Ruben Santiago-Hudson News

Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company and Jujamcyn Theaters presented the fourth annual August Wilson Monologue Competition National finals Monday, May 3 at Broadway's August Wilson Theatre (245 W. 52nd Street). The finals featured performances of monologues from August Wilson's Century Cycle by twelve regional finalists from Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Chicago and New York. The evening also included performances by Blues musician Guy Davis (Finian's Rainbow), Chris Chalk (Fences), LaTanya Richardson (Joe Turner's Come and Gone), Keith Randolph Smith (Fences, King Hedley II), Heather Alicia Simms (Gem of the Ocean, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom) and Ruben Santiago-Hudson (Gem of the Ocean, Tony Award winner for Seven Guitars). The competition was judged by celebrity judges playwright Regina Taylor (Crowns and Drowning Crow), costume designer Constanza Romero (Fences, Gem of the Ocean, Seven Guitars, The Piano Lesson), and actors Russell Hornsby (Fences, Jitney), Mykelti Williamson (Fences, 'Forrest Gump,' '24') and Phylicia Rashad.

Michael Riedel reports in the New York Post this morning that Broadway Producer Jeffrey Richards will be producing a Broadway transfer of The Public's Merchant of Venice, which will play Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte this summer starring Al Pacino. Richards has suffered a mostly disappointing 2010 so far, being the leading force behind this season's All About Me and Enron, both of which only lasted a mere few weeks on Broadway. Richards and his producing partner, Jerry Frankel are, however, also behind the successful Race, which has already recouped on Broadway.

Two students from Brooklyn and Bronx place first and second in the National August Wilson Monologue Competition at the August Wilson Theatre on May 3rd. Originally an alternate for the NYC competition, Jared Findlay, from Brooklyn Theatre Arts High School, took home the first place prize with his nuanced performance of King Hedley from August Wilson's King Hedley II. Derrick Starks, from Fordham High School for the Arts, won second place for his keen interpretation of Holloway from Two Trains Running.

Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company and Jujamcyn Theaters will present the fourth annual August Wilson Monologue Competition National finals Monday, May 3 at Broadway's August Wilson Theatre (245 W. 52nd Street).

Broadway director, Kenny Leon and his True Colors Theatre Company present the 4th Annual August Wilson Monologue Competition National Finals, Monday, May 3, 2010 at the August Wilson Theatre on Broadway. The competition, starting at 7 pm, will feature 12 competitors from the regional finals in Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Chicago and New York performing monologues from August Wilson's Century Cycle. The evening will also include a musical performance from Blues musician Guy Davis (FINIAN'S RAINBOW) and a performance of the montage "August Wilson Always Did Believe in Love" performed by members of the cast from the Broadway revival of FENCES, Chris Chalk and Russell Hornsby and special guest Ruben Santiago-Hudson. The collage was assembled by Todd Kreidler, Associate Artistic Director for True Colors and Wilson's Dramaturg, and gives us a taste of characters from all ten plays in the Cycle as they riff, muse and wonder at love. This competition is being presented by Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company in collaboration with Jujamcyn Theatres.

Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who will be appearing in both THE MERCHANT OF VENICE and THE WINTER'S TALE at Shakespeare in the Park shows this summer at the Delacorte Theatre sat down alongside costar Lily Rabe to discuss the shows and their experiences working on them.

Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company and Jujamcyn Theaters will present the fourth annual August Wilson Monologue Competition National finals Monday, May 3 at Broadway's August Wilson Theatre (245 W. 52nd Street).

Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company and Jujamcyn Theaters will present the fourth annual August Wilson Monologue Competition National finals Monday, May 3 at Broadway's August Wilson Theatre (245 W. 52nd Street). The finals will feature performances of monologues from August Wilson's Century Cycle by twelve regional finalists from Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Chicago and New York.

