|
A Soldier's Play
''A Soldier's Play'' is a play by American playwright Charles Fuller. Set on a US Army installation in the segregation-era South, the play is a loose adaptation of Herman Melville's novella ''Billy Budd'', and follows the murder investigation of the Sergeant in an all-black unit. The play uses a murder mystery to explore the complicated feelings of anger and resentment that some African Americans have toward one another, and the ways in which many black Americans have absorbed white racist attitudes. The drama won the 1982 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, among other accolades. It was the basis for a 1984 feature film adaptation, ''A Soldier's Story'', for which Fuller wrote the screenplay. Plot synopsis The story takes place at the United States Army's Fort Neal, Louisiana, in 1944 during the time when the military was racially segregated. In the opening scene, the audience witnesses the murder of black Sergeant Vernon Waters by an unseen shooter. Just before his death, Waters utte ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Charles Fuller
Charles H. Fuller Jr. (March 5, 1939 – October 3, 2022) was an American playwright, best known for his play ''A Soldier's Play'', for which he received the 1982 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 2020 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play. Early life Fuller was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on March 5, 1939, the son of Charles H. Fuller, Sr. and Lillian Anderson. Raised Roman Catholic, he attended Roman Catholic High School and then Villanova University (1956–1958), then joined the U.S. Army in 1959, serving in Japan and South Korea. He left the military in 1962, and later studied at La Salle University (1965–1967), earning a DFA. Furthermore, he co-founded the Afro-American Arts Theatre in Philadelphia. Career Fuller vowed to become a writer after noticing that his high school's library had no books by African-American authors. He achieved critical notice in 1969 with ''The Village: A Party'', a drama about racial tensions between a group of mixed-race couples. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Denzel Washington
Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. (born December 28, 1954) is an American actor and filmmaker. He has been described as an actor who reconfigured "the concept of classic movie stardom". Throughout his career spanning over four decades, Washington has received numerous accolades, including a Tony Award, two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards and two Silver Bears. In 2016, he received the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2020, '' The New York Times'' named him the greatest actor of the 21st century. In 2022, Washington received the Presidential Medal of Freedom bestowed upon him by President Joe Biden. Washington started his acting career in theatre, acting in performances off-Broadway, including William Shakespeare's '' Coriolanus'' in 1979. He first came to prominence in the medical drama ''St. Elsewhere'' (1982–1988). Washington's early film roles included Norman Jewison's ''A Soldier's Story'' (1984) and Richard Attenborough's '' Cry Freedom'' ( ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Anthony Mackie
Anthony Dwane Mackie (born September 23, 1978) is an American actor. Mackie made his acting debut starring in the semi-biographical drama film '' 8 Mile'' (2002). He was later nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Actor for his performance in the LGBT drama '' Brother to Brother'' (2004), and in the same year, appeared in psychological thriller ''The Manchurian Candidate'' and the sports film ''Million Dollar Baby''. Mackie starred in ''Half Nelson'' (2006); in 2008, Mackie both appeared in the action thriller ''Eagle Eye'', and was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in ''The Hurt Locker''. He portrayed Tupac Shakur in '' Notorious'' (2009), and later starred in ''Night Catches Us'' (2010), and ''The Adjustment Bureau'' and ''Real Steel'' (both 2011). He achieved global recognition for portraying Sam Wilson / Falcon / Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, beginning with the film '' Captain America: T ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
James McDaniel
