Shirley Jo Finney News

Internationally acclaimed poet Claudia Rankine will lead a talkback with the audience and sign copies of her multiple award-winning book Citizen: An American Lyric following a performance of the Fountain Theatre's world premiere stage adaptation of the same name. Rankine will attend the performance on Sunday, Aug. 2 at 3 p.m., and the audience talkback and book signing reception will immediately follow.

Playwright Wendy Graf (No Word In Guyanese for Me) explores the journey of an 'all American girl' (Annika Marks and Jeanne Syquia, alternating) as she develops from innocent youth to radicalized extremist. Anita Khanzadian directs the world premiere of All American Girl for InterACT Theatre Company, opening tonight, July 3 at the Lounge Theatre in Hollywood.

A meditation on race fusing poetry, prose, movement, music and the video image, Citizen: An American Lyric is a provocative new stage adaptation of Claudia Rankine's internationally acclaimed book of poetry about everyday acts of racism in America. Adapted by multiple award-winning playwright Stephen Sachs, helmed by multi award winning director Shirley Jo Finney, and featuring a talented six-member ensemble including Bernard K. Addison, Leith Burke, Tina Lifford, Tony Maggio, Simone Missick and Lisa Pescia, the world premiere of Citizen opens at the Fountain Theatre on August 1.

Playwright Wendy Graf (No Word In Guyanese for Me) explores the journey of an 'all American girl' (Annika Marks and Jeanne Syquia, alternating) as she develops from innocent youth to radicalized extremist. Anita Khanzadian directs the world premiere of All American Girl for InterACT Theatre Company, opening July 3 at the Lounge Theatre in Hollywood.

STAGE RAW is pleased to announce the FIRST ANNUAL STAGE RAW LOS ANGELES THEATER AWARDS, championing the best work of 2014 in L.A.'s now embattled theaters of up to 99-seats. (STAGE RAW is using the same jury that was assembled through 2014 for the now dearly departed LA WEEKLY Theater Awards.) Check out the full list of nominees below!

'In the Red and Brown Water' functions on several levels to allow the audience to be emotionally involved in the saga of Oya's search for meaning.

The Department of Theater/Dance at UC Santa Barbara presents a play by 2013 MacArthur fellowTarell Alvin McCraney, In the Red and Brown Water. Drawing on folk tales, Yoruba mythology and contemporary poets, this first work in McCraney's The Brother/Sister Plays trilogy tells a coming-of-age story set in a Louisiana bayou housing project.

Middletown has undeniable biting humor and an honest eye to the lovely mess we all make of our lives.

This year's show will be hosted by Kym Whitley, star of the humorous and poignant docu-series "Raising Whitley" on Oprah Winfrey's The OWN Network.

Playwright and MacArthur 'Genius Grant' recipient Tarell Alvin McCraney will lead a Q & A following the performance of The Brothers Size at the Fountain Theatre today, Aug. 16.

Playwright and MacArthur 'Genius Grant' recipient Tarell Alvin McCraney will lead a Q & A following the performance of The Brothers Size at the Fountain Theatre on Saturday, Aug. 16.

Generation W will present the Jacksonville premiere and benefit performance of THE CIRCLE. THE CIRCLE is written by and stars nationally known actress, Tina Lifford and directed by Shirley Jo Finney, who has won multiple awards for her special talent and eye for storytelling. Tina Lifford and Generation W are teaming up with The Alhambra Theater and Dining to showcase THE CIRCLE Sunday, August 24th and Monday, August 25th.

Skylight Theatre Company and Lower Depth Theatre Ensemble present the Los Angeles Premiere of Pulitzer Prize Finalist Bulrusher, written by Eisa Davis and directed by Nataki Garrett. The show opens on 8pm on August 23rd and 3pm August 24th. RECEPTION TO FOLLOW BOTH PERFORMANCES. Runs 8pm Fridays and Saturdays, 3pm Sundays through September 28, 2014 at the Skylight Theatre, 1816 1/2 N. Vermont, LA, 90027

The Fountain Theatre has been granted the rights to extend its Los Angeles premiere production of The Brothers Size by Tarell Alvin McCraney, initially announced as a limited engagement, through Sept. 14.

A special DouglasPlus reading of "Facing Our Truth: Ten-Minute Plays on Trayvon, Race and Privilege" will mark the first anniversary of George Zimmerman's acquittal in the shooting death of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, Sunday, July 13 at 1 p.m., at the Center Theatre Group/Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City.

The Los Angeles premiere of THE BROTHERS SIZE at the Fountain Theatre, directed by Shirley Jo Finney, is an exuberantly theatrical drama that weaves together the pulsing rhythms of the bayou with African Yoruba mythology to create a stylized story of love and heartache. What makes the play even more appealing than the skill of the actors is they always speak their stage directions, which invites the audience to remember they are in a theater and the story being told is for them.

Shirley Jo Finney, director of the Fountain Theatre's multiple award-winning production of In the Red and Brown Water in 2012, returns to direct the second play in Tarell Alvin McCraney's 'Brother/Sister Plays' trilogy. The Los Angeles premiere of The Brothers Size opened on June 7 at the Fountain for a limited engagement that must close July 27. Check out a first look below!

Center Theatre Group Artistic Director Michael Ritchie has set the 11th season at the CTG/Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City.

Shirley Jo Finney, director of the Fountain Theatre's multiple award-winning production of In the Red and Brown Water in 2012, returns to direct the second play in Tarell Alvin McCraney's 'Brother/Sister Plays' trilogy. The Los Angeles premiere of The Brothers Size opens June 7 at the Fountain for a limited engagement that must close July 27.

Home. Identity. Secrets and lies. An African-American attorney with a career on the rise is shocked to discover she has an Iraqi half-sister in Wendy Graf's newest play, a hard-hitting drama about family conflict and clashing cultures. Directed by Shirley Jo Finney, the world premiere of Closely Related Keys opens Feb. 28 at the Lounge Theatre in Hollywood.