A world premiere, fully-staged production by John Patrick Shanley, the first professional production for playwright Tracy Thorne, and the newest musical project from the multi-award winning director Michael Mayer will be just a few of the many highlights of Vassar & New York Stage and Film's Powerhouse Theater season, June 25 - August 1, 2010.

Magic Theatre, San Francisco's home for new plays, announces its 2010-2011 Season: the west coast premiere of Tarell Alvin McCraney's The Brothers Size, an unforgettable tale of brotherhood directed by Octavio Solis; the world premiere of Theresa Rebeck's What We're Up Against, a subversive comedy about men, women, and survival in the workplace directed by Loretta Greco; the west coast premiere of Liz Duffy Adams' Or, a cross-dressing contemporary restoration comedy directed by Loretta Greco; and the rolling world premiere of The Lily's Revenge, a fantastical 5-hour cornucopia of theatre, party, and circus, written by and starring playwright and burlesque performer Taylor Mac.

The Public Theater has announced additional casting for the 2010 Shakespeare in the Park summer season featuring THE WINTER'S TALE, directed by Michael Greif, and THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, directed by Daniel Sullivan, in repertory June 9-August 1.

Entertainment Weekly reports today that after 16 years of playing Lt. Van Buren, Tony and Emmy-winning actress S. Epatha Merkerson will bid farewell to 'Law and Order.'

The Shakespeare Society (Michael Sexton, Artistic Director) has announced that Songs for Ophelia, a special one-night-only collaboration with the Metropolitan Opera (which is currently presenting Amboise Thomas' Hamlet), will take place on Monday, March 22 at 7:00pm at Peter Norton Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95 Street.

This world premiere penned by MacArthur genius Luis Alfaro and directed by Loretta Greco will close on Sunday, March 14th.

Public Theater Artistic Director Oskar Eustis, Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson and Board Chairman Warren Spector officially launched the GOING PUBLIC Capital Campaign on Tuesday, March 9 at a ceremonial groundbreaking event attended by more than 150 people including, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Cultural Affairs Commissioner Kate D. Levin, and Board Members Gail Papp, Liev Schreiber and Sam Waterston.

Public Theater Artistic Director Oskar Eustis, Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson and Board Chairman Warren Spector officially launched the GOING PUBLIC Capital Campaign on Tuesday, March 9 at a ceremonial groundbreaking event attended by more than 150 people including, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Cultural Affairs Commissioner Kate D. Levin, and Board Members Gail Papp, Liev Schreiber and Sam Waterston.

Spurred by critical acclaim and audience demand, Magic Theatre, San Francisco's home for new plays, has extended the run of Oedipus el Rey for an additional two weeks. This world premiere penned by MacArthur genius Luis Alfaro and directed by Loretta Greco must close Sunday, March 14th.

Magic Theatre, San Francisco's home for new plays, kicks off the new year with the world premiere of Oedipus el Rey by Luis Alfaro, directed by Loretta Greco. Oedipus el Rey, a reimagined classic, opens February 3rd, 2010.

Magic Theatre, San Francisco's home for new plays, kicks off the new year with the world premiere of Oedipus el Rey by Luis Alfaro, directed by Loretta Greco. Oedipus el Rey, a reimagined classic, opens February 3rd, 2010.

As reported yesterday, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, Signature Theatre Company Founding Artistic Director James Houghton and Related Companies Executive Vice President Bruce A. Beal Jr. announced a $60 million partnership to create a new home for the Signature Theater company. The Frank Gehry-designed Signature Center will be part of Related Companies' $800 million, 59-story, residential building and hotel on 42nd Street and 10th Avenue in the heart of the theater district. The building will provide more than 800 new housing units, including more than 160 that will be targeted to low-income families. The performing arts center will feature three intimate and distinct theatres, rehearsal studios, a café, bookstore and administrative offices, and will allow Signature to more than double its audience, with anticipated attendance of more than 80,000. The LEED-Silver building will create 700 construction jobs and is expected to be completed in 2011, with the Signature Center expected to be completed in 2012.