Updated with Ctg response: Playwright Jeremy O. Harris said Tuesday that he intends to pull his Tony-nominated Slave Play from the upcoming lineup at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles due to the theater company’s dearth of scheduled productions by female playwrights – a scarcity acknowledged by the management of Center Theatre Group, which operates the Taper.
In a tweet that reproduced an email sent to executives of L.A.’s Center Theatre Group, Harris wrote, “As a playwright who holds dear the principles of both inclusion it was a shock to realize that this season was programmed with only 1 woman across all theatres. As an Angeleno and a lover of theatre I think Los Angeles audiences deserve an equitable showing of the playwrights working in the US right now.
“I’ve spoken to my team,” he continues, “and would like to begin the process of removing slave play...
In a tweet that reproduced an email sent to executives of L.A.’s Center Theatre Group, Harris wrote, “As a playwright who holds dear the principles of both inclusion it was a shock to realize that this season was programmed with only 1 woman across all theatres. As an Angeleno and a lover of theatre I think Los Angeles audiences deserve an equitable showing of the playwrights working in the US right now.
“I’ve spoken to my team,” he continues, “and would like to begin the process of removing slave play...
- 10/5/2021
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Ingrid Andress
Singer-songwriter
Platinum-selling singer-songwriter Andress has “yet to meet [her] fans” due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but the country music artist has already amassed a global-wide following. The Colorado native, who is signed to WarnerMusic Nashville/Atlantic Records, was the sole country music artist nominated in the new artist category, her debut album “Lady Like” received a country album nod, and her debut single, “More Hearts Than Mine,” rose to the No. 9 spot on the Billboard charts. Andress’ holiday ballad “Christmas Also Finds Me,” co-penned with Derrick Southerland and Sam Ellis, was released in October, and the single off Andress’ album, “Lady Like,” has accumulated more than 40 million streams worldwide.
“I honestly didn’t really expect anybody to know my album or music since the pandemic kept me from touring,” says Andress. “At the end of the day, it really is just about people connecting with what you’re saying.
Singer-songwriter
Platinum-selling singer-songwriter Andress has “yet to meet [her] fans” due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but the country music artist has already amassed a global-wide following. The Colorado native, who is signed to WarnerMusic Nashville/Atlantic Records, was the sole country music artist nominated in the new artist category, her debut album “Lady Like” received a country album nod, and her debut single, “More Hearts Than Mine,” rose to the No. 9 spot on the Billboard charts. Andress’ holiday ballad “Christmas Also Finds Me,” co-penned with Derrick Southerland and Sam Ellis, was released in October, and the single off Andress’ album, “Lady Like,” has accumulated more than 40 million streams worldwide.
“I honestly didn’t really expect anybody to know my album or music since the pandemic kept me from touring,” says Andress. “At the end of the day, it really is just about people connecting with what you’re saying.
- 6/2/2021
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
Aziza Barnes (Blks) and Jeremy O. Harris (Slave Play), have signed on as writers and executive producers on drama The Vanishing Half, based on Brit Bennett’s bestselling novel, which is in currently in development as a series at HBO. Issa Rae and her Hoorae production banner and Stephanie Allain’s Homegrown Pictures also have joined as executive producers.
As Deadline previously reported, HBO acquired the book in 2020 in a highly competitive situation.
In The Vanishing Half, the twin Vignes sisters will always be identical. But after growing up together in a small, southern black community and running away at age sixteen, it’s not just the shape of their daily lives that is different as adults, it’s everything: their families, their communities, the essence of who they are. Ten years later, they are living completely separate lives, far from the close-knit sisters they once were…and with many secrets that divide them further.
As Deadline previously reported, HBO acquired the book in 2020 in a highly competitive situation.
In The Vanishing Half, the twin Vignes sisters will always be identical. But after growing up together in a small, southern black community and running away at age sixteen, it’s not just the shape of their daily lives that is different as adults, it’s everything: their families, their communities, the essence of who they are. Ten years later, they are living completely separate lives, far from the close-knit sisters they once were…and with many secrets that divide them further.
- 2/23/2021
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
HBO has found the writers for its potential series based on Brit Bennett’s novel The Vanishing Half.
Aziza Barnes and Jeremy O. Harris will adapt the best seller and serve as executive producers of the project. They’ll also serve as executive producers; Insecure star and co-creator Issa Rae and Oscars producer Stephanie Allain are also EPs.
The Vanishing Half, which became an instant best seller upon its publication in June 2020, centers on identical twin sisters who run away from their small, southern Black community at age 16. As adults, it’s not just the shape of their daily lives that is different,...
Aziza Barnes and Jeremy O. Harris will adapt the best seller and serve as executive producers of the project. They’ll also serve as executive producers; Insecure star and co-creator Issa Rae and Oscars producer Stephanie Allain are also EPs.
