John Kani News

Classic Stage Company has announced its 2020-21 season. Bookending the season will be Doyle's new staging of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, in fall 2020, and the long-awaited New York premiere of Ten Cents a Dance, with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorzenz Hart, in spring 2021. In between, CSC presents the third annual edition of its winter repertory series, this time pairing landmark 1970s prison dramas: the Tony Award-winning, Apartheid-era play The Island and Kiss of the Spider Woman, which inspired the Tony Award-winning musical and Academy Award-winning film of the same name.

At a ceremony tonight at the Prince of Wales Theatre hosted by Jodie Prenger and Tom Read Wilson, the winners of the 20th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards were announced. For the first time this year the event was broadcast live on BBC Radio 2 hosted by Elaine Paige and Paddy O'Connell.

Ahead of the 20th annual WhatsOnStage Awards this Sunday, 1 March, at the Prince of Wales Theatre - hosted by Jodie Prenger and Tom Read Wilson, and for the first time this year broadcast live on BBC Radio 2 hosted by Elaine Paige and Paddy O'Connell a?' WhatsOnStage announce the presenters of the individual awards: Aimie Atkinson, Amy Booth-Steel, Amy Hart, Max Harwood, Tyrone Huntley, John Kani, Oti Mabusi, Danny Mac, Daniel Monks, Vinegar Strokes, Liam Tamne, Giles Terera, Faye Tozer and Susan Wokoma. In addition, Maureen Beattie will present the Equity Award for Services to Theatre; and Elaine Paige will present the BBC Radio 2 Audience Award for Best Musical.

An acclaimed classical actor is struggling with his terminal diagnosis while preparing for the role of a lifetime. When Lunga Kunene shows up to take on the job of live-in nurse, they're forced to settle their differences through their only shared passion: Shakespeare's works. Written by John Kani last year to mark the 25th anniversary since the first post-apartheid democratic elections, Kunene and the King swings between the political and personal while giving a heartfelt lecture on the Bard and his King Lear.

On Sunday, January 5, 77th Annual Golden Globe Awards will air live on NBC coast to coast at 8:00 p.m. EST, hosted by Ricky Gervais. The Best Original Song - Motion Picture category highlights some of Broadway's best and we are here to help you get to know each song nominated!

London is never short of temptations, whether splashy West End shows, epic dramas or bold fringe offerings. From a starry Beckett revival to Tom Stoppard and magical mishaps, here are some of this month's most eye-catching openings. Don't forget to check back for BroadwayWorld's reviews, interviews and features!

Last night, Thursday 24th October, VIP guests, film fans and filmmakers packed into Long Street's newly relaunched 44 On Long Theatre to celebrate the presentation of the 10th shnit Worldwide Shortfilmfestival's South African Awards in seven categories.

On announcing the season Gregory Doran, RSC Artistic Director, said: a?oeCreated in Stratford-upon-Avon, shared around the world, crossing borders of creativity, community, culture and technology, our new season celebrates Shakespeare's unique contribution to world culture, whilst at the same time asking us to consider our own place within society, our families and community. Whether experiencing our work on stage in Stratford-upon-Avon, on nationwide tours, in schools and local communities, through live cinema screenings or via the latest digital innovations, the shared experiences and emotional connections forged through live theatre feel as urgent and necessary today as they ever havea??.

John Kani's two-hander Kunene and the King will transfer to the Ambassadors Theatre, London for a strictly limited West End run from 24 January to 28 March 2020.

shnit Cape Town, celebrating its 10th anniversary, has announced an outstanding 2019 lineup. A total of 37 South African films and over 100 international submissions will be screened this year ranging from animation to mock-docs, fiction and experimental. The exceptional non-profit transnational film festival, shnit is hosted annually simultaneously on five continents, in Cape Town, Bern, Buenos Aires, Cairo, Hong Kong, Moscow and San Jose, with the shnit Finale held in New York City. This year, Dr John Kani will head the shnit Cape Town Jury Panel alongside cinematographer Gaopie Kabe, director and comedian Kagiso Lediga and writer Lauren Beukes.

Eric Abraham, The Fugard Theatre and its Artistic Director Greg Karvellas, have announced the new line up for their 2020 Season - 10 Years and Counting.

If you really love Greek mythology, the old Divas of WWE or trashing other womxn then this is probably not the play for you. But if you love the Kardashians, candid CNN interviews, gold (everywhere), spelling womxn with an a?oexa?? and smashing the patriarchy one rape-culture-drenched mythological origin story at a time then this might just be your cup of tea. Drawing from the Greek mythologies of Persephone, Medusa and other not so well-known characters, Nasty Womxn is a collection of sketches about contemporary womxn just trying to get from day to day.

Disney's The Lion King crossed the billion-dollar mark after less than three weeks in theaters this past weekend, according to Variety.

Filmmakers, talent and special guests celebrated Disney's “The Lion King” tonight in Hollywood. The movie, which opens on July 19, 2019, welcomes beloved characters back to the big screen in a whole new way.

Beyonce will be releasing a new album titled, 'The Lion King: The Gift' which will feature an array of songs inspired by the film, performed by African artists. 

Get your first official peek (and listen!) at Beyonce and Donald Glover in the new live-action remake of The Lion King!

The French Institute Alliance Fran aise (FIAF), New York's premier French cultural and language center, today announced the 2019 Crossing the Line Festival, featuring 11 performances and a gallery exhibition from a geographically, generationally, and artistically diverse group of artists whose work transcends genres and boundaries. All performances are world, US, or New York premieres; they are united by their convention-breaking fearlessness as they confront topics from social injustice to personal demons. Many of the performances pay homage to legendary artists of our time and previous eras, while the theme of migration and its transformational effects on identity informs several others. The festival runs from September 12 to October 12. Ticket are available at crossingtheline.org.

Returning to home soil after its international debut in Stratford-upon-Avon, John Kani's KUNENE AND THE KING is set to enthuse and confront local audiences with its South African run at the Fugard Theatre. The new and original production puts a complex relationship on display that is brought together by, not only intrinsic similarities, but also a little Shakespeare.

The Lion King is King of the Musical Jungle

Outlined as a "moving and funny two-hander", playwright John Kani describes his latest play KUNENE AND THE KING as a review of the past 25 years of South African democracy. From plotlines to politics, Kani sits down with Broadway World in between rehearsals to discuss the anticipated international debut of his new production.