Sidney Poitier News

It's a very lively crowd for a Sunday matinee but Theatre in the Round Players have quite a loyal following, so I'm not surprised. Just before the lights fade to black, I hear it and it was that moment I should've immediately knocked on wood. 'You can't go wrong with this theatre,' says a man to my right---famous last words.

Morgan Freeman will present the SAG 50th Life Achievement Award to Rita Moreno at the 20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

Theatre in the Round Players (TRP) presents Six Degrees of Separation by John Guare in weekend performances today, January 10 - February 2, 2014.

Inspired by a true story, this play follows the trail of a young black con man who charms his way into the lives of a wealthy New York couple. He first appears on their doorstep wounded, saying he's just been mugged in Central Park, and introduces himself as a friend of their children at Harvard - and the son of movie star Sidney Poitier. Intelligent, funny, at times disturbing, this comedy-drama is a compelling evening of theatre and was named by the New York Drama Critics' Circle as Best New Play of the Year.

In honor of the life and achievements of visionary leader Nelson Mandela, Starz and ENCORE will present a simulcast across the flagship stations today, December 14th starting at 12:00pm ET/PT, of three films depicting his life, including Mandela (documentary,1996), Mandela and De Klerk (feature, 1997), and Amandla! A Revolution in Four Part Harmony (music documentary, 2002). Starz IN BLACK will also air Mandela on Sunday, December 15th, at 9:00am and 2:45pm ET/PT and Amandla! A Revolution in Four Part Harmony at 1:00pm ET/PT. ENCORE BLACK will air Mandela and De Klerk on Sunday, December 15th at 11:00am and 4:45pm ET/PT.

In honor of the life and achievements of visionary leader Nelson Mandela, STARZ and ENCORE will present a simulcast across the flagship stations this Saturday, December 14th starting at 12:00pm ET/PT, of three films depicting his life, including Mandela (documentary,1996), Mandela and De Klerk (feature, 1997), and Amandla! A Revolution in Four Part Harmony (music documentary, 2002). STARZ IN BLACK will also air Mandela on Sunday, December 15th, at 9:00am and 2:45pm ET/PT and Amandla! A Revolution in Four Part Harmony at 1:00pm ET/PT. ENCORE BLACK will air Mandela and De Klerk on Sunday, December 15th at 11:00am and 4:45pm ET/PT.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater presents Guess Who's Coming to Dinner starring Malcolm-Jamal Warner (The Cosby Show, Malcolm and Eddie) in his Washington, D.C. theatrical debut as Dr. John Prentice. Under the direction of David Esbjornson (Broadway's Driving Miss Daisy and Arena's Red Hot Patriot starring Kathleen Turner), this heart-warming comedy features many of the same actors who appeared in the world premiere of the play by True Colors TheatreCompany in July 2012.The play is adapted from William Rose's screenplay for the 1967 film of the same name starring Sidney Poitier, Katharine Hepburnand Spencer Tracy about a young white woman in the 1960s introducing her family to her charming, accomplished and African-American fiance. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner runs November 29, 2013-January 5, 2014 in the Fichandler Stage. BroadwayWorld has a first look below!

The ABFF (American Black Film Festival) today announced that it is reviving the Black Movie Awards (BMA), which recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of persons of African descent in the motion picture industry, as an Internet-based awards presentation.

Tune in tomorrow, Wednesday, December 11, 2013 at 12:35 PM (ET) to join in the celebration with 'Mr. Showbusiness' on Jimmy Ferraro's THEATRE CHAT AND THIS 'N THAT, broadcasting live on WWJB -- regionally and nationally on the world wide web: www.wwjb.com/pages/4395150.php. This week's guests are actress Crystal Fox and playwright Joe Gilford.

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner is a thought-provoking play that challenges us by asking pointed questions regarding equality and love in a heart-warming production at Arena Stage.

A new exhibition, Twice Militant: Lorraine Hansberry's Letters to 'The Ladder,' examines a lesser-known aspect of the life of the award-winning author of the landmark play A Raisin in the Sun, who died in 1965 at the age of thirty-four. The exhibition features documents and publications addressing Hansberry's identification as a feminist and a lesbian, and will be on view in the Herstory Gallery of the Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art from today, November 22, 2013, through March 16, 2014.