The Vanishing Half, which became an instant best seller upon its publication in June 2020, centers on identical twin sisters who run away from their small, southern Black community at age 16. As adults, it’s not just the shape of their daily lives that is different,...
- 2/23/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
HBO has found the writers for its potential series based on Brit Bennett’s novel The Vanishing Half.
Aziza Barnes and Jeremy O. Harris will adapt the best seller and serve as executive producers of the project. They’ll also serve as executive producers; Insecure star and co-creator Issa Rae and Oscars producer Stephanie Allain are also EPs.
The Vanishing Half, which became an instant best seller upon its publication in June 2020, centers on identical twin sisters who run away from their small, southern Black community at age 16. As adults, it’s not just the shape of their daily lives that is different,...
Aziza Barnes and Jeremy O. Harris will adapt the best seller and serve as executive producers of the project. They’ll also serve as executive producers; Insecure star and co-creator Issa Rae and Oscars producer Stephanie Allain are also EPs.
The Vanishing Half, which became an instant best seller upon its publication in June 2020, centers on identical twin sisters who run away from their small, southern Black community at age 16. As adults, it’s not just the shape of their daily lives that is different,...
- 2/23/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Exclusive: Outfest has launched its annual Outfest Screenwriting Lab and selected eight scripts that advance the visibility of Lgbtqia+ storytelling. This year’s fellows include Johnny Alvarez, Courtney & Hillary Andujar, Carlton Daniel Jr., Gary Jaffe, Raul Martin, Damon Royster, Cody Stickels & Kea Trevett, and Leandro Tadashi.
The Outfest Screenwriting Lab was established as a screenwriting contest in 1997 and has since become the cornerstone of Outfest’s education and mentoring program, Outfest Forward. Because this year’s Lab will take place virtually, it provided Outfest the ability to accept their largest cohort to date and extended the time frame of the Lab to five days. Fellows will meet with top industry showrunners, executives, and writers who will offer professional development and discuss trends within the industry.
The Lab roster of Lgbtqia+ industry leaders include showrunners Latoya Morgan, Derek Simonds (The Sinner), and M Dickson, alongside...
The Outfest Screenwriting Lab was established as a screenwriting contest in 1997 and has since become the cornerstone of Outfest’s education and mentoring program, Outfest Forward. Because this year’s Lab will take place virtually, it provided Outfest the ability to accept their largest cohort to date and extended the time frame of the Lab to five days. Fellows will meet with top industry showrunners, executives, and writers who will offer professional development and discuss trends within the industry.
The Lab roster of Lgbtqia+ industry leaders include showrunners Latoya Morgan, Derek Simonds (The Sinner), and M Dickson, alongside...
- 12/2/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: CBS is developing a single-camera comedy about foster parents and children from feature writers Chris Hazzard and Michael Fontana.
The network has put the half-hour Foster Friends into development with You and Gossip Girl producer Alloy Entertainment in association with Warner Bros Television producing.
The show follows three foster-parent couples who team to adopt a sibling set of five children, resulting in three very different sets of parents trying to raise one group of kids.
The comedy was inspired by Hazzard’s experience as a foster parent.
Hazzard and Fontana will write and exec produce, with Leslie Morgenstein and Gina Girolamo also exec producing.
The writing duo recently wrote Lionsgate’s musical comedy Under Cover starring Zachary Levi and Cole Sprouse. Their original feature comedy Adulting was just set up at Sony with Studio 8 producing, and Amazon Studios recently optioned the rights to Ex-Mas, their feature comedy pitch...
The network has put the half-hour Foster Friends into development with You and Gossip Girl producer Alloy Entertainment in association with Warner Bros Television producing.
The show follows three foster-parent couples who team to adopt a sibling set of five children, resulting in three very different sets of parents trying to raise one group of kids.
The comedy was inspired by Hazzard’s experience as a foster parent.
Hazzard and Fontana will write and exec produce, with Leslie Morgenstein and Gina Girolamo also exec producing.
The writing duo recently wrote Lionsgate’s musical comedy Under Cover starring Zachary Levi and Cole Sprouse. Their original feature comedy Adulting was just set up at Sony with Studio 8 producing, and Amazon Studios recently optioned the rights to Ex-Mas, their feature comedy pitch...
- 11/30/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Snowfall writer Aziza Barnes and Insecure’s Natasha Rothwell are developing an adaptation of Ibi Zoboi’s novel Pride for HBO.
Pride is an update to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, a Haitian-Dominican coming of age story that explores young love, teenage angst, and gentrification through magical realism.
Barnes, who also wrote on Netflix’s Teenage Bounty Hunters, is writing the adaptation, and will exec produce with Rothwell. Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin producer Alloy Entertainment is producing in association with Warner Bros. Television with Leslie Morgenstein and Gina Girolamo exec producing through Alloy Entertainment.
