Next month, when the 2024 Tony Awards for excellence in Broadway theater are handed out, hair and wig designer Nikiya Mathis will be honored with a Special Tony for her work on the acclaimed play Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, Jocelyn Bioh’s seriocomic celebration of West African immigrant hair braiders in Harlem who create masterpieces atop the heads of the neighborhood woman.
Anyone who saw Mathis’ marvelous wig creations will understand immediately why she is one of three recipients this year of Special Tony Awards, non-competitive honors bestowed by Tony organizers for productions, artists and organizations who do not fall into any of the competitive categories.
But what many in the theater community don’t understand is why Mathis or any of her design colleagues in wig, hair and makeup can’t simply compete in a category devoted to their artistry and work. And some of those designers, along with...
Anyone who saw Mathis’ marvelous wig creations will understand immediately why she is one of three recipients this year of Special Tony Awards, non-competitive honors bestowed by Tony organizers for productions, artists and organizations who do not fall into any of the competitive categories.
But what many in the theater community don’t understand is why Mathis or any of her design colleagues in wig, hair and makeup can’t simply compete in a category devoted to their artistry and work. And some of those designers, along with...
- 5/20/2024
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Alex Edelman is among the honorees being presented a special Tony Award for his comedy show, Just for Us, which debuted on Broadway in June 2023.
Edelman’s one-man show, which ran through August at Broadway’s Hudson Theatre, saw the comic, who is Jewish, recounting a night attending a white supremacist meeting. In addition to Edelman, special Tony recipients include Abe Jacob, a sound designer who has worked on dozens of Broadway shows including the original production of Hair, Cats, Jesus Christ Superstar and The Who’s Tommy, and mentored the next generation. Nikiya Mathis, a hair and wig designer fighting back against hair discrimination for Black actors and who worked on shows such as JaJa’s African Hair Braiding, Top Dog/Underdog, Death of a Salesman and more.
Special Tony Awards are given to productions, artists and organizations that do not fall into any of the competitive categories.
“We are...
Edelman’s one-man show, which ran through August at Broadway’s Hudson Theatre, saw the comic, who is Jewish, recounting a night attending a white supremacist meeting. In addition to Edelman, special Tony recipients include Abe Jacob, a sound designer who has worked on dozens of Broadway shows including the original production of Hair, Cats, Jesus Christ Superstar and The Who’s Tommy, and mentored the next generation. Nikiya Mathis, a hair and wig designer fighting back against hair discrimination for Black actors and who worked on shows such as JaJa’s African Hair Braiding, Top Dog/Underdog, Death of a Salesman and more.
Special Tony Awards are given to productions, artists and organizations that do not fall into any of the competitive categories.
“We are...
- 5/2/2024
- by Caitlin Huston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Alex Edelman, the comedian, actor and writer who made his Broadway debut last year in his solo show Just For Us, will receive a Special 2024 Tony Award for the production, the Tony Administration Committee announced today.
The committee revealed today that Edelman will be one of three Special Tony recipients this June, along with longtime sound designer Abe Jacob and Jaja’s African Hair Braiding hair and wig designer Nikiya Mathis.
Special Tony Awards are presented to outstanding productions, artists and organizations who do not fall into any of the competitive categories.
In addition to the Special Tonys, five recipients of this year’s Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre were named: Projection designer Wendall K. Harrington; arts leader Colleen Jennings-Roggensack; retiring Playwrights Horizons board chair Judith O. Rubin; the Dramatists Guild Foundation; and the Samuel J. Friedman Health Center for the Performing Arts.
Regarding the Special Tony recipients,...
The committee revealed today that Edelman will be one of three Special Tony recipients this June, along with longtime sound designer Abe Jacob and Jaja’s African Hair Braiding hair and wig designer Nikiya Mathis.
Special Tony Awards are presented to outstanding productions, artists and organizations who do not fall into any of the competitive categories.
In addition to the Special Tonys, five recipients of this year’s Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre were named: Projection designer Wendall K. Harrington; arts leader Colleen Jennings-Roggensack; retiring Playwrights Horizons board chair Judith O. Rubin; the Dramatists Guild Foundation; and the Samuel J. Friedman Health Center for the Performing Arts.
Regarding the Special Tony recipients,...
