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BWW Review: Literary Giants Spar in Mosaic World Premiere LES DEUX NOIRS
by Roger Catlin - Apr 17, 2019

It would have been interesting to hear the 1953 conversation between author Richard Wright and the upstart man of letters James Baldwin at the ex-pat literary nexus of Les Deux Magots in Paris.

Queens College Evening Readings Series Presents Brad Gooch And Cherita Armstrong
by Julie Musbach - Apr 17, 2019

The Queens College Evening Readings series is back for the spring season with highly anticipated readings by acclaimed writer Brad Gooch and performer Cherita Armstrong.

Court Theatre And Nambi E. Kelley Win Prince Prize For Commissioning Original Work
by Julie Musbach - Apr 15, 2019

Court Theatre and playwright Nambi E. Kelley have received the Prince Prize for Commissioning Original Work for 2018. Prince Charitable Trusts makes an award of $75,000 each year to a major Chicago dance, music, visual arts or theater company. When the Trust approached Court Theatre about projects that might fit their vision for the Prize, it was only natural to ask playwright Nambi E. Kelley to create an original play based on the story of Stokely Carmichael's activism and legacy for the stage. In 2014, Kelley had adapted Richard Wright's Native Son for Court Theatre in a co-production with American Blues Theatre that garnered great critical and popular acclaim. Another collaboration would build upon these successes.

BWW Interview: Jon Chaffin, A NATIVE SON, Urges Creating Empathy For All Humans, Being in Life
by Gil Kaan - Apr 8, 2019

Antaeus Theatre Company's 2018 Southern California premiere of NATIVE SON has been chosen as the third and final production of Center Theatre Group's BLOCK PARTY 2019, beginning April 18, 2019 at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. Nambi E. Kelley's adaptation of Richard Wright's classic novel Native Son will be reprised with its entire original Antaeus cast of nine, again with director Andi Chapman at its helm. I had the chance to ask some delving questions of Jon Chaffin, who portrays NATIVE SON's most integral character, Bigger Thomas.

BWW Review: PIPELINE at Horizon Theatre Company
by Amy Zipperer - Apr 5, 2019

The play, a fair and angry indictment of social injustice, asks a number of important questions, and the gorgeous cast, under the adept direction of Atlanta-favorite Tinashe Kajese Bolden and Keith Arthur Bolden, and with help from an incredibly able design team, brings the indictment to powerful life.

Cast Announced For NATIVE SON Part Of Block Party 2019 At The Douglas
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 4, 2019

Casting is set for Antaeus Theatre Company's production of "Native Son," which Center Theatre Group is remounting at the Kirk Douglas Theatre as part of the third annual Block Party: Celebrating Los Angeles Theatre. Written by Nambi E. Kelley, based on the novel by Richard Wright and directed by Andi Chapman, "Native Son" will begin previews April 18, open April 20 and continue through April 28, 2019.

BWW Review: NATIVE SON at Mosaic Theater Company
by Rachael Goldberg - Apr 4, 2019

'Native Son' is a heavy drama with an important story to tell. But what makes this production really shine is Psalmayene 24's guiding emphasis on "radicalizing empathy." In Mosaic Theater Company's production, the audience isn't asked to excuse Bigger, but to try to understand him. That understanding, that empathy, it's suggested, can go a long way in ensuring that the circumstances surrounding Bigger's story can maybe be kept in the past.

The Acting Company Announces Complete Casting For WATCH ON THE RHINE Reading
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 7, 2019

The Acting Company (Founded by John Houseman and Margot Harley; Ian Belknap, Artistic Director; Elisa Spencer-Kaplan, Executive Director) announced today complete casting for the first reading in the 23rd John McDonald Salon Reading Series, Lillian Hellman's acclaimed drama Watch on the Rhine. The reading will take place on Monday, March 18 at 7 PM at the Mainstage Theater at Playwrights Horizons (416 W. 42nd Street, New York, NY). Tickets are available now online at www.theactingcompany.org.

Mosaic Theater Company Announces NATIVE SON Rep
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 6, 2019

Richard Wright's iconic novel, Native Son,  streamlined into a blazing 90 minute adaptation by actor/playwright Nambi E. Kelley, will run in repertory with Les Deux Noirs: Notes on Notes of A Native Son, inspired by James Baldwin's blistening critique of Wright's controversial work. Award-winning director and playwright Psalmayene 24's stages the innovative take on Wright's masterpiece while authoring a modern reimagining of Wright's real-life meeting with Baldwin in 1953 Paris.

American Blues Theater Announces 2019-2020 Season
by Julie Musbach - Mar 6, 2019

American Blues Theater, under the continued leadership of Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, announces the lineup for its 2019 - 2020 Season, "Then & Now".