James McDaniel Jr. (born March 25, 1958) is an American stage, film and television actor. He is best known for playing Lt. Arthur Fancy on the television show '' NYPD Blue''. He created the role of Paul in the hit Lincoln Center play ''Six Degrees of Separation''. He played a police officer in the ill-fated 1990 series '' Cop Rock'', and a close advisor to the director Spike Lee regarding the activist Malcolm X in the 1992 film ''Malcolm X''. He also played Sgt. Jesse Longford in the ABC television series ''Detroit 1-8-7''. Early life He was born as James McDaniel Jr. in Washington, D.C. on March 25, 1958, the son of physician James McDaniel Sr. The junior McDaniel attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied veterinary medicine. After taking his final exams, he decided to move to New York and become an actor, despite having no prior acting experience. McDaniel enrolled in dance and voice lessons, and earned his first role in a Pepsi commercial. Career McDaniel be ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jo Bonney
Jo Bonney is an American theater director who has worked Off-Broadway, regionally and internationally, primarily focused on the development of new plays. Early life and education Bonney was born in Australia. She attended Sydney University before transferring to Sydney College of the Arts (Grad. Fine Arts) and worked at The Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Career Bonney moved to New York City in 1979. In the early 1980s, she co-directed two short films with Ruth Peyser, 'Another Great Day' (shown nationally on PBS) and 'Random Positions'. Bonney began her work in theater directing the solo work of her husband, Eric Bogosian. She has directed the premiere productions of over thirty plays – notably work by Bogosian, Lynn Nottage, Danny Hoch, Suzan-Lori Parks, Martina Majok, Neil LaBute, Naomi Wallace and José Rivera. Bonney edited ''Extreme Exposure: An Anthology of Solo Performance Texts from the Twentieth Century'' (published in 2000 by TCG). Awards and nominations ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Second Stage Theatre
Second Stage Theater is a theater company founded in 1979 by Robyn Goodman and Carole Rothman and located in Manhattan, New York City. It produces both new plays and revivals of contemporary American plays by new playwrights and established writers. The company has two off-Broadway theaters, their main stage, the Tony Kiser Theater at 305 West 43rd Street on the corner of Eighth Avenue near the Theater District, and the McGinn/Cazale Theater at 2162 Broadway at 76th Street on the Upper West Side. In April 2015, the company bought the Helen Hayes Theater, a Broadway theater. History Second Stage Theater was founded in 1979 to produce "second stagings" of contemporary American plays, later expanding to new works as well. In 1982 they secured a permanent venue with the McGinn–Cazale Theater. In 1999, the company opened a new 296-seat theater at 43rd Street, designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas. The Second Stage Theater Uptown series was inaugurated in 2002 to showcase the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Albert Hall (actor)
Albert W. Hall (born November 10, 1937) is an American actor. He portrayed Chief Phillips in the 1979 war film ''Apocalypse Now'' and Judge Seymore Walsh in '' Ally McBeal'' and ''The Practice''. He also played Brother Baines in the 1992 Spike Lee film ''Malcolm X''. Early life and education Hall was born and raised in Brighton, Alabama. He graduated from the Columbia University School of the Arts. Career Early work After portraying Pointer in '' Willie Dynamite'' (1974), Hall had a part in the 1976 biopic '' Leadbelly''. He played a co-pilot in the 1978 film ''The Bermuda Triangle''. Hall had a small role in the 1979 miniseries '' Roots: The Next Generations''. ''Apocalypse Now'' Hall gained mainstream attention for his role as Chief Phillips in Francis Ford Coppola's 1979 war classic ''Apocalypse Now'', in which his character leads the rest of crew upriver from Vietnam to Cambodia so that Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) can complete his mission to assassinate Colonel Kurtz ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wood Harris
Sherwin David "Wood" Harris (born October 17, 1969) is an American actor. He has portrayed the drug kingpin Avon Barksdale on the HBO crime drama ''The Wire'', cocaine dealer Ace in '' Paid in Full'' and high school football player Julius Campbell in the 2000 film '' Remember the Titans''. He is also known for playing Brooke Payne on the BET miniseries '' The New Edition Story'' in 2017. From 2016 to 2017, he played Barry Fouray on VH1 miniseries '' The Breaks''. Most recently, Harris portrayed Damon Cross on the Fox series ''Empire'' for its fifth and final sixth season. Currently, Wood Harris is starring as drug lord "Pat" in the Starz series '' BMF'' alongside Demetrius Flenory Jr. and his older brother, Steve Harris. Early life and education Harris was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of seamstress Mattie and bus driver John Harris. He was given the nickname "Wood" by friends in his neighborhood, because "Sherwin" was too difficult for some to pronounce. He holds a Bac ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Obie Award