The book follows Zuri Benitez, who has pride, Brooklyn pride, family pride, and pride in her Afro-Latino roots. But pride might not be enough to save her rapidly gentrifying neighborhood from becoming unrecognizable. When the wealthy Darcy family moves in across the street, Zuri wants nothing to do with their two teenage sons,...
Pride is an update to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, a Haitian-Dominican coming of age story that explores young love, teenage angst, and gentrification through magical realism.
Barnes, who also wrote on Netflix’s Teenage Bounty Hunters, is writing the adaptation, and will exec produce with Rothwell. Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin producer Alloy Entertainment is producing in association with Warner Bros. Television with Leslie Morgenstein and Gina Girolamo exec producing through Alloy Entertainment.
The book follows Zuri Benitez, who has pride, Brooklyn pride, family pride, and pride in her Afro-Latino roots. But pride might not be enough to save her rapidly gentrifying neighborhood from becoming unrecognizable. When the wealthy Darcy family moves in across the street, Zuri wants nothing to do with their two teenage sons,...
- 10/13/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
‘Insecure’ Star Natasha Rothwell, Aziza Barnes to Develop HBO Drama Based on Ibi Zoboi Novel ‘Pride’
“Insecure” star Nastasha Rothwell and Aziza Barnes have teamed to develop a series based on the Ibi Zoboi novel “Pride” at HBO, Variety has learned.
“Pride” is described as a Haitian-Dominican coming of age story explores young love, teenage angst, and gentrification through magical realism fated by the gods of Santeria with an Austenian twist.
Rothwell and Barnes both worked on the story for the project, while Barnes will be the writer. Both will serve as executive producers. Leslie Morgenstein and Gina Girolamo of Alloy Entertainment will also executive produce. Alloy Entertainment will produce in association with Warner Bros. Television.
Rothwell has been a series regular, writer, and producer on HBO’s “Insecure” since its first season. She also previously wrote for “Saturday Night Live” during the 2014-2015 season. She is set to appear in the upcoming film “Wonder Woman 1984,” while her past credits include the “Sonic the Hedgehog...
“Pride” is described as a Haitian-Dominican coming of age story explores young love, teenage angst, and gentrification through magical realism fated by the gods of Santeria with an Austenian twist.
Rothwell and Barnes both worked on the story for the project, while Barnes will be the writer. Both will serve as executive producers. Leslie Morgenstein and Gina Girolamo of Alloy Entertainment will also executive produce. Alloy Entertainment will produce in association with Warner Bros. Television.
Rothwell has been a series regular, writer, and producer on HBO’s “Insecure” since its first season. She also previously wrote for “Saturday Night Live” during the 2014-2015 season. She is set to appear in the upcoming film “Wonder Woman 1984,” while her past credits include the “Sonic the Hedgehog...
- 10/13/2020
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Six-time Tony Award-winner Audra McDonald added to her trophy case on Friday night, picking up a win at the inaugural Antonyo Awards, a celebration of Black theater artists.
“Let’s celebrate with each other,” McDonald said, accepting her award for best actor in a play on Broadway before the virtual audience of theatergoers. “We have much to be proud of in our community, so let’s hold each other up and move forward.”
Presented by the Broadway Black organization, the Antonyo Awards ceremony stepped into a Tony-less year to exalt the best of Black theater, virtually. “The Antonyo Awards seek to fill the gap between Black talent and public acknowledgement,” executive producer Drew Shade said during the show. “Not in competition but in the spirit of community and celebration, we uplift Black theater artists because our lives matter and our art matters.”
The award ceremony — which gave out expected prizes,...
“Let’s celebrate with each other,” McDonald said, accepting her award for best actor in a play on Broadway before the virtual audience of theatergoers. “We have much to be proud of in our community, so let’s hold each other up and move forward.”
Presented by the Broadway Black organization, the Antonyo Awards ceremony stepped into a Tony-less year to exalt the best of Black theater, virtually. “The Antonyo Awards seek to fill the gap between Black talent and public acknowledgement,” executive producer Drew Shade said during the show. “Not in competition but in the spirit of community and celebration, we uplift Black theater artists because our lives matter and our art matters.”
The award ceremony — which gave out expected prizes,...
- 6/20/2020
- by Michael Appler
- Variety Film + TV
Audra McDonald, Tina – The Tina Turner Musical and its star Adrienne Warren, Lachanze, Aziza Barnes’ play Blks and the Off Broadway revival of Ntozake Shange’s For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf were among the big winners at tonight’s inaugural Antonyo Awards for black theater artists on Broadway and Off Broadway.
