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(L to R) Michael Potts as Cleve Robinson, Aml Ameen as Martin Luther King Jr., Chris Rock as NAACP Exec. Dir. Roy Wilkins, Glynn Turman as A. Philip Randolph and Kevin Mambo as Whitney Young in Rustin. Photo Credit: David Lee/Netflix © 2023

Dr. Martin Luther King gave his famous “I have a dream” speech at the landmark 1963 March on Washington, but that momentous event was organized, and even was conceived, by another Civil Rights figure who is far less well-known: Bayard Rustin. The reason why you may not know Bayard Rustin is that in addition to being a fiery Civil Right organizer he was also a gay Black man, in an earlier homophobic time when even hinting someone was gay could unleashed a firestorm that might end a career, or a movement, or even led to arrest.

Although Rustin was powerhouse in the fight for Black rights but he was rarely in the media spotlight,...

George C. Wolfe’s biopic of Bayard Rustin (Colman Domingo), the civil rights activist who helped put together one of the largest peaceful protests in American history in 1963, takes on added resonance in the wake of recent violence in Israel and Gaza. The March for Freedom and Jobs on Washington and the current protests around the world in support of Palestinians are separated by decades and origins, and while Rustin doesn’t bridge the gap between these events, it reminds one of how much activism has changed over six decades.

Rustin, which tracks the eight-week breakneck race to get multiple civil rights organizations, like the N.A.A.C.P., to cooperate and get 100,000 peaceful protesters down to the National Mall hums along, at an agreeable tempo. Wolfe and screenwriters Julian Brece and Dustin Lance Black conjure the events in a crowd-pleasing manner. This is a film that doesn’t want for soliloquies.

“Gen V” Gets Season 2 Renewal

Prime Video’s “Gen V” has passed its freshman year with flying colors and will soon head into its sophomore year! The streamer has officially ordered a second season of the global hit, a spinoff to its beloved superhero satire “The Boys.”

Set in the same universe, “Gen V” centers on Godolkin University, the prestigious superhero-only college where students train to be the next generation of heroes (preferably with lucrative endorsements). But when the students discover something bigger and more sinister is going on at the school than just superpowers and super-popularity, they’re put to the test.

Watch the trailer for “Gen V” Season 1 below:

The series stars Jaz Sinclair, Chance Perdomo, Lizze Broadway, Shelley Conn, Maddie Phillips, London Thor, Derek Luh, Asa Germann, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Sean Patrick Thomas, and Marco Pigossi and also features guest stars Clancy Brown and Jason Ritter, as well...

Colman Domingo is demanding the spotlight for his next film role. The "Candyman" and "Euphoria" actor portrays queer civil rights activist Bayard Rustin in Netflix's upcoming biopic, "Rustin." Per the streamer, the movie will chronicle Rustin's rise as the "architect of 1963's momentous March on Washington," where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his historic "I Have a Dream" speech. According to the movie's trailers, which arrived on Aug. 28 and Oct. 19, "Rustin" is also expected to spotlight some of the obstacles the titular figure faced during his lifetime, including police brutality and criticism over his sexuality.

Rustin, known as one of the greatest organizers in history, "challenged authority, never apologized for who he was, what he believed, or who he desired," per Netflix. And though he made history, the influential figure's accomplishments have seemingly been forgotten - until now.

In addition to Domingo, "Rustin," directed by George C. Wolfe,...

Netflix released the teaser trailer and poster for Rustin on the 60th anniversary of the historic March on Washington. Colman Domingo (Fear the Walking Dead) stars as gay civil rights leader Bayard Rustin, the man who organized the march and whose place in history has been largely overlooked since the 1963 march.

“We are committed to the cause of altering the trajectory of this country towards freedom. They either believe in freedom and justice for all – or they do not,” states Domingo as Rustin in the first teaser for the awards-season release.

Joining SAG award nominee Colman Domingo (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom) are Emmy winner Chris Rock as Roy Wilkins, Emmy winner Glynn Turman as A. Philip Randolph, Aml Ameen as Martin Luther King Jr., Gus Halper, Emmy nominee Cch Pounder, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Johnny Ramey, Michael Potts, and Lilli Kay. The talented ensemble also includes Jordan-Amanda Hall, Jakeem Powell,...

