Woodie King, Jr. News

Woodie King Jr's New Federal Theatre kicks off its 44th season with the first play of 'The Ed Bullins Project' - two revivals from his 'Twentieth Century Cycle of Plays' - IN THE WINE TIME, to be followed by The Fabulous Miss Marie this spring. In The Wine Time, directed by Mansoor Najee-ullah, will begin performances October 25th at Castillo Theater (543 West 42nd Street), continuing through November 24th. Opening Night is set for Thursday November 7th.

Woodie King Jr's New Federal Theatre announces the cast for the second play of its ambitious 44th season, Richard Abrons' Every Day A Visitor,which will begin performances November 2nd at The Clurman Theater (at Theater Row) and continuing through December 14th. Opening Night is set for Thursday November 14th.

Woodie King Jr's New Federal Theatre kicks off its 44th season with the first play of 'The Ed Bullins Project' - two revivals from his 'Twentieth Century Cycle of Plays' - In The Wine Time, to be followed by The Fabulous Miss Marie this spring. In The Wine Time, directed by Mansoor Najee-ullah, will begin performances October 25th at Castillo Theater (543 West 42nd Street), continuing through November 24th. Opening Night is set forThursday November 7th.

Woodie King Jr's New Federal Theatre kicks off its 44th season with 'The Ed Bullins Project' - two revivals from his 'Twentieth Century Cycle of Plays' - In The Wine Time and The Fabulous Miss Marie. Bullins, winner of the prestigious NY Drama Critics' Circle Award and OBIE Award for The Taking of Miss Janie, has greatly influenced American theatre, especially Black theatre. His work, characterized by disdain for ineffective political rhetoric as a substitute for action, most often examines the lives of Black people in the inner city. In 1968, Clive Barnes, writing in the New York Times called Bullins 'a welcome addition to the ranks of New York playwrights.' Four years later, Barnes added 'Bullins writes the way Charlie Parker played: It is all so easy and effortless. It sounds improvised, and yet it doesn't sound improvised, simply because it is the improvisation of formality.' Today, Bullins is regarded as a seminal force in the American theater.

This year's Edwin Booth Award will be presented to the legendary theatre director and producer Woodie King, Jr., founding director of the pioneering African-American theatrical production and training institution New Federal Theatre. The New Federal Theater integrates minorities and women into the mainstream of the profession through artistic training and play production. Mr. King will be present to receive the award. The event takes place May 6th at the Martin E. Segal Theatre Center (MESTC) of The Graduate Center of City University of NY.

Woodie King Jr's New Federal Theatre, in association with Castillo Theatre, will present Plenty of Time by John Shevin Foster at the Castillo Theatre (543 West 42nd Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues.). Performances begin April 4th with Opening Night set for Thursday, April 18th. Performances continue through May 5th only.

Woodie King Jr's New Federal Theatre, in association with Castillo Theatre, will present Plenty of Time by John Shevin Foster at the Castillo Theatre (543 West 42nd Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues.). Performances begin April 4th with Opening Night set for Thursday, April 18th. Performances continue through May 5th only.

Woodie King Jr's New Federal Theatre, in association with Castillo Theatre, will present Sowa's Red Gravy by Diane Richards at Castillo Theatre (543 West 42nd Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues.). Performances begin tomorrow, October 18th with Opening Night set for Sunday, October 28th. Performances continue through November 18th only. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!

Woodie King Jr's New Federal Theatre, in association with Castillo Theatre, will present Sowa's Red Gravy by Diane Richards at Castillo Theatre (543 West 42nd Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues.). Performances begin Thursday October 18th with Opening Night set for Sunday, October 28th. Performances continue through November 18th only.

Producing theater companies Liberation Theatre Company, Woodie King Jr.'s National Black Touring Circuit, and SOUL PROductions have teamed up to present Eric Lockley's hilarious affirmative action comedy, Blacken The Bubble at The HSA Theater (645 Saint Nicholas Avenue). Blacken The Bubble will officially open tonight, October 13, 2012 at 7:00 pm.

The National Theatre Conference (NTC), an organization founded in 1925 that meets annually in New York to discuss relevant issues in today's theatre community and to celebrate outstanding achievement in the American theatre, has named the recipients of its 2012 awards. Broadway producer Elizabeth McCann has been named Person of the Year; the New Federal Theatre, under the direction of its founder, Woodie King, Jr., is the recipient of the Theatre of the Year Award; and playwright Dominique Morisseau has been selected as the winner of the Barrie and Bernice Stavis Playwright Award. All three will be presented with their awards and honored at the Players and at Signature Theatre during NTC's annual conference in New York October 26-28, 2012.

Woodie King Jr's New Federal Theatre, in association with Castillo Theatre, will present Sowa's Red Gravy by Diane Richards at Castillo Theatre (543 West 42nd Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues.). Performances begin October 18th with Opening Night set for Sunday, October 28th. Performances continue through November 18th only.

Producing theater companies Liberation Theatre Company, Woodie King Jr.'s National Black Touring Circuit, and SOUL PROductions have teamed up to present Eric Lockley's hilarious affirmative action comedy, Blacken The Bubble at The HSA Theater (645 Saint Nicholas Avenue). Blacken The Bubble will begin preview performances October 11, 2012 and will officially open October 13, 2012 at 7:00 pm.

The All Stars Project Groundbreakers Awards were presented to Katori Hall, Broadway playwright, for her work in helping to open doors for new voices in the American theatre and Woodie King, Jr., Founder and Producing Director, New Federal Theatre for his pioneering efforts and outstanding accomplishments in Black theatre. Katori Hall's play Children of Killers will make its American premiere at the Castillo Theatre in September 2012. Groundbreaker Awardees also included David C. Banks, President and CEO, Eagle Academy Foundation, Valerie and William Bell, Founders, Sean Elijah Bell Community Center and Anderson J. Franklin, Ph.D. Honorable David S. Nelson Professor of Psychology and Education, Boston College. See below for a photo of the All Stars Gala's participants, honorees and attendees!

The All Stars Project Groundbreakers Awards will be presented to Katori Hall, Broadway playwright, for her work in helping to open doors for new voices in the American theatre and Woodie King, Jr., Founder and Producing Director, New Federal Theatre for his pioneering efforts and outstanding accomplishments in Black theatre.

The All Stars Project Groundbreakers Awards will be presented to Katori Hall, Broadway playwright, for her work in helping to open doors for new voices in the American theatre and Woodie King, Jr., Founder and Producing Director, New Federal Theatre for his pioneering efforts and outstanding accomplishments in Black theatre.

Woodie King Jr's New Federal Theatre, in association with Castillo Theatre, presents Court-Martial at Fort Devensby Jeffrey Sweet at the Castillo Theatre (543 West 42nd Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues.). Performances are through April 1st only.

Woodie King Jr's New Federal Theatre, in association with Castillo Theatre, will present Court-Martial at Fort Devensby Jeffrey Sweet at the Castillo Theatre (543 West 42nd Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues.). Performances begin March 8th with Opening Night set for Sunday, March 18th. Performances continue through April 1st only.

In celebration of the life and work of Woodie King Jr., founder and Artistic Director of The New Federal Theatre, four emerging theatre companies have organized a special conversation with Mr. King to recognize his legacy and impact on the black theatre community.

In celebration of the life and work of Woodie King Jr., founder and Artistic Director of The New Federal Theatre, four emerging theatre companies have organized a special conversation with Mr. King to recognize his legacy and impact on the black theatre community.