The role of Senior Resident Director gives Leon the opportunity to participate in the season selection of plays and musicals, but also lead the search for bringing more BIPOC directors and creatives to Roundabout’s company. His accolades of creating a space for Black performers continue with him being the Co-Founder of the prestigious August Wilson Monologue Competition. 

 

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Kenny Leon is also well known for winning the 2014 Tony Award for Best Play for the revival of A Raisin in the Sun, directing American Son, Gem of the Ocean, and the NBC performances of The Wiz Live and Hairspray Live. 

The post Kenny Leon named Senior Resident Director at Roundabout Theatre Company appeared first on Broadway Black.

In the series, a ratings sensation when it first aired in January 1977 over an eight-day period, Rose will play “Kizzy, “ the “cherished, smart daughter of Kunta Kinte who maintains her family pride and warrior spirit.” And, Whitaker will play Fiddler, a slave who risks his life trying to mentor and aid in the escape of “Kunta Kinte.” Leslie Uggams and Louis Gossett, Jr., originated those roles, respectively, in the 1977 miniseries.

Rose and Whitaker join previously announced cast members Laurence Fishburne, Anna Paquin, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Chad L. Coleman, Erica Tazel, Derek Luke, Clifford “T.I.” Harris, Jr., Mekhi Phifer, along with newcomers Malachi Kirby and Regé-Jean Page.

Although the remake doesn’t have an air date yet, it’s scheduled to run as an eight-hour, four-night miniseries, and will air on the History Channel, A&E and Lifetime.

As if seeing Rose in “Roots” wasn’t enough, it was recently announced that she’ll join the cast of the highly-rated Starz drama series “Power” next season. She’s slated to play “LaVerne Thomas” a streetwise cop from the neighborhood where Ghost and Tommy grew up in a multi-episode storyline. “Power” stars Omari Hardwick and Naturi Naughton.

Rose is a stage veteran who won a Tony Award for her role in the Tony Kushner-Jeanine Tesori musical Caroline, Or Change and was nominated for her role as “Beneatha Younger” in the 2014 revival of A Raisin In The Sun. However, she may best be known for her role as “Princess Tiana” in Disney’s “The Princess And The Frog” and as Lorell in the film adaptation of “Dreamgirls.”

The post Anika Noni Rose & Forest Whitaker Set For Roots Remake appeared first on Broadway Black.

Summers, who’s best known for creating and producing Off-Broadway’s From My Hometown: A Rag To Riches Celebration of the American Dream In Classic Rhythm & Blues, made his Broadway debut in the original production of Dreamgirls. Since then, he has appeared Off-Broadway in Miss Marguarita’s Way with Estelle Parsons, as an original cast member of From My Hometown, in the musical Little Ham, as well as in numerous cabaret and regional performances.

As a director, Summers has directed shows in venues ranging from New York’s Urban Stages, AMAS Musical Theatre, New World Stages, The Triad Theatre, Flushing Town Hall, Theatreworks in Palo Alto, CA, The Milwaukee Repertory Theatre and many more.

A Raisin in the Sun, written by Lorraine Hansberry, was the first play written by an African American woman to be produced on Broadway, where it won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play. The American classic takes place in the late 1950’s on Chicago’s South Side, and revolves around the dreams and conflicts within three generations of the Younger family: son “Walter Lee,” his wife “Ruth,” his sister “Beneatha,” his son “Travis,” and family matriarch “Lena,” called “Mama.”

The Harlem Repertory Theatre is a professional theatre company based in the heart of Harlem in New York City, founded by Keith Lee Grant. The Harlem Repertory Theatre will run the play every Friday at 7pm until December 11th. The theatre’s resident acting company includes Mario C. Brown, Kyria Geneva, Mabel Gomez, Roberto A. Guzman Jr., Jarrid Jones, Bianca Madison, Derrick Montalvo, Eric “Le Roy” Myles, and Joe Sabateur.

For information on tickets and directions, visit www.harlemrepertorytheatre.com.

The first Broadway revival of the play ran at the Royale Theatre from April 26, 2004 to July 11, 2004. The cast included Sean Combs as “Walter Lee,” Phylicia Rashad as “Lena,” Audra McDonald as “Ruth,” and Sanaa Lathan as “Beneatha.” It was directed by Kenny Leon and received two Tony awards: Best Actress in a Play (Rashad) and Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play (McDonald).