For Black activists, marching toward freedom in the 1960s meant navigating roadblocks and visceral hatred in order to stand for what was right. In the official teaser trailer for Netflix’s Rustin, Colman Domingo embarks on this journey through the lens of March on Washington architect Bayard Rustin. For the civil rights activist and organizer, his identity as a Black, gay man was never something to be explained away or apologized for. In fact, it only fueled his power.

“On August 28, Black, white, young, old, rich, working-class, poor, will descend on Washington,...

My fellow Colman Domingo fans, we have much to look forward to. After lending his voice to computer-generated characters in both "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" and "Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken" earlier this year, the celebrated "If Beale Street Could Talk" and "Euphoria" star will be back in live-action a big way over the coming months, starting with his performance in the biopic "Rustin."

If you don't know the name Bayard Rustin, well, you're not alone. A key figure in the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, Rustin was essentially the architect of the 1963 March on Washington in which Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech. He's typically been overlooked (if not completely erased) in public school curriculums due to the fact that he was gay, which also led to him advising people like King from behind closed doors rather than serving openly as one of the faces of the movement itself.

Bringing two projects to Toronto International Film Festival (and likely would’ve been a trio if a certain film didn’t get delayed), Colman Domingo is poised for a major fall. Before The Color Purple arrives at the end of the year, he’ll also be seen in George C. Wolfe’s Rustin and Greg Kwedar’s Sing Sing, both headed to the Canadian Festival. As scripted by Julian Breece and Dustin Lance Black, the first trailer has now arrived for his Bayard Rustin biopic ahead of a theatrical and Netflix release this November.

Here’s the synopsis: “The architect of 1963’s momentous March on Washington, Bayard Rustin was one of the greatest activists and organizers the world has ever known. He challenged authority, never apologized for who he was, what he believed, or who he desired. And he did not back down. He made history, and in turn, he was forgotten.

Netflix has released the trailer for Rustin, which chronicles the events of the significant historical figure who was an activist for racial equality in the 1960s. The trailer showcases his rallying of Martin Luther King Jr., Ella Baker, and Clayton Powell Jr. as they motivate the nation to unite in a monumental gesture against oppression. The film sports an impressive cast that includes the acting talents of Colman Domingo, Chris Rock, Glynn Turman, Aml Ameen, Gus Halper, Cch Pounder, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Johnny Ramey, Michael Potts, Lilli Kay, Jordan-Amanda Hall, Jakeem Powell, Grantham Coleman, Jamilah Rosemond, Jules Latimer, Maxwell Whittington-Cooper, Frank Harts, Kevin Mambo, Carra Patterson, Bill Irwin, Cotter Smith, Adrienne Warren, with Jeffrey Wright and Audra McDonald.

The official synopsis from Netflix reads,

The architect of 1963’s momentous March on Washington, Bayard Rustin was one of the greatest activists and organizers the world has ever known. He challenged authority,...

The first trailer for Rustin, Netflix’s upcoming film about the life and work of Bayard Rustin, the openly gay Black civil rights leader and architect of 1963’s March on Washington, promises to put an end to the history of erasure around the visionary’s legacy.

Released Monday, on the official 60th anniversary of the historic freedom march, the first look captures the passionate, profound and often tumultuous journey of one of the country’s most significant civil rights activists, socialists, pacifists, labor unionists and gay rights advocates. Directed by DGA award and five-time Tony winner George C. Wolfe, Domingo — in his first leading feature film role — embodies the radical voice and fixture of the 20th-century fight for equality and justice in American democracy.

Rustin was an organizer who advised Martin Luther King Jr. on the historic march and gathering — an eight-week endeavor, according to the trailer. His refusal to apologize for who he was,...

Netflix has released a set of first-look images from the upcoming feature on the visionary civil rights activist who was a close advisor to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ‘Rustin.’

The architect of 1963’s momentous March on Washington, Bayard Rustin was one of the greatest activists and organizers the world has ever known. He challenged authority, and never apologized for who he was, what he believed, or who he desired. And he did not back down. He made history, and in turn, he was forgotten.

(L to R) Michael Potts as Cleve Robinson, Aml Ameen as Martin Luther King, Chris Rock as NAACP Exec. Dir. Roy Wilkins and Glynn Turman as A Philip Randolph. Cr. David Lee/Netflix © 2022 (L to R) Aml Ameen as Martin Luther King and Colman Domingo as Bayard Rustin. Cr. David Lee/Netflix © 2022

Directed by DGA Award and five-time Tony Award winner George C. Wolfe...

