NAACP Theatre Awards Press Conference - Exciting Preshow Coverage

The NAACP Theatre Awards Press Conference was held at the new LATC theatre on Tuesday, July 21st to honor nominees for the upcoming Awards Show.  This year’s acknowledgments boasted 81 nominees in 29 categories, including Best Choreography, Best Costume, Best Director of a Musical, Best Set Design, Best Producer and Best Playwright.  Walking the indoor red carpet introduced the press to a slay of notable faces that define today’s black theatre.  NAACP members and participants gathered inside the ivory marble lobby with a high-rise stained glass ceiling for photographs on the red carpet and early congratulations to all the promising talents. A Continental-style breakfast was served during the red carpet arrival, with lemon teas, red velvet swirl cake and delicious cheese filling the table. The conference immediately proceeded, leading everyone into a proscenium theatre adjacent to the building’s five-story office tower, remodeled Tom Bradley Theatre, costume scenery shop and rehearsal rooms. 

Ron Hasson, President of the Beverly Hills/Hollywood branch, and Executive Producer Tia Boyd, welcomed the audience by addressing their impassioned commitment to black theatre arts and entertainment. This will be Hasson’s tenth year hosting the branch’s Theatre Festival set for August 29-30th at the LATC.   The two-day festival is intended to coach and incite individuals who crave live theatre in the City of Angels. Festival activities will provide a platform for thespians to practice self-expression and share in the celebration of a common dream. There will be acting, directing, play-writing and dance workshops as well as a newly added children’s playshