The Public Theatre News

Leslie Odom Jr. shares some of his favorite Sam Cooke songs that have inspired him throughout his life and while taking on the role of Sam in the film, One Night In Miami.

THE WAY SHE SPOKE is a haunting, visceral piece that digs for the roots of an epidemic of violence that has resulted in the murders of thousands of women and gives voice to a community rendered silent by fear. Michelle Lopez-Rios returned to Milwaukee for this powerful one-woman performance that blurs reality as she shares harrowing details of the fates of las desaparecidas, the vanished women of Ciudad Juárez.

Discovering Broadway hosted the six-person creative team February 7th at the Hotel Carmichael in Carmel, IN, and according to the producer of the show, three-time Tony Award Winner Kevin McCollum, the retreat provided an unrivaled opportunity for his all-star team to collaborate and spur innovation.

The four Associate Designers of Hamilton the Musical are this week's guests on the 4Wall Sunday Roundtable. Hosts Drew Quinones and Jeff Croiter are joined by Jason Crystal (sound), Angela Kahler (costume), Rod Lemmond (set), Ryan J. O'Gara (lights), all of whom have been involved in every Hamilton production to date, starting at The Public Theatre. 

Theatre Now New York, a non-profit artists service organization and theatre company dedicated to supporting musical theatre writers, has established a new National Musical Writers Group which will bring together lyricists and composers from across the nation.

Inspired by the success from their safe drive-in performances of La bohème in the Fall, which heralded the return of live, in-person, opera to San Diego County since the start of the pandemic, and provided over 300 jobs to many, San Diego Opera has announced a Spring season of safe, socially-distanced, drive-in performances.

Theatre Now New York has established a new National Musical Writers Group which will bring together lyricists and composers from across the nation. The inaugural group members include: Jason Aguirre and Adam J. Rineer (Philadelphia); Mark Evan Chimsky (Portland, ME) and Zev Burrows (New York City); Ann E. Eskridge and Alton James (Detroit) & more.

Producer Mark Cortale has announced that six stars of the stage and screen will join the late-February - March 2021 line-up of The Seth Concert Series, the live weekly series based on Seth Rudetsky’s international Broadway series that began at The Art House in Provincetown ten years ago.

Joyful and heartbreaking, I AND YOU carries an uplifting message for anyone currently feeling isolated and disconnected. One year later, this unforgettable play has become more timely and satisfying than ever.

Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts, in partnership with Eastville Community Historical Society and the Southampton African American Museum, is pleased to announce the online world premiere of In Case You Hadn't Heard: A Conversation Between America's Past And Its Promise, a provocative view of race in America, on Monday, February 22, at 8 p.m. EST at baystreet.org.

The Public Theatre has announced it has sold all of its 300 raffle tickets earlier than expected and has pulled the winning ticket. The grand prize of $1,500 has been awarded to Bette Thibeault of Lewiston.

The full length plays of UNDER CONSTRUCTION 1 are just that...still 'Under Construction.' This is the result of the playwrights one year commitment to the workshop.

Ithaca, NEW YORK, (February 2021) Ithaca College Hillel and Kyle Friedman (Ithaca College '23) present a fundraiser reading of Rye Bread, a new play written by Audrey Lang (Ithaca College '20, Pride Plays) and directed by Britt Berke (The 24 Hour Plays: Nationals).

There's a baby on the way! Leslie Odom, Jr. celebrates his wife's pregnancy (their baby boy is due in March!), and Kelly pitches him a potential baby name. Plus, Leslie shares his excitement over playing Sam Cooke in the Amazon Prime film 'One Night in Miami.'

Leslie Odom Jr. has been announced as winner of the Palm Springs Film Festival Spotlight Award for his portrayal of Sam Cooke in 'One Night in Miami.' 

The Cultural Access Network Project, a project of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and New Jersey Theatre Alliance, has announced the 2021 Line up of “Access Thursdays,” an annual spring series of monthly educational opportunities for the arts and culture field.

Future Spotlight Productions today announce the UK and European première of the new musical In Pieces by Joey Contreras as a feature film, directed by Louis Rayneau. The film will be released online for a limited time only in support of LGBT Foundation, from 23 April 2021. Ticket information and casting will be announced shortly.

Red Bull Theater today announced that submissions will begin for their 11th annual festival of 10-minute plays of heightened language and classic themes. Six brand new plays, inspired by this year’s theme: “Restoration,” will be selected through an open submission process to premiere alongside commissions from C. A. Johnson and José Rivera.

'Hamilton' Tony winner Leslie Odom Jr. performed the song 'Speak Now' from 'One Night in Miami' on Jimmy Kimmel Live last night.

Page 73 today announced its 2021-2022 group of Interstate 73 residents. The 2021-2022 Interstate 73 residents are Heidi Armbruster, Jahna Ferron-Smith, Dylan Guerra, Roger Q. Mason, April Ranger, Scott R. Sheppard, juliany taveras, and Max Yu.