Elizabeth Van Dyke News

Dr. Barbara Ann Teer's National Black Theatre's 49th season cedes the floor to modern-day griots with gripping, one-person tales capturing the trauma and triumph of a people. In a nod to the African tradition of the storyteller and historian who inspires and uplifts, the season is anchored by two one-person shows, The Peculiar Patriot, by Liza Jessie Peterson, a coproduction with Hi-ARTS, and Sancho by Paterson Joseph, a coproduction with Classical Theatre of Harlem (CTH) and Pemberley Productions. Themed "Black to the Future," the 49th season-which includes workshop productions by resident playwrights-seeks to take stock of the present and look to the past to predict and help shape a brighter future for Black people.

The Riant Theatre (Van Dirk Fisher, Artistic Director) -- the Audelco Award-winning nonprofit providing a nurturing developmental environment for playwrights and theatre creators of diverse cultural backgrounds -- proudly announces THE STRAWBERRY ONE-ACT FESTIVAL 2017 - THE SERIES.  The reality competition series' first eight episodes, featuring the 31 short plays that were staged during the festival's 30th Season (presented Off-Broadway at the Theatre at St. Clement's July 13th - July 30th, 2017) are now available for viewing online. Episodes can be viewed (and future episodes pre-ordered) for $1.99 now through Thursday, August 10th.  Each episode can be viewed for $3.99 starting August 11th.  For more information, visit TheRiantTheatre.com.

The Riant Theatre - the Audelco Award-winning nonprofit providing a nurturing developmental environment for playwrights and theatre creators of diverse cultural backgrounds - presents THE STRAWBERRY ONE-ACT FESTIVAL. A celebration of cultural diversity, THE STRAWBERRY ONE-ACT FESTIVAL will be presented at the Theatre at St. Clement's (423 West 46th Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues, NYC) beginning today, July 13th. The festival will continue through Sunday, July 30th, 2017.

The Riant Theatre -- the Audelco Award-winning nonprofit providing a nurturing developmental environment for playwrights and theatre creators of diverse cultural backgrounds -- proudly presents THE STRAWBERRY ONE-ACT FESTIVAL.

Join Classix as they expand their collective knowledge of the classical canon with an exceptional group directors and actors for this unique series-curated by Awoye Timpo as "an exhibition of rarely seen Black classic plays,' in collaboration with The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center.

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center, located at The Graduate Center, CUNY, will present readings of rarely seen plays by Black playwrights on Monday, May 22 and Tuesday, May 23. The readings are free and open to the public on a first come, first served basis.

Orlando Repertory Theatre (The REP) presents Harry Connick, Jr.'s The Happy Elf (November 7 - December 18, 2016), sure to become a new holiday classic onstage this season. This production is presented by Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

To celebrate Zora Neale Hurston's 125th birthday, Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre, in association with Castillo Theatre, will present 'Zora Neale Hurston: a Theatrical Biography' by Laurence Holder from tonight, October 20, to November 20 at Castillo Theatre, 543 West 42nd Street. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast and the historical figures they embody!

On Sunday, October 30, immediately after the 2:30 PM matinee performance of 'Zora Neale Hurston, a theatrical biography' by Laurence Holder, New Federal Theatre will have a scholars' panel on this 'queen of the Harlem Renaissance,' who was a prolific novelist, playwright and journalist of the 1920s and 30s.

To celebrate Zora Neale Hurston's 125th birthday, Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre, in association with Castillo Theatre, will present 'Zora Neale Hurston: a Theatrical Biography' by Laurence Holder from October 20 to November 20 at Castillo Theatre, 543 West 42nd Street. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast and the historical figures they embody!

August in August' is a brand new annual live performance series teaming Joseph Grant Jr., ambassador of arts and culture for the councilman and theatrical producer Andrea J. Fulton of the Anderson & Bert Cade Fulton Foundation. Joint efforts result in the mounting of August Wilson's Tony nominated Two Trains Running directed by Sabura Rashid as its upcoming offering starting August 26th 2016. The production of 'Two Trains Running' will be featured at Fulton Park in Brooklyn on Aug. 26 from 6 to 9 p.m., and Aug. 27 at Herbert Von King Park from 4 to 7p.m. Both performances are FREE. August in August actually began Aug. 13 with the first installation of the series 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom performed at Fulton Park in Brooklyn, produced by the Bed-Stuy Theatre Group.