A second revival ran ten years later from April 3, 2014 to June 15, 2014 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre with Denzel Washington in the lead role of “Walter Lee.” Other cast members included Sophie Okonedo as “Ruth,” LaTanya Richardson Jackson as “Lena,” and Anika Noni Rose as “Beneatha.” Leon again directed and the play won three 2014 Tony Awards: Best Revival of a Play, Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play (Okonedo) and Best Direction of a Play (Leon).

The post A Raisin in the Sun at Harlem Repertory Theatre appeared first on Broadway Black.

Black theatre. A space of inspired creativity, performance art and social commentary on the lives of everyday people. As the curtains open and our stories unfold, we are transported to a place where our dreams and realities intermingle with song, dance and powerful dialogue. When the curtains close and the theatre goes dark, we are left with emotions, memories, images and often quotes that reflect the highs and lows of African American existence.

Let’s take a moment and revisit, in no particular order, ten inspirational quotes from some of our favorite pieces.

1. On loving one another:

“There is always something left to love. And if you ain’t learned that, you ain’t learned nothing.” – Loraine Hansberry, A Raisin in the Sun

2. Beginning a journey into the unknown:

“Count your blessings, cut your losses and follow the yellow brick road.” –The Wiz

3. Because sometimes your dreams are right there in front of you:

“Ev’ry man has his own special dream. And your dream’s just about to come true. Life’s not as bad as it may seem, if you open your eyes to what’s in front of you!” –Dreamgirls

4. On choices:

“When the sins of our fathers visit us, we do not have to play host. We can banish them with forgiveness as God, in His Largeness and Laws.” ― August Wilson, Fences

5. On our own divinity:

“I am an expression of the divine, just like a peach is, just like a fish is. I have a right to be this way…I can’t apologize for that, nor can I change it, nor do I want to… We will never have to be other than who we are in order to be successful…We realize that we are as ourselves unlimited and our experiences valid. It is for the rest of the world to recognize this, if they choose.” – Alice Walker, The Color Purple

6. On relaxing and enjoying the moment:

“Summertime, and the living is easy.” –Porgy and Bess

7. On learning to love yourself:

“I found god in myself and I loved her. I loved her fiercely” –Ntozake Shange, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf

8. On personal empowerment and survival:

“I’m poor, black; I may even be ugly. But dear God! I’m here! I’m here! –Alice Walker, The Color Purple

9. On getting yourself together to fulfill your potential:

“Look inside yourself, Simba. You are more than you have become; take your place in the circle of life.” –The Lion King

10. On being okay with starting over:

“I ain’t never found no place for me to fit. Seem like all I do is start over. It ain’t nothing to find no starting place in the world. You just start from where you find yourself.” ― August Wilson, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone

 

Now, tell us what are some of your favorite inspirational quotes from African American theatre? Drop your favorites in the comments!

The post Inspirational Quotes For The Black Theatre Lover appeared first on Broadway Black.

McDonald fans are accustomed to seeing her sharing her incredible talent on the stage (A Raisin in the Sun, Lady Day at Emerson Bar and Grill) and on television (“Private Practice). But she is no stranger to the big screen. She’s appeared in “Seven Servants,” “The Object of My Affection,” “Cradle Will Rock,” “It Runs in the Family,” “Rampart,” and “The Best Thief in the World.” McDonald will also provide the voice of “Garderobe” in Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” slated for release in 2017.

As rock musician “Ricki Rendazzo,” Streep is a one-time wife and mother of three who left her family behind to follow her dreams of rock ‘n’ roll stardom in California. Now, the singer and guitarist must face the music when she returns home to Indiana to reconnect with her ex-husband “Pete,” troubled daughter “Julie,” engaged son “Josh” and younger son “Adam.” Filled with regret, Ricki hopes to find redemption for all of the bad choices that she made in the past.

In addition to Streep and McDonald, who plays “Pete’s” new wife “Maureen,” the cast includes stellar actors and musicians, including Kevin Kline as “Pete,” Mamie Gummar (Streep’s real-life daughter) as Julie and Rick Springfield as “Greg,” Ricki’s lead guitarist and sometime lover.

