accept 'Except' LGBT NY, which will begin performances October 23rd and continue through November 23rd with opening night set for November 6th. Tony Award winner George Faison directs a cast that features Tuluv Maria Price and Tyree Young. The design team includes Chris Cumberbatch (scenic design), Ali Turns (costume design), Thurston Reyes (lighting design), and Ralph Gentry (sound/visual design).

The Colony Theatre will present the second production of its historic 40th Anniversary season, the West Coast Premiere of WHAT I LEARNED IN PARIS by Pearl Cleage. The production stars Tony winner L. Scott Caldwell, and is directed by Saundra McClain. WHAT I LEARNED IN PARIS will preview tonight, September 3; Thursday, September 4; and Friday, September 5 at 8:00pm. It will open on Saturday, September 6 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, October 5 at The Colony Theatre, 555 North Third Street in Burbank.

The Colony Theatre will present the second production of its historic 40th Anniversary season, the West Coast Premiere of WHAT I LEARNED IN PARIS by Pearl Cleage. The production stars Tony winner L. Scott Caldwell, and is directed by Saundra McClain. WHAT I LEARNED IN PARIS will preview on Wednesday, September 3; Thursday, September 4; andFriday, September 5 at 8:00pm. It will open on Saturday, September 6 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, October 5 at The Colony Theatre, 555 North Third Street in Burbank.

Gloucester Stage Company's 35th Anniversary Season wraps up with August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize winning Fences from today, August 21 through September 7 at the Gorton Theatre, 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, MA.

The 'Alley Theatre @ UH' season begins with Betty Buckley, Hallie Foote, Annalee Jefferies and Veanne Cox in award-winning Texas playwright Horton Foote's The Old Friends, a Southwestern premiere.

Gloucester Stage Company's 35th Anniversary Season wraps up with August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize winning Fences from August 21 through September 7 at the Gorton Theatre, 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, MA. The 1987 Winner for Pulitzer Prize in Drama, Fences tells the moving story of Troy Maxson, a former star of the Negro baseball leagues who now works as a garbage man in 1957 Pittsburgh. Excluded from the major leagues during his prime, Troy's bitterness takes its toll on his relationships with his family. Gloucester Stage Artistic Director Eric C. Engel directs this powerful and poignant American work with GSC veteran Boston actress Jacqui Parker as Rose Maxson and a cast of GSC newcomers including Daver Morrison as Troy Maxson; Warren Jackson as Lyons; Gregory Marlow as Jim Bono; Jermel Nakia as Gabriel; Jared Brown as Cory and Gloucester Stage Youth Acting Workshops student Bezawit Strong in her professional stage debut as Raynell.

The Nuyorican Poets Cafe's 40th anniversary season continues with the world premiere of Wesley Brown's play Dark Meat on a Funny Mind, which stars Tony nominee Anthony Chisholm as legendary comedian Richard Pryor. In Dark Meat, Pryor and his mischievous alter ego (played by actress Trish McCall) revisit the characters who shaped his life and inspired his career. The result is hilarious, surprising and memorable. A. Dean Irby directs the production, which opens today, July 31 and runs through August 24.

The 'Alley Theatre @ UH' season begins with Betty Buckley, Hallie Foote, Annalee Jefferies and Veanne Cox in award-winning Texas playwright Horton Foote's The Old Friends, a Southwestern premiere.

Following a sold out run at Manhattan Repertory Theatre in early 2014, Working Artists Theatre Project (Jessica Dermody, Chad Luke Schiro, and Charlie Sutton - Producing Artistic Directors), in association with Karah Gravatt and Robert Tyrer, presents the official New York premiere of Warren Doody's powerful play Life Without Parole, as part of the 18th Annual New York International Fringe Festival, - FringeNYC. August 8th - 24th.

The Nuyorican Poets Cafe's 40th anniversary season continues with the world premiere of Wesley Brown's play Dark Meat on a Funny Mind, which stars Tony nominee Anthony Chisholm as legendary comedian Richard Pryor. In Dark Meat, Pryor and his mischievous alter ego (played by actress Trish McCall) revisit the characters who shaped his life and inspired his career. The result is hilarious, surprising and memorable. A. Dean Irby directs the production, which opens July 31 and runs through August 24.

Waiting for Gilgamesh: Scenes from Iraq; presented by Fort Point Theatre Channel. Performances run June 26-28, Thurs.-Sat. at 8 pm, with a special 2 pm matinee on Sat. June 28. Tickets: $20, $15 for students, seniors. and veterans. Held at Arsenal Center for the Arts, Black Box Theatre, 321 Arsenal St., Watertown, MA 02472. For general information, www.fortpointtc.org, 617.750.8900; for advance tickets, call 800.838.3006 or visit www.brownpapertickets.com/event/690754.

The Supernatural Project presents SUPERNATURAL: The Play opening Sunday, July 13, 2014 at Chromolume Theatre at the Attic. Directed by Audrey Kelley, the play is written and produced by Candace O. Kelley, Audrey Kelley, and Gilda Rogers and stars Tanya Alexander, Peres Owino, Sita Young, Marlynne Frierson Cooley, Quidana Bosman, Virtic Emil Brown, and Zuri Alexander