Ro Boddie News

Cygnet Theatre is proud to announce its 16th season of entertaining, thought-provoking and inspiring theatre. All eight plays explore different themes, different communities and different stories...each designed to support our mission to 'startle the soul, ignite debate and embrace the diversity of the community'

Staged in tandem, playwright and director Aaron Posner's contemporary original No Sisters and Anton Chekhov's modern classic Three Sisters (1901) fuse the classic and the contemporary in a power move that is calculated to attract theatregoers of all persuasions.

Greater Cleveland is blessed with a vital theater scene. It has been the purpose of the TIMES THEATER TRIBUTES, now known as BROADWAY WORLD-CLEVELAND REGIONAL PROFESSIONAL THEATER TRIBUTES (BWW-Cle Theater Tributes), to recognize theatrical experiences that, in the subjective view of this reviewer, were excellent and deserve recognition.

This fall, Cygnet Theatre will present the San Diego artistic debut of Washington D.C. Director Jennifer L. Nelson. Nelson, who will direct the upcoming Season XIV productions of August Wilson's Seven Guitars and King Hedley II was in San Diego recently to audition and cast the actors - each playing two roles.

Katori Hall, who wrote the award winning play THE MOUNTAINTOP, which is in production at Cleveland Play House, in her script attempts to answer such questions as: What was Martin Luther King, Jr. like as a person? With all the death threats that King received, what was his last night alive like? What did he believe was going to be his ultimate role in the Black rights movement?

More than 100 local and national theatre artists representing nearly than 60 San Diego theatrical productions will compete for the 2015 Craig Noel Awards, the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle announced today.

Kansas City Repertory Theatre continues its 2015-16 season and its commitment to the creation of unforgettable new plays with the WORLD PREMIERE of Blueprints to Freedom: An Ode to Bayard Rustin, written by and starring Michael Benjamin Washington and directed by the critically acclaimed Lucie Tiberghien. This story is more than relevant. It's riveting. Those who stand up for equality in 2015 are following in the footsteps of Bayard Rustin, the lesser known but powerfully influential civil rights leader who orchestrated the March on Washington and stepped forward himself as an openly gay man at a time when few had the courage to do so. In this ode, an exiled Rustin masterminds 'a tribute to the ancestors' 100 years after the Emancipation Proclamation. This exciting production begins tonight, Oct. 16 and runs through Sunday, Nov. 15 at KC Rep's Copaken Stage in the Power & Light District in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.

Kansas City Repertory Theatre continues its 2015-16 season and its commitment to the creation of unforgettable new plays with the WORLD PREMIERE of Blueprints to Freedom: An Ode to Bayard Rustin, written by and starring Michael Benjamin Washington and directed by the critically acclaimed Lucie Tiberghien. This story is more than relevant. It's riveting. Those who stand up for equality in 2015 are following in the footsteps of Bayard Rustin, the lesser known but powerfully influential civil rights leader who orchestrated the March on Washington and stepped forward himself as an openly gay man at a time when few had the courage to do so. In this ode, an exiled Rustin masterminds 'a tribute to the ancestors' 100 years after the Emancipation Proclamation. This exciting production begins Friday, Oct. 16 and runs through Sunday, Nov. 15 at KC Rep's Copaken Stage in the Power & Light District in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.

La Jolla Playhouse and Kansas City Repertory Theatre is presenting the world-premiere production of Blueprints to Freedom: An Ode to Bayard Rustin, by Michael Benjamin Washington, directed by Lucie Tiberghien (Blood and Gifts). Tiberghien replaced Phylicia Rashad, who had to depart the project due to scheduling conflicts. Check out photos from the production below!

La Jolla Playhouse and Kansas City Repertory Theatre announce the cast and creative team for its world-premiere production of Blueprints to Freedom: An Ode to Bayard Rustin, by Michael Benjamin Washington, directed by Lucie Tiberghien (Blood and Gifts).

Tonight before a crowd of 1,200 theatre-makers and theatre-lovers at the historic Lincoln Theatre, theatreWashington celebrated excellence on Washington stages at the 2015 Helen Hayes Awards. The awards celebration was a night of excitement and surprise as 57 Washington theatre artists, theatres, and ensembles received honors in 47 categories for their outstanding accomplishments during the 2014 theatre season. Scroll down for the full list of winners!