One Hundred and Twenty-Five years ago this New Year's Eve, America's most celebrated actor, Edwin Booth gave the Deed of 16 Gramercy Park South to The Players. The Players tradition has been to read the deed in front of the Great Hall fire place echoing back to Edwin Booth and the Founding Members. This year, this tradition continues along with live music, dancing, and more festivities as The Players kicks off a new era, sharing a toast to its founders and celebrating 125 years at 'A Certain Club.'

The Palm Springs Cultural Center announces a new addition to its annual line-up of cultural programs and special events -- The Stanley Kramer Film Festival will debut at Camelot Theatres today, November 15th and run through Sunday, November 17th. The 2013 event, which is designed to coincide with other Stanley Kramer Centennial events taking place this year, will include special screenings of six of Stanley Kramer's best-known films. It will also feature special events, and special appearances with actress Karen Sharpe Kramer, Stanley Kramer's widow, and his daughter, the actress and singer, Katharine 'Kat' Kramer.

Oscar Micheaux: A Self-Made Man, a new release from The Hollywood Press, brings the story of America's greatest African American filmmakers to life. The book is designed for everyone who loves movies and would like to introduce young audiences to the history of film. The illustrated soft cover book provides insightful glimpses into the lives and work of African American filmmakers, memorable screen icons and less familiar figures.

HBO Documentary Films presents a weekly series this fall, debuting provocative new specials every Monday, now through December 9. Featuring recently unearthed photographs, rediscovered performance footage and the words of entertainers and historians, WHOOPI GOLDBERG PRESENTS MOMS MABLEY includes interviews with Eddie Murphy, Joan Rivers, Sidney Poitier, Kathy Griffin, Harry Belafonte, Bill Cosby, Quincy Jones, Arsenio Hall, Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, who emphasize how Mabley paved the way for female comedians and performers everywhere in provocative stand-up routines that challenged racism, sexism and ageism. WHOOPI GOLDBERG PRESENTS MOMS MABLEY debuts as part of the HBO Documentary Films Fall Series on Monday, November 18. Watch a promo for the doc below!

Often referred to as 'the funniest woman in the world,' the iconic African-American standup comedienne Jackie 'Moms' Mabley broke racial and sexual boundaries and continues to inspire comedians to this day. In her directorial film debut, a modern-day comedy favorite pays homage to this pioneering talent when WHOOPI GOLDBERG PRESENTS MOMS MABLEY debuts MONDAY, NOV. 18 (9:00-10:15 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces the full company for Guess Who's Coming to Dinner starring Malcolm-Jamal Warner (The Cosby Show, Malcolm and Eddie) in his Washington, D.C. theatrical debut as Dr. John Prentice. Under the direction of David Esbjornson (Broadway's Driving Miss Daisy and Arena's Red Hot Patriot starring Kathleen Turner), this heart-warming comedy features many of the same actors who appeared in the world premiere of the play by True Colors Theatre Company in July 2012. Kenny Leon, who collaborated with playwright Todd Kreidler on the world premiere and was previously announced to direct for Arena Stage, withdrew from the project due to an unforeseen conflict. The play is adapted from William Rose's screenplay for the 1967 film of the same name starring Sidney Poitier, Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy about a young white woman in the 1960s introducing her family to her charming, accomplished and African-American fiance. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner runs November 29, 2013-January 5, 2014 in the Fichandler Stage.

The New-York Historical Society ha just announced events for November 2013. For more information, contact the Communications Office at (212) 485-9263. All programs are presented at the New-York Historical Society unless otherwise noted. Sign up for our RSS feeds at http://www.nyhistory.org/rss-feeds.

The Palm Springs Cultural Center announces a new addition to its annual line-up of cultural programs and special events -- The Stanley Kramer Film Festival will debut at Camelot Theatres on Friday, November 15th and run through Sunday, November 17th. The 2013 event, which is designed to coincide with other Stanley Kramer Centennial events taking place this year, will include special screenings of six of Stanley Kramer's best-known films. It will also feature special events, and special appearances with actress Karen Sharpe Kramer, Stanley Kramer's widow, and his daughter, the actress and singer, Katharine "Kat" Kramer.

Stage and screen star Whoopi Goldberg was on hand at the BIG FISH opening last night, and while she was there she chatted with Richard Ridge about her upcoming projects. When asked if she would be returning to Broadway soon, she responded: 'Eventually I think I probably will, but it's gonna be a little while. I've just finished a documentary on Moms Mabley, so that would probably be the next thing that I would do on a stage.'