Lydia Diamond News

The African American Arts Alliance will present Black United Theater Auditions and pre-audition “Focus on You” preparatory events for African American performers and students of Chicago. The workshops will include three panel discussions and workshops designed to prepare actors for the upcoming auditions and provides career-building resources.

Lookingglass Theatre Company has announced its 35th Season! A partnership with one of this city’s leading Black theatre companies. A homegrown holiday hearth-warmer. Two original CHI-made works each featuring unconventional central characters. A twirl around five extraordinary homespun districts, and more.

Congo Square Theatre Company, one of the nation’s premier African American ensemble theater companies, has announced an expanded 2022-23 season. The company will present a downtown remount of its powerful production, What to Send Up When It Goes Down, in addition to the World Premiere of How Blood Go, and more.

Out of the 330 total Chicagoland high school students who entered the 13th annual August Wilson Monologue and Design Competitions, Demi Davis from Senn High School prevailed, taking the first-place prize at the Chicago finals earlier this month for her 2-3-minute monologue performance.

For the first time since 2020, the Aurora Fox Arts Center will present a full season of four mainstage shows and two smaller black box shows. The Aurora Fox’s 38th season will include Joan Didion’s theatrical adaption of her best-selling memoir, “The Year of Magical Thinking;” the Colorado premieres of “Futurity” by César Alvarez and The Lisps and more.

Second Stage Theater  will present two world premiere plays as part of the 20th Anniversary season of its Second Stage Theater Uptown Series: Steph Del Rosso's 53% OF, directed by Tiffany Nichole Greene, and Johnny G. Lloyd's PATIENCE, directed by Zhailon Levingston.

Congo Square Theatre Company, GRAY, and Theaster Gates's Rebuild Foundation are proud to announce that the Chicago Premiere of What to Send Up When It Goes Down, by award-winning playwright Aleshea Harris, has been extended by popular demand with three additional performances at the Rebuild Foundation's Stony Island Arts Bank.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company has announced the 2022/23 Season today. With six Steppenwolf Membership Series productions and two SYA productions, the 47th season is the storied company’s first full season in its expanded home—welcoming audiences back to experience the next chapter of Steppenwolf’s bold, visceral and muscular work.

The FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training, alongside Asolo Repertory Theatre, announced two shows for their 2022-2023 season today in a virtual event broadcast online.

The FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training, alongside Asolo Repertory Theatre, has announced two shows for their 2022-2023.

On Monday, April 4, 2022, Theatre Forward, a non-profit arts organization based in New York City, will hold its annual gala at the Edison Ballroom, 240 West 47th Street, New York City to honor Tony and Obie Award winning director, Kenny Leon, and global financial services provider, Prudential Financial.

Exploring themes of class, race, love, and generational dynamics through the lens of an African American family, Stick Fly features a first-class cast giving vigorous performances

Amber Williams is taking over our Instagram today, February 18, to take our followers behind the scenes of Repertory Theatre of St. Louis' production of Stick Fly by Lydia Diamond.

With two major revivals on stage helmed by Artistic Collective members—August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean directed by Resident Director Chuck Smith (through February 27) and Manilow Resident Director Mary Zimmerman's The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci (February 11 – March 20)—the Goodman announces several artistic updates as its 2021/2022 “Homecoming” Season continues.

Today's top stories include casting for The Color Purple film adaptation! The movie will be led by Fantasia Barrino and Danielle Brooks in the roles of Celie and Sofia. Plus, the long-awaited musical adaptation of the NBC TV show Smash is planning to have a workshop this summer, and the film adaptation of 13: The Musical is coming to Netflix this year!

New York City Center just kicked off the 2022 Encores! Season with The Tap Dance Kid, featuring music by Henry Krieger, lyrics by Robert Lorick, and a book by Charles Blackwell. Directed by Tony Award-winner Kenny Leon (A Raisin in the Sun), the production also includes new tap sequences by choreographer Jared Grimes (After Midnight) and a concert adaptation by Lydia Diamond (Stick Fly). Broadway's Joseph Joubert (Caroline or Change) will guest music direct The Tap Dance Kid.

New York City Center just kicked off the 2022 Encores! Season with The Tap Dance Kid, featuring music by Henry Krieger, lyrics by Robert Lorick, and a book by Charles Blackwell. Directed by Tony Award-winner Kenny Leon (A Raisin in the Sun), the production also includes new tap sequences by choreographer Jared Grimes (After Midnight) and a concert adaptation by Lydia Diamond (Stick Fly). Broadway's Joseph Joubert (Caroline or Change) will guest music direct The Tap Dance Kid.

New York City Center just kicked off the 2022 Encores! Season with The Tap Dance Kid, featuring music by Henry Krieger, lyrics by Robert Lorick, and a book by Charles Blackwell.

New York City Center will soon kick off the 2022 Encores! Season on February 2 - 6 with The Tap Dance Kid, featuring music by Henry Krieger, lyrics by Robert Lorick, and a book by Charles Blackwell. Directed by Tony Award-winner Kenny Leon (A Raisin in the Sun), the production also includes new tap sequences by choreographer Jared Grimes (After Midnight) and a concert adaptation by Lydia Diamond (Stick Fly). Broadway's Joseph Joubert (Caroline or Change) will guest music direct The Tap Dance Kid.

Congo Square Theatre Company has rescheduled two of its signature programs, the Festival on the Square and Vision Benefit, to now take place on Sunday, June 19, 2022, commemorating the Juneteenth holiday. Both events were originally scheduled for February 5, 2022.