The NAACP Theatre Awards - Awards

The NAACP Theatre Awards

By Rych McCain International/Nationally Syndicated Entertainment columnist

The 2012 NAACP Theatre Awards

Dazzles Again!

Photos Per NAACPTA

     The 2012 NAACP Theatre Awards was recently held at the Directors Guild of America in Hollywood. The pre-ceremony buffet was mouth watering scrumptious as it is every year and the red carpet 

Stelita Ebanks

 entries featured the glitz, sexiness and fashion that give award shows the anticipated attention of fans as well as the fashion police. The NAACP Theatre Awards annually honors stage actors, producers, directors, playwrights, lighting directors, set designers, musical directors, sound, Choreography and costume design for Thespians of color from both the local LA Theatre scene and major Equity stage productions.

     Ronald E. Hasson is the President of the Beverly Hills/Hollywood NAACP as well as being a National Board Member. The show is executively and creatively produced by Tia Boyd. Oscar Hernandez served as the show’s director and producer. Laura Wright is the talent executive.

Eva Marcille

 The show was co-hosted by gorgeous and sexy actress/model Eva Marcille 

George Wallace

and Mr. Las Vegas himself, the ever funny, superstar comic George Wallace. 

      The night’s performances included Singer/actress Shoshana Bean who performed the lead role of Elphaba on Broadway in the smash it play “Wicked,” singing “Defying Gravity,” Singer/actress Tichina Arnold star of TV and performing the lead role of Eviline on the Broadway stage version of “The Wiz,” who sung “No Bad News,” singers Eloise Laws and Leela James. Sakinah LeStage choreographed a dance troop number titled “A Salute To Dance.”

  The presenters included a slew of celebs too numerous to mention while the “big four” major prizes went to 

actor James Pickens, Jr. (Lifetime Achievement Award); 

 actress Nicole Ari Parker (The Spirit Award);  

producers and Front Row Production partners Alia M. Jones

 and Stephen P. Byrd who shared (The Trailblazer Award). 

Our congrats go out to all of the winners listed below.

Best Choreography – Equity

Fela! – Bill T. Jones

Best Choreography – Local

Chicago – Krystal Combs

Best Costumes – Equity

Blues for An Alabama Sky – Karen Perry

Best Costumes – Local

Rockin’ With The Ages 3 – Liz Perralta

Best Director – Equity

Blues for An Alabama Sky – Sheldon Epps

Best Director – Local

12’ X 9’ – Fred Thomas, Jr.

Best Director of a Musical – Equity

Twist – Debbie Allen

Best Director of a Musical – Local

Chicago – Anne Gesling

Best Ensemble Cast – Equity

Blues for An Alabama Sky

Best Ensemble Cast – Local

All My Sons

Best Lead Female - Equity

Twist – Tamyra Gray

Best Lead Female  – Local

Sunday Mourning – Kinnik Sky

Best Lead Male – Equity

Superior Donuts – Edi Gathegi

Best Lead Male – Local

The Motor Trade – Alex Morris

Best Lighting – Equity

Superior Donuts – Daniel Ionazzi

Best Lighting - Local

Hattie…What I need You To Know! – Sammie Wayne

Best Music Director – Equity

Fela! – Aaron Johnson

 

Best Music Director – Local

Chicago – Anne Gesling

Best One Person Show - Equity

The Night Watcher – Charlayne Woodard

Best One Person Show - Local

Oh, Yes She Did – Sandy Brown

Best Playwright – Equity

Superior Donuts – Tracy Letts

Best Playwright – Local

12’ X 9’ – Fred Thomas, Jr.

Best Producer – Equity

A Raisin In the Sun – Wren T. Brown

Best Producer – Local

12’ X 9’ – Fred Thomas, Jr. and Don B. Welch

Best Set Design – Equity

Blues For An Alabama Sky – John LaCorelli

Best Set Design – Local

Pity The Proud Ones – Miguel Montalvo

Best Sound – Equity

Bring It On – Brian Ronan

Best Sound – Local

Pity the Proud Ones – Kimberly M. Wilson

Best Supporting Female – Equity

The Old Settler – Tarina Pouncy

Best Supporting Female – Local

Sunday Mourning – Kaira Akita

Best Supporting Male – Equity (Tie)

Twist – Cleavant Derricks

A Raisin In the Sun – Brandon David Brown

Best Supporting Male – Local

Sunday Mourning – Juhahn Jones

© 2012 Rych McCain Media/Syndication tm 

(You DID Hear It From Me!)  

Twitter@rychmccain

  

 

Dennis Haysbert - Movies

Dennis Haysbert - Movies 

By Rych McCain International/Nationally Syndicated Entertainment Columnist

Dennis Haysbert

The Details Clean-Up Man!

Photos Courtesy of Radius TWC

     At 6’4 ½ with a commanding bass voice; it is pretty hard not to detect the presence of actor/producer Dennis Haysbert when he is around. The San Mateo, CA. native has been a mainstay in film and TV since he broke into the biz in the late 70’s. Haysbert’s most notable roles were playing baseball player Pedro Cerrano in the “Major League” film trilogy; Portraying the first Black U.S. President David Palmer on the TV series “24” and his role as Sgt. Major Jonas Blane on the drama series “The Unit.” And of course, who haven’t seen Haysbert’s super popular “All State Insurance” ads? 

Dennis Haysbert as Lincoln

    In his latest film role titled “The Details,” Haysbert plays Lincoln who is best friends with Dr. Jeff Lang played by Tobey Maguire (the original Spiderman in the first three movies). The movie has a twist that weaves an animal pest problem with deceit, infidelity and even murder. Haysbert runs down his character Lincoln by saying, “Lincoln is a very cool guy who’s good friends with Jeff and to Lincoln there are no problems with Jeff who is a saint as far as Lincoln is concerned. But he’s not privy to all of the other friends Jeff has that don’t think as much of him and are going through problems with him.” 

     “The Details” has two elements i.e., animals and children that many say actors can’t upstage. When posed with that question, Haysbert laughs it off responding, “You know what, I find that to be a fallacy because I’ve worked with some really good kids. Actually I have a movie coming up at the end of the month “LUV” where I work with Michael Rainey, Jr., an incredible twelve year-old actor who’s probably thirteen now but he’s a good kid.”     

  

  Haysbert has always had a suave, smooth demeanor and warm personality. Is that something he has worked on and perfected over the years or is that just him? Again he laughs, “That’s just plain me. I had good parents. They reared me right.”    

L-R: Ray Liotta, Kerry Washington, Tobey Maguire, Dennis Haysbert & Jacob Estes Writer/Director at "The Details" Premiere.

 

 

      For this movie, Haysbert was on set with some of the most incredible actors in the business i.e., Ray Liotta, Kerry Washington,Tobey Maguire and Elizabeth Banks among others. What are the topics of conversation during down time that are discussed with an ensemble like that? In his own quiet, humble way; Haysbert just says “We talk a little shop, talk a lot of life. We talk about the craft and what we are doing.”

**OK! I almost Like It! (Ride In The Back)!

 

   © 2012 Rych McCain Media/Syndication tm 

(You DID Hear It From Me!) 

 E-Mail: feedbackrych@sbcglobal.net