HBO Films Drama NATIVE SON, Based On The Classic Novel By Richard Wright, Debuts 4/6
by Tori Hartshorn - Feb 22, 2019

The HBO Films presentation NATIVE SON, based on the classic novel by Richard Wright, will debut SATURDAY, APRIL 6 at 10:00 p.m. (ET/PT) on HBO, it was announced today by Len Amato, president, HBO Films. Directed by first-time director and renowned visual artist Rashid Johnson from a screenplay by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks (“Topdog/Underdog”), the drama had its world premiere in January at the Sundance Film Festival.

Dana Ivey, Michael Hayden And More Join Acting Company's Reading Of WATCH ON THE RHINE
by Julie Musbach - Feb 20, 2019

The Acting Company announced today initial casting for the first reading in the 23rd John McDonald Salon Reading Series, Lillian Hellman's acclaimed drama Watch on the Rhine.

BWW Review: PIPELINE at Victory Gardens Theater
by Rachel Weinberg - Feb 11, 2019

In PIPELINE, playwright Dominique Morisseau reflects on the cracks in the inner-city public-school system, and the ways in which it often functions as a school to prison pipeline for young black men, without vilifying the system's participants. It's a skillfully crafted balance that demonstrates how the brokenness of the system is disheartening for teachers and students alike. And under the direction of Cheryl Lynn Bruce, Victory Gardens Theater's ensemble makes this a very human struggle.

The Acting Company Announces Complete Casting For NYC School Tour Of OTHELLO
by Julie Musbach - Jan 29, 2019

The Acting Company announces OTHELLO, a touring production visiting New York City schools across the five boroughs in January and February 2019.

Richard Wright & Dave Harris �" Zee 'Identity' Deluxe Box Set Now Available For Pre-order
by Kaitlin Milligan - Jan 25, 2019

One of the most intriguing pop music partnerships of the eighties makes it's return – RICK WRIGHT, one of the founder members of PINK FLOYD and who played keyboards on their multi-million selling albums joined forces with DAVE (formerly DEE) HARRIS, best known to music fans as the former singer and guitarist with electro-funk band Fashion. The two, collectively known as ZEE's version of their album, IDENTITY is to be released this year. The album which was recorded at Wright's home studio and Utopia Studios in North London in 82 / 83, utilizes the Fairlight Computer, which has the ability to recreate the sound of any musical instrument.

The Dramatists Guild Foundation Announces Recipients Of 2019 DGF Writers Alliance Grants
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 17, 2019

Dramatists Guild Foundation (DGF) has announced the second-ever recipients of the DGF Writers Alliance Grants. These Grants provide $5,000 to both a non-profit theater's production of a new work and $5,000 to the writer or group of writers whose work is being produced. Gary Garrison, who serves on both the DGF Advisory Board and the Writers Alliance Grant selection committee, said: "The DGF's Writers Alliance Grant is the perfect combination of support for both writer AND theater. It acknowledges that the writer has a story that should to be told while also smartly pointing to the theater that should be telling it."

Daveed Diggs, Sheria Irving, and Zoë Winters Lead The Public's WHITE NOISE
by Julie Musbach - Dec 17, 2018

The Public Theater announced initial casting today for the world premiere of WHITE NOISE, written by Public Theater Master Writer Chair and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks. 

Center Theatre Group Selects Three Local Productions For Block Party 2019
by Stephi Wild - Dec 7, 2018

Center Theatre Group has selected three local productions for the third annual Block Party: Celebrating Los Angeles Theatre at the Kirk Douglas Theatre from March 7 through April 28, 2019. Block Party 2019 will remount Theatre of NOTE's "For The Love Of (or, the roller derby play)," Skylight Theatre Company's "Rotterdam" and Antaeus Theatre Company's "Native Son." Each production will have a two-week run with 12 performances. The three visiting companies will receive the full support of Center Theatre Group and its staff in order to fund, stage and market each production.

Sundance Film Festival Announces 2019 Film Lineup
by Kaitlin Milligan - Nov 28, 2018

The nonprofit Sundance Institute announced today the showcase of new independent feature films selected across all categories for the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. The Festival hosts screenings in Park City, Salt Lake City and at Sundance Mountain Resort, from January 24 - February 3, 2019.

The Acting Company Announces 2019 Season; NATIVE SON, MEASURE FOR MEASURE, and More
by Julie Musbach - Nov 13, 2018

The Acting Company announces its 2019 Season, which will feature Native Son, by Nambi E. Kelley, adapted from the novel by Richard Wright and directed by Seret Scott playing in rotating repertory with William Shakespeare's Measure for Measure directed Janet Zarish.

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