The Obie Awards or Off-Broadway Theater Awards are annual awards originally given by ''The Village Voice'' newspaper to theatre artists and groups in New York City. In September 2014, the awards were jointly presented and administered with the American Theatre Wing. As the Tony Awards cover Broadway theatre, Broadway productions, the Obie Awards cover off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway productions. Background The Obie Awards were initiated by Edwin (Ed) Fancher, publisher of ''The Village Voice,'' who handled the financing and business side of the project. They were first given in 1956 under the direction of theater critic Jerry Tallmer. Initially, only off-Broadway productions were eligible; in 1964, off-off-Broadway productions were made eligible. The first Obie Awards ceremony was held at Helen Gee (curator), Helen Gee's cafe.Aletti, Vince"Helen Gee 1919–2004" ''Village Voice'' (New York City), 12 October 2004, accessed on 21 November 2013 With the exception of the Lifetime ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
New York Drama Critics' Circle
The New York Drama Critics' Circle is made up of 22 drama critics from daily newspapers, magazines and wire services based in the New York City metropolitan area. The organization is best known for its annual awards for excellence in theater.Jones, KennethPassing Strange and August: Osage County Win 2007–08 NY Drama Critics Circle Award" playbill.com, May 12, 2008. Retrieved May 26, 2018.Hetrick, Adam"NY Drama Critics' Circle Awards Matilda and Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike With Top Honors"playbill.com, May 3, 2013. Retrieved May 26, 2018. The organization was founded in 1935 at the Algonquin Hotel by a group that included Brooks Atkinson, Walter Winchell, and Robert Benchley. Adam Feldman of ''Time Out New York'' has been President of the organization since 2005; Joe Dziemianowicz is currently Vice President, and Zachary Stewart of TheaterMania serves as Treasurer. Member affiliations *''amNewYork'' *''The Hollywood Reporter'' *''New York'' *''New York Daily News'' *' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Outer Critics Circle Award
The Outer Critics Circle Awards are presented annually for theatrical achievements both on Broadway and Off-Broadway. They are presented by the Outer Critics Circle (OCC), the official organization of New York theater writers for out-of-town newspapers, digital and national publications, and other media beyond Broadway. The awards were first presented during the 1949–50 theater season, celebrating their 70th anniversary in 2020. David Gordon, Senior Features Reporter at TheaterMania.com, currently serves as president. History The Outer Critics Circle was founded as the Outer Circle during the Broadway season of 1949–50 by an assortment of theater critics led by John Gassner, a reviewer, essayist, dramaturg, and professor of theater. These critics were writing for academic publications, special interest journals, monthlies, quarterlies, and weekly publications outside the New York metro area, and were looking for a forum where they could discuss the theater in general, particul ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Charles Brown (actor)
Charles Brown (January 15, 1946 – January 8, 2004) was an American actor and a member of New York City, New York theater troupe the Negro Ensemble Company. He was best known for his performances in Off-Broadway and Broadway plays by Samm-Art Williams and August Wilson. Biography Charles Brown was born in Talladega, Alabama, and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Mack Brown Sr. His siblings included brothers Mack Jr. and Ramon and sister Shirley. After serving in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War, Brown studied theater at Howard University, in Washington, D.C. He performed with that city's D.C. Black Repertory Company, and elsewhere. Brown became a regular member of the Negro Ensemble Company, where his roles included Southern farmer Cephus Miles in Samm-Art Williams' ''Home'' (1979) and military investigator Captain Richard Davenport in 1944 Louisiana in Charles Fuller's ''A Soldier's Story'' (1981). ''Home'' moved to Broadway in 1980, earning Brown a Tony Award nominat ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
.svg "Click for more on -> Denzel Washington")
