Vanessa Bell News

Flushing Town Hall’s popular series, Mini-Global Mashups, will present another installment this summer on Sunday, July 24 at 1 PM EST with its Gospel Meets Côte d’Ivoire concert. 

Funded by The Black Seed, the African-American Shakespeare Company & The CRAFT Institute have come together to form the African Diasporic Network that will debut Echoes of Us: Now and Always July 15-17 at the Marines Memorial Theatre. 

AllBlk has greenlit the supernatural drama Wicked City from executive producers Tressa 'Azarel' Smallwood and Donte Lee set to debut this winter.

A protégée of Quincy Jones and mentored by Stevie Wonder, singer Sheléa graces The Wallis stage with her one-nighter Pretty World: Through the Eyes of Alan & Marilyn Bergman June 25, 2022. Sheléa shared remembrances of her many high-profile events in her life leading up to her Bergmans tribute.

Manny Halley has released the trailer for 'A Holiday Chance', which stars Sharon Leal, Nafessa Williams, Amin Joseph, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Richard Lawson and Tobias Truvillion. Watch the new trailer now!

Set in the lush and royal country of Zamunda, newly-crowned King Akeem (Eddie Murphy) and his trusted confidante Semmi(Arsenio Hall) embark on an all-new hilarious adventure that has them traversing the globe from their great African nation to the borough of Queens, New York – where it all began.

In recognition of World AIDS Day, December 1st, the Black Leadership AIDS Crisis Coalition (BLACC), an initiative of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the worlds largest, non-profit public health organization addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic, is utilizing the power of the arts and social media to bring greater awareness to the HIV/AIDS epidemic and its disproportionate impact on Black Americans.

a??a??a??a??a??a??a??City of Hope's Health Justice Council will host the inaugural Dine In for Health Justice, a month-long virtual event designed as a CALL TO ACTION to raise awareness and funds for crucial health care issues facing minority communities. Dine In encourages friends and family to organize virtual dinner parties a?" or lunch or breakfast, for that matter a?" beginning Saturday, Sept. 26, and continuing through the month of October. 

Back by popular demand, Obie award-winning actor and writer Roger Guenveur Smith (Do The Right Thing) returns to the stage-- virtually -- with his new solo performance, OTTO FRANK, a historical account of the father of Anne Frank.

WACO Theater Center, Los Angeles's premiere non-profit gallery and cultural center, announced it will host a Virtual Celebration to raise funds for its programs and families impacted by COVID-19. 

The Richard Lawson Studios is continuing its new Master Class series with veteran actors Vanessa Bell Calloway and Keith David, as well as award-winning director/writer/actor Lily Mariye. Classes will take place every Saturday morning at 10 AM PST.

In case you were unable to join us for the live stream, or if youa??d like to revisit the powerful new works by some of Broadway and Hollywooda??s most vital voices, we invite you to watch #WhileWeBreathe, recorded live on Wednesday, July 29.

Producers Brian Moreland (Blue) and Arvind Ethan David (Jagged Little Pill) have announced #WhileWeBreathe: A Night of Creative Protest.

Producers Brian Moreland and Arvind Ethan David have announced casting for #WhileWeBreathe: A Night of Creative Protest in benefit of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc and The Bail Project, Black Organizing for Leadership and Dignity (BOLD), BYP100 Education Fund, Forced Trajectory Project (FTP), The Justice Committee, and SONG.

The AUDELCO and Obie-Award-winning Billie Holiday Theatre will present a special virtual edition of its popular 50in50 monologue showcase series with the highly anticipated 50in50:Letters to Our Sons as part of its new #StayAtHome Reading Series, an innovative online play reading series.

Back by popular demand, Obie award-winning actor and writer Roger Guenveur Smith returns to Bootleg Theatre with his new solo performance, OTTO FRANK, a historical account of the father of Anne Frank. The performances will take place March 26 - April 5. 

The 28th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards® Viewing Party with Netflix's Queer Eye Fab Five: Bobby Berk, Tan France, Karamo, Antoni Porowski and Jonathan Van Ness raised over $6.4 million for the global effort to end AIDS. The gala, which took place on Sunday, February 9 at West Hollywood Park in Los Angeles was generously supported by Presenting Sponsors IMDb, Walmart and Neuro Drinks and the Event  Hosts Heidi Klum, Diane Lane, Eric McCormack and Billy Porter.

In celebration of Black History Month, Focus Features and Regal have partnered to offer free screenings of HARRIET in 50 theatres around the United States on Tuesday, February 4, and Tuesday, February 11.  The film depicts the life of one of history's most courageous African American heroes, Harriet Tubman, bringing her story to the big screen for the very first time. For her work as the titular role of Harriet, Cynthia Erivo has been nominated for two Academy Awards®, for Best Actress and Best Original Song for a?oeStand Up,a?? which she co-wrote with Joshuah Brian Campbell. 

Season six American Idol finalist and recording artist Melinda Doolittle is set to return with her show Great American Soul Book to Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood for one performance only on Wednesday, February 5, at 8:30pm, it was announced today by Chris Isaacson Presents and Catalina.

Follow the inspirational journey of one of the bravest people and heroes in history, Harriet Tubman, as she risks her life to save others from the horrors of slavery in HARRIET, arriving on Digital January 14, 2020 and Blu-rayi??, DVD and On Demand on January 28, 2020 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. With a 97% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes®, HARRIET on Blu-rayi??, DVD and Digital has a variety of compelling bonus features, including deleted scenes, a deeper look into Harriet Tubman's story, and feature commentary with director and co-writer Kasi Lemmons. The captivating and emotional story of courage, HARRIET has been nominated for two 2020 Golden Globe® awards including Best Actress in a Drama for Cynthia Erivo and Best Original Song for a?oeStand Upa?? which was co-written by film star Erivo and Joshuah Campbell. Additionally, the film was nominated for a SAG Award® and a Critics Choice Award, earning a total of three Best Actress nominations.