Ossie Davis News

Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Toni Morrison's first novel comes to life at the Wells Theatre. The Bluest Eye, directed by Khanisha Foster, follows the story of young Pecola in 1940's Ohio who is pregnant at her father's hands. She is taken in by a loving family and cared for by brilliant and kind sisters, Frieda and Claudia. The character-driven play, both poetic and daringly funny, illuminates the destructive powers of racism and class dynamics while exploring the power of community through exquisite storytelling. The Bluest Eye is produced in collaboration with Norfolk State University Theatre Company.

Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Toni Morrison's first novel comes to life at the Wells Theatre. The Bluest Eye, directed by Khanisha Foster, follows the story of young Pecola in 1940's Ohio who is pregnant at her father's hands. She is taken in by a loving family and cared for by brilliant and kind sisters, Frieda and Claudia. The character-driven play, both poetic and daringly funny, illuminates the destructive powers of racism and class dynamics while exploring the power of community through exquisite storytelling. The Bluest Eye is produced in collaboration with Norfolk State University Theatre Company.

Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff, Artistic Producer), New York City's award-winning pioneer in diversity and multi-ethnic casting in the performing arts since 1968 and will celebrate its 50th Anniversary at its annual Gala Benefit Concert on Monday, April 1, 2019 at the The Angel Orensanz Foundation (172 Norfolk Street). Honorary Chair for the event is Academy Award-Winning actress and activist Whoopi Goldberg. Tony Award-winner Lillias White will be Mistress of Ceremonies evening.

The Board of Governors of The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, New York Chapter is pleased to announce the induction of ten talented individuals into the prestigious Gold & Silver Circles. The Gold & Silver Circles are comprised of an elite group of professionals who have made significant contributions to the New York television market. The Silver Circle recognizes individuals who have devoted a quarter of a century or more to the television industry. The Gold Circle honors those legends whose contributions span fifty years or more.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Georgetown University celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a free, ticketed musical tribute titled Let Freedom Ring!

INDEPENDENT SHAKESPEARE CO. has been named the 2018 recipient of the PAUL ROBESON AWARD by Actors' Equity Foundation and Actors' Equity Association. The award was presented at the Association's National Membership Meeting in Los Angeles on October 15, 2018.

Award-winning actor, writer, director, producer, polymath and advocate for science communication Alan Alda has been named the 55th recipient of SAG-AFTRA's highest tribute: the SAG Life Achievement Award for career achievement and humanitarian accomplishment. Alda will be presented the performers union's top accolade at the 25th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®, which will be simulcast live on TNT and TBS on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, at 8 p.m. (ET)/ 5 p.m. (PT).

Rory D. Sheriff - if you haven't heard that name, it's only a matter of time before you will. Statuesque, bearded and dread-locked, he is a man that's very visible, even in a crowded room. Yet, there is a humbleness and genuine kindness that is etched in his face and resonates in his voice. Why is this man so significant? Under the auspice of his production company, Brand New Sheriff (BNS) Productions, is consistently providing a platform of entertainment via the performing arts as a resident playwright at the Duke Energy Theater of Belk Performing Arts Center. His passion for community theater is echoed loud and clear through his talent-filled cast and masterfully-produced stage plays.

The Broad Stage presents True Blues – Corey Harris and Guy Davis -- on Friday, September 28 at 7:30pm. Harris and Davis, two leading performers of acoustic blues, will each perform a set of their own before coming together onstage to celebrate the extraordinary music that has shaped their multifaceted careers.

DeEtta West is featured in the role of Idella Landy in the production of Purlie, opening at the Orange Box Theater on September 29. DeEtta accepted the role as a personal tribute to her late brother, Cleavon Little, winner of the Tony Award in 1970 for his performance as Purlie in the hit show. The show runs through October 7, 2018 (Orange Box Theater @ Mark SQuared Studios, 1804 Montreal Court, Ste B, Tucker, GA 30084)

Thomas Allen Harris is celebrating Harlem in his latest art exhibition titled Mother, Bethel, Harlem, USA, a collaboration with students from the Hunter College IMA MFA program to build an interactive exhibition at the Hunter East Harlem Gallery (HEHG), opening Thursday, August 30. Through an investigation of Harris's extensive body of work as a photographer, filmmaker, and creator of the interdisciplinary project Digital Diaspora Family Reunion (DDFR), the students have conceived works that are inspired by the family photo album, practices of archiving, and the local community in Harlem and East Harlem.

Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center (BMCM+AC) has announced its fall 2018 season of exhibitions and cultural events in Asheville.

Amas Musical Theatre is 50! During the coming year, the company will offer a wide array of programming devoted to continuing its mission of promoting cultural diversity in American musicals. A full schedule of events is listed below.

TheatreSouth is proud to bring the compelling legal drama, A Class Act, to the Pompano Beach Cultural Center. Written by Norman Shabel, this play focuses on a trio of lawyers who accuse General Chemical Corporation of polluting water across the country through cancer-causing factory runoff. These attorneys are hoping for a big payoff from the deep pockets of the corporation, while the 'suits' at the latter plan to use blackmail as leverage to pay as little as possible.

Trinity Repertory Company announced today that actress Mary McDonnell will be honored with the 2018 Pell Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts at the theater's 22nd annual Pell Awards Gala on Monday, May 21, 2018. A two-time Oscar nominee for Dances with Wolves and Passion Fish, McDonnell's theater, film and television career has spanned more than four decades with dynamic character portrayals in period and present-day roles, including TNT's The Closer and Major Crimes, Syfy's Battlestar Galactica, Donnie Darko, and Sneakers.

THE LOST TAPES: MALCOLM X relives the pivotal years of this trailblazing activist using rarely seen footage and audio tapes, including never-before-seen footage of Nation of Islam rallies and recordings made at the Audubon Ballroom on the day of his assassination. THE LOST TAPES: MALCOLM X premieres Monday, February 26 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Smithsonian Channel.

On Her Shoulders is pleased to present a staged reading of PECILIAR SAM by Pauline Hopkins, directed by Arminda Thomas on Thursday, March 15, 2018. Doors open at 6:45pm for a prompt start at 7:00pm with The Play in Context Introduction by Celia Braxton, who situates the script in its historical time and place,. Admission is by Donation. Running time, including a post-performance Q&A is approximately 100 minutes. The performance is at The New School, Wollman Hall, 65 West 11th Street, New York, NY. R.S.V.P. to OnHerShouldersReservations@gmail.com.

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College continues its 2017-18 Kumble Theater season with Daniel Beaty's solo theatrical tour-de-force, Emergency, on Saturday, February 17, 2018 at 8pm and Sunday, February 18, 2018 at 3pm.  Originally titled Emergence-SEE when it made its New York premiere at the Public Theater in 2006 under the direction of Kenny Leon, the show has since toured nationally and internationally, earning Beaty a 2007 Obie Award for Writing & Performing and a 2007 AUDELCO Award for Solo Performance.

A special Tuesday matinee of Lynn Nottage's Intimate Apparel has been scheduled for February 27 at 2pm. All tickets for this event are priced at $22.50, all seats reserved.

The cast for Playhouse on Park's production of Intimate Apparel, written by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, has been announced. Opening night is Friday, February 16 with a complimentary wine and cheese reception at 7pm, followed by the show at 8pm.