Lloyd Richards News

Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation, the not-for-profit foundation of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, announces the election of Justin Emeka, Doug Hughes, and Seema Sueko as the newest members of the SDCF Board of Trustees. They join President Mark Brokaw, Vice President/Secretary Anne Kauffman, Sheldon Epps, Linda Hartzell, Dan Knechtges, Laura Penn, and Victoria Traube as Trustees of the Foundation. Hughes will serve as the Foundation's Treasurer.

Bated Breath Theatre Company has announced that the final performance of VOYEUR: THE WINDOWS OF TOULOUSE-LAUTREC will be Saturday, July 31. VOYEUR, which was conceived and directed by Mara Lieberman, began performances on September 30, 2020 and will have run 356 performances at closing.

After beginning performances on September 30th, Bated Breath Theatre Company will celebrate the 300th performance of VOYEUR: THE WINDOWS OF TOULOUSE-LAUTREC on Friday, June 4. VOYEUR is conceived and directed by Mara Lieberman.

Harold Farrell, the authorized biographer of Lloyd Richards will join playwright Jeffrey Sweet for a behind the scene look at Lorraine Hansberry's “A Raisin in the Sun” on Wednesday June 2 at 6:30 p.m. (Eastern) via Zoom.

Woodie King, Jr., Founder and Producing Director of New Federal Theatre (NFT), will retire from leadership of the famed theater company on June 30, 2021, handing the baton to NFT's newly appointed Artistic Director, Elizabeth Van Dyke.

Shá Cage and Elizabeth Carter have been selected as the inaugural recipients of the Lloyd Richards New Futures Residencies, which pair mid-career BIPOC directors and choreographers pursuing institutional leadership with forward-thinking directors, it has been announced by Mark Brokaw, President of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF), which is funding the residencies and has overseen the search.  In this inaugural year, the Residencies were reserved for Black artists.

Bated Breath Theatre Company will present a special Mother's Day edition of its live hit VOYEUR: THE WINDOWS OF TOULOUSE-LAUTREC on Saturday, May 8, 2021.

Merrimack Repertory Theatre will present the New England premiere of Until the Flood by Pulitzer Prize finalist Dael Orlandersmith from April 17 to May 2 – via video on demand only, according to Nancy L. Donahue Artistic Director Courtney Sale and Executive Director Bonnie J. Butkas.

Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation has announced that Dani Barlow has joined its leadership team as Foundation Director. “I am thrilled to be joining SDCF as its next Director,” says Barlow. Barlow holds an MFA in Theater Management from the Yale School of Drama and a BA in Theatre and Business Administration from Muhlenberg College.

G.W. “Skip” Mercier (1954 – 2021) of Rowayton, CT—Skip to his many loving friends, students, and relations—died at home March 11th in the company of his family, of pancreatic cancer. He was born July 20th, 1954 in Methuen, MA to George and Margaret Condon Mercier and was raised in Haverhill, MA.

L. Scott Caldwell will lead Blumhouse and Amazon’s “Bingo,” the latest thriller as part of the “Welcome to the Blumhouse” series. Caldwell will star as Delores, the “witty, loyal and tough grandmother” at the center of “Bingo’s” story.

Courtney B. Vance talks about the pandemic ruining his 60th birthday and shares what he learned about Aretha Franklin while filming his show Genius: Aretha.

What happens to a dream deferred? In the South Side of Chicago, a poor black family struggles to stay afloat as they search for financial stability and a place to call home. Tensions flare as the generations reach for different dreams and prejudice seeps into their lives.

 As part of 'New Federal Theatre Celebrates Black History Month,' Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre is offering a live streaming virtual reading of 'Widows' by Mfundi Vundla on February 27 at 7:00 PM. The reading will be available on-demand through March 1. 

Bated Breath Theatre Company will present a special performance inspired by their immersive live hit VOYEUR: THE WINDOWS OF TOULOUSE-LAUTREC in the windows of Fleur du Mal (175 Mott Street) on Friday, February 12 from 5-7 pm.

Bated Breath Theatre Company will present a special Valentine's Day edition of its live hit VOYEUR: THE WINDOWS OF TOULOUSE-LAUTREC on February 13, 2021. In addition to this acclaimed intimate performance experience, each ticket holder will also receive a red rose provided by Starbright Floral Design, a glass of Prosecco, and chocolate truffles.

Hopefully this list gives you some new reads, and if not, reminded you of some old favorites.

Playwright August Wilson is being honored by the U.S Postal Service with a commemorative Forever stamp, released today, Jan. 28. 

Today, The August Wilson Society (AWS) and Howard University announced an exciting virtual event on Saturday, December 19 at 5:00 PM. Come jam with AWS at August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Virtual 'Jam Session' with Ruben Santiago Hudson, Phylicia Rashad, Ebony Jo-Ann, George C. Wolfe and Colman Domingo.

The screen adaptation of Ma Rainey's Black Bottom was brought to life by the legendary Ruben Santiago-Hudson, whose connection to August Wilson spans from the personal to professional - not only was he a close friend of the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, but Santiago-Hudson has established himself as a key interpreter of Wilson's work.