Tarell Alvin McCraney News

PEN America will recognize Academy Award-winning writer-director Barry Jenkins with the Award for Screenplay Excellence at the 2018 LitFest Gala in Beverly Hills.

As part of the "Ailey Ascending" 60th Anniversary celebration, the Choreography Unlocked Festival of performance, conversation, and master classes will take place at Ailey's home across two weekends - October 12 - 14 & 26- 28. Building on the success of the New Directions Choreography Lab, created by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Artistic Director Robert Battle in 2011, the festival will elevate The Joan Weill Center for Dance's role in the community as a hub for creating and presenting new work and fostering the next generation of choreographers.  

OWN announced today new unscripted series that will join the network's successful Saturday night lineup: “Chad Loves Michelle,” “Family or Fiancé” and “Rocket City Revival” (working title). “Chad Loves Michelle” featuring Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child and Pastor Chad Johnson navigating the road from engagement to marriage will premiere Saturday, November 3 (9-10 p.m. ET/PT). 

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network announced today it has renewed for a fourth season its hit megachurch drama series “Greenleaf” from Lionsgate, award-winning writer/executive producer Craig Wright, and executive producers Clement Virgo, Kriss Turner Towner, and Oprah Winfrey. The series stars Merle Dandridge as Grace Greenleaf, Lynn Whitfield as Lady Mae Greenleaf, and Keith David as Bishop Greenleaf. Season three guest stars include the legendary Patti LaBelle as Maxine Patterson, Iyanla Vanzant appearing as herself, and Beau Bridges as Bob Whitmore.

Broadway Records and Yellow Sound Label today announced that The Beast in the Jungle (Original Score Recording) will be released digitally and in stores on Friday September 14, 2018. The album is currently available for pre-order at www.BroadwayRecords.com and Amazon.com.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announced today it will produce the world premiere of MS. BLAKK FOR PRESIDENT co-written by ensemble members Tina Landau (SpongeBob Squarepants: The Broadway Musical) and Tarell Alvin McCraney (Moonlight, Academy Award) as the sixth production in the 2018/19 season. Conceived by Tina Landau, she also directs this true and untold Chicago story that will star Tarell Alvin McCraney in the lead role. Previews begin May 23, 2019 (opening is June 3 at 7pm) and the production runs through July 14, 2019 in the Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N Halsted St. Press Performances are Monday, June 3 at 7pm and Wednesday, June 5 at 7:30pm. Single tickets ($20-$94) go on sale at a later date at 312-335-1650 or steppenwolf.org. Members have pre-sale ticket access.

Vineyard Theatre Artistic Directors Douglas Aibel and Sarah Stern announce complete cast for the New York premiere of Ngozi Anyanwu's GOOD GRIEF, directed by Awoye Timpo. Performances will begin at the Vineyard Theatre (108 East 15th Street) Thursday, October 11 with opening night set for Tuesday, October 30th.

Netflix acquires the global rights to Academy Award Winner Steven Soderbergh's HIGH FLYING BIRD.

The Green Room 42 - Broadway's newest intimate concert venue - will present Nathan Lee Graham, the singular Grammy Award winning performer from Zoolander, HBO's "The Comeback," Broadway's Priscilla and more, in the world premiere of his first evening of all theater music "All Things Bright and Beautiful: A Sondheim Salon" on Thursday, October 11 at 7:00 PM. From the dramatic ballads of Follies to the comedic highlights of Forum, Graham will perform a vividly creative cross-section of the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer's most beloved creations. After a whirlwind year in which Graham was nominated for a Lucile Lortel Award for the hit Off Broadway musical The View UpStairs to starring in the Fox TV series "LA to Vegas" opposite Dylan McDermott, Graham will present a romantic, 19th Century-style evening featuring songs such as "Loving You," "Bounce" and "Being Alive." He will be joined by musical director Tracy Stark on piano with Peter Calo on guitar. 

Artistic Directors Douglas Aibel and Sarah Stern announce that Jeremy O. Harris is the recipient of the 2018-19 Paula Vogel Playwriting Award. Mr. Harris will be presented with the award at The Vineyard's annual Emerging Artists Luncheon on Friday, October 12 from noon-2:30pm at the National Arts Club (15 Gramercy Park South) in Manhattan. Paula Vogel will speak at the event.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company Artistic Director Anna D. Shapiro announced today the addition of Rajiv Joseph and Karen Rodriguez to the world-renowned Steppenwolf ensemble. An Obie Award-wining and Pulitzer Prize finalist playwright, Rajiv Joseph's Guards at the Taj was produced at Steppenwolf this past May to great acclaim. Karen Rodriguez, a celebrated Chicago-based actor, recently performed at Steppenwolf in The Doppelganger (an international farce) and The Rembrandt, and will be featured in this season's world premiere of Isaac Gomez's La Ruta, in a role written specifically for her.

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network announced today the addition of five new cast members to the ensemble of its upcoming lyrical drama "David Makes Man," the television debut from Academy Award winner Tarell Alvin McCraney ("Moonlight"). Additionally, four directors have been tapped to helm episodes of the premiere season of the series which is produced by Warner Horizon Scripted Television.

Acclaimed director Ava DuVernay's short-form film entitled “August 28: A Day in the Life of a People” will make its national television debut on Tuesday, August 28 at 7 p.m. ET/PT on OWN. Starring Lupita Nyong'o, Angela Bassett, Don Cheadle, Regina King, David Oyelowo, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, André Holland, Michael Ealy and Glynn Turman, DuVernay's 22-minute scripted film uses a robust combination of both documentary and narrative techniques to transport viewers through six stunning historical moments that all actually occurred on the same day in various years.

To acknowledge her outstanding contribution to classical theatre in America, Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) will present Tony-Award winning actress, singer and stage director Phylicia Rashad with the prestigious William Shakespeare Award for Classical Theatre (Will Award).

Vineyard Theatre Artistic Directors Douglas Aibel and Sarah Stern announce dates and casting for the New York premiere of Ngozi Anyanwu's GOOD GRIEF, directed by Awoye Timpo. Performances will begin at the Vineyard Theatre (108 East 15th Street) Thursday, October 11 with opening night set for Tuesday, October 30th.

Broadway Records and Yellow Sound Label today announced that The Beast in the Jungle (Original Score Recording) will be released digitally and in stores on Friday September 14, 2018.

In memory of the legendary Aretha Franklin, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network will present a special re-airing of the Queen of Soul's 1999 television interview from “The Oprah Winfrey Show” this Saturday, August 18 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network announced today it has renewed for a fourth season Ava DuVernay's critically acclaimed original drama series “Queen Sugar,” from Warner Horizon Scripted Television, ahead of the extended 90-minute season three finale airing Wednesday, August 22 (10-11:30 p.m. ET/PT).

Victory Gardens Theater Artistic Director Chay Yew and Managing Director Erica Daniels announce the 2018/19 Season Directors Inclusion Initiates, to include Lauren Katz (Indecent), Mikael Burke (Rightlynd), N. Emil Thomas (Pipeline), Denise Yvette Serna (Cambodian Rock Band) and Ruby Des Jardins (Miriam for President).