Sidney Poitier News

...it is as fine a theatrical treatment of this oft-produced - not though not oft enough - play as I’ve ever seen

Emmy Award winning screen writer and director Todd Robinson is known for his work on White Squall, Lonely Hearts, The Last Full Measure and more. But a little known fact about Robinson is that he was the college roommate and best friend of Jonathan Larson.

The Paley Center for Media announces today its month-long celebration of Black History Month,  Paley Center's Salute to Black Achievements in Television presented by Citi. The Paley Center is celebrating the legacy of achievements of iconic Black on-screen talent, creatives, and influencers in television, past and present, from Saturday, February 5 through Sunday, February 27 at the Paley Museum in New York City.

The Vancouver International Film Festival announced this year’s Black History Month programme, taking place at the VIFF Centre throughout February. Black History Month at VIFF offers audiences an opportunity to engage with Black stories from a range of Black voices from around the world, as well as the richness of international nuanced and empowered Black filmmaking.

To commemorate the life of prolific actor, director and cultural icon Sidney Poitier, the Committee of Theatre Owners will dim the lights of Broadway theatres in New York for one minute on Wednesday, January 19 at exactly 7:45PM.

Today's top stories include a potential Broadway revival of Chess! On a recent episode of his podcast, lyricist Tim Rice revealed not only that plans for a Broadway revival of Chess are underway, but also his hopes of eventually turning the 1984 musical into a movie.

Denzel Washington appeared on the Today Show this morning to discuss his performance in Joel Coen's new film adaption of The Tragedy of Macbeth. Washington also discussed playing Othello when he was in school at Fordham, working with Frances McDormand, and his friendship with the late Sidney Poitier. Watch the new interview with Hoda Kotb now!

This year will feature an exhilarating blend of beloved productions, including Million Dollar Quartet, West Side Story, and Mamma Mia! The popular Music on the Rock® series, Studio 52 Family Programming, and a brand new Black Box series round out the 2022 season and mark a renewed beginning for FRP after a long pandemic shutdown. 

Poitier made history as the first African American actor to win an Academy Award for Best Actor for Lilies of the Field in 1963. Poitier was seen on Broadway in A Raisin in the Sun, Anna Lucasta, and Lysistrata. His life is set to be the subject of an upcoming play, titled Sidney, directed by Tony-winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson.

Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation announced today that is it now accepting applications from host theatres for the 2022 Lloyd Richards New Futures Residency program until February 4, 2022.

On Thursday, January 6, Arts Garage launches an hysterical new comedy series The Art of Laughter, kicking off with TV, Film and Comedy Club superstar Jimmie “JJ” Walker. The new series will run quarterly on First Thursdays and will feature some of the best touring comedians from South Florida and beyond.

Today's top stories include two new casting changes in Wicked! Brittney Johnson and Jordan Barrow will take over the roles of Glinda and Boq, respectfully, making them the first Black actors to take over the principal roles.

Marjorie Waldo, President & CEO of Arts Garage, today announced an hysterical new comedy series, The Art of Laughter, launching on January 6 with TV, Film and Comedy Club superstar Jimmie “JJ” Walker. The new series will run quarterly on First Thursdays and will feature some of the best touring comedians from South Florida and beyond.

For the first time ever, Ronald Rand allows us to enter into his two-hour transformation as he embodies 79-year-old Harold Clurman, the 'Elder Statesman of the American Theatre,' as he brings him to life in his world-acclaimed solo play, LET IT BE ART! performing in 25 countries and twenty states.

The legendary life of Academy Award-winning actor, filmmaker, activist and human-rights trailblazer Sidney Poitier set to be a new Broadway play produced by Ron Gillyard (Born for This, Mr. Soul); Poitier's daughter, filmmaker Anika Poitier; and Barry Krost. 

Marjorie Waldo, President & CEO of Arts Garage, today announced an hysterical new comedy series, The Art of Laughter, launching on January 6 with TV, Film and Comedy Club superstar Jimmy “JJ” Walker.

The highly anticipated opening of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will finally be happening when the Academy Museum open its doors to the general public September 30, 2021. Located at the corner of Fairfax Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard, the former site of the May Company Department store, the Academy Museum has added a spherical extension designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano with the Renzo Piano Building Workshop. The 300,000 square foot Academy Museum houses more than 50,000 square feet of gallery space, offices, two movie theatres, and a 10,000 square foot grand lobby just named in honor of Sir Sidney Poitier. Had to chance to extract some preview details of the Academy Museum from Amy Homma, the Academy Museum’s Senior Director of Education and Public Engagement.

Amidst its active season of live outdoor programming and events, the Hermitage Artist Retreat is launching a new virtual series spotlighting the brilliant curators and Hermitage alumni who have developed their work and craft in residence at the Hermitage.

With the long-running Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope, in which she also starred, she became the first woman to win a Grammy Award for the score of a Broadway musical. She also received Tony nominations for book, music, and lyrics. Another Grammy nomination for the score (with Alex Bradford) of Your Arms Too Short to Box with God followed, as well as another Tony nomination for the score of Working.

Hollywood Museum founder Donelle Dadigan headed a re-opening ceremony of her Hollywood Museum August 4, 2021; commemorating the donated additional props from Bill and Patrick Shea to the Back to the Future Part I, II, III exhibit. On behalf of the Museum and the Shea father and son, Donelle presented a $5,000 check to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which Michael accepted via video.