Anita Dashiell

Tonya Pinkins, Ezra Knight, Pat Bowie & Others Perform in New Works for Black Motherhood and Parenting New Play Festival

In April 2021, Parent Artist Advocacy League and Blackboard Plays announced the 1st Annual Black Motherhood and Parenting New Play Festival, the four works that comprise the lineup, and the partner theatres with whom they are producing the plays: Bishop Arts Theater Center, Detroit Public Theater, Oregon Shakespeare, and St. Louis Rep.

Lagralane And Lower Depth Theatre Ensemble Announce Dates And Cast For SAFE HARBOR

Los Angeles-based theatre company Lower Depth Theatre Ensemble has announced the dates and cast for their upcoming production of 'Safe Harbor.' Written by Tira Palmquist, 'Safe Harbor' offers a look into the multifaceted, dark, and tangled web of underground sex trafficking through the eyes of the victims, the survivors, and the people who love them the most.

Sex Trafficking In Los Angeles Examined In Tira Palmquist's Riveting New Play SAFE HARBOR

Launching Lower Depth Theatre Ensemble's new 'Cycle of Violence' commission series, Tira Palmquist's Safe Harbor will be presented as a reading at the Greenway Court Theatre today, January 19, 2019, directed by Anita Dashiell-Sparks.

Sex Trafficking In Los Angeles Examined In Tira Palmquist's Riveting New Play SAFE HARBOR

Launching Lower Depth Theatre Ensemble's new 'Cycle of Violence' commission series, Tira Palmquist's Safe Harbor will be presented as a reading at the Greenway Court Theatre on Saturday, January 19, 2019, directed by Anita Dashiell-Sparks.

Metta Theatre of Taos to Premiere UNMANNED

Metta Theatre of Taos presents the premiere production of Unmanned, a new play by Robert Myers

LA Female Playwrights Initiative Presents 365 WOMEN A YEAR Readings

The LA Female Playwrights Initiative is working with California playwrights involved with 365 Women A Year: A Playwriting Project to present readings of plays about women, written and directed by women, at Samuel French Bookshop in Hollywood.

Photo Flash: Shaila Essley Takes 1st Place in CTG's 2015 August Wilson Monologue Competition

From a field of 12 local high school students, Shaila Essley, Philip Patrick Bucknor and Wayne R. Mackins-Harris have been selected to represent Los Angeles in the August Wilson Monologue Competition (AWMC) national finals. Contestants this year featured high school students from four Southern California cities, who performed in the regional finals at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum, Monday night, March 2, 2015. Scroll down for photos from the competition!

BWW Previews: LETTERS FROM ZORA: IN HER OWN WORDS at Crossroads Theatre Company in New Brunswick

Crossroads Theatre Company in New Brunswick presents 'Letters From Zora: In Her Own Words' from October 9th through October 26th. Written by Gabrielle Denise Pina and directed by Anita Dashiell-Sparks, this one-woman show stars Vanessa Bell Calloway.

Crossroads Theatre Company to Present LETTERS FROM ZORA, Begin. 10/9

Crossroads Theatre Company opens the 2014-15 season with the One Pearl and a Sphinx production of Letters From Zora: In Her Own Words, a one-woman show delving into noted author Zora Neale Hurston's controversial views on segregation, integration and social justice. Written by USC professor Gabrielle Denise Pina with an original score by Ron McCurdy, this daring piece showcases a life filled with artistic triumphs as well as abject poverty and self-doubt. Directed by Anita Dashiell-Sparks, Hurston's personal letters create an authentic multi-sensory dramatization brought to life by veteran actress Vanessa Bell Calloway in a production that will illuminate Hurston's words, life and distinct view of the jazz-age era.

Vanessa Bell Calloway Stars in LETTERS FROM ZORA at Pasadena Playhouse, Now thru 5/18

The Pasadena Playhouse announced today that they will present the hit production of Gabrielle Pina's LETTERS FROM ZORA, in association with One Pearl and a Sphinx. The production, which returns by poplular demand, will play a limited engagement of eight performances and stars Vanessa Bell Calloway. LETTERS FROM ZORA is directed by Anita Dashiell-Sparks with original music composed by Ron McCurdy. Performances run today, May 10 - 18, 2014 with a press opening on Sunday, May 11 at 2:00 p.m.

Center Theatre Group Announces Winners of 2014 August Wilson Monologue Competition

From a field of 12 local high school students, Jonah Gould, Mykaela Sterris and LeafRickard have been selected as the winners of the 2014 August Wilson Monologue Competition Los Angeles Regional finals. Contestants this year featured high school students from nine Southern California cities, who performed in the regional finals at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum, Tuesday night, March 11, 2014. The top three student performers received scholarships and the opportunity to perform again in New York City. The August Wilson Monologue Competition is presented by the Center Theatre Group Affiliates, a volunteer organization that supports Center Theatre Group's education and community partnerships programs.