Exclusive: Jeffrey Wright and Grantham Coleman have joined the cast of Netflix’s Rustin along with Lilli Kay, Jordan-Amanda Hall, Jakeem Dante Powell, Ayana Workman, Jamilah Nadege Rosemond, Jules Latimer, Maxwell Whittington-Cooper, Frank Harts, Kevin Mambo.

They join previously announced Colman Domingo — who stars as Civil Rights leader Bayard Rustin — Chris Rock, Glynn Turman Audra McDonald, Aml Ameen, Gus Halper, Johnny Ramey, Cch Pounder, Michael Potts, Carra Patterson, Adrienne Warren, Bill Irwin and Da’Vine Joy Randolph.

The George C. Wolfe-directed pic, which the Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom helmer co-wrote with Milk Oscar winner Dustin Lance Black, tells the story of how Rustin overcame an onslaught of obstacles and altered the course of American history by organizing the 1963 March on Washington. Rustin is the first film production from Michelle and Barack Obama’s Higher Ground, which has their deal at Netflix.

Producers are Oscar winner Bruce Cohen and Higher Ground’s Tonia Davis.

Today, GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, announced a preliminary list of celebrities, shows, networks, and more set to participate in Spirit Day, which will take place on Thursday, October 21.

Zuri Adele, Ryan Michelle Bathé, Michael Judson Berry, Michael Bolton, Bob The Drag Queen, Kent Boyd, Crystal Lee Brown, Sterling K. Brown, Aria Brooks, Ever Carradine, Fernando Carsa, Philemon Chambers, Jeffrey Bowyer Chapman, Chloe x Halle, Malia Civetz, Garrett Clayton, Andy Cohen, Jason Collins, Jasmine Davis, Scott Evan Davis, Ellen DeGeneres, Maxwell Acee Donovan, Lisa Durupt, Gabriel Feitosa, August Getty, Christopher Gorham, Harper Grae, Kat Graham, Frankie Grande, Mollee Gray, The Greeting Committee, Kahmora Hall, Rachael Harris, Ty Herndon, Kathy Ireland, Jeka Jane, Jordy, Natacha Karam, Isis King, Victoria Konefal, Carson Kressley, Matty Maggiacomo, Kevin Mambo, Meredith Marks, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Michael & Matt, Mk xyz, Kron Moore, Jessica Morris, Mya, Amber Nash,...

LGBTQ media advocacy organization GLAAD announced a preliminary list of celebrities, shows and networks set to participate in this year’s Spirit Day, the anti-bullying campaign taking place on Oct. 21.

Among the names announced are Zuri Adele, Ryan Michelle Bathé, Michael Judson Berry, Michael Bolton, Bob The Drag Queen, Kent Boyd, Crystal Lee Brown, Sterling K. Brown, Aria Brooks, Ever Carradine, Fernando Carsa, Philemon Chambers, Jeffrey Bowyer Chapman, Chloe x Halle, Malia Civetz, Garrett Clayton, Andy Cohen, Jason Collins, Jasmine Davis, Scott Evan Davis, Ellen DeGeneres, Maxwell Acee Donovan, Lisa Durupt, Gabriel Feitosa, August Getty, Christopher Gorham, Harper Grae, Kat Graham, Frankie Grande, Mollee Gray, The Greeting Committee, Kahmora Hall, Rachael Harris, Ty Herndon, Kathy Ireland, Jeka Jane, Jordy, Natacha Karam, Isis King, Victoria Konefal, Carson Kressley, Matty Maggiacomo, Kevin Mambo, Meredith Marks, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Michael & Matt, Mk xyz, Kron Moore, Jessica Morris, Mya, Amber Nash, Annika Noelle, Eureka O’Hara,...

HBO Max released the official trailer for the upcoming reality dating series “Fboy Island,” which will premiere on July 29.

Hosted by Nikki Glaser, the series follows three women, Nakia Renee, Cj Franco and Sarah Emig, who move to a tropical island where they’re joined by 24 men. Half of the men are “nice guys” also looking for a real relationship, while the others are self-proclaimed “f-boys” competing for a cash prize. By the finale, all will be revealed — who is a nice guy, who is an “f-boy” and who will the women ultimately choose. The series is a social experiment that asks the age-old question: can “f-boys” truly reform or do nice guys always finish last?

