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On February 20th, 2021 Douglas Turner Ward (playwright, actor, director, and theatrical producer) a pillar in the Black theatre community passed away. Ward founded The Negro Ensemble Company with Robert Hooks and Gerald Krone in 1967. By the time Ward had come together with Krone and Hooks to create The Negro Ensemble Company, he had already been on Broadway in the original 1959 cast of A Raisin in The Sun. He was cast in a small role while understudying Sidney Portier. In the mid 1960s Ward created a play called Day of Absence that was about Black people disappearing from a southern town. In the production, Black actors wore whiteface makeup in order to play white characters left alone without their Black neighbors, and it showcased Ward’s scathing satirical humor when it came to writing. The production was accompanied by an article in The New York Times written by Ward titled “American Theater: For Whites Only?” The article called for a Black repertory theatre company. A year after the production, a grant in the amount of $434,000, was awarded to Ward and with the funds, The Negro Ensemble Company was created with Ward as the Artistic Director and Krone and Hooks in other leadership roles.

“Just to lighten up the heavy political raps, I started writing primarily satirical things.  And, ultimately wrote my first performance piece. It was called Star of Liberty, concerning the rebel slave Nat Turner. This little play, which was only a half hour long, was performed before an audience of nearly 5,000 people at a rally. Well, the response to this play at the rally was very thrilling. I was nineteen years old when I wrote this piece and that led me in the direction of trying to write more directly for the theatre.  Because up until then, I’d been messing around with short stories and other genres.  Sports writing had been my primary interest, but now drama was beginning to take the focus.”

The Negro Ensemble Company has a notable roster of alumni such as Debbie Allen, John Amos, Angela Bassett, Roscoe Lee Browne, Adolph Caesar, Godfrey Cambridge, Rosalind Cash, Keith David, Giancarlo Esposito, Antonio Fargas, Laurence Fishburne, Frances Foster, Al Freeman, Jr., Danny Glover, Louis Gossett, Jr., David Alan Grier, Moses Gunn, Jackée Harry, Sherman Hemsley, Kene Holliday, Samuel L. Jackson, Cleavon Little, Delroy Lindo, S. Epatha Merkerson, Debbi Morgan, Garrett Morris, Denise Nicholas, Ron O’Neal, Phylicia Rashad, Esther Rolle, Richard Roundtree, Clarice Taylor, Glynn Turman, Denzel Washington, and Lynn Whitfield, and many more. His 1981 production of A Soldier’s Play, who’s original cast included David Allen Grier, Denzel Washington, and Samuel L. Jackson was revived in January 2020 and has earned 7 pending Tony nominations. In the years after it’s founding The Negro Ensemble Company produced some important works such as The River Niger, written by Joseph A. Walker, which later opened on Broadway and won the 1974 Tony Award for best play, with Ward as director and performer. There was a 1976 film adaptation that starred Cicely Tyson, James Earl Jones and Louis Gossett, Jr.

 

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Ward was inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame in 1996 and has won many awards over his career such as an Obie, a Tony, and a Drama Desk Award. The Negro Ensemble Company earned a special Tony award.

The post You Should Know: Douglas Turner Ward and The Negro Ensemble Company appeared first on Broadway Black.

Attendees will share their goals and aspirations, gain some knowledge about what it means to be a Black actor in the industry, and speak to how agencies like CSA can increase audition opportunities and advocate for Black actors. This panel is full of people who have the answers you need as a young Black actor wanting to go further in your performance career. With certainty the jewels dropped during this town hall will be worthy of every minute of your time, so bring your pencils and notebooks and get ready to learn and take in all the game that will be taught!

Checkout what CSA is saying about the Town Hall on their IG page below:

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And if that wasn’t enough there will be a virtual open call taking place after all of this! YES! You read that right, AN OPEN CALL Y’ALL! Participants will have the chance to meet with and read for CSA members. Union and Non-Union performers are encouraged to attend this open call taking place on February 19th through the 21st! This is a great opportunity for serious performers wanting to showcase their skills. Want to know how you can be apart of this phenomenal opportunity? start by registering through the links below:

To register for the Town Hall for Black Actors, taking place on February, 1st Click Here! 

To register for the Virtual Open Call taking place on February 19th, February 20th, and February 21st Click Here!

The post CSA Hosts Town Hall and Virtual Open Call for Black Actors appeared first on Broadway Black.

Readings of full length plays by playwrights Jasmine Lee Jones, Whitney White, Patrice Johnson Chevannes and many more will be showcased at this year’s MixFest. The first night kicked off with a “Meet The Writers” panel moderated by Alisha Espinosa. 

 

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The readings will feature actors such as Guyviaud Joseph, L Morgan Lee, Jasmine Lee-Jones, Michael Luwoye, Kevin Mambo, Jesus E. Martinez, Margaret Odette, and Adesola Osakalumi. There’s a story for every viewer, like Let There Be Love by Kwame Kwei-Armah and directed by Reggie D. White. Which tells the story of an elderly West Indian man and his resurfaced powerful past when he meets his new polish caregiver, Featuring Marin Ireland, Kevin Mambo and Renika Williams and a panel discussion called “Who is the Caribbean in America?” moderated by Alisha Espinosa. Join the discussion as they speak about Caribbean history and the issues facing the African Caribbean community today. Head to Atlantic Theater Company’s IG page to learn more about this year’s MixFest:

 

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The post The African Caribbean MixFest Virtual Series appeared first on Broadway Black.

Directed by Jon M. Chu, “In The Heights” tells the residents’ story in the Washington Heights neighborhood in Manhattan, NY. Tony nominee Cory Hawkins will play Benny alongside Anthony Ramos, who plays the main character of Usnavi, and singer/songwriter Leslie Grace who plays Nina. The production will be streaming on HBOMax and premiering in theatres simultaneously.

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Following the release of “In The Heights” in June, “West Side Story” is slated for release in December 2021. This adaptation will be directed by Stephen Speilberg and stars David Alvarez, Ariana Debose, Rachel Zegler, and Ansel Elgort. Everyone is ready to dive into Tony and Maria’s romance and get caught up in the kids’ twists and twirls in the Upper West Side. The cast is rounded out with Rita Moreno, who played the role of Anita in the 1961 film, this time around, she will be seen on screen as Valentina, newly created role.

 

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“Dear Evan Hansen” is another adaptation set for release in September, with Ben Platt reprising his award-winning role. The Stephen Chbosky directed film will be bringing the gripping tale to the big screen and delivering an all-star cast. Amandla Stenberg is set to play Alana Beck alongside Kaitlyn Denver, who plays Evan’s crush, Zoe Murphy.

Other musical adaptations that are slated for release may be arriving a little later than this year, but we are excited to hear about them all the same. With the top must-see being “The Color Purple.” The film adaptation is set for release in December of 2023 and directed by Blitz Bazawule (Beyonce’s Black Is King). Oprah Winfrey, Quincy Jones, Scott Sanders, and Steven Spielberg will be producing, and with the film currently in development, there hasn’t been any word about casting. Still, with star power like that behind the scenes, you can guarantee that the cast will be just as phenomenal.

The post Music to My Ears: Movie Musical Adaptations Coming Soon appeared first on Broadway Black.