Since everyone knows McDonald can sing and act, wouldn’t it be fun to see a film in which the roles were reversed and she was the rock star musician? Hmmm, let’s keep our fingers crossed.

The post Audra McDonald Joins Meryl Streep & Kevin Cline on the Big Screen appeared first on Broadway Black.

The series, which airs on the Disney Channel and Disney Junior, chronicles an African American girl named Dottie “Doc” McStuffins who decides she wants to become a doctor like her mother. She practices her dream by fixing toys and dolls. When she puts on her stethoscope, toys, dolls and stuffed animals come to life and she can interact with them. With help from her stuffed animal friends – “Stuffy the Dragon,” “Hallie the Hippo,” “Lambie the Lamb,” and “Chilly the Snowman” – Doc helps toys recover, or “feel better,” by giving them checkups and diagnosing their illnesses with an encyclopedia called “The Big Book of Boo Boos.”

McDonald is featured in the episode entitled “Itty Bitty Bess Takes Flight.” Her character, “Bess,” is the pilot of a tiny tin airplane. Doc and the toys help her get back into shape after her joints become rusty.

McDonald introduces and voices her character:

McDonald sings a song about her animated character:

In 2014, the extraordinarily talented McDonald made Broadway history with a record-setting sixth Tony Award for her portrayal of Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill. She also has the distinction of being the first person to receive awards in all four acting categories.

A year after graduating from Julliard, McDonald won her first Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical for Carousel at Lincoln Center Theater. She received two additional Tony Awards in the featured actress category over the next four years for her performances in the Broadway premieres of Terrence McNally’s Master Class (1996) and his musical Ragtime (1998). In 2004, she won her fourth Tony, starring alongside Sean Combs and Phylicia Rashad in A Raisin in the Sun. In 2012, she won her fifth–and her first in the leading actress category–for her role in The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess.

In addition to her Tony Awards, Audra McDonald’s luminous soprano has garnered her two Grammy Awards and a long list of other accolades.

“Doc McStuffins” also features the voices of Kiara Muhammad as the lead character as well as veteran Broadway and film actress Loretta Devine as “Hallie”, Kimberly Brooks as “Dr. Myiesha McStuffins” (Doc McStuffins’ mother) and Gary Anthony Williams as “Marcus McStuffins” (Doc McStuffins’ father).

The post Audra McDonald Soars In Doc McStuffins appeared first on Broadway Black.

Tony-winners Anika Noni-Rose (2004, Best Featured Actress in a Musical, Caroline, or Change) and Tonya Pinkins (1992, Best Featured Actress in a Musical, Jelly’s Last Jam) are teaming up again (they appeared on Broadway together in ‘Caroline, Or Change’) for a benefit reading of Pulitzer Prize-winner Lynn Nottage’s play, Fabulation, or the Re-Education of Undine at New World Stages in Manhattan. Noni-Rose and Pinkins will be joined by Wood Harris (2012 Broadwa

y “multiracial” adaptation of A Streetcar Named Desire, HBO’s The Wire) and Michael Mastro (2009, Broadway revival of West Side Story). This reading is to be directed by Tony-winner Kenny Leon (2014, Best Direction of a Play), who previously worked with Noni-Rose in his revival of A Raisin in the Sun (for which he won his Tony) in 2014, and Pinkins in Holler If Ya Hear Me in 2013.

This benefit, which is set to happen April 21st, at 6:30 PM is for the non-profit arts education organization Opening Act.

Proceeds of the evening go directly to Opening Act’s free theatre programs.

The non-profit organization provides students attending New York City’s most under-served public schools, the opportunity – through theater – to develop leadership, commitment, confidence, and community. Opening Act provides free after-school and extra-curricular programs to the most high-need NYC public high schools that have low graduation rates and a lack of theater and arts programs. Tickets are now on sale at http://openingact.org/play-reading/.

Noni-Rose can next be seen in the CBS pilot For Justice, opposite fellow Tony-winner Phylicia Rashad (2004, Best Actress in a Play, A Raisin in the Sun), and directed by Ava DuVernay (director of the Oscar-winning film Selma, 2015). Pinkins can currently be seen in Joel Drake Johnson’s Rasheeda Speaking, at the New Group‘s Pershing Square Signature Center through March 22nd.