Glaser will executive produce alongside creator Elan Gale, Jason Goldberg, Ben Bitonti and showrunner Sam Dean.

Also in today’s TV news roundup:

Dates

Paramount Plus announced that the live-action musical “The J Team” will premiere on Sept.

1984: Guiding Light's Nola gave birth.

1986: Dynasty's Alexis took over Blake's possessions and he was not happy.

1999: Another World's Alli faced a ticking time bomb.

1999: Susan Lucci finally won her for Daytime Emmy Award."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1964: On Another World, Jim (Leon Janney) convinced Russ (Joey Trent) to attend summer school.

1971: The first episode of Upstairs Downstairs was re-recorded in color after the original recording, which was in black and white, was lost.

1981: On Texas, Joe Foster...

1967: Dark Shadows' Barnabas gave Maggie a music box.

1984: Guiding Light's Nola wanted help from The Wizard.

1985: Santa Barbara's Eden was unhappy after her interrupted wedding.

1996: Victor clashed with Jill in a primetime Y&R episode."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1952: On Young Widder Brown, after leaving the Tea Room in a black rage, Dr. Anthony Loring drove out to the farm of Uncle Josh for some comforting advice.

1953: On Love of Life, Vanessa Dale (Peggy McCay) attempted to help her nephew,...

Daphne Rubin-Vega, Joe Morton, and Brandon Victor Dixon are among the guest artists at the Developing Artists’ Rebel Verses Youth Arts Festival. The two-week event provides young artists, between the ages of 13 to 19, with a chance to collaborate and network with peers and prominent artists, and to showcase original work. It is hosted at the Vineyard Theater, a prominent Off-Broadway venue, and is an attempt to promote and nurture new theatrical voices.

Each evening will feature a performance by theater stars such as Rubin-Vega and Victor Dixon. Additional performers include Emmy Award-winner Kevin Mambo (“Fela!”), Laura Gómez (“Orange is the New Black”), and Flaco Navajo, a poet and actor. The event will take place Aug. 9-18.

Week One will feature performances by young-artist companies the Door (NYC), Alumni Theatre Company, and the Brotherhood/Sister Sol (NYC). Week Two will feature McC Youth Company (NYC), Epic Next (NYC), 6th Borough Slam,...

1966: Dark Shadows' Victoria noticed her letter had moved.

1987: As the World Turns' Margo and Hal shared a kiss.

1994: Days of our Lives' Salem said goodbye to Dr. Tom Horton.

2012: The Young and the Restless' Paul shot his son, Ricky."All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."

― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1915: Future soap opera legend Ruth Warrick was born. Her daytime roles included Phoebe on All My Children,...

1984: Guiding Light's Nola gave birth. 1986: Dynasty's Alexis

took over Blake's possessions and he was not happy.

1999: Another World's Alli faced a ticking time bomb.

1999: Susan Lucci finally won her for Daytime Emmy Award."All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."

― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1964: On Another World, Jim (Leon Janney) convinced Russ (Joey Trent) to attend summer school.

1971: The first episode of Upstairs Downstairs was re-recorded in color after the original recording,...

1967: Dark Shadows' Barnabas gave Maggie a music box.

1984: Guiding Light's Nola wanted help from The Wizard.

1985: Santa Barbara's Eden was unhappy after her interrupted wedding.

1996: Victor clashed with Jill in a primetime Y&R episode."All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."

― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1952: On Young Widder Brown, after leaving the Tea Room in a black rage, Dr. Anthony Loring drove out to the farm...

Danielle Brooks, Tony Award nominee from The Color Purple and co-star of the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black, will perform in a one-night only reading of James Baldwin's The Amen Corner this Mondayevening, November 28 at 7 pm as part of Classic Stage Company's annual First Look Festival. Directed by Liesl Tommy, the reading of The Amen Corner will also feature Adeola Role, Mirirai Sithole, Phumzile Sithole, Christina Redd, Brandon Jones, Curtiss Cook Jr, Kevin Mambo, Cristina Pitter and Folami Williams.

Casting has been announced for the new musicals in development at Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's National Music Theater Conference later this month. Among the actors premiering new work are Adam Chanler-Berat, Erin Davie, Colin Hanlon, Kevin Mambo, Matt Von Roderick, Christina Sajous, and Remy Zaken.