- 5/2/2024
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Complete casting for the upcoming The Heart of Rock and Roll featuring the songs of Huey Lewis has been announced: Newsies‘ Corey Cott and Wicked‘s McKenzie Kurtz will play the leads, a will-they/won’t-they couple at the center of the story.
Those and other castings were announced today by Lewis and producers Hunter Arnold, Tyler Mitchell and Kayla Greenspan. The Heart of Rock and Roll, inspired by and featuring the songs of ’80s hitmakers Huey Lewis and The News, will open on Broadway at The James Earl Jones Theatre with previews beginning on Friday, March 29 before an opening night of Monday, April 22.
Said Lewis, “The casting process has so far been the most thrilling part of creating this show. It’s all just words and notes on a page until an actor gives it life. I am so grateful that this incredible company, made up of some of...
Those and other castings were announced today by Lewis and producers Hunter Arnold, Tyler Mitchell and Kayla Greenspan. The Heart of Rock and Roll, inspired by and featuring the songs of ’80s hitmakers Huey Lewis and The News, will open on Broadway at The James Earl Jones Theatre with previews beginning on Friday, March 29 before an opening night of Monday, April 22.
Said Lewis, “The casting process has so far been the most thrilling part of creating this show. It’s all just words and notes on a page until an actor gives it life. I am so grateful that this incredible company, made up of some of...
- 1/16/2024
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
The Black Women on Broadway Awards are returning following last year’s successful inaugural in-person event.
Dedicated to celebrating the legacy and achievements of Black women in the Broadway community, the 2023 Bwob Awards will honor three talents in New York at the Knickerbocker Hotel on June 5 for their work at the highest level of commercial live theater in the U.S.
“We saw with our first-year celebration how necessary it was, how people left in tears and were so elated to be in a space where they didn’t have to be anything other than the Black women they are. There was such a freedom in the room, a vulnerability that is not often felt,” Bwob co-founder, The Piano Lesson star and Tony nominee Danielle Brooks tells The Hollywood Reporter about the group’s decision to return for 2023.
This year’s honorees include Some Like It Hot‘s Natasha Yvette Williams,...
Dedicated to celebrating the legacy and achievements of Black women in the Broadway community, the 2023 Bwob Awards will honor three talents in New York at the Knickerbocker Hotel on June 5 for their work at the highest level of commercial live theater in the U.S.
“We saw with our first-year celebration how necessary it was, how people left in tears and were so elated to be in a space where they didn’t have to be anything other than the Black women they are. There was such a freedom in the room, a vulnerability that is not often felt,” Bwob co-founder, The Piano Lesson star and Tony nominee Danielle Brooks tells The Hollywood Reporter about the group’s decision to return for 2023.
This year’s honorees include Some Like It Hot‘s Natasha Yvette Williams,...
- 5/1/2023
- by Abbey White
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Broadway-bound comedy Fat Ham and Shakespeare in the Park’s Merry Wives are among this year’s recipients of the 66th Obie Awards honoring Off and Off-Off Broadway productions.
Presented by the American Theatre Wing, the Obies will be handed out Monday evening in a ceremony at Manhattan’s Terminal 5 venue. Sustained and Lifetime Achievement winners will accept their awards during the ceremony, while remarks of all other winners will premiere on the the American Theatre Wing’s YouTube channel.
The most recent Obies ceremony was virtual and premiered on the Wing’s YouTube channel on July 14, 2020.
“For this Obies, the judges reviewed over 400 productions over the last three seasons including digital and audio works made during the pandemic,” said Heather Hitchens, President & CEO, in a statement. “We look forward to finally gathering in person to celebrate the artistic excellence and resilience of the amazing artists and theatre companies...
Presented by the American Theatre Wing, the Obies will be handed out Monday evening in a ceremony at Manhattan’s Terminal 5 venue. Sustained and Lifetime Achievement winners will accept their awards during the ceremony, while remarks of all other winners will premiere on the the American Theatre Wing’s YouTube channel.
The most recent Obies ceremony was virtual and premiered on the Wing’s YouTube channel on July 14, 2020.
“For this Obies, the judges reviewed over 400 productions over the last three seasons including digital and audio works made during the pandemic,” said Heather Hitchens, President & CEO, in a statement. “We look forward to finally gathering in person to celebrate the artistic excellence and resilience of the amazing artists and theatre companies...