McDonald took the award for Best Actor in a Play on Broadway for her performance in the Broadway revival of Terrence McNally’s Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune directed by Arin Arbus. Warren, who plays Tina Turner in Tina, was named Best Actor in a Musical on Broadway.
Blks was named Best Play, and Tina took Best Musical.
Created by Broadway Black, a multimedia organization that includes a website and podcast, the Antonyos’ Juneteenth inaugural ceremony included such presenters and performers as McDonald, Tituss Burgess, Alex Newell, Jordan E. Cooper,...
McDonald took the award for Best Actor in a Play on Broadway for her performance in the Broadway revival of Terrence McNally’s Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune directed by Arin Arbus. Warren, who plays Tina Turner in Tina, was named Best Actor in a Musical on Broadway.
Blks was named Best Play, and Tina took Best Musical.
Created by Broadway Black, a multimedia organization that includes a website and podcast, the Antonyos’ Juneteenth inaugural ceremony included such presenters and performers as McDonald, Tituss Burgess, Alex Newell, Jordan E. Cooper,...
- 6/20/2020
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
The first annual Antonyo Awards honoring black Broadway and Off Broadway theater artists is set for streaming on June 19.
Created by Broadway Black, a multimedia organization that includes a website and podcast, the new awards ceremony will feature presenters and performers including Audra McDonald, Tituss Burgess, Alex Newell, Jordan E. Cooper, Teyonah Parris, Ephraim Sykes, Lachanze, Derrick Baskin, Nicolette Robinson, Jelani Alladin, Christiani Pitts, James Monroe Iglehart, Amber Iman, Kalen Allen, Nzinga Williams, Jackson Alexander, Cody Renard Richard, Ashton Muñiz, Shereen Pimentel, Kirsten Childs, Aisha Jackson, Antoine L. Smith, Griffin Matthews, Michael McElroy, Jocelyn Bioh and L Morgan Lee.
Online voting is open to the public through midnight Friday, June 12. Four special “Kinfolk Awards” – the Lorraine Hansberry Award, the Langston Hughes Award, Welcome Award and The Doors of the Theatre are Open Award – will be presented to members of...
Created by Broadway Black, a multimedia organization that includes a website and podcast, the new awards ceremony will feature presenters and performers including Audra McDonald, Tituss Burgess, Alex Newell, Jordan E. Cooper, Teyonah Parris, Ephraim Sykes, Lachanze, Derrick Baskin, Nicolette Robinson, Jelani Alladin, Christiani Pitts, James Monroe Iglehart, Amber Iman, Kalen Allen, Nzinga Williams, Jackson Alexander, Cody Renard Richard, Ashton Muñiz, Shereen Pimentel, Kirsten Childs, Aisha Jackson, Antoine L. Smith, Griffin Matthews, Michael McElroy, Jocelyn Bioh and L Morgan Lee.
Online voting is open to the public through midnight Friday, June 12. Four special “Kinfolk Awards” – the Lorraine Hansberry Award, the Langston Hughes Award, Welcome Award and The Doors of the Theatre are Open Award – will be presented to members of...
- 6/10/2020
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
There's a scene in poet-turned-playwright Aziza Barnes' fast and furiously funny debut stage piece, Blks, where the main characters, a trio of black Brooklyn women in their 20s 'out on a mission to resurrect our fly back' find themselves at the corner of Prince Street and Broadway, where the N,R subway station entrance displays the faces of Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in an ad for their Netflix comedy series, 'Grace and Frankie,' a show about two women who are there for each other during life's rough patches. In another time, the station might have shown an ad for 'Girls' or 'Sex and The City,' or any other such high-profile program where the default setting for the women who stick together is white.
- 5/21/2019
- by Michael Dale
- BroadwayWorld.com
Previews are underway for McC Theater's New York Premiere production of Blks, written by Aziza Barnes, and directed by Robert O'Hara. The cast features Marie Botha, Antoinette Crowe-Legacy, Alfie Fuller, Paige Gilbert, Chris Myers and Coral Pea. Blks began performances on Saturday, April 20th in the Newman Mills Theater at The Robert W. Wilson McC Theater Space 511 West 52nd Street, with an official opening night set for Thursday, May 9th.
- 5/2/2019
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
McC Theater will soon present the New York Premiere production of Blks, written by Aziza Barnes, and directed by Robert O'Hara. The cast will feature Marie Botha, Antoinette Crowe-Legacy, Alfie Fuller, Paige Gilbert, Chris Myers and Coral Pea. The creative team for Blks includes scenic design by Clint Ramos, costume design by Dede Ayite, lighting design by Alex Jainchill, sound design by Palmer Hefferan, and casting by Telsey CompanyAdam Caldwell,Csa, William Cantler, Csa, Karyn Casl, Csa. The Production Stage Manager is Brett Anders.
- 3/29/2019
- by TV - Press Previews
- BroadwayWorld.com
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