The First National Tour of The Book Of Mormon launched earlier this month in Denver, running through September 2 at The Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Original Broadway cast member Jared Gertner stars as Elder Cunningham, along with Gavin Creel as Elder Price. Samantha Marie Ware joins as Nabulungi, as well as Grey Henson as Elder McKinley and Kevin Mambo as Mafala Hatimbi. View photos below...

Original Broadway cast member Jared Gertner will star as Elder Cunningham in the First National Tour of The Book Of Mormon, launching in Denver from August 14-September 2 at The Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Gertner will join previously announced Gavin Creel as Elder Price. Samantha Marie Ware joins as Nabulungi, as well as Grey Henson as Elder McKinley and Kevin Mambo as Mafala Hatimbi.

On this date in...

1953: On Love Of Life, Vanessa's (Peggy McKay) attempt to help nephew Beanie nearly backfires.

1996: At the 23rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, winners included General Hospital (Drama Series), Charles Keating, Erika Slezak, Jerry verDorn, Anna Holbrook, Kevin Mambo and Kimberly McCullough.

Celebrating a birthday today are:

Victoria Wyndham (ex-Rachel, Another World; ex-Charlotte, Guiding Light) - 66

Beau Kazer (ex-Brock, The Young And The Restless; ex-Bunny, General Hospital) - 60

Ed Fry (ex-Larry, As The World Turns; ex-Adam, Another World) - 52

Nazanin Boniadi (ex-Leyla, General Hospital) - 31...

On this date in...

1976: Another World aired its 3,000th episode.

1994: Roger Howarth and the men of One Life To Live appeared on Donahue to discuss the soap.

1996: The winners at the 23rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards were General Hospital (Drama Series), Erika Slezak, Charles Keating, Anna Holbrook, Jerry verDorn, Kimberly McCullough and Kevin Mambo.

2003: At the 29th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, winners included One Life To Live (Drama Series), Susan Flannery, Peter Bergman, Crystal Chappell, Josh Duhamel, Jennifer Finnigan and Jacob Young.

Celebrating a birthday today are:

Fiona Hutchison (ex-Gabrielle, One Life To Live; ex-Jenna, Guiding Light; ex-Celia, As The World Turns) - 51

Paige Turco (ex-Dinah, Guiding Light; ex-Lanie, All My Children) - 46

Leven Rambin (ex-Lily/Ava, All My Children) - 21...

On this date in...

1978: At the 5th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, Days Of Our Lives won for Outstanding Drama Series. The acting winners were James Pritchett and Laurie Heineman.

1997: The winners at the 24th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards were General Hospital (Drama Series), Justin Deas, Jess Walton, Michelle Stafford, Ian Buchanan, Sarah Brown and Kevin Mambo.

2003: At the 30th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, winners included As The World Turns (Drama Series), Susan Flannery, Maurice Benard, Vanessa Marcil, Benjamin Hendrickson, Jennifer Finnigan and Jordi Vilasuso.

Celebrating a birthday today are:

Carolyn Conwell (ex-Mary, The Young And The Restless) - 81

Scott Reeves (Steve, General Hospital; ex-Ryan, The Young And The Restless; ex-Jake, Days Of Our Lives) - 45

Tori Spelling (ex-Donna, Beverly Hills, 90210) - 38

Jessica Morris (ex-Jennifer, One Life To Live; ex-Liz, Undressed) - 32...

Emmy-winning actor, Kevin Mambo, who stars in the title role in the Broadway production of the of Tony winning musical "Fela!" has joined the roster of artists scheduled to perform at the Second Annual Tommy Awards on Monday, June 28 at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at Nyu. Produced by the USC Alumni Club of New York with the support of the USC Alumni Association and other university partners, the Tommy Awards- named for Tommy Trojan, the University of Southern California's collegiate symbol - honors extraordinary contributions made by USC alumni to New York's business, cultural, sports and philanthropic communities.

This is Tony nominations week. I am sure you can sense my excitement through your computer screen. To get you all in the mood to celebrate the golden disk, I am answering another set of questions about the Tony rules. Question #1: How is one Fela! guy eligible and not the other? A few people emailed me to ask this same question. The situation involving Fela! is as follows: Sahr Ngaujah plays the role about five times a week, with Kevin Mambo in for the other three. The producers of Fela! petitioned the Tony folks to allow both Ngaujah and Mambo to be eligible together. They were turned down. Now, on the face of it, that is not surprising. After all, the award is for an "Actor," not "Actors." Nevertheless, just last year three actors won for playing the same role, Billy...

