Saheem Ali News

Award-winning playwright James Ijames' "Kill Move Paradise" opened Saturdayto a standing ovation at Dr. Barbara Ann Teer's National Black Theatre (NBT). Directed by Saheem Ali, the show starring Ryan Jamaal Swain, Donnell E. Smith, Clinton Lowe and Sidiki Fofana follows victims of police brutality, vigilante justice and racist acts as they suddenly arrive in an otherworld.

SPACE on Ryder Farm, the non-profit artist residency program located on Ryder Farm, an idyllic 200 year-old working organic farm in Brewster, New York announced its 2017 season for The Working Farm, Family Residency, Creative Solutions Symposium and Artistic Residency programs at The Players Club. In attendance were Greg Hildreth, Vella Lovell, and Colby Minifie, as well as 2017 SPACE residents Dave Malloy, Eliza Bent, and Cusi Cram. Scroll down for photos!

The Playwrights Realm, led by Katherine Kovner, Founding Artistic Director, and Roberta Pereira, Producing Director, celebrated its tenth anniversary with the annual Writers Block Party honoring Realm Board Member and award-winning playwright and actor, Anna Deavere Smith. The Writers Block Party took place on Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at The Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse in the Samuel B. & David Rose Building, and was hosted by Lauren Patten (Fun Home, The Wolves). Scroll down for photos from the event!

Williamstown Theatre Festival has announced additional details in special programming and events for the 2017 summer season.

Sixty years ago, Joseph Papp packed a truck with a small troupe of actors, some modest props and the firm belief that the plays of William Shakespeare belonged to everyone, and traveled throughout New York City giving free performances.

The bad news first: the 2016/2017 Boston theater season is coming to a close. Now that we got that out of the way let's spin this into a positive because it doesn't mean our theater options suddenly run dry for the next few months! Right now, companies located in a Western Massachusetts region called the Berkshires are preparing to deliver full-length seasons of theater compacted into just a few months.

Last night, April 27, The Public Theater officially opened the Mobile Unit's 60th Anniversary production of TWELFTH NIGHT, directed by Saheem Ali. In attendance for were Lupita Nyong'o, Jeff Hiller and more. BroadwayWorld has photos from the festivities below!

Due to strong advance sales, Cherry Lane Theatre will add three performances to Jocelyn Bioh's NOLLYWOOD DREAMS, the final presentation of its Obie award-winning MENTOR PROJECT. 

Williamstown Theatre Festival (Mandy Greenfield, Artistic Director) has announced additional details in casting for the 2017 summer season including, Cristin Milioti, Thomas Sadoski, Steven Pasquale, Cynthia Erivo, Alexandra Socha and many more to join.  Additional details on the popular Fridays@3 Reading Series have also been announced.  

On Monday night, April 24th, at its semi-annual Membership meeting, Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, the national theatrical union representing stage directors and choreographers across the United States, announced the 2016-2017 Top Ten "Standout Moments."

Ryan Jamaal Swain, Donnell E. Smith, Clinton Lowe and Sidiki Fofana will star in the award-winning playwright James Ijames' "Kill Move Paradise," opening at Dr. Barbara Ann Teer's National Black Theatre (NBT) this spring. The world premiere production is also the New York City debut of Ijames, a Whiting Award winner. Saheem Ali ("Nollywood," "The Booty Call," and "The Erlkings") will direct. The provocative production closes the historic theater's 48th season, "In Pursuit of Black Joy," and runs from May 31 through June 25.

The Public Theater will begin previews for the MOBILE UNIT's TWELFTH NIGHT on Monday, April 24. Directed by Saheem Ali, the sit-down run of Twelfth Night follows a free three-week tour to the five boroughs bringing Shakespeare to audiences who have limited or no access to the arts.

The Public's 60th Anniversary Mobile Unit production of TWELFTH NIGHT is currently on tour to correctional facilities, homeless centers, social service organizations, and other community venues in the five boroughs through April 22. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Cherry Lane Theatre will end its Obie award-winning MENTOR PROJECT 2017 season with Jocelyn Bioh's NOLLYWOOD DREAMS, directed by Saheem Ali and mentored by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins.

The Playwrights Realm, led by Founding Artistic Director Katherine Kovner and Producing Director Roberta Pereira, announces the lineup for INK'D, their annual festival of new plays.

F*It Club, the New York Innovative Award-winning film and theatre company, continues its annual series of short, commissioned world-premiere plays at the IRT Theater as part of their 3B Development Series in Manhattan's West Village with The Spring Fling: Rebound, seven new short plays by Ngozi Anyanwu (Good Grief), Lucy Boyle (The Blue Deep), Liza Birkenmeier (Radio Island), Ryan King (Burying Augustus), Dan Moyer (Half Moon Bay), Matthew Paul Olmos (So Go The Ghosts of Mexico), and Leah Nanako Winkler (Kentucky).

Manhattan Theatre Club has announced the lineup for this spring's Ted Snowdon Reading Series, formerly titled the Ernst C. Stiefel Reading Series.

Continuing its commitment to bringing free Shakespeare to the community and strengthening audience engagement with the arts, The Public Theater will mount its MOBILE UNIT again this spring with a free three-week tour to the five boroughs of Shakespeare's TWELFTH NIGHT, directed by Saheem Ali.

The Ghostlight Project will bring together over 500 participating organizations in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

On Today, January 19 at 5:30pm, Trinity Repertory Company will participate in a nationwide collective, simultaneous action: launching The Ghostlight Project.