Shirley Jo Finney, a theater director and the star of Wilma (1977), has died. She was 74.
The Fountain Theatre announced Finney’s death on social media writing in an Instagram post, “With broken hearts, we share the sad news that director Shirley Jo Finney, a beloved member of our Fountain Family, passed away yesterday after a long illness.”
Some of the productions that Finney directed included Citizen: An American Lyric, Heart Song, In the Red and Brown Water, The Brothers Size, The Ballad of Emmett Till, Yellowman, Central Avenue and From the Mississippi Delta.
Finney had been battling with cancer for eight months, according to a report from the Los Angeles Times.
Finney starred in the television film Wilma, a biopic about track star Wilma Rudolph and the obstacles she faced to win three gold medals in the 1960 Olympics. In the television movie, Finney starred opposite Cicely Tyson, Jason Bernard, Denzel Washington and more.
The Fountain Theatre announced Finney’s death on social media writing in an Instagram post, “With broken hearts, we share the sad news that director Shirley Jo Finney, a beloved member of our Fountain Family, passed away yesterday after a long illness.”
Some of the productions that Finney directed included Citizen: An American Lyric, Heart Song, In the Red and Brown Water, The Brothers Size, The Ballad of Emmett Till, Yellowman, Central Avenue and From the Mississippi Delta.
Finney had been battling with cancer for eight months, according to a report from the Los Angeles Times.
Finney starred in the television film Wilma, a biopic about track star Wilma Rudolph and the obstacles she faced to win three gold medals in the 1960 Olympics. In the television movie, Finney starred opposite Cicely Tyson, Jason Bernard, Denzel Washington and more.
- 10/15/2023
- by Armando Tinoco
- Deadline Film + TV
Shirley Jo Finney, a theater director and actor known for the 1975 TV biopic “Wilma,” died on Oct. 10 following an eight-month battle with cancer. She was 74.
The Fountain Theatre announced the news of Finney’s death in a statement on Friday.
“It shatters my heart beyond expression to announce the passing of my artistic sister,” said Stephen Sachs, artistic director of the Fountain Theatre. “I am deeply, deeply devastated. She was my theatrical soulmate for 26 years.”
Finney directed eight productions over many years at the Fountain Theatre, including Endesha Ida Mae Holland’s “From the Mississippi Delta”; Stephen Sachs’ “Central Avenue”; Dael Orlandersmith’s “Yellowman”; Ifa Bayeza’s “The Ballad of Emmett Till”; Claudia Rankin and Stephen Sachs’ “Citizen: An American Lyric”; and Jeremy J. Kamps’ “Runaway Home,” among other titles. Finney and her productions received several accolades, including the Beverly Hills/Hollywood NAACP Theatre Award for best director for “Yellowman.
The Fountain Theatre announced the news of Finney’s death in a statement on Friday.
“It shatters my heart beyond expression to announce the passing of my artistic sister,” said Stephen Sachs, artistic director of the Fountain Theatre. “I am deeply, deeply devastated. She was my theatrical soulmate for 26 years.”
Finney directed eight productions over many years at the Fountain Theatre, including Endesha Ida Mae Holland’s “From the Mississippi Delta”; Stephen Sachs’ “Central Avenue”; Dael Orlandersmith’s “Yellowman”; Ifa Bayeza’s “The Ballad of Emmett Till”; Claudia Rankin and Stephen Sachs’ “Citizen: An American Lyric”; and Jeremy J. Kamps’ “Runaway Home,” among other titles. Finney and her productions received several accolades, including the Beverly Hills/Hollywood NAACP Theatre Award for best director for “Yellowman.
- 10/15/2023
- by Jaden Thompson
- Variety Film + TV
Three friends embark on a joyous journey of sisterhood, discovering their inner 'duende' through a flamenco class for middle-aged women. Heart Song, the newest comedydrama from Stephen Sachs Bakersfield Mist, Cyrano, opens at The Fountain Theatre on May 25with Shirley Jo Finney In the Red and Brown Water directing and choreography by internationally renowned flamenco dancer Maria Cha Cha Bermudez. Check out a first look below...
- 5/24/2013
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
Christy Grosz is AwardsLine editor and a contributor to Deadline. Universal President and COO Ron Meyer this afternoon made an expletive-laced commencement speech to the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television Class of 2012. He told the graduating students that the best way to get ahead in showbiz is to ask questions. “Assumption is the mother of all fuck-ups,” he told the audience. Twice. The longtime studio head also pointed out that despite the cliches “You don’t have to be an asshole to succeed.” He also stressed that finding an agent is the single most important thing a new graduate can do. Ask everyone you meet. “Just don’t ask me,” he warned. The ceremony was dedicated to the school’s founding dean and Oscar ceremony producer Gil Cates. The commencement also honored directors Penelope Spheeris and Shirley Jo Finney with distinguished alumni awards.
