S. Epatha Merkerson News

Cynthia Erivo, the Tony Award winner and star of the upcoming Wicked movie, will guest star in the second season of Peacock's Poker Face. Other guest stars for the upcoming season include Margo Martindale, BJ Novak, Giancarlo Esposito, and Katie Holmes.

It's been almost a decade since Jen Silverman wrote The Roommate- a play that is making its Broadway debut this season with the help of the stage and screen power duo that is Mia Farrow and Patti LuPone. Jen checks in about the new play in this interview!

The upcoming adaptation of The Piano Lesson will mark a cinematic departure from the stage version. Co-writing the screenplay with Virgil Williams, director Malcolm Washington opened up the world of the story for the movie, utilizing flashbacks and other filmmaking techniques to sometimes take viewers out of the living room where the original play is set.

Spark creativity and imagination with Shout! TV’s Pee-wee Forever – a 24-hour marathon of every episode of the iconic television series Pee-wee’s Playhouse. The marathon streams all-day on August 27 in honor of Paul Reubens and his beloved character Pee-wee Herman. Join Pee-wee, Cowboy Curtis, Miss Yvonne, Chairry, Conky and more for adventures at the fantastic Playhouse.

The film version of August Wilson's The Piano Lesson will make its international premiere at the 49th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, scheduled to run from September 5, 2024 to September 15, 2024.

The SAG-AFTRA Foundation is launching its Legacy Collection today, offering a comprehensive archive of interviews and materials celebrating the contributions of actors and performers in the entertainment industry. Learn more!

Shout! Studios announced they have once again acquired worldwide home entertainment, broadcast, and digital distribution rights for Paul Reubens’ groundbreaking TV series PEE-WEE’S PLAYHOUSE. Shout! Studios now has extensive distribution rights to all 45 episodes of PEE-WEE’S PLAYHOUSE as well as PEE-WEE’S PLAYHOUSE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL.

Mother Play officially opened on Broadway on April 25 at the Hayes Theater. Check out photos of the cast and VIPs at the after party here!

The Broadway revival of August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson which concluded its Broadway engagement on January 29, 2023, has officially recouped its investment.

Discover Olney Theatre Center's production of 'Fiddler on the Roof' with a fresh global perspective. This timeless musical explores themes of rising anti-Semitism, Russian aggression, refugee crises, and women's struggles against patriarchal authority. Don't miss this captivating show running from November 8 to December 31 in Olney, Maryland.

BroadwayWorld was on hand for the big opening night of Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch and you can check out photos from the star-studded red carpet arrivals here!

NEW FEDERAL THEATRE will hold its 53rd Anniversary Celebration on October 2 at Edison Ballroom, honoring Woodie King, Jr., Gabrielle Kurlander, and Sade Lythcott. The gala is chaired by Kenny Leon and Lynn Whitfield.

Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre (NFT), led by Producing Artistic Director Elizabeth Van Dyke, will hold a 53rd Anniversary Celebration October 2, 2023 at Edison Ballroom, 240 West 47th Street.  

Join the annual Black Theatre Day celebration on Sunday, Sept. 17 to honor the legacy of the African Grove Theatre and support Black theatres worldwide. Discover the history and impact of Black theatre and the careers it has launched.

From August 10 to 26, the Negro Ensemble Company, Inc. (NEC), in conjunction with their residency at Penn Live Arts, will perform the world premiere of 'Mecca Is Burning' at Harlem School of the Arts.

TKTS, which revolutionized same-day discount theatre tickets for Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, marked 50 years in Times Square with a special celebration in front of the red steps. IN this video, watch as Broadway comes out to celebrate!

On Wednesday, June 28, TDF’s TKTS will mark 50 years in Times Square. Starting at 11am, there will be a special celebration in honor of TKTS’ golden anniversary behind the TKTS Booth on Broadway and 47th Street, in front of the red steps.

Theater J has announced its 2023-2024 season, the first season planned by the theater’s new Artistic Director, Hayley Finn. Featuring world premiere productions, the debut of a solo play series, and an abundance of new works by emerging writers within the American theater landscape, this season builds on Theater J’s legacy as a home for exceptional new work within Washington, DC and throughout the country.

PBS' NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT, America's national night of remembrance, will return live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol hosted by Tony Award-winner Joe Mantegna and Emmy Award-winner Gary Sinise, acclaimed actors who are dedicated to veterans' causes and supporting our troops in active service.

New York, New York, the final musical of the 2022-23 Broadway season is open at last!  The show is now officially running at Broadway's St. James Theatre. We have photos from inside the opening night party!