Shirley Jo Finney News

UCSB's Department of Theater and Dance presents The White Card, the first time this play has been staged on a college campus. It is a theater production by award winning writer Claudia Rankine. The White Card opens on November 21st and runs through November 24th in the Studio Theater on the UCSB campus. Directed by Shirley Jo Finney, UCSB students come together to express crucial ideas about race in our society. 

UCSB's Department of Theater and Dance presents The White Card, the first time this play has been staged on a college campus. It is a theater production by award winning writer Claudia Rankine. The White Card opens on November 21st and runs through November 24th in the Studio Theater on the UCSB campus. Directed by Shirley Jo Finney, UCSB students come together to express crucial ideas about race in our society. 

An upbeat piece, 'Into the Beautiful North' brushes against self-awareness without being preachy by providing likable characters in stylized peril and a timely expression of another side of the "border crisis." The cast hits the comedic notes while sustains the eagerness that fuels the journey.

Playwright Wendy Graf has been named the inaugural Gold Medallion winner by theMoss Hart & Kitty Carlisle Hart New Play Initiative for her play Exit Wounds.

Once again, the NAACP Beverly Hills/Hollywood Branch's Theatre Viewing Committee has spoken, and the nominations are in for the 28th Annual NAACP Theatre Awards. This year's pedigreed list of nominees collectively represents a rich, extensive dossier of legacies and accolades for both stage and screen. These nominees include members of a legendary 'gospel royal family' as well as a Legend whose part of an elite group of artists in the EGOT winners circle. These, along with all their fellow nominees, will be honored for their excellence on the small and large stages during our annual awards dinner, slated to be held on Monday, June 17, 2019, 6:00 p.m.at the prestigious Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, California.

Two new character-driven relationship plays, both by award-winning women writers and both inspired by events currently at the forefront of our national consciousness, beat out 1241 other submissions in the inaugural Moss Hart & Kitty Carlisle Hart New Play Initiative. Hart NPI artistic director Christopher Hart will direct Silver Medallion-winning plays Confederates by Suzanne Bradbeer, opening Nov. 9, and Exit Wounds by Wendy Graf, opening Nov. 16, atGrove Theater Center in Burbank, where the two plays will continue to run in repertory through Dec. 16. One will be named the Gold Medallion winner and open on March 13, 2019 for a six-week, off-Broadway run in the 196-seat "Theater A" at 59E59 Theaters in New York City.

Two new character-driven relationship plays, both by award-winning women writers and both inspired by events currently at the forefront of our national consciousness, beat out 1241 other submissions in the inaugural Moss Hart & Kitty Carlisle Hart New Play Initiative. Hart NPI artistic director Christopher Hart will direct Silver Medallion-winning plays Confederates by Suzanne Bradbeer, opening Nov. 9, and Exit Wounds by Wendy Graf, opening Nov. 16, at Grove Theater Center in Burbank, where the two plays will continue to run in repertory through Dec. 16. One will be the named the Gold Medallion winner and open on March 13, 2019 for a six-week, off-Broadway run in the 196-seat "Theater A" at 59E59 Theaters in New York City.

Two new character-driven relationship plays, both by award-winning women writers and both inspired by events currently at the forefront of our national consciousness, beat out 1241 other submissions in the inaugural Moss Hart & Kitty Carlisle Hart New Play Initiative. Hart NPI artistic director Christopher Hart will direct Silver Medallion-winning plays Confederates by Suzanne Bradbeer, opening Nov. 9, and Exit Wounds by Wendy Graf, opening Nov. 16, at Grove Theater Center in Burbank, where the two plays will continue to run in repertory through Dec. 16. One will be the named the Gold Medallion winner and open on March 13, 2019 for a six-week, off-Broadway run in the 196-seat "Theater A" at 59E59 Theaters in New York City.

The Ensemble Theatre special project series entitled: Celebrating the Creative Journeywill include its BOLD Women's Leadership Network Master Classes facilitated by a roster of all-female arts industry leaders, Adult Sessions (Men and Women) Saturday, October 27, 2018, 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and Teen Sessions (Girls Age 13-19) Saturday, November 10, 2018 Noon-3:00 p.m. Main Street, Houston, TX 77002.

