Woodie King News

In conjunction with a production of playwright Lorraine Hansberry's final work, The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window, Goodman Theatre presents a Lorraine Hansberry Celebration (April 30 - June 5), curated by Goodman Resident Director Chuck Smith.

SUGAR RAY by Laurence Holder, directed by Woodie King Jr. and performed by Reginald L. Wilson, had been extended through April 26 at New Harlem Besame Restaurant in Harlem but will now close April 12, 2016. Upon closing, the show will have played 22 performances.

Broadwayworld.com interviewed Ricardo Kahn about his career and the play, 'Fly' that will be performed at Crossroads Theatre from April 7th to April 17th. 'Fly' is the soaring tale of the first African American Army Air Corps known as the Tuskegee Airmen. It is co-written by Ricardo Kahn and Trey Ellis and the Crossroads production is also directed by Kahn.

?'Sugar Ray,' the new bioplay by Laurence Holder about Sugar Ray Robinson, was visited Sunday, March 27 by the son of the famed boxing champion, Ray Robinson II.  The younger Robinson, who was enthusiastic about the play on his father, is co-author, with Herb Boyd, of the book 'Pound for Pound,' a biography of Sugar Ray Robinson, which was published by Harper Collins in 2006.

Sugar Ray Robinson was, pound for pound, the greatest boxer of all time. In his 25-year professional career, from 1940 to 1965, he was boxing history's first winner of five divisional championships (in the middle weight and welterweight divisions).

As reported by The New York Times last weekend, Billie Allen, who helped "bridge the racial gap" both on and off-Broadway in the 1950s and '60s, passed away on December 29, 2015. She was 90 years old.

Dr. Barbara Ann Teer's NATIONAL BLACK THEATRE, the oldest continually operating black theater in New York, will present the New York City Premiere of DEAD AND BREATHING by GLAAD Media Award winner Chisa Hutchinson (She Like Girls). Directed by Obie winner Jonathan McCrory, performances of this this limited run Off-Broadway engagement run through November 23.

Dr. Barbara Ann Teer's NATIONAL BLACK THEATRE, the oldest continually operating black theater in New York, will present the New York City Premiere of DEAD AND BREATHING by GLAAD Media Award winner Chisa Hutchinson (She Like Girls). Directed by Obie winner Jonathan McCrory, the production opens tonight, November 5, 2015.

Dr. Barbara Ann Teer's NATIONAL BLACK THEATRE, the oldest continually operating black theater in New York, will present the New York City Premiere of DEAD AND BREATHING by GLAAD Media Award winner Chisa Hutchinson (She Like Girls). Directed by Obie winner Jonathan McCrory, previews begin tonight, October 28 with press opening set for November 5.

Woodie King Jr.'s New Federal Theatre, in association with Castillo Theatre, will revive Martin Duberman's IN WHITE AMERICA, one of the signature plays of the Civil Rights Era, in a Off-Broadway production tonight, October 15, to November 15 at Castillo Theatre, 543 West 42nd Street.

Woodie King Jr.'s New Federal Theatre, in association with Castillo Theatre, will revive Martin Duberman's IN WHITE AMERICA, one of the signature plays of the Civil Rights Era, in a Off-Broadway production October 15 to November 15 at Castillo Theatre, 543 West 42nd Street.

Dr. Barbara Ann Teer's NATIONAL BLACK THEATRE, the oldest continually operating black theater in New York, will present the New York City Premiere of DEAD AND BREATHING by GLAAD Media Award winner Chisa Hutchinson (She Like Girls). Directed by Obie winner Jonathan McCrory, previews begin October 28 with press opening set for November 5. NOTE: this limited engagement is produced on an Off-Broadway contract.

On Monday, September 21, 2015 The Innovative Theatre Foundation, the organization who for the past 11 years has been dedicated to celebrating Off-Off-Broadway, announced the 2015 recipients at its annual event. Celebrating eleven years and thousands of nominees, the New York Innovative Theatre awards took place at Mason Hall at Baruch Performing Arts Center.

 Woodie King Jr.'s New Federal Theatre, in association with Castillo Theatre, will revive Martin Duberman's 'In White America,' one of the signature plays of the Civil Rights Era, in a Off-Broadway production October 15 to November 15 at Castillo Theatre, 543 West 42nd Street.  The famed documentary play traces the American quest for racial equality from the earliest days of the republic to the Little Rock crisis of 1957, with dialogue drawn from historical letters, speeches, journals, songs and other personal accounts including recordings of former slaves. Charles Maryan directs an ensemble of seven which includes actor-turned-newscaster-turned-actor Art McFarland.

Theatrical Outfit opens its 39th season with MEMPHIS, a co-production with Aurora Theatre, September 10-20, 2015 at The Rialto Center for the Arts.

Woodie King Jr's New Federal Theatre kicks off its 47th season a rare revival of Martin Duberman's In White America, not seen in NYC for 50 years! In White America, directed by Charles Maryan, will begin performances October 15th, with opening night set for October 29th at the Castillo Theater (543 West 42nd Street). This limited Off-Broadway engagement will continue through November 15th only.

Woodie King Jr's New Federal Theatre will continue its 46th season dedicated to Amira Baraka with the world premiere of his final play, The Most Dangerous Man In America (W. E. B. Du Bois). Performances began May 28th, with opening night set for tonight, June 11th at the Castillo Theater (543 West 42nd Street). This limited Off-Broadway engagement, directed by Woodie King Jr., will continue through June 28th only. BroadwayWorld has a look at the cast in action below!

Woodie King Jr's New Federal Theatre will continue its 46th season dedicated to Amira Baraka with the world premiere of his final play, The Most Dangerous Man In America (W. E. B. Du Bois). Performances will begin tomorrow, May 28th, with opening night set for June 11th at the Castillo Theater (543 West 42nd Street). This limited Off-Broadway engagement, directed by Woodie King Jr., will continue through June 28th only. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Woodie King Jr's New Federal Theatre will continue its 46th season dedicated to Amira Baraka with the world premiere of his final play, The Most Dangerous Man In America (W. E. B. Du Bois).  Performances will begin May 28th, with opening night set for June 11th at the Castillo Theater (543 West 42nd Street). This limited Off-Broadway engagement, directed by Woodie King Jr., will continue through June 28th only.  

Woodie King Jr.'s National Black Touring Circuit, in conjunction with Voza Rivers/New Heritage Theatre Group, held a special presentation of the 2015 Black History Month Play Series at Harlem Hospital on February 15 with a special reading of Ossie Davis' 1950s Civil Rights school desegregation play The People of Clarendon County and the one man show Adam, the story of Harlem minister and congressman Adam Clayton Powell. Both plays will be performed February 20 - 22 at Mind-Builders Performing Arts Center in the Bronx. Check out photos below!