Richarda Abrams News

She sings jazz, blues, rock, cabaret and she goes where the audiences and the work are. She's a trouper and a diva and today Grace Garland chats with Stephen Mosher

They weren't supposed to read, write, or look you in the eye. ... But they did. Three Women. Three Stories. Three Critically-Acclaimed Performances.

Returning from SOLDOUT performances and rave reviews at the National Black Theatre Festival, Winston Salem, NC, FIRST BY FAITH: THE LIFE OF MARY MCLEOD BETHUNE, written and performed by Richarda Abrams, is back Off Broadway in the United Solo Theatre Festival celebrating it's Tenth Anniversary, September 26, 2019, 7:30 pm at Theatre Row, 410 West 42nd St., NYC, in a?oeThe Best Ofa?? category, where it World Premiered and won a?oeThe Best Educational Show Awarda?? last year.

Returning from SOLDOUT performances and rave reviews at the National Black Theatre Festival, Winston Salem, NC, FIRST BY FAITH: THE LIFE OF MARY MCLEOD BETHUNE, written and performed by Richarda Abrams, is back Off Broadway in the United Solo Theatre Festival celebrating it's Tenth Anniversary, September 26, 2019, 7:30 pm at Theatre Row, 410 West 42nd St., NYC, in 'The Best Of' category, where it World Premiered and won 'The Best Educational Show Award' last year. Tickets: http://unitedsolo.org/us/2019-firstbyfaith/.

2019 Tony winner Andre De Shields has been attending The National Black Theatre Festival® (NBTF) in Winston-Salem, N. C. since 1995. Dubbed the 'Black Theatre Holy Ground,' NBTF is the international outreach program of the North Carolina Black Repertory Company, founded by the late Larry Leon Hamlin in 1979. The Festival, also founded by Hamlin, has been held biennially since 1989. The NCBRC celebrated its 40th anniversary this year, while the NBTF celebrated its 30th.

There has never been a lack of extraordinary talent at United Solo. Year by year, audiences have witnessed some of the most amazing solo artists from all over the world share their talents and stories. Some of these artists have made a particularly incredible mark on the audience's hearts through their performances on the United Solo stage at Theatre Row on 42nd Street in Manhattan. Therefore, during the first two weeks of the 10th anniversary season of United Solo, nearly thirty award-winning performers will be gracing the stage once again in THE BEST OF category.

The Theater at the 14th Street Y continues to honor the edgy, diverse, and rich history of innovative culture-making in the East Village with the 2019-20 Season from September 6, 2019 through June 2020. All productions are chosen through a submission process and the curated season is co-presented by the Theater at the 14th Street Y. From a wide range of artists, the season is a deliberate program of artistic discourse around the theme of Life and Death.

FIRST BY FAITH: THE LIFE OF MARY MCLEOD BETHUNE, written and performed by Richarda Abrams, returns to New York's West End Theatre June 28 - July 21, 2019, after debuting at the 2018 United Solo Theatre Festival winning the Best Educational Show Award.

The Theater at the 14th Street Y continues to honor the edgy, diverse, and rich history of innovative culture-making in the East Village with the 201 9-20 Season from September 6, 2019 through June 2020. All productions are chosen through a submission process and the curated season is co-presented by the Theater at the 14th Street Y. From a wide range of artists the season is a deliberate program of artistic discourse around the theme of Life and Death.

When the movie, GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER, began filming in March 1967, it was still illegal for interracial couples to marry in fourteen states, mostly in the South. Changing attitudes in the country and the landmark case Loving v. Virginia coincided with the production of the movie and by the end of the year, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Mr. and Mrs. Loving, ruling that marriage is a fundamental human right and effectively ending all anti-miscegenation marriage laws in America.

When the movie, GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER, began filming in March 1967, it was still illegal for interracial couples to marry in fourteen states, mostly in the South. Changing attitudes in the country and the landmark case Loving v. Virginia coincided with the production of the movie and by the end of the year, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Mr. and Mrs. Loving, ruling that marriage is a fundamental human right and effectively ending all anti-miscegenation marriage laws in America.

'THE GOOD OLD DAYS' -a dark comedy by playwright Renee Flemings will be read as part of the K/Q Playwrights Group new works series on Thursday, March 28th @ the East Midtown Plaza Community Room (320 East 25th Street) in the Kips Bay section of Manhattan at 7:00pm. The play focuses on the Brantley family attempts to come together after years of living separate lives to celebrate the honor their dearly departed father is receiving from the city. The free,informal reading featuring Richarda Abrams*, CK Allen, Aja Downing* Ian Eaton*, Laura Johnston* (* Appearing courtesy of Actors' Equity Association.) will be followed by a talk back with light refreshments.

After a run of ten weeks that presented 130 one-person theatre productions from six continents, the world's largest solo theatre festival concluded its ninth season at Theatre Row on 42nd Street in New York by presenting this year's awards. On behalf of the United Solo Academy, Omar Sangare, the artistic director of the festival, presented the United Solo Special Award to Renee Taylor for her solo show "My Life on a Diet." In her acceptance speech, Ms. Taylor said: "I'm very grateful for receiving an award from Untied Solo - it's a very prestigious honor" and added "I'm very happy to be touring the country with 'My Life on a Diet' - and now I can say I am an award-winning show!"

Dan Butler ("Bulldog" on TV's Frasier and last season's "Travesties" on Broadway), Richarda Abrams and Anne Son are featured in the three-character cast of Marco Calvani's new dark comedy "Beautiful Day Without You," produced by Origin Theatre Company that opened Off-Broadway last night at the West End Theatre Performances began Thursday November 1.

Richarda Abrams is an award-winning actress/singer/playwright, and daughter of the late Dr. Muhal Richard Abrams musician/composer/visionary/co-founder of the Association For The Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM).

Origin Theatre Company, the city's only theatre company devoted to presenting the American premieres of new works by Europe's brightest contemporary playwrights, presents the world premiere of the acclaimed Italian-born playwright Marco Calvani's new play "Beautiful Day Without You," beginning Thursday November 1. Directed by Erwin Maas, "Beautiful Day Without You" features a cast of three that includes Dan Butler ("Bulldog" on TV's Frasier and last season's "Travesties" on Broadway), Richarda Abrams and Anne Son.

FRIGID New York @ Horse Trade/New York Madness present the second play in their MadLab Reading Series on Sunday, April 29, 2018 at 8pm: Born on Freedom's Road by Julienne Hairston (Project Y, The Fire This Time) at The Kraine Theater (85 East 4th Street between 2nd Avenue and Bowery), directed by Illana Stein (A Midsummer Night's Dream/Queens Players, or what she will, FringeNYC'12/directing award).

The World Premiere of Fengar Gael's The House on Poe Street opened on October 27th at the 14th Street Y Theatre. The production runs until November 12th and is produced by Yonder Window Theatre Company. Artistic Director Katie McHugh, directs, with original music composed by Sheilah Rae.

When twin sisters inherit the house where Poe composed The Raven, their lives take twisted turns that affect the future of mankind.