Martin Luther King, Jr. declared 'I've been to the mountaintop' almost exactly 50 years ago on April 3, 1968. His words, a confident assessment on the future of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, echo with the same power as when he bellowed them all those years ago. Dr. King never made it to the promised land, having been assassinated only one day after his 'Mountaintop' speech. His spirit, however, lives on beautifully in Katori Hall's play The Mountaintop at George Mason University's Center for the Arts on Saturday, April 14 as part of Los Angeles Theatre Works's 38-city touring production.

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle announced the recipients of its 49th annual awards for distinguished achievement in theatre last night, Monday, March 19, 2018, at A Noise Within in Pasadena. Wenzel Jones presided over the festivities, and Christopher Raymond served as music director.

Marking history with art, Park City Institute presents L.A. Theatre Works' Olivier Award-winning play, The Mountaintop, by Katori Hall. The powerful two-person play imagines the story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's last night on earth. "This year marks the 50th Anniversary of Dr. King's assassination," said PCI Executive Director, Teri Orr. "We wanted to honor his memory, his work, and his life, by presenting The Mountaintop. The play is filled with humor, political jabs, and offers a glimpse at the human side of this larger-than-life figure. And, it carries a message that is still relevant, today."

A chance meeting in an airport lounge leads to a Burmese odyssey and a search for a missing monk… and maybe love. Maria Gobetti directs the world premiere of Unemployed Elephants - A Love Story, a romantic comedy by Wendy Graf (No Word in Guyanese for Me, Please Don't Ask About Beckett). Performances begin on March 9 at The Victory Theatre Center in Burbank, where they continue through April 15. Three low-priced previews take place on March 1, 2 and 3.

A chance meeting in an airport lounge leads to a Burmese odyssey and a search for a missing monk… and maybe love. Maria Gobetti directs the world premiere of Unemployed Elephants - A Love Story, a romantic comedy by Wendy Graf (No Word in Guyanese for Me, Please Don't Ask About Beckett). Performances begin on March 9 at The Victory Theatre Center in Burbank, where they continue through April 15. Three low-priced previews take place on March 1, 2 and 3.

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle (LADCC) has announced its nominations and special awards for excellence in Los Angeles, Orange County and Ventura County theatre for the year 2017 (Dec. 1, 2016 Nov. 30, 2017).

In 2018, America and the world mark the 50th anniversary of the death of Martin Luther King Jr., even as the struggle to resolve racial tension remains a challenge for communities everywhere. Beginning January 12, L.A. Theatre Works commemorates the anniversary with a touring production of the internationally acclaimed play, The Mountaintop, written by Katori Hall, directed by multiple award-winner Shirley Jo Finney and starring Gilbert Glenn Brown (CBS TV's The Inspectors, upcoming feature film The Best of Enemies) and Karen Malina White (The Cosby Show, A Different World, Malcolm and Eddie). The production will travel to 38 cities across the United States.

Much props must be given to Camille Spirlin for her unflinching, unapologetic portrayal of the unsympathetic, totally evil main character of Kali, of which RUNAWAY HOME revolves around. Runaway teenager Kali has no hesitation in blackmailing a Latino storekeeper, scaring an elderly neighbor with the ghost of his dead wife, slapping her mother in her face or stone-faced lying about the life or deaths of her mother and grandmother.

Sometimes what you're searching for is right where you started. The Fountain Theatre presents a powerful, funny and deeply moving mother-daughter story by Jeremy J. Kamps. Multiple award-winning Shirley Jo Finney returns to the Fountain to direct the world premiere of Runaway Home.

The Fountain Theatre will donate a portion of all ticket sales from its upcoming production of Runaway Home to the Houston Food Bank. Runaway Home is set during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

The Fountain Theatre will donate a portion of all ticket sales from its upcoming production of Runaway Home to the Houston Food Bank. Runaway Home is set during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.