Walter Lee News

What makes the current production at the Ruskin Group Theatre in Santa Monica so special is its Tony Award winning director Lita Gaithers Owens cast Tony Award nominee Starletta DuPois as Lena "Mama" Younger. DuPois has a long history with A RAISIN IN THE SUN having first been cast as Beneatha, then became known for her role as Ruth in the acclaimed American Playhouse film version, and now Mama. "A true gift at this point in my career is having experienced the life of this play through three extraordinary women characters that the playwright created," DuPois shared. In fact, her emotional and physical understanding of the role so central to the play was thrilling to experience as her entire physical presence totally embodied Mama right down to every moment of her joys, heartbreak, anger, and love for her children, as if DuPois was channeling Mama from her very soul.

With former Tennessee Titan Eddie George, Jenny Littleton of The Doyle and Debbie Show, founding Rep actor Jackie Welch, a collection of audience favorites, and some intriguing new faces added to the mix, Nashville Repertory's five-show season for 2016-17 tackles the many dimensions of love: commitment, dilemma, risk, joy, and disappointment.

Ruskin Group Theatre Opens A RAISIN IN THE SUN Featuring Starletta DuPois - Begins July 22nd in Los Angeles

Kentwood Players, the community theater group based at the Westchester Playhouse, was founded in December 1949 by Jan and Arky Marcom, for whom the group's annual Marcom Masque Awards are named. The first Marcom Masque Awards were presented for the 1957-1958 season with 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' winning the award for Best Play.

Prior to my attendance at Dallas Theater Center's DREAMGIRLS this weekend, my familiarity with the show was based on the 2006 motion picture and the 2001 Actors Fund concert recording (not to mention the Tony Awards clip featuring Jennifer Holliday). Basically knowing only the film, I had often considered how smoothly the stage show could handle the onstage to backstage transitions, given the fast-paced musical score it followed. And, although the DTC production offers a slick, seamless interpretation of the piece, I'm afraid I left the theatre with the impression that the (gasp) movie adaptation was superior to the stage version. That being said, there are still many reasons to head to the Wyly to see this production.

Dallas Theater Center announced today complete details for the award-winning hit musical Dreamgirls. This modern-day classic is led by director and DTC Associate Artistic Director Joel Ferrell. Dreamgirls will begin with a Pay-What-You-Can performance on Friday, June 10 and will run through Sunday, July 24. Press Night will be Friday, June 17 at 8 p.m. Tickets to Dreamgirls are on sale now at www.DallasTheaterCenter.org and by phone at (214) 880-0202.

February 1, 1960--North Carolina State University students protested when the administration wouldn't let a black male's name appear on the ballot for student body president. May 15, 1962-Students at the University of Mississippi rioted over the lack of equal rights for black students. April 13, 1964-Riots erupted in Los Angeles regarding discriminatory ways of how police treated African Americans.

Ground-breaking American play A Raisin in the Sun begins its UK tour in the Studio Theatre from Thursday 28 January to Saturday 13 February. 

Kentwood Players proudly welcomed Mamie Hansberry, the sister of "A RAISIN IN THE SUN" playwright Lorraine Hansberry, to their production of the classic family drama on Sunday, January 10, 2016. Ms. Hansberry attended the play with several family members and shared how proud her entire family is of "everyone who has ever been a part of it." She has seen hundreds of productions in the past six decades and remarked that each member of the Kentwood Players cast "brought their own unique understanding and insights into her sister's remarkable characters."

The New Colony will launch its 2016 Season with the world premiere of the racially charged family drama BYHALIA, MISSISSIPPI, by Co-Artistic Director Evan Linder, directed by Tyrone Phillips and co-produced with Definition Theatre Company.

Kentwood Players proudly presents Lorraine Hansberry's classic family drama "A RAISIN IN THE SUN" from Friday, January 8 through Saturday, February 13, 2016, with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm at the Westchester Playhouse, located at 8301 Hindry Avenue in Westchester, CA 90045. The production is directed by Harold Dershimer. Here's your first look at the cast! The production directed by Harold Dershimer and produced by Kathy Dershimer by special arrangement with Samuel French. Featured in the cast in alphabetical order are Rashod Davenport, Ruth Featherstone, Lawrence Hatcher, Daniel Kruger, Jean Michels, Patricia Newman, Shannon O'Connor, Damon Rutledge, Isaiah Suber, and Charlotte Williams.

Pear Theatre continues its 2015/2016 season with the two-person, Olivier Award-winning play from Katori Hall, THE MOUNTAINTOP. Deeply moving, THE MOUNTAINTOP creatively imagines the last night in the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, set in Memphis in April, 1968. King meets the attractive, spunky motel maid Camae, who arrives to provide room service - but we soon discover she is no ordinary chambermaid. The production features Michael Wayne Rice as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Nathalie Autumn Bennett as Camae. Preview night is January 14th; Press and Opening Night is January 15th, with a champagne gala following the show. The run continues through January 31. All performances are held at the Pear Theatre's new space at 1110 La Avenida St., Mountain View. For tickets ($10-$35) and information the public may visit www.thepear.org or call (650) 254-1148.

The New Colony will launch its 2016 Season with the world premiere of the racially charged family drama BYHALIA, MISSISSIPPI, by Co-Artistic Director Evan Linder, directed by Tyrone Phillips and co-produced with Definition Theatre Company.

Explosive rock 'n' rollers Rockett Queen will take their high energy show on the road in early 2016 as direct support to former Creed vocalist Scott Stapp.

The New Colony is pleased to launch its 2016 Season with the world premiere of the racially charged family drama BYHALIA, MISSISSIPPI, by Co-Artistic Director Evan Linder, directed by Tyrone Phillips and co-produced with Definition Theatre Company.

Sheffield Theatres' Artistic Director Daniel Evans today announces the company's most ambitious season to date. Highlights include three world premieres - of new plays from Richard Bean (One Man, Two Guvnors), Chris Bush and a co-production with Third Angel, a new British musical, Flowers For Mrs Harris, by Richard Taylor and Rachel Wagstaff, a regional premiere of Mike Bartlett's (Bull, Doctor Foster) Contractions and two major new productions of 20th century classics - A Raisin In The Sun and Waiting For Godot.

The first season of HBO's drama THE LEFTOVERS was one of the most divisive 10 episodes in recent television history. Supporters hailed it as a dark and intelligent allegory for surviving trauma, while detractors slammed it as 'grief porn.' However, Season 2 has been able to maintain the show's intense mystery, while creating a more thrilling, less depressing, motif. One of the major changes was the introduction of Erika and John Murphy and their twin teenagers. Erika, played by recent Emmy-winner Regina King, is a hearing-impaired doctor, while her husband, played by Kevin Carroll (Broadway's ANGELS IN AMERICA, TAKE ME OUT, and more) is a convicted felon turned vigilante fire captain.

The Colony Theatre is thrilled to present the second production of its 41st season, the West Coast Premiere of THE BEST OF ENEMIES by Mark St. Germain, directed by David Rose. THE BEST OF ENEMIES will preview tonight, September 16; Thursday, September 17; and Friday, September 18 at 8:00pm. It will open on Saturday, September 19 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, October 18.

The Colony Theatre is thrilled to present the second production of its 41st season, the West Coast Premiere of THE BEST OF ENEMIES by Mark St. Germain, directed by David Rose.  THE BEST OF ENEMIES will preview on Wednesday, September 16; Thursday, September 17; and Friday, September 18 at 8:00pm. It will open on Saturday, September 19 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, October 18.