Junot Diaz News

The New York Latino Film Festival (NYLFF), the nation's largest and most diverse Latino film festival, and a touchstone of the nation's thriving multicultural cinematic movement, kicks off its 15 th edition on Wednesday, August 22 nd with the New York premiere of the film "Ruben Blades Is Not My Name." Directed by critically acclaimed director, Abner Benaim, the film stars Ruben Blades, Sting, Paul Simon, Residente, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Larry Harlow, Andy Montañez, Ismael Miranda, Junot Diaz, Luba Mason, among others. The star-studded documentary offers an intimate portrait of Ruben Blades, revealing the artist's struggle to come to terms with his legacy and influence in elevating Salsa music to an international scale.

The New York Latino Film Festival (NYLFF), the nation's largest and most diverse Latino film festival, and a touchstone of the nation's thriving multicultural cinematic movement, kicks off its 15th edition on Wednesday, August 22nd with the New York premiere of the film “Ruben Blades Is Not My Name.” Directed by critically acclaimed director, Abner Benaim, the film stars Ruben Blades, Sting, Paul Simon, Residente, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Larry Harlow, Andy Montañez, Ismael Miranda, Junot Diaz, Luba Mason, among others. The star-studded documentary offers an intimate portrait of Ruben Blades, revealing the artist's struggle to come to terms with his legacy and influence in elevating Salsa music to an international scale.

PBS today unveiled a list of America's 100 best-loved novels, chosen in support of THE GREAT AMERICAN READ, a new PBS series and multi-platform initiative that celebrates the joy of reading and the books we love. THE GREAT AMERICAN READ, hosted by television personality and journalist Meredith Vieira, launches with a two-hour episode today, May 22, 2018, at 8 p.m. on PBS stations and will introduce viewers to the full list of America's 100 favorite novels selected through a demographically representative national survey conducted by YouGov. The series will also feature interviews with celebrities, authors, superfans and everyday Americans discussing the way particular books have influenced them and their significance in American popular culture. Then, after a multi-platform initiative throughout the summer, which will include live public events, social media components and national reading clubs, the series will resume in the fall with several themed episodes, including an exciting finale, culminating in the first-ever national vote to choose 'America's Best-Loved Novel.' It will be the most expansive national celebration of books and reading aimed at engaging multi-generational readers across multiple platforms ever created.

Book-It Repertory Theatre has once again brought to life another gripping tale, this time with Junot Diaz's, "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao", as adapted and directed by Elise Thoron. And as gripping as the tale is what makes it even more riveting are the powerhouse performances from the over 20 characters inhabiting the stage at the Center House Theatre throughout the evening creating the beautiful, funny, dangerous and heartbreaking world. Oh, and did I mention all of the over 20 characters are being played by one lone, amazing actor, Elvis Nolasco?

PBS today unveiled a list of America's 100 best-loved novels, chosen in support of THE GREAT AMERICAN READ, a new PBS series and multi-platform initiative that celebrates the joy of reading and the books we love. THE GREAT AMERICAN READ, hosted by television personality and journalist Meredith Vieira, launches with a two-hour episode on Tuesday, May 22, 2018, at 8 p.m. on PBS stations and will introduce viewers to the full list of America's 100 favorite novels selected through a demographically representative national survey conducted by YouGov. The series will also feature interviews with celebrities, authors, superfans and everyday Americans discussing the way particular books have influenced them and their significance in American popular culture. Then, after a multi-platform initiative throughout the summer, which will include live public events, social media components and national reading clubs, the series will resume in the fall with several themed episodes, including an exciting finale, culminating in the first-ever national vote to choose 'America's Best-Loved Novel.' It will be the most expansive national celebration of books and reading aimed at engaging multi-generational readers across multiple platforms ever created.

What does it mean to be American? What holds us together in turbulent times? In the documentary film AMERICAN CREED, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David M. Kennedy come together from different backgrounds and points of view to investigate the idea of a unifying American creed.

Martyna Majok wrote IRONBOUND to share the story of the everyday challenges and hurdles of a Polish immigrant surviving in America, basing this theatrical piece on her own mother's experiences. Already in previews, IRONBOUND officially opens February 7, 2018. Martyna took some time out to answer my inquisitive questions in much depth.

What does it mean to be American? What holds us together in turbulent times? In the documentary film AMERICAN CREED, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David M. Kennedy come together from different backgrounds and points of view to investigate the idea of a unifying American creed.

Today at the Television Critics Association Press Tour, PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger announced key authors, celebrities and notable figures in the entertainment, sports, news and literary worlds who will lend their voices and passion to THE GREAT AMERICAN READ

Two River Theater, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst, continues its 2017/18 Season with El Coqu Espectacular and the Bottle of Doom: A Superhero Play, a world-premiere play by Matt Barbot, directed by Jos Zayas. Performances will begin in Two River's Marion Huber Theater, 21 Bridge Avenue, on Saturday, January 6 and continue through Sunday, February 4. The opening night performance is Friday, January 12 at 7pm. Tickets are available from 732.345.1400 or tworivertheater.org. The lead production sponsor is Bank of America and the media partner is Scooter Dudes.

Crowded Fire Theater (CFT) In his inaugural commission as Crowded Fire's Playwright-in-Residence, Christopher Chen tackles the power structures inherent in large corporations. Set in a parallel world, A TALE OF AUTUMN is a psychological rise-to-power fable.

The Play Company (PlayCo; Founding Producer, Kate Loewald) announced today that Robert G. Bradshaw, who since July 2016 has served as Interim Managing Director, has been promoted to the role of Managing Director, effective immediately.

The glamorous ticketed event recognizes the sustained achievements of artists who received early career support from NYFA and the vision and commitment of enlightened patrons of the arts.

The Sol Project, the new New York-based theater collective raising visibility for Latinx playwrights, has received funding to support the initiative's first production, Hilary Bettis's Alligator, directed by Elena Araoz, presented in collaboration with New Georges at the Jeffrey and Paula Gural Theatre at A.R.T./New York Theatres, November 27-December 18, 2016.

The Sol Project is a New York-based theater initiative, founded by Artistic Director Jacob G. Padron with a collective of actors, directors and producers, to help raise the visibility of Latina/o playwrights in the American Theater.

He brought us a Tony-winning rap musical, IN THE HEIGHTS. He showed us another side of the founding fathers and landed Broadway squarely in the popular spotlight with HAMILTON. He's just an Oscar away from an EGOT. And he's 36 today.

Laguna College of Art and Design (LCAD) announced Grant Hier, Chair of Liberal Arts and Art History, has been nominated for the prestigious Pushcart Prize.

Cutting Ball Theater opens its 16th season with the World Premiere of SUPERHEROES, written and directed by Sean San Jose. Featuring Myers Clark, Juan Amador, Donald E. Lacy, Jr., Britney Frazier, Ricky Saenz, and Delina Patrice Brooks, SUPERHEROES plays tonight, November 21 through December 21 (Press opening: December 2) at the Cutting Ball Theater in residence at EXIT on Taylor (277 Taylor Street) in San Francisco.