Regina Taylor News

Ebony Repertory Theatre (ERT) and the family of Paula Kelly announced today that Emmy-nominated actress, dancer, choreographer and singer, Paula Kelly died on Saturday, February 8, 2020 in Whittier, California from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. She was 77.

Creative Cauldron will present its first production of 2020, Crowns, February 13 - March 8, written by Regina Taylor and adapted from the book by Michael Cunningham and Craig Mayberry. When a Brooklyn teen goes to live in South Carolina after the death of her brother she learns the beauty, ceremony and symbolism of hat-wearing from her resilient, southern sisters. This musical draws from the roots of gospel music and traditions of greater African-American Diaspora to weave an inter-generational story of love, joy, and redemption. Crowns has played throughout the country to acclaim, including a sold out run at Arena Stage. Directed by Kara Tameika Watkins and Ian Anthony Coleman, with musical direction by Cedric Lyles. Crowns will be presented at Creative Cauldron, 410 S Maple Ave, Falls Church VA 22046 from February 13 to March 8. Performances are Thursdays at 7:30 PM, Fridays at 7:30 PM, Saturdays at 7:30 PM, and Sundays at 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM. Press night is Saturday, February 15th, 2020 at 7:30 PM. Please RSVP by Wednesday, February 12th.

Celebrating 35 years of fusing the beauty of traditional African movement with contemporary choreography, The Joyce Theater Foundation (Linda Shelton, Executive Director) welcomes the return of Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE. With a mixed bill of company classics and a newly-commissioned work, the Brooklyn company will play The Joyce Theater from February 25-March 1.

The Society for the Preservation of the Great American Songbook (PGAS) today announced the launch of the exciting new After Dinner Cabaret series to be held at the beautiful, newly renovated North Palm Beach Country Club, which is open to the public and located at 951 US-1.

The United States Artists (USA) announced today that dancer/ choreographer Dianne McIntyre is one of fifty recipients of their 2020 USA Fellow award. Each of the fifty recipients will receive a $50,000 cash award of unrestricted funds.

A litany of guests artists join Planet Connections for a night of staged readings. The human condition is on display in a triumvirate of staged readings presented as part of Planet Connections' Winter Festival of New Works featuring strong casts.

Planet Connections has announced its Staged Reading Series performing Wednesdays + Sundays, February 12-23rd at the Theater at The 14 Street Y, 344 E. 14 St, NYC featuring new plays by Golden Globe winner Regina Taylor, La MaMa artist Glory Kadigan and renowned experimental theater artist Erik Ehn. This event - celebrating the diversity of the performing Arts & artists of NYC - is free to the public. Reservations are strongly encouraged and can be made at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/planet-connections-staged-reading-series-tickets-88178543397

Goodman Theatre, now in its 95th season, announces the a?oeLegacy & Promisea?? Education and Engagement luncheon on Wednesday, February 5 featuring Emmy Award-winning and Tony Award-nominated actor Sean Hayes. Hayes joins the Goodman's Walter Director of Education and Engagement Willa J. Taylor and more for this 5th annual event, which celebrates the theater's programs for youth, schools and lifelong learners. Proceeds from the event support these programs, all of which are offered completely FREE of charge to participants and are 100% funded by individual contributions. Event leadership includes Joan Clifford, Immediate Past Chair and Benefit Events Leadership Chair; Patricia Cox, Education and Engagement Trustee Leadership Chair; Kathleen Cowie, Goodman Theatre Trustee and Education and Engagement Committee Chair; and Teri Brown and Lorrayne Weiss, Women's Board Education and Engagement Co-chairs. The event takes place at The Palmer House (17 E. Monroe) at 12noon (registration opens at 11:30am). Tickets start at $250; call 312.443.3811 ext. 220. Proceeds benefit Education and Engagement at the Goodman. Media interested in attending/covering should call 312.443.5151.

Acclaimed director Marion McClinton, best known for bringing the works of August Wilson to the Broadway stage, has died at age 65, according to StarTribune. He died on Thanksgiving morning, November 28, at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, after suffering from kidney disease.

It takes a village to create a masterpiece. OBIE Winner, José Rivera ('Marisol' and 'References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot'), premieres another powerful stage-work at the East Village's arts haven, The theater at the 14th Street Y.

Avery Sommers has had a fantastic career so far, appearing on Broadway in Ain't Misbehavin', Show Boat, Chicago, and Platinum. Now, the versatile performer makes her New York solo debut in an extraordinary collection from the Great American Songbook. In this BWW Exclusive Interview, Sommers talks about the inspiration behind For Sentimental Reasons.

THE GREEN ROOM 42 will welcome back Tony Award winner Lillias White in a special new holiday concert a?oeA Lillias White Christmasa?? for three performances this season. The shows will take place on Friday, December 13 at 7:00 PM; Saturday, December 14 at 7:00 PM; and Sunday, December 15 at 9:30 PM.

Casting is complete for the two a?oedevelopmental productionsa?? featured in Goodman Theatre's 16th annual New Stages Festivala?"a free celebration of new works by some of the country's finest established and emerging playwrights.

Planet Connections Announces Its Directors Repertory for 'DARK PLANET: Not Your Mother's Valentine's Day' presented by Planet Connections Theatre Festivity; performing Thursdays and Fridays, February 6 - 21 at the Theater at the 14th Street Y, 344 E 14th St, New York City.

WaterTower Theatre will round out its 2019-2020 season with a special limited-engagement, concert-style production of the inspiring 1960s musical Golden Boy. Adapted from the 1930s drama by Clifford Odets, and featuring a book by Odets and William Gibson, Golden Boy tells the story of Joe Wellington, a young black man trying to rise from the Harlem ghetto as a prizefighter. Wellington, originated on Broadway in 1964 by the iconic Sammy Davis, Jr., is enticed by the boxing world's promise of fame and fortune, but he makes one critical mistake: falling for his manager's white girlfriend, Lorna.

2019-20 Season marks Creative Cauldron's eleventh season of programming at ArtSpace Falls Church.  The diverse season offerings include live theater, concerts and cabarets. The season kicks off in October with the regional premiere of Disenchanted, a hilarious musical that takes a second look at the real world fates of fairytale princesses.  Madeline's Christmas returns once more to ring in the holiday season and Crowns, the inspirational gospel musical celebrating the resilient, hat-wearing sisters of the south, takes the stage in February. 

Family and friends, including some of Broadways best and brightest all came out to celebrate the marriage of Broadway veterans, Stephanie Pope and Aarne Lofgren.

Two-time Academy Award nominee Mary McDonnell has been cast in the title role of Gloria Steinem in Emily' Mann's Gloria: A Life, the opening production in McCarter Theatre Center's 2019-2020 Theater Series. 

Vintage Theatre presents "Crowns" June 28* through August 4 at Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora 80010. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $19 - $38 and available online at www.vintagetheatre.org or by calling 303-856-7830.

Red Bull Theater today announced the cast for their ninth annual festival of 10-minute plays of heightened language and classic themes, featuring two brand new commissions from Kia Corthron and Marcus Gardley, alongside six brand new plays that have been chosen from hundreds of submissions from playwrights across the country: Kate Abbruzzese, Terry Glaser, Eric Pfeffinger, Bridgette Dutta Portman, David Lerner Schwartz, Sofya Levitsky Weitz, and Matthew Wells.