Butterfly McQueen

Kentwood Players Hosts Special Engagement Performances For BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 25, 2025

Kentwood Players presentation of By the Way, Meet Vera Stark by Lynn Nottage, opened Friday, January 17 at the Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Ave., Los Angeles 90045.

BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK to be Presented at Kentwood Players
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 2, 2025

Kentwood Players will present By the Way, Meet Vera Stark by Lynn Nottage, at the Westchester Playhouse. Learn more about the production and see how to purchase tickets.

Review: THE DICHOTOMY OF HATTIE MCDANIEL at VINCENT VICTORIA PRESENTS
by Brett Cullum - Nov 1, 2024

The film first existed as a play, and Vincent Victoria wisely kept his lead actress from that production, Wykesha King, playing Hattie McDaniel. Wykesha creates a three-dimensional character who can act and sing; we believe she is a glamorous actress in the golden age of Hollywood. And we feel the struggle of her playing parts that make her downplay her own beauty and grace.

BWW Interview: Arnetia Walker on THE WIZ, DREAMGIRLS, & YES, VIRGINIA
by Jeffrey Kare - Nov 11, 2021

From November 18th-21st, Judson Theatre Company will be presenting a new holiday comedy by Stan Zimmerman & Christian McLaughlin titled YES, VIRGINIA at Owens Auditorium inside the Bradshaw Performing Arts Center. Actress Arnetia Walker stars in the production opposite Mindy Sterling. She has appeared on Broadway in THE SIGN IN SIDNEY BRUSTEIN'S WINDOW, TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA, RAISIN, THE WIZ, and DREAMGIRLS. Her TV credits include: QUANTUM LEAP, NURSES, THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR, MAD ABOUT YOU, NYPD BLUE, MALCOLM & EDDIE, JUST SHOOT ME!, THE STEVE HARVEY SHOW, TOUCHED BY AN ANGLE, CITY OF ANGELS, JUDGING AMY, EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND, and DYNASTY. Her film credits include: THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS, THE WIZARD OF SPEED AND TIME, SCENES FROM THE CLASS STRUGGLE IN BEVERLY HILLS, LOVE CRIMES, FOR LOVE OF THE GAME, and COLLEGE ROAD TRIP. I had the great pleasure of interviewing her about all of this and more.

BWW Interview: Donelle Dadigan Re-Opening Her Hollywood Museum TO THE FUTURE
by Gil Kaan - Aug 6, 2021

Hollywood Museum founder Donelle Dadigan headed a re-opening ceremony of her Hollywood Museum August 4, 2021; commemorating the donated additional props from Bill and Patrick Shea to the Back to the Future Part I, II, III exhibit. On behalf of the Museum and the Shea father and son, Donelle presented a $5,000 check to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which Michael accepted via video.

TFANA, RSC, and Young Vic Present Concert Version Of SWINGIN' THE DREAM
by Stephi Wild - Dec 7, 2020

The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has today announced details of Swingin' the Dream, a concert of a new work-in-progress from the Royal Shakespeare Company, with the Young Vic and Theatre for a New Audience, including original music and songs from the 1939 production by Gilbert Seldes and Erik Charell.

RSC Reveals 'Tales For Winter' Line-Up, Including SWINGIN' THE DREAM
by Stephi Wild - Dec 7, 2020

The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has today announced further details of its Tales for Winter 2020/21 programme which includes Swingin' the Dream; a concert of a work in progress from the Royal Shakespeare Company, with the Young Vic and Theatre for a New Audience including original music and songs from the 1939 production by Gilbert Seldes and Erik Charell.

Banks Brothers Productions to Present THEY DON'T WANT TO HEAR HATTI SING!
by Tyler Peterson - Jul 6, 2015

Banks Brothers Productions will be presenting the satirical musical 'They Don't Want to Hear Hattie Sing!' a timely production using Hattie McDaniel, the first African American to win an Academy Award, as the main character. Set dually in 1939 and 2009, the musical will explore old and new stereotypes of Blacks in the media by focusing on some of the most polarizing African American Actors in history such as Sleep N Eat, Steppin' Fetchit, Butterfly McQueen and Buckwheat Thomas.

365 WOMEN A YEAR: A PLAYWRITING PROJECT Set for Tonight
by BWW News Desk - Apr 11, 2015

365 WOMEN A YEAR: A PLAYWRITING PROJECT involves over 400 women who signed on to write one or more one-acts about extraordinary women in both past and present history. The project's goal is to write women back into the social consciousness as well as empower and promote female playwrights around the globe.

365 WOMEN A YEAR: A PLAYWRITING PROJECT Set for 4/11
by Tyler Peterson - Mar 31, 2015

365 WOMEN A YEAR: A PLAYWRITING PROJECT involves over 400 women who signed on to write one or more one-acts about extraordinary women in both past and present history. The project's goal is to write women back into the social consciousness as well as empower and promote female playwrights around the globe.