One of the country's most prestigious cultural honors, The Helen Hayes Awards recognizes and celebrates excellence in professional theatre throughout the Washington metropolitan area. theatreWashington will host The 2015 Helen Hayes Awards ceremony tonight, April 6, 2015 at the historic Lincoln Theatre.

Tonight before a crowd of 150 theatre makers and theatre lovers, theatreWashington announced the nominees for the 2015 Helen Hayes Awards. One of the country's most prestigious cultural honors, The Helen Hayes Awards recognizes and celebrates excellence in professional theatre throughout the Washington metropolitan area. Watch the full announcement below, and scroll down for the list of nominees!

The late August Wilson is one of America's greatest playwrights. From the early 1980s up until his death in 2005, Wilson wrote 10 plays, each encompassing African American life in a different decade focusing on the same Pittsburgh neighborhood, with Ma Rainey's Black Bottom being the sole play to occur outside of Pittsburgh. These 10 plays when put together are known as The Pittsburgh Cycle or Century Cycle, and is considered some of the 10 best plays ever written by an American playwright.

What can be defined as slavery? In multiple ways, slavery continually exists and humans can all be slaves to someone or something. At the Stiemke Studio this past February weekend, The Milwaukee Rep opened The Whipping Man. The 2006 award-winning Off Broadway play written by Matthew Lopez returns three men, the owner's son and two of his slaves, to their family homestead in a complex and riveting American Civil War drama set a few days before the assassination of President Lincoln.

The Rep continues its 60th Anniversary Season with The Whipping Man, the play The New York Times describes as 'filled with fine characterization and unexpected moments of humor.' Check out a first look below!

The Rep continues its 60th Anniversary Season with The Whipping Man, the play The New York Times describes as 'filled with fine characterization and unexpected moments of humor.' The Civil War has ended, but for some, the struggle has just begun. A Jewish Confederate soldier, wounded in war, has returned from the battlefield to find that his family has fled. The only remaining household members are two former slaves, who have been raised by his family as Jews. Over a celebratory feast, family history is uncovered and dark secrets are revealed, forcing the men to come to terms with the sordid legacies of slavery and war that threaten each of their future freedoms. Written by Matthew Lopez, The Whipping Man will be directed by Associate Artistic Director Brent Hazelton. The cast features Ro Boddie, James Craven, both making their Rep debuts, and Josh Landay, who returns to The Rep after appearing as Tateh in Ragtime earlier this season. The Whipping Man runs in the Stiemke Studio from February 5 - March 16, and opens Saturday, February 8. (Please note special Saturday evening opening.) The Stiemke Season is generously presented by John and Connie Kordsmeier.

The Rep continues its 60th Anniversary Season with The Whipping Man, the play The New York Times describes as "filled with fine characterization and unexpected moments of humor." The Civil War has ended, but for some, the struggle has just begun. A Jewish Confederate soldier, wounded in war, has returned from the battlefield to find that his family has fled. The only remaining household members are two former slaves, who have been raised by his family as Jews. Over a celebratory feast, family history is uncovered and dark secrets are revealed, forcing the men to come to terms with the sordid legacies of slavery and war that threaten each of their future freedoms. Written by Matthew Lopez, The Whipping Man will be directed by Associate Artistic Director Brent Hazelton. The cast features Ro Boddie, James Craven, both making their Rep debuts, and Josh Landay, who returns to The Rep after appearing as Tateh in Ragtime earlier this season. The Whipping Man runs in the Stiemke Studio from February 5 - March 16, and opens Saturday, February 8. (Please note special Saturday evening opening.) The Stiemke Season is generously presented by John and Connie Kordsmeier.

'Dirt' should be seen for the imagery-filled language the playwright employs and the fine acting, particularly by the incredible Holly Twyford.

It's almost over! There's just FIVE days of voting remaining for the 2011 DC Awards and here is the latest update! Have you voted yet, and helped to spread the word to support your favorites in the hopes that they will be the recipients of a 2011 BroadwayWorld DC Award? There is no time to waste, click on the voting link and make your opinion count! Below are the stats so far as of Monday December 26, 2011. Voting ends at midnight on 12/31 so time is running out.