Up next for Kenny Leon is a revival of the 1980 Tony-winning play Children of a Lesser God, set to bow during the 2015-2016 season.

The post ‘Fabulation’ At New World Stages Directed By Kenny Leon appeared first on Broadway Black.

A RAISIN IN THE SUN

Keep your eyes glued to @BroadwayBlack for the rest of the day as we honor #LorraineHansberry and her CLASSIC play #ARaisinInTheSun.

— Broadway Black (@BroadwayBlack) March 11, 2015

On this day in #BroadwayBlackHistory, in 1959 — Lorraine Hansberry’s classic #ARaisinInTheSun opened on Broadway. pic.twitter.com/VCABzIJEZG

— Broadway Black (@BroadwayBlack) March 11, 2015

The 1959 production of #ARaisinInTheSun starred Sidney Poitier, Claudia McNeil, Ruby Dee, Diana Sands & @GlynnTurman. pic.twitter.com/ep1oxFSyjk

— Broadway Black (@BroadwayBlack) March 11, 2015

#ARaisinInTheSun marked the first time a play written by, and directed by a Black person, and about Black people was produced on #Broadway.

— Broadway Black (@BroadwayBlack) March 11, 2015

The New York Drama Critics’ Circle named #ARaisinInTheSun the best play of 1959.

— Broadway Black (@BroadwayBlack) March 11, 2015

#ARaisinInTheSun was nom’d in 4 categories at @TheTonyAwards in ’60. Best Play, Best Actor & Actress in a Play, Best Direction of a Play.

— Broadway Black (@BroadwayBlack) March 11, 2015

In 1961 a film version of #ARaisinInTheSun feat. the original Broadway cast was released. Hansberry wrote the script. pic.twitter.com/ruZnm0evK3

— Broadway Black (@BroadwayBlack) March 11, 2015

A musical version of #ARaisinInTheSun starring @JOEtheMORTON & @MsDebbieAllen took #Broadway by storm in 1973. pic.twitter.com/C25Ad4nxX3

— Broadway Black (@BroadwayBlack) March 11, 2015

#PhyliciaRashad, @AudraEqualityMc, & @justSanaa starred in a ’04 revival directed by @iamKENNYLEON. #ARaisinInTheSun. pic.twitter.com/BJKeVDi6Tj

— Broadway Black (@BroadwayBlack) March 11, 2015

#DenzelWashington, @AnikaNoniRose, #SophieOkonedo star in new @iamKENNYLEON-directed revival (’14). #ARaisinInTheSun. pic.twitter.com/u6Y1GEJNPu

— Broadway Black (@BroadwayBlack) March 11, 2015

The revival of #ARaisinInTheSun won Best Revival of a Play at @TheTonyAwards in 2014. Look at @AnikaNoniRose BEAMING! pic.twitter.com/K4HaueFEu1

— Broadway Black (@BroadwayBlack) March 11, 2015

#PhyliciaRashad is the 1st Black actress to win as Best Actress (Play) at @TheTonyAwards for #ARaisinInTheSun in ’04. pic.twitter.com/tOu85VHwu2

— Broadway Black (@BroadwayBlack) March 11, 2015

.@iamKENNYLEON took home his 1st Tony for Best Direction of a Play at @TheTonyAwards in 2014. #ARaisinInTheSun. pic.twitter.com/5Mki8GiBqq

— Broadway Black (@BroadwayBlack) March 12, 2015

#SophieOkonedo took home the Actress in a Featured Role medallion at @TheTonyAwards in 2014. #ARaisinInTheSun. pic.twitter.com/6HHsFxjL08

— Broadway Black (@BroadwayBlack) March 12, 2015

Thank you #LorraineHansberry, for your timeless classic #ARaisinInTheSun. We love and honor you today and everyday. pic.twitter.com/ZeR1WVlPXC

— Broadway Black (@BroadwayBlack) March 12, 2015

The post On Today: A Raisin In The Sun Opened On Broadway appeared first on Broadway Black.