- 6/16/2012
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
Ron Meyer, Universal president and COO, will be the commencement speaker at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television’s commencement ceremony on June 15 on the UCLA Campus. Distinguished Alumni Awards also will be presented to director and screenwriter Penelope Spheeris for film and director/actor Shirley Jo Finney for theater. The commencement ceremony, at which Tft Dean Teri Schwartz will preside, will be dedicated to Tft founding dean Gilbert Cates, who died in October. “We are very honored and delighted to have Ron Meyer as our commencement speaker this year,” Schwartz said. “Ron is a leader of extraordinary skill
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- 6/6/2012
- by Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Los Angeles, CA – Ron Meyer, Universal Studios President and COO, will be the 2012 Commencement Speaker for this year’s UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television’s (Tft) commencement ceremony. Recipients of Tft’s 2012 Distinguished Alumni Awards are director and screenwriter Penelope Spheeris for Film and Shirley Jo Finney, the award-winning international director/actor, for Theater, both of whom will receive their awards at the ceremony. This year’s Commencement is dedicated to Tft founding dean and industry legend, Gil Cates. Tft Dean Teri Schwartz will preside over the graduation celebration on June 15 from 4:00p.m. to 6:00p.m. at Dickson Court North on the UCLA campus. “We are very honored and delighted to have Ron Meyer as our Commencement Speaker this year,” says Dean Schwartz. “Ron is a leader of extraordinary skill and vision. His industry insights, experiences and values should be of enormous inspiration to our graduating students.
- 6/6/2012
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
Shakespeare's "King Lear," featuring alternating star turns by Dakin Matthews and Harry Groener; Rogue Machine's searing family drama "Four Places"; and Fountain Theatre's powerful "The Ballad of Emmett Till" are among the most-honored productions in the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle's 42nd annual awards nominations, announced today. The annual citations salute excellence in L.A.-area theater productions during 2010. Winners will be announced during a ceremony at Burbank's Colony Theatre on March 14. Joining the aforementioned shows in contention for the coveted production award are the Fountain's "Opus," the Actors' Co-op's "Wit," and two world premiere offerings: Del Shores' "Yellow" (Coast Playhouse) and Tom Jacobson's "The Twentieth-Century Way" (Theatre @ Boston Court). Shores' "Yellow" has also been named as the recipient of the Ted Schmitt Award for outstanding world premiere script, accompanied by a $1,000 award from Samuel French, which also extends an offer to publish it.Among other special recipients...
- 1/25/2011
- backstage.com
The 41st annual Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards, honoring distinguished achievements in theatre during 2009 in L.A. and vicinity, were handed out in a warm and entertaining ceremony at the Colony Theatre in Burbank, Calif., March 22, co-hosted by two very funny men: critic Wenzel Jones and actor-singer Jason Graae.Actors and other theater artists from many local companies—large and small—took home the coveted plaques. Rogue Artists Ensemble's offbeat "Gogol Project"—encompassing three works by Nikolai Gogol, using puppetry, masks, music, and digital projection—led the field with four awards. Earning three awards apiece were Roger Bean's hit jukebox musical "Life Could Be a Dream," the Matrix Theatre's premiere drama "Stick Fly," Pacific Resident Theatre's revival of "The Browning Version," and the Ahmanson Theatre's Broadway-bound musical "Minsky's."The Production award was shared by "Life Could Be a Dream," "Stick Fly," and the Mark Taper Forum/Donmar Warehouse staging...
- 3/23/2010
- backstage.com
The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, which consists of L.A.-area theater journalists in various media, has announced nominees and special awards for its 41st annual awards ceremony, to be held March 22 at Burbank’s Colony Theatre.Awards will be given in 20 categories, honoring excellence in theater over the past year. Eight special awards will include a special citation to actor Kirk Douglas for his lifetime contribution to Los Angeles theatre, as well as the new Milton Katselas Award for career or special achievement in direction, sponsored by Camelot Artists.The 2009 Special Awards include:– The Ted Schmitt Award for the world premiere of an outstanding new play: Julie Marie Myatt for the bittersweet domestic drama "The Happy Ones," which premiered at South Coast Repertory. The award is accompanied by an offer to publish and a $1,000 check funded by Samuel French, Inc.– The Polly Warfield Award for an excellent season...
- 1/25/2010
- backstage.com
An upper class African American family wrestles with parental expectations, sibling rivalry, and issues of class and race. Following a two-year hiatus, Joseph Stern's multiple award-winning Matrix Theatre Company returns with the West Coast premiere of Stick Fly by Lydia R. Diamond, an important new play from one of America's freshest and most dynamic voices. Shirley Jo Finney directs Chris Butler, Avery Clyde, Tinashe Kajese, Terrell Tilford, John Wesley and Michole Briana White at The Matrix Theatre, April 4 through May 31, with previews beginning March 26.
- 3/3/2009
- BroadwayWorld.com
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