- 2/24/2023
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Cesd’s NYTheatrical Department has hired longtime agent Danielle De Lawder as Vice President.
De Lawder moves to Cesd after 21 years at A3 Artists Agency and its predecessor Abrams Artists Agency, where she worked her way up from assistant to, most recently, partner in the Talent division.
The majority of her clients have followed her to Cesd including Chaske Spencer, Ethan Slater (Wicked, Tony nom SpongeBob), Will Chase, Patti Murin, Guy Lockard, Annie Golden (Into The Woods, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Ivory Aquino, Nikiya Mathis, Stephen Rider, Rodney Hicks, Daniel Stewart Sherman, Wass Stevens, Lenny Venito, Maria Grabriela Gonzales (Fantasy Island) and Royce Johnson.
“Danielle...
De Lawder moves to Cesd after 21 years at A3 Artists Agency and its predecessor Abrams Artists Agency, where she worked her way up from assistant to, most recently, partner in the Talent division.
The majority of her clients have followed her to Cesd including Chaske Spencer, Ethan Slater (Wicked, Tony nom SpongeBob), Will Chase, Patti Murin, Guy Lockard, Annie Golden (Into The Woods, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Ivory Aquino, Nikiya Mathis, Stephen Rider, Rodney Hicks, Daniel Stewart Sherman, Wass Stevens, Lenny Venito, Maria Grabriela Gonzales (Fantasy Island) and Royce Johnson.
“Danielle...
- 1/25/2023
- by Denise Petski and Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Tonya Pinkins and Francois Battiste are among the cast announced today for the Public Theater’s upcoming production of A Raisin In The Sun, Lorraine Hansberry’s classic drama to be directed by Robert O’Hara (Tony nominated for his direction of Slave Play).
The production, which marks a Public Theater debut for Hansberry, reunites O’Hara with some of his cast from a 2019 Raisin In The Sun staging at the Williamstown Theater Festival, including Battiste, who will play Walter Lee Younger, and Mandi Masden, as Ruth Younger. Pinkins, a Tony winner for Jelly’s Last Jam, will play Walter Lee’s mother Lena Younger (played by S. Epatha Merkerson in the Williamstown staging).
The play begins performances at the Public’s Newman Theater Off Broadway with a Joseph Papp Free Performance on Tuesday, Sept. 27. The engagement officially opens on Wednesday, Oct. 19 and runs through Sunday,...
The production, which marks a Public Theater debut for Hansberry, reunites O’Hara with some of his cast from a 2019 Raisin In The Sun staging at the Williamstown Theater Festival, including Battiste, who will play Walter Lee Younger, and Mandi Masden, as Ruth Younger. Pinkins, a Tony winner for Jelly’s Last Jam, will play Walter Lee’s mother Lena Younger (played by S. Epatha Merkerson in the Williamstown staging).
The play begins performances at the Public’s Newman Theater Off Broadway with a Joseph Papp Free Performance on Tuesday, Sept. 27. The engagement officially opens on Wednesday, Oct. 19 and runs through Sunday,...
- 8/22/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive Ozark actor McKinley Belcher III will join the cast of Broadway’s upcoming Death of a Salesman revival starring Wendell Pierce and Sharon D Clarke this fall, producers announced today.
Belcher will play Happy Loman, son of Willy (Pierce) and Linda (Clarke) Loman. The revival begins previews September 19 at the Hudson Theatre for a strictly limited 17-week engagement. Belcher joins other previously announced cast members Khris Davis as Biff and André De Shields as Willy’s brother Ben.
The production reimagines, for the first time on Broadway, Arthur Miller’s classic play from the perspective of an African American family, living and working in a White, Capitalist world.
Produced by Cindy Tolan, Elliott & Harper Productions and Kwame Kwei-Armah, Death of a Salesman is directed by Miranda Cromwell, who co-directed the London production alongside Marianne Elliott.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled to step into the continuum to tell the...
Belcher will play Happy Loman, son of Willy (Pierce) and Linda (Clarke) Loman. The revival begins previews September 19 at the Hudson Theatre for a strictly limited 17-week engagement. Belcher joins other previously announced cast members Khris Davis as Biff and André De Shields as Willy’s brother Ben.
The production reimagines, for the first time on Broadway, Arthur Miller’s classic play from the perspective of an African American family, living and working in a White, Capitalist world.