Fela!, the new Broadway musical set to the music of Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti, will be produced in London by the National Theatre.

Fela! will begin performances at the National’s Olivier Theatre Nov. 6, and officially open Nov. 16, with Tony-winning choreographer Bill T. Jones, who also directed and co-conceived the Broadway musical, will repeat his duties for the London run that will feature Broadway cast members Sahr Ngaujah and Kevin Mambo (who alternate in the title role on Broadway).

Ngauhjah will open the London production, while Mambo will remain with the Broadway cast. Subsequently, Mambo will take over in London, and Ngauhjah will rejoin the Broadway run.

However, the remainder of the National cast will be British.

via Playbill...

From Black Enterprise magazine… with Lamman Rucker, who stars in the new Off-Broadway production of Black Angels Over Tuskegee; Kevin Mambo, who stars in the musical Fela!; and Stephanie Umoh, who just finished a run in the Broadway hit, Ragtime. I can’t say it’s particularly revealing, but the subject of their conversation is worth highlighting as the beginning of an even more extensive discussion. And is it just me, or did Ed Gordon repeatedly refer to Fela as “Fila,” like the shoes??...

Knitting Factory Records will issue re-releases of albums from late Afrobeat master Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, whose life and music inspired the current Broadway musical that bears his name.

All 45 of Fela’s albums, comprising the entirety of the late musician’s catalog, are set to roll out throughout the coming year in remastered form. They will also be available in digital format for download.

The first six remastered CDs (which feature nine of Kuti’s earliest albums) will be released Feb. 16, according to Variety. The second set of albums will drop later this spring.

Knitting Factory will release the albums in various packages, including DVDs and special collector’s editions. A vinyl box set is also being prepared.

Tony Award winner Bill T. Jones co-conceived the musical Fela!, which he also directed and choreographed. The production stars Sahr Ngaujah and Kevin Mambo, who alternate in the title role.

Fela! officially opened on Broadway Nov.

Ruined, currently in previews at Manhattan Theatre Club, is featured on today's edition of NPR's "Tell Me More." To hear playwright Lynn Nottage and actress Saidah Arrika Ekulona discuss the play and the timely issues it explores, Click Here. In the interview which also features clips from the play, Nottage and Ekulona discuss the ongoing violence against women that takes place in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Ruined is set, and bringing the play to the stage. The Manhattan Theatre Club's (Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director; Barry Grove, Executive Producer) and Goodman Theatre's (Robert Falls, Artistic Director; Roche Schulfer, Executive Director) co-production of Ruined, written by Lynn Nottage and directed by Kate Whoriskey, will open Tuesday, February 10 at Mtc at New York City Center - Stage I (131 West 55th Street). In addition to Ekulona, Ruined also features Quincy Tyler Bernstine (The Misanthrope at Nytw), Cherise Boothe (King Hedley II at...

The Manhattan Theatre Club's (Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director; Barry Grove, Executive Producer) and Goodman Theatre's (Robert Falls, Artistic Director; Roche Schulfer, Executive Director) acclaimed co-production of Ruined, written by Lynn Nottage and directed by Kate Whoriskey begins previews tonight at Mtc at New York City Center - Stage I (131 West 55th Street). The limited engagement will open Tuesday, February 10. Ruined features Quincy Tyler Bernstine (The Misanthrope at Nytw), Cherise Boothe (King Hedley II at Signature), Chris Chalk (Mtc's Defiance), Saidah Arrika Ekulona (Well, Nottage's Fabulation) William Jackson Harper (Queens Boulevard), Chik? Johnson (The Crucible at Steppenwolf), Russell Gebert Jones (Our Lady of 121st Street), Simon Shabantu Kashama (Ruined at the Goodman), two-time Emmy? Award winner Kevin Mambo ("The Guiding Light"), Tom Mardirosian (Wonderful Town, HBO's "Oz"), Ron McBee (The Colored Museum) and Condola Rashad (Pearl at The Kennedy Center). Ruined played an extended engagement at the Goodman's Owen Theatre where...