Phylicia Rashad News

Signature Theatre Company (James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director) is proud to announce casting for a staged reading of DAY OF ABSENCE, written and directed by Douglas Turner Ward. The staged reading, which is by invitation only, is part of Signature's 2008-2009 Season, celebrating the historic works of the Negro Ensemble Company (NEC). DAY OF ABSENCE is the landmark 1965 play that launched the founding of the NEC.

Loretta Greco has chosen Tough Titty to start off the new year, a dynamically theatrical and surprisingly funny odyssey through one woman's battle with breast cancer. Tough Titty, written by Oni Faida Lampley and directed by Robert O'Hara, marks the third play of Magic Theatre's 2008/09 season. In Tough Titty, when Angela's routine cannot keep breast cancer at bay, she must learn to face the disease, her family, and her community with equal doses of tenacity and humor. Richly emotional, Tough Titty is a boisterous exploration of one woman's willful search for grace.

Signature Theatre Company (James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director) is proud to announce casting for a staged reading of DAY OF ABSENCE, written and directed by Douglas Turner Ward. The staged reading, which is by invitation only, is part of Signature's 2008-2009 Season, celebrating the historic works of the Negro Ensemble Company (NEC). DAY OF ABSENCE is the landmark 1965 play that launched the founding of the NEC.

Come hang out with the NYMF gang on Wednesday evening, January 28! Get all of your burning Next Link Project and Festival Submissions questions answered and also learn about other ways you can get involved with NYMF. A meet and greet to answer any questions from those interested in applying will be held Wednesday, January 28, 6-8pm at the Irish Rogue (356 West 44th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues. NYMF staff members will be on hand to answer questions about the Next Link Project submissions process and chat about other ways to get involved with the Festival. A cash bar with drink specials will be available, including $3 Domestic Bottles & Drafts and $4 Martinis & Cosmos. Drop by after work and say hi! The New York Musical Theater Festival is currently accepting open submissions for its Next Link Project for the sixth annual festival taking place September 28 - October 18, 2009. Any work that has not been produced professionally in New York City may be submitted by authors with or without industry representation, but scripts should be ready for developmental production and the widespread exposure NYMF provides. All entries undergo double-blind evaluations by several members of NYMF's reading team, with finalists referred to a grand jury of celebrated industry professionals. Previous jury members have included such Tony winning talents as Victoria Clark, Raul Esparza, Robyn Goodman, Margo Lion, Robert Lopez & Jeff Marx, Kathleen Marshall, Kevin McCollum, Tom Meehan, Phylicia Rashad and BD Wong.

The 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards were simulcast live nationally on TNT and TBS on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2009 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT, and 6 p.m. MT from the Los Angeles Shrine Exposition Center.

Come hang out with the NYMF gang on Wednesday evening, January 28! Get all of your burning Next Link Project and Festival Submissions questions answered and also learn about other ways you can get involved with NYMF. A meet and greet to answer any questions from those interested in applying will be held Wednesday, January 28, 6-8pm at the Irish Rogue (356 West 44th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues. NYMF staff members will be on hand to answer questions about the Next Link Project submissions process and chat about other ways to get involved with the Festival. A cash bar with drink specials will be available, including $3 Domestic Bottles & Drafts and $4 Martinis & Cosmos. Drop by after work and say hi! The New York Musical Theater Festival is currently accepting open submissions for its Next Link Project for the sixth annual festival taking place September 28 - October 18, 2009. Any work that has not been produced professionally in New York City may be submitted by authors with or without industry representation, but scripts should be ready for developmental production and the widespread exposure NYMF provides. All entries undergo double-blind evaluations by several members of NYMF's reading team, with finalists referred to a grand jury of celebrated industry professionals. Previous jury members have included such Tony winning talents as Victoria Clark, Raul Esparza, Robyn Goodman, Margo Lion, Robert Lopez & Jeff Marx, Kathleen Marshall, Kevin McCollum, Tom Meehan, Phylicia Rashad and BD Wong.

Jurors for The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) for the 2009 Next Link Project will include lyricist Susan Birkenhead, composer and lyricist Jason Robert Brown, producer Robyn Goodman, and director Francesca Zambello. The New York Musical Theater Festival is currently accepting open submissions for its Next Link Project for the sixth annual festival taking place September 28 ? October 18, 2009. Twelve of the Festival?s full production slots are reserved for participants in The Next Link Project, NYMF?s primary writer service program. The Next Link Project empowers emerging musical theatre writing teams as both artists and entrepreneurs by providing the training and relationships needed to help them move their musicals from mere readings to fully-realized productions and to advance their careers by maximizing the exposure they receive in the Festival. A meet and greet to answer any questions from those interested in applying will be held Wednesday, January 28, 6-8pm at the Irish Rogue (356 West 44th Street, between 8th and 9th Ave). NYMF staff members will be on hand to answer questions about the Next Link Project submissions process and chat about other ways to get involved with the Festival.

Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook returns in January for its eleventh season celebrating the diversity of American popular song. For 17 nights of pop, folk, cabaret, R&B, country, rock, show tunes, bluegrass and multimedia, the series will explore the best of the golden age of musical standards through to today's most dynamic contemporary songwriting. The 2009 season - January 14 through March 6 - will bring to the stage some of today's most gifted interpreters of song, including top vocalist Kurt Elling and country's winning Patty Loveless. It will feature the rare opportunity to hear Paulo Szot, star of Broadway's South Pacific, and film and stage star Alan Cumming, in intimate concert settings.

The Directors Guild of America announced the Guild's nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television, Documentaries and Commercials for the year 2008. Kenny Leon, received a nomination for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television/Miniseries nomination for the TV version of A Raisin in the Sun.

Signature Theatre Company's (James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director) will end their production of HOME today, Sunday, January 11th. HOME, by Samm-Art Williams and directed by Ron OJ Parson, is the second production of Signature's 2008-2009 season celebrating the historic Negro Ensemble Company (NEC). The show began performances on November 11th and opened December 7th at the Peter Norton Space located at 555 West 42nd Street (between 10th and 11th Avenues).

Signature Theatre Company's (James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director) production of HOME ends its limited run on Sunday, January 11th. The production, originally scheduled to close on Sunday, January 4th, was extended one week by popular demand. HOME, by Samm-Art Williams and directed by Ron OJ Parson, is the second production of Signature's 2008-2009 season celebrating the historic Negro Ensemble Company (NEC). The show began performances on November 11th and opened December 7th at the Peter Norton Space located at 555 West 42nd Street (between 10th and 11th Avenues).

Oscar & Emmy Award winning screen legend JANE FONDA will return to Broadway in MOISES KAUFMAN's 33 VARIATIONS. Performances begin on Monday, February 9th, 2009 at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre (230 West 49th Street). The official opening will be Monday, March 9th, 2009. The engagement will play through May 24th, 2009. Tickets are now available for sale to the general public.

Doubt received the most nominations for the 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. The awards air Jan. 25 on TNT and TBS. Here's the complete list of nominations:

Now entering its sixth year, The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) exists to revitalize musical theater culture by discovering and promoting new musical theater artists, producers and projects; nurturing a vibrant and innovative artistic community; and connecting one of America's greatest art forms with a diverse, contemporary audience. The New York Musical Theater Festival will begin accepting open submissions for its Next Link Project January 7th for the sixth annual festival taking place September 28 - October 18, 2009.

Phylicia Rashad is the latest actress to be signed as a spokeswoman for Jenny Craig, PEOPLE has reported exclusively. 'Jenny Craig confirms a new relationship with Phylicia Rashad,' said a spokesperson for the company. 'We look forward to sharing the details at a press conference in late January.'

Signature Theatre Company continues its celebration of the Negro Ensemble Company (NEC) with special presentations of three more plays from the historic NEC repertoire. Curated by NEC Founder Douglas Turner Ward, Signature Associate Artist Ruben Santiago-Hudson and the Signature Theatre Company staff, these plays will be read on stage at the Peter Norton Space (555 West 42nd Street) on select evenings throughout the season. These classic works give greater insight into the history of this vital and groundbreaking company.

Signature Theatre Company's (James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director) announced today that their production of HOME has been extended by popular demand for one week, from Sunday, January 4th to Sunday, January 11th. HOME, by Samm-Art Williams and directed by Ron OJ Parson, is the second production of Signature's 2008-2009 season celebrating the historic Negro Ensemble Company (NEC). The show began performances on November 11th and opened December 7th at the Peter Norton Space located at 555 West 42nd Street (between 10th and 11th Avenues).

Signature Theatre Company's (James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director) production of HOME opened last night, Sunday, December 7. HOME is the second production of Signature's 2008-2009 Season, celebrating the historic Negro Ensemble Company (NEC).

The Classical Theatre of Harlem, a not-for-profit theatre dedicated to producing theatre that truly reflects the diversity of ideas and racial tapestry that is New York City, will hold a party celebrating their 10th Anniversary Season.

Signature Theatre Company's (James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director) production of HOME opens this Sunday, December 7. HOME is the second production of Signature's 2008-2009 Season, celebrating the historic Negro Ensemble Company (NEC).