BWW Interviews: Cabaret Comedy Legend Steve Hayes Plays Summer Rep in Connecticut
by Marakay Rogers - Jul 5, 2013

If you're wondering where the Tired Old Queen At The Movies and MAC Award winner has been lurking, look no further than Connecticut Repertory Theatre, though he'll be bringing laughs back to the city shortly.

BWW Review: Varla Jean Merman Is MILDRED FIERCE
by Nancy Grossman - Feb 23, 2013

Ryan Landry and the Gold Dust Orphans take on Joan Crawford (and Bette Davis) in the noir musical MILDRED FIERCE. Add this one to a long string of hilarious productions recognized by their clever irreverence, dazzling costumes, done-on-a-dime sets, and multi-talented ensembles. Varla Jean Merman is the icing on the cake.

BWW Reviews: Playhouse on Park's MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS Wilts Under the Spotlight
by Jacques Lamarre - Jan 26, 2013

Trying to be a farce and a message play, MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS is neither fish nor fowl and only partially funny.

Cynthia Nixon Joins Gordon Getty's THE WHITE ELECTION, 4/19
by BWW News Desk - Apr 19, 2012

Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award-winning actress Cynthia Nixon will join soprano Lisa Delan and pianist Kristin Pankonin in an evening that features Gordon Getty's The White Election, a song cycle based on the poetry of Emily Dickinson. Ms. Nixon will read selections from Emily Dickinson's letters. The event will take place on Thursday, April 19, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. at The Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse (Samuel B. & David Rose Building, 70 Lincoln Center Plaza, 165 West 65th Street, Manhattan).

Cynthia Nixon Joins Gordon Getty's THE WHITE ELECTION, 4/19
by Harmony Wheeler - Apr 6, 2012

Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award-winning actress Cynthia Nixon will join soprano Lisa Delan and pianist Kristin Pankonin in an evening that features Gordon Getty's The White Election, a song cycle based on the poetry of Emily Dickinson. Ms. Nixon will read selections from Emily Dickinson's letters. The event will take place on Thursday, April 19, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. at The Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse (Samuel B. & David Rose Building, 70 Lincoln Center Plaza, 165 West 65th Street, Manhattan).

Jane Stuart To Perform at Shanghai Jazz 9/1
by BWW News Desk - Sep 1, 2011

Jane Stuart will be performing at Shanghai Jazz on Thursday, September 1st from 7:30 - 9:30pm for 2 sets.

Cynthia Nixon Returns to Broadway in WIT at MTC, Jan. 2012; THE COLUMNIST Delayed
by Jessica Lewis - Jul 20, 2011

Manhattan Theatre Club has just announced that Tony and Emmy Award winner Cynthia Nixon will return to MTC to star in the Broadway premiere of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play WIT by Margaret Edson, directed by MTC's award-winning Artistic Director Lynne Meadow. The limited engagement of WIT will begin previews Thursday, January 5, 2012 and open Thursday, January 26, 2012 at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.

Review Roundup: BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK
by Kelsey Denette - May 10, 2011

Lynn Nottage's world premiere comedy, BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK, already extended one week through May 29 at Second Stage Theatre, opens tonight, May 9. Directed by Jo Bonney, BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK is Ms. Nottage's first play to be produced in New York since she won the Pulitzer Prize for Ruined in 2009. For ticket information, please call the Second Stage Box Office at 212-246-4422 or visit the company's website, www.2ST.com. BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK features Stephanie J. Block, Tony Award-nominee Daniel Breaker, Tony Award-nominee David Garrison, Kimberly Hébert Gregory, Kevin Isola, Tony Award nominee Sanaa Lathan, and Tony Award-winner Karen Olivo. Let's see what the critics had to say!

Review - By The Way, Meet Vera Stark
by Ben Peltz - May 10, 2011

While older plays can often be interpreted to suit modern tastes and standards, films serve as permanent records of the public attitudes of their times; particularly when considering the ways ethnic minorities were portrayed.  Many a fine film from long ago can contain moments that strike the modern eye as racist, even in cases where the intention was to be racially sensitive.  In the case of black actors from early Hollywood, we can admire the talent of the likes of Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson, Butterfly McQueen and Stepin Fetchit and say they opened door for others, but many have argued that their success came from demeaning their race as a whole by taking the types of roles that were within the white viewers' comfort zones.

STAGE TUBE: Meet the Company Inside the Rehearsal Room of THREE MEN ON A HORSE
by Jessica Lewis - Mar 17, 2011

TACT/The Actors Company Theatre, the critically-acclaimed company 'dedicated to presenting neglected or rarely produced plays of literary merit,' presents Three Men on a Horse, by John Cecil Holm & George Abbott as the final production of the company's 2010/11 season. Directed by TACT Co-Artistic Director Scott Alan Evans, performances began at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre March 14th, 2011. The show will open on March 24th. Click below to meet the company and go inside the rehearsal room...and stay tuned for more!