Alana Arenas News

Season One of OWN and Warner Horizon Scripted Television's Peabody Award-winning series DAVID MAKES MAN, a one-hour lyrical drama created by Academy Award®-winning screenwriter and Tony Award-nominated playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney (“Moonlight”), will be available to stream on HBO Max starting July 16.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announced its 2020/21 Reset Season today featuring a truncated four play lineup (originally six plays) with flexible dates to allow for greater agility in the time of COVID-19, accompanied with a robust slate of original virtual programming.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company Artistic Director Anna D. Shapiro and the Steppenwolf ensemble announced the 2020/21 Season today. As the storied ensemble theatre company embarks on its 45th season, a lineup of thrilling plays will be featured in its current home at 1650 N Halsted with the final production of the season premiering in the new state-of-the-art theatre building at 1646 N Halsted in August 2021.

 OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network announced today that its anticipated new drama series “David Makes Man” from Academy Award winner Tarell Alvin McCraney (“Moonlight”) and Warner Horizon Scripted Television will premiere on Wednesday, August 14 at 10 p.m. ETPT following the network's critically acclaimed drama “Queen Sugar” (Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ETPT).  The series premiere will be presented by Lexus with limited commercial interruption.

Celebrating its 37th anniversary, Outfest - the Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization promoting equality by creating, sharing, and protecting LGBTQ stories on the screen - today announced the complete programming lineup for the 2019 Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival, presented by HBO. The nation's leading LGBTQ festival will be held July 18-28, 2019.

The 23rd annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF), taking place in Miami June 12-16, continues to deliver on their promise to showcase some of today's hottest talent and provide a platform for emerging artists. This year's lineup will include conversations, screenings and panels with diverse and inspiring filmmakers, icons and industry executives, presented by some of the most innovative brands in entertainment.

The 23rd annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF), taking place in Miami June 12-16, continues to deliver on their promise to showcase some of today's hottest talent and provide a platform for emerging artists. This year's lineup will include conversations, screenings and panels with diverse and inspiring filmmakers, icons and industry executives, presented by some of the most innovative brands in entertainment.

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network announced today the world premiere of its highly anticipated new drama series, “David Makes Man,” from Academy Award winner Tarell Alvin McCraney (“Moonlight”) and Warner Horizon Scripted Television at the 2019 SXSW Film Festival as an Official Episodic Selection, with the screening and panel Q&A taking place on Sunday, March 10 at 5:30pm CT. McCraney serves as executive producer of the series alongside Dee Harris-Lawrence (“Shots Fired,” “Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G.”) who serves as showrunner. Mike Kelley and Melissa Loy (“Revenge,”) under their Page Fright production banner, Michael B. Jordan (“Creed”) via his Outlier Society Productions and Oprah Winfrey are also executive producers.

Oprah Winfrey Network unveiled last night and released today from Sundance the first teaser trailer and official key art for its anticipated new drama series, “David Makes Man,” from Academy Award winner Tarell Alvin McCraney (“Moonlight”) and Warner Horizon Scripted Television. McCraney serves as executive producer of the series alongside Dee Harris-Lawrence (“Shots Fired,” “Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G.,”) who serves as showrunner. Mike Kelley and Melissa Loy (“Revenge,”) under their Page Fright production banner, Michael B. Jordan (“Creed”) via his Outlier Society Productions and Oprah Winfrey are also executive producers.

​​​​​​​The Hollywood Reporter has announced that for the 12th consecutive year, The Blackhouse Foundation programs a full slate of panels, discussions, events, and community gatherings at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival—January 25-28 in Park City, UT. 