Vanessa Bell Calloway to Star in LETTERS FROM ZORA at Pasadena Playhouse, 5/10-18

The Pasadena Playhouse announced today that they will present the hit production of Gabrielle Pina's LETTERS FROM ZORA, in association with One Pearl and a Sphinx. The production, which returns by poplular demand, will play a limited engagement of eight performances and stars Vanessa Bell Calloway. LETTERS FROM ZORA is directed by Anita Dashiell-Sparks with original music composed by Ron McCurdy. Performances run May 10 - 18, 2014 with a press opening on Sunday, May 11 at 2:00 p.m.

Pasadena Playhouse Breaks Records with 2012-2013 Season

The Pasadena Playhouse announced yesterday that its 2012 - 2013 "Better Than Ever" season, which concluded with the closing performance of Sleepless in Seattle - The Musical, exceeded sales and attendance goals for the theatre's fiscal year. The Playhouse's season was highlighted by the world premieres of the comedy Under My Skin and Sleepless in Seattle - The Musical; the smash-hit One Night With Janis Joplin, which was developed at The Playhouse, recently announced its Broadway engagement for this fall; and the launch of a long-term partnership with Lythgoe Family Productions for an annual holiday Panto at The Playhouse. The fiscal year closed with new summer programming that included an inaugural Cirque-A-Palooza festival, a one-week run of Letters From Zora starring Vanessa Bell Calloway and a sold out nine show limited engagement of Val Kilmer in Citizen Twain.

World Premieres, Broadway-Bound Productions Propel Pasadena Playhouse to Record Season

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Elizabeth Doran, Executive Director) announced today that its 2012 - 2013 "Better Than Ever" season, which concluded with the closing performance of Sleepless in Seattle - The Musical, exceeded sales and attendance goals for the theatre's fiscal year. The Playhouse's season was highlighted by the world premieres of the comedy Under My Skin and Sleepless in Seattle - The Musical; the smash-hit One Night With Janis Joplin, which was developed at The Playhouse, recently announced its Broadway engagement for this fall; and the launch of a long-term partnership with Lythgoe Family Productions for an annual holiday Panto at The Playhouse. The fiscal year closed with new summer programming that included an inaugural Cirque-A-Palooza festival, a one-week run of Letters From Zora starring Vanessa Bell Calloway and a sold out nine show limited engagement of Val Kilmer in Citizen Twain.

Pasadena Playhouse Opens One Pearl and a Sphinx's LETTERS FROM ZORA Tonight

The Pasadena Playhouse presents the One Pearl and a Sphinx production of LETTERS FROM ZORA which will play a five performance, limited engagement starring Vanessa Bell Calloway. LETTERS FROM ZORA, written by Gabrielle Pina, directed by Anita Dashielle-Sparks with live music composed by Ron McCurdy is scheduled to play from tonight, August 15 - 18, 2013, with a press opening tonight, August 15 at 8:00 p.m.

The Pasadena Playhouse Presents LETTERS FROM ZORA, 8/15-8/18

Through the dramatization of personal letters, LETTERS FROM ZORA explores Hurston's controversial views on integration, segregation and social justice showcasing a life that was filled with artistic triumphs as well as abject poverty and self-doubt. Veteran actress Vanessa Bell Calloway plays the role of Zora in this provocative multimedia production directed by Anita Dashiell-Sparks and written by novelist Gabrielle Pina. With live music composed by Ron McCurdy and archival images collected by Margie Labadie, LETTERS FROM ZORA will illuminate Hurston's prose, her life, her distinctive array of friends and foes and her unique view of a jazz-age world.

Pasadena Playhouse to Present One Pearl and a Sphinx's LETTERS FROM ZORA, 8/15-18

The Pasadena Playhouse, announced today that it would present the One Pearl and a Sphinx production of LETTERS FROM ZORA which will play a five performance, limited engagement starring Vanessa Bell Calloway. LETTERS FROM ZORA, written by Gabrielle Pina, directed by Anita Dashielle-Sparks with live music composed by Ron McCurdy is scheduled to play from August 15 - 18, 2013, with a press opening night on August 15 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are now on sale for all performances.

One Pearl and a Sphinx's LETTERS FROM ZORA to Take Pasadena Playhouse Stage, 8/15-18

The Pasadena Playhouse announced today that it would present the One Pearl and a Sphinx production of LETTERS FROM ZORA which will play a five performance, limited engagement starring Vanessa Bell Calloway. LETTERS FROM ZORA, written by Gabrielle Pina, directed by Anita Dashielle-Sparks with live music composed by Ron McCurdy is scheduled to play from August 15 - 18, 2013, with a press opening night on August 15 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are now on sale for all performances.