The Art of Success Photos - Off-Broadway

The 3rd annual Hip Hop Film Festival was held, fittingly, at the historic National Black Theatre founded by Dr. Barbara Ann Teer who moved to Harlem in 1968 and saw that the once vibrant neighborhood was suffering from a sense of hopelessness after the losses of African American leaders Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X and desperately needed a community space and cultural arts institution that would 'be reflective of the power, grace and excellence of a people' (according to her daughter and current CEO Sade Lythcott).

The Theatre Group at SBCC concludes the 17/18 season with the Pulitzer Prize-winning play, CRIMES OF THE HEART by Beth Henley.

Rubicon Theatre Company celebrates Black History Month with THE DEVIL'S MUSIC: THE LIFE AND BLUES OF BESSIE SMITH, starring singer and actress Miche Braden of the original Off-Broadway production (named one of the 10 Best Off-Broadway productions of the year by the N.Y. Daily Times). Described by CBC as a, "bawdy, bluesy, boozy rollicking night out at the theatre," the show follows the life, loves and career of blues and jazz singer Bessie Smith, called the "Empress of the Blues." 

Film and stage legend and two-time Tony Award winner Lauren Bacall, passed away last week (first reported by TMZ) at the age of 89. The legendary actress suffered a massive stroke and died at home (New York City's famous Dakota Building) according to a family member. BroadwayWorld remembers the legend below.

Internationally produced playwright Deborah Brevoort premieres her new farce The Velvet Weapon at Trustus Theatre in The Vista. This script is the winner of the Trustus Playwrights' Festival, an annual competition that gives a full production to a new original work. This world premiere production of Brevoort's The Velvet Weapon will run from Friday August 8th at 8:00pm through August 16th, 2014. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast below!

On Monday, September 14th, The Marvelous Wonderettes celebrated its one-year anniversary in New York where it continues to run at Off-Broadway's Westside Theatre, upstairs (407 West 43rd Street). Written and directed by Roger Bean, The Marvelous Wonderettes features Kirsten Bracken, Misty Cotton, Christina DeCicco and Lindsay Mendez.

Mark Lamos directs 'That Championship Season' at Westport Country Playhouse, his first production since being named artistic director in February 2009 at the historic theater in Westport, Connecticut.