August in August' is a brand new annual live performance series teaming Joseph Grant Jr., ambassador of arts and culture for the councilman and theatrical producer Andrea J. Fulton of the Anderson & Bert Cade Fulton Foundation. Joint efforts result in the mounting of August Wilson's Tony nominated Two Trains Running directed by Sabura Rashid as its upcoming offering starting August 26th 2016. The production of 'Two Trains Running' will be featured at Fulton Park in Brooklyn on Aug. 26 from 6 to 9 p.m., and Aug. 27 at Herbert Von King Park from 4 to 7p.m. Both performances are FREE. August in August actually began Aug. 13 with the first installation of the series 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom performed at Fulton Park in Brooklyn, produced by the Bed-Stuy Theatre Group.

August in August' is a brand new annual live performance series teaming Joseph Grant Jr., ambassador of arts and culture for the councilman and theatrical producer Andrea J. Fulton of the Anderson & Bert Cade Fulton Foundation. Joint efforts result in the mounting of August Wilson's Tony nominated Two Trains Running directed by Sabura Rashid as its upcoming offering starting August 26th 2016. The production of 'Two Trains Running' will be featured at Fulton Park in Brooklyn on Aug. 26 from 6 to 9 p.m., and Aug. 27 at Herbert Von King Park from 4 to 7p.m. Both performances are FREE. August in August actually began Aug. 13 with the first installation of the series 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom performed at Fulton Park in Brooklyn, produced by the Bed-Stuy Theatre Group.

Harlem9 presents the Obie Award-winning '48HOURS IN... HARLEM' - a twist on the traditional 24-hour play festival.

Woodie King Jr.'s New Federal Theatre (NFT) held a festive Gala Benefit on Sunday, June 26 from 2:00 to 5:30 PM at Trump Place, 220 Riverside Boulevard (enter West 70th Street) honoring Novella Nelson and Melvin Van Peebles, two of many actors and directors who have worked at NFT over the theatre's 46 year history. Mr. Van Peebles was introduced by Academy Award winner Estelle Parsons. Ms. Nelson was introduced by former Mayor David Dinkins. Scroll down for photos from the event!

In celebration of Women's History Month, Dr. Barbara Ann Teer's NATIONAL BLACK THEATRE will present a six (6) performance limited engagement of UN-TAMED: Hair Body Attitude. Created by The New Black Fest (TNBF) and guest-curated by Dominique Morisseau (author of NY TIMES CRITICS PICK Skeleton Crew and Sunset Baby), UN-TAMED is a collection of five (5) short plays by Black Women that explore and dig into the national conversation surrounding Black womanhood and social perceptions of Black femininity. This production will be co-directed by award winning directors Kaia Calhoun and Elizabeth Van Dyke. 

The Ensemble Studio Theatre Marathon of One-Act Plays, the original festival of its kind, returns for its 35th incarnation, tonight, May 13, at 7:00pm at the Ensemble Studio Theatre, 549 West 52nd Street. 

The Ensemble Studio Theatre Marathon of One-Act Plays, the original festival of its kind, returns for its 35th incarnation Wednesday, May 13, at 7:00pm at the Ensemble Studio Theatre, 549 West 52nd Street. 

The New York premiere of the late award-winning playwright Oni Faida Lampley's play Tough Titty, a poignant and funny exploration of what comes next for a Brooklyn mother diagnosed with breast cancer begins tonight April 23 and runs through May 11.

The New York premiere of the late award-winning playwright Oni Faida Lampley's play Tough Titty, a poignant and funny exploration of what comes next for a Brooklyn mother diagnosed with breast cancer, will be presented next month by actress/producer Ami Brabson (Homicide: Life on the Street, Law & Order: SVU, Damages) & her husband, Emmy and Obie Award-winning actor Andre Braugher (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Homicide: Life on the Street, Law & Order, Glory, City of Angels). Lydia Fort will direct. The play premiered at the Williamstown Theatre Festival and made Lampley a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Award.