David Black News

A CELEBRATION OF LIFE The Los Angeles Memorial/Tribute for Alan Johnson at The Performing Arts Center October 14, 2018 Alan Johnson was truly a man of many talents. On Sunday, October 14th, 2018, friends, all of whom are either dancers, choreographers, directors or actors, or all combined, that have had the honor to work with or befriend him, gathered at The Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles, CA, owned by Joe Malone and Nanci Hammond Malone, two superb dancers/teachers that donated their facility for this event, to honor, reminisce and celebrate Alan's wondrous life and career.

Today, FIDLAR announced that their highly anticipated new album, Almost Free, will be released on January 25, 2019. Album pre-orders are now available HERE in an exclusive vinyl color and also in a bundle with an exclusive album themed shirt. All orders include a bonus 7” flexi disc of “Can't You See” backed with the non-album track, “Are You High?” which the band released on YouTube and Soundcloud earlier this year.

Fans of the legendary David Axelrod will have something to be thankful for on Record Store Day Black Friday! Now-Again will release Axelrod's Earth Rot album and Get On Down will be releasing Axelrod's Pride concept LP. Both albums saw David Axelrod finding a musical partnership with his son, Michael, and show the span of Axelrod's musicianship from jazz to psychedelic pop. His spectrum of sounds have been famously sampled by the likes of  Dr Dre, Snoop Dog, DJ Shadow, A Tribe Called Quest, Schoolboy Q, Wu-Tang Clan, Mac Miller, Lil Wayne, Eminem, Earl Sweatshirt, Common an many more. 

In award-winning playwright Sharr White's intriguing 2011 psychological drama THE OTHER PLACE, the play's compelling central figure, 52-year-old laboratory scientist turned drug company marketing exec Juliana Smithton, narrates her own fascinating story directly for the audience. For its stirring Orange County Premiere production currently on stage at Chance Theater in Anaheim through October 21, Juliana is played with powerful, intense ferocity by Jacqueline Wright, in what will surely be noted as one of the season's most memorable dramatic performances you will long remember this year.

Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, is excited to announce the fifth show in its 20th Anniversary Season ... The Other Place. Written by Sharr White and directed by Matthew McCray, The Other Place will preview from September 21 through September 28; regular performances will begin September 29 and continue through October 21 at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center on the Fyda-Mar Stage.

A PERFECT LIFE is presented by Austin Theatre Project as part of its 2017 season. This world premiere is based on the musical, One Man Band by Tony and Emmy Award winner Larry Hochman, Marc Elliot, and James Lecesne. The original One Man Band enjoyed a well-received New York run in 1985. Original composers Larry Hochman and Marc Elliot, who is also the show's lyricist, have teamed up with playwright Laurie Hochman, to tell this bittersweet, but ultimately hopeful story of life, love, and loss.

Austin Theatre Project's current production BARE, playing at the Trinity Street Theatre, is a work of love and stunning beauty.

Absolute authority clashes with the human spirit when Los Altos Stage Company presents Ken Kesey's seminal One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.  Adapted for the stage by Dale Wasserman, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest opens April 14 (preview performance on April 13) and runs through May 7 at the Bus Barn Theater in Los Altos.

Austin Theatre Project Kicks Off 2017 Season with Award-Winning [Title of Show]

TITLE OF SHOW is a one-act musical, with music and lyrics by Jeff Bowen and a book by Hunter Bell. The show is pretty much the Urban Dictionary definition of "meta". It not only chronicles its own creation as an entry in the New York Musical Theatre Festival, it also chronicles the struggles of the author and composer/lyricist as they create a musical about creating a musical. It's sort of like those endlessly reflective fun house mirrors. TITLE OF SHOW was chosen for production by the Musical Theatre Festival and premiered there, in September 2004. It later transferred to Off-Broadway in 2006, picking up three Obie Awards, and finally made it to Broadway later that same year, where it was nominated for Best Book of a Musical. In this production by Austin Theatre Project, the show has been reconfigured as two acts with no noticeable difference for the audience.

Austin Theatre Project Kicks Off 2017 Season with Award-Winning [Title of Show]

Austin Theatre Project Kicks Off 2017 Season with Award-Winning [Title of Show]

Actress and producer Sophina Brown is on a mission to bring the wonderful work of August Wilson to the Los Angeles community. Her goal is to produce August Wilson's American Century Cycle in Los Angeles in its entirety. What begin as a group of actors meeting up to read August Wilson plays at her house, has evolved into the first production.

Austin Theatre Project Kicks Off 2017 Season with Award-Winning [Title of Show]

August Wilson's hard-hitting 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' opened September 11 and continues through October 16, 2016, at the Center Theatre Group/ Mark Taper Forum. 'Ma Rainey...' is part of Wilson's American Century Cycle of 10 plays chronicling African American experience in 20th Century USA. BroadwayWorld has a first look at highlights of the show below, along with behind the scenes with the cast and celebrities!

August Wilson's hard-hitting 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' opened September 11 and continues through October 16, 2016, at the Center Theatre Group/ Mark Taper Forum. 'Ma Rainey...' is part of Wilson's American Century Cycle of 10 plays chronicling African American experience in 20th Century USA. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities below!

Now in previews, August Wilson's hard-hitting 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' opens September 11 and continues through October 16, 2016, at the Center Theatre Group/ Mark Taper Forum. 'Ma Rainey...' is part of Wilson's American Century Cycle of 10 plays chronicling African American experience in 20th Century USA. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Center Theatre Group presents August Wilson's 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' which begins previews tonight, August 31, opens September 11 and continues through October 16, 2016, at the Mark Taper Forum.

In celebration of its 30th anniversary, Grand Performances, the "Best Free Outdoor Summer Concert Series" in Los Angeles, will hold a benefit concert by "Orange Is the New Black" star Lea DeLaria and the Los Angeles premiere of Lea DeLaria: House of David, her jazz-influenced tribute to David Bowie. Tickets are $30 and will help support the annual summer slate of free concerts offered by Grand Performances at California Plaza in downtown Los Angeles. Tickets for the Saturday, September 17 event are on sale now.

Rehearsals have begun for August Wilson's blazing masterpiece 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' which begins previews September 1, opens September 11 and continues through October 16, 2016, at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. BroadwayWorld has a peek at the company in rehearsal below!