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network announced today the addition of ten new recurring and guest star cast members to the ensemble for “David Makes Man”, the lyrical drama from Academy Award winner Tarell Alvin McCraney (“Moonlight”) and Warner Horizon Scripted Television. Lela Rochon (“Training Day”), Trace Lysette (“Transparent”), Liza Colon-Zayas (“Proven Innocent”), Juanita Jennings (“Star”), Lindsey Blackwell (“Step Sisters”), Solomon Valdez (“[Bi]Polar”), Teshi Thomas (“The Good Place,” “Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance”), Nick Creegan, Kimaya Naomi and Logan Rozos have joined the series.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company Artistic Director Anna D. Shapiro announced today the addition of Rajiv Joseph and Karen Rodriguez to the world-renowned Steppenwolf ensemble. An Obie Award-wining and Pulitzer Prize finalist playwright, Rajiv Joseph's Guards at the Taj was produced at Steppenwolf this past May to great acclaim. Karen Rodriguez, a celebrated Chicago-based actor, recently performed at Steppenwolf in The Doppelganger (an international farce) and The Rembrandt, and will be featured in this season's world premiere of Isaac Gomez's La Ruta, in a role written specifically for her.

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network announced today the addition of five new cast members to the ensemble of its upcoming lyrical drama "David Makes Man," the television debut from Academy Award winner Tarell Alvin McCraney ("Moonlight"). Additionally, four directors have been tapped to helm episodes of the premiere season of the series which is produced by Warner Horizon Scripted Television.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company's world-renowned ensemble was joined by more than 675 civic, cultural and business leaders for the 2018 Gala on Saturday, May 12, 2018, raising over $1.3 million for Steppenwolf's artistic, educational and community programming. The major fundraising event, which had record-breaking attendance, was held at a new location not far from the theatre, 1340 N Cherry Avenue, and was designed and produced by Jeffrey Foster for Frost Chicago. Attendees celebrated 42 seasons of groundbreaking ensemble theatre with an evening of festivity emceed by actor Rainn Wilson, well-known for his role as "Dwight Schrute" on NBC's award-winning comedy, The Office and currently starring in The Doppelganger (an international farce) at Steppenwolf. Comedian, actor, director and producer Chris Rock, who starred in the world premiere Broadway production of The Motherf**ker with the Hat directed by Steppenwolf Artistic Director Anna D. Shapiro, joined as the guest auctioneer alongside Christie's Robbie Gordy.

According to Deadline,  Sarah Jones is set to play Lynn in CBS drama pilot L.A. Confidential, based on James Ellroy's classic noir novel. It comes from Arnon Milchan, producer of the acclaimed 1997 movie; CBS TV Studios; New Regency; and Lionsgate TV.

The League of Chicago Theatres, Goodman Theatre, the University of Illinois at Chicago, Broadway In Chicago and competition organizer Derrick Sanders announce the three Chicago finalists for the 9th Annual August Wilson Monologue Competition: Nia Safro from Chicago High School for the Performing Arts (first place, performed Molly, Joe Turner's Come and Gone); Chisom Chima from Nicholas Senn High School (second place; performed King, King Hedley II); and Evan Simpson from Chicago High School for the Performing Arts (third place, performed Youngblood, Jitney). The top three Chicago finalists were awarded scholarships in the amount of $500, $250 and $100, respectively. The top two winning students will receive expenses paid to travel to New York City for the National Finals, where they will compete on May 7, 2018.

Rehearsals kicked off today for Steppenwolf Theatre Company's highly anticipated world premiere comedy, The Doppelganger (an international farce) written by Chicagoland native Matthew-Lee Erlbach (Showtime's Masters of Sex, Off-Broadway's Handbook for an American Revolutionary).

Steppenwolf Theatre Company Artistic Director Anna D. Shapiro and Executive Director David Schmitz proudly unveiled today the 2018/19 Season.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company Artistic Director Anna D. Shapiro announced today the addition of Celeste M. Cooper and Cliff Chamberlain to the world-renowned Steppenwolf ensemble. Cooper, an in-demand Chicago-based actor, recently performed in Steppenwolf's production of BLKS and Chamberlain, a regular on the Steppenwolf stage, was recently featured in The Minutes by ensemble member Tracy Letts.

Iconic star of The Office actor and comedian Rainn Wilson will return to the stage in Steppenwolf Theatre Company's production ofThe Doppelg nger (An International Farce). Wilson leads the cast as Thomas Irdley/Jimmy in the world premiere production.