Produced by Cindy Tolan, Elliott & Harper Productions and Kwame Kwei-Armah, Death of a Salesman is directed by Miranda Cromwell, who co-directed the London production alongside Marianne Elliott.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled to step into the continuum to tell the...
- 6/27/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Kimberly Hébert and Ryan Michelle Bathe take over Variety‘s Instagram account Tuesday, June 16 at 12 p.m. Pt to discuss the upcoming virtual presentation of the late actor, writer and social activist Beah Richards’ “A Black Woman Speaks.”
Richards — who earned an Oscar nod for her performance in “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”, died in 2000 at the age of 80 — penned and debuted “A Black Woman Speaks” in 1950. The verse performance piece indicts white womanhood for the role that they play in oppressing women of color and challenges the polite notions of feminism while examining the intersectionality of race and gender for Black women in America.
Tiffany Boone, Kelly McCreary (“Grey’s Anatomy”), Simone Missick (“All Rise”) and Pauletta Washington (“Genius: Aretha”) will also participate in the live reading, along with Tamela Aldridge, Guinea Bennett-Prince, Yvette Cason, Caroline Cay, Kelly Jenrette, Nikiya Mathis, Kellee Stewart and Jamila Webb. Each participant will read...
Richards — who earned an Oscar nod for her performance in “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”, died in 2000 at the age of 80 — penned and debuted “A Black Woman Speaks” in 1950. The verse performance piece indicts white womanhood for the role that they play in oppressing women of color and challenges the polite notions of feminism while examining the intersectionality of race and gender for Black women in America.
Tiffany Boone, Kelly McCreary (“Grey’s Anatomy”), Simone Missick (“All Rise”) and Pauletta Washington (“Genius: Aretha”) will also participate in the live reading, along with Tamela Aldridge, Guinea Bennett-Prince, Yvette Cason, Caroline Cay, Kelly Jenrette, Nikiya Mathis, Kellee Stewart and Jamila Webb. Each participant will read...
- 6/16/2020
- by J. Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
Recently, CBS delivered the new,official synopsis/spoilers for their upcoming "The Good Wife" episode 19 of season 6. The episode is entitled, "Winning Ugly," and it turns out that we're going to see some very interesting and drama-filled stuff as Alicia and company get attacked with a State's Attorney Election voting recount scandal. They'll try to fight it off, and more! In the new, 19th episode press release: Alicia And Eli Try To Stop A Recount When Potential Voter Fraud Is Discovered In The State's Attorney Election. Press release number 2: When potential voter fraud is discovered in the State's Attorney election, Eli and Alicia are going to take steps to stop a recount by enlisting the help of a well-respected civil rights lawyer, Spencer Randolph (Ron Rifkin). Also, Diane is going to learn she unwittingly submitted false evidence in Cary's case. Guest stars feature: Ron Rifkin (Spencer Randolph), John Procaccino...
- 4/5/2015
- by Chris
- OnTheFlix
New Person Of Interest season 3,episode 15 spoiler pic shows Samantha,John spy duties. Recently, CBS released this new spoiler pic for their upcoming "Person Of Interest" episode 15 of season 3, and it looks pretty interesting ,featuring Samantha and John in action with, what appears to be, a little spy work. The episode is titled, "Last Call." In related news, CBS recently revealed new spoiler intel for episode 15 in one of their press releases. It reads like this: "Finch will go undercover in an emergency call center to protect a 911 operator. However, it will soon become clear that the threat is going to reach further than the team could have anticipated." Guest stars will feature: Melissa Sagemiller (Sandra Nicholson), Andrew Dolan (Forensic Specialist), Barrett Doss (Trainee) Tyler Evans (Detective Macintyre), Gavin Stenhouse (Detective Jake Harrison), Anthony Mangano (Detective Kane), Julian Shatkin (aaron Hollenberg), Robbie Collier Sublett (Brent Holm), Kathleen McNenny (Gina Kincaid...
- 2/19/2014
- by Eric
- OnTheFlix
New Person Of Interest season 3,episode 15 official spoilers,plotline revealed by CBS. Recently,CBS released the new,official,synopsis/spoilers for their upcoming "Person Of Interest" episode 15 of season 3. The episode is entitled, "Last Call," and it sounds like things will get very interesting and intense when Finch has to do some undercover work to protect a 911 operator, and more. In the new,15th episode press release: Finch is going to go undercover when a 911 operator is in a state of emergency. Press release number 2: Finch will go undercover in an emergency call center to protect a 911 operator. However, it will soon become clear that the threat is going to reach further than the team could have anticipated. Guest stars will feature: Melissa Sagemiller (Sandra Nicholson), Andrew Dolan (Forensic Specialist), Barrett Doss (Trainee) Tyler Evans (Detective Macintyre), Gavin Stenhouse (Detective Jake Harrison), Anthony Mangano (Detective Kane), Julian Shatkin (aaron...
- 2/5/2014
- by Megan
- OnTheFlix
Second poster for Craig Zobel's Compliance, starring Ann Dowd, Dream Walker, Pat Healy and Bill Camp. The thriller / drama from Magnolia Pictures opened on August 17th and is scripted and helmed by Zobel, who spoke to us in an exclusive interview about the film in August. Pic's produced by Tyler Davidson, Sophia Lin, Lisa Muskat, Theo Sena and Zobel. Phillip Ettinger, James McCaffrey, Matt Servito, Ashlie Atkinson and Nikiya Mathis also star. When a police officer tells you to do something, you do it. Right? Based on true events, Compliance tells the chilling story of just how far one might go to obey a figure of authority. On a particularly busy day at a suburban Ohio fast food joint, high-strung manager Sandra (Ann Dowd (Garden State) receives a phone call from a police officer saying that an employee, a pretty young blonde named Becky (newcomer Dreama Walker) has stolen money from a customer.
- 10/3/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Second poster for Craig Zobel's Compliance, starring Ann Dowd, Dream Walker, Pat Healy and Bill Camp. The thriller / drama from Magnolia Pictures opened on August 17th and is scripted and helmed by Zobel, who spoke to us in an exclusive interview about the film in August. Pic's produced by Tyler Davidson, Sophia Lin, Lisa Muskat, Theo Sena and Zobel. Phillip Ettinger, James McCaffrey, Matt Servito, Ashlie Atkinson and Nikiya Mathis also star. When a police officer tells you to do something, you do it. Right? Based on true events, Compliance tells the chilling story of just how far one might go to obey a figure of authority. On a particularly busy day at a suburban Ohio fast food joint, high-strung manager Sandra (Ann Dowd (Garden State) receives a phone call from a police officer saying that an employee, a pretty young blonde named Becky (newcomer Dreama Walker) has stolen money from a customer.
- 10/3/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Chicago – In our latest edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 10 pairs of run-of-engagement, anytime, guaranteed movie passes up for grabs to the new film “Compliance” starring Ann Dowd! Pick your own showing! These are guaranteed tickets!
In Chicago, “Compliance” opens at Landmark Century Centre Cinema on Aug. 31, 2012. Rated “R” and inspired by true events, the film also stars Pat Healy, Dreama Walker, Bill Camp, Philip Ettinger, James McCaffrey, Matt Servitto, Ashlie Atkinson, Nikiya Mathis, Ralph Rodriguez, Stephen Payne, Amelia Fowler, John Merolla, Desmin Borges and Matt Skibiak from writer and director Matt Skibiak.
These anytime, guaranteed passes can be used for “Compliance” at Landmark Century Centre Cinema in Chicago for the showing of your choosing during the film’s theatrical run. To win your free movie passes to “Compliance” courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, just get interactive with our unique Hookup technology directly below. That’s it! The more social actions you complete,...
In Chicago, “Compliance” opens at Landmark Century Centre Cinema on Aug. 31, 2012. Rated “R” and inspired by true events, the film also stars Pat Healy, Dreama Walker, Bill Camp, Philip Ettinger, James McCaffrey, Matt Servitto, Ashlie Atkinson, Nikiya Mathis, Ralph Rodriguez, Stephen Payne, Amelia Fowler, John Merolla, Desmin Borges and Matt Skibiak from writer and director Matt Skibiak.
These anytime, guaranteed passes can be used for “Compliance” at Landmark Century Centre Cinema in Chicago for the showing of your choosing during the film’s theatrical run. To win your free movie passes to “Compliance” courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, just get interactive with our unique Hookup technology directly below. That’s it! The more social actions you complete,...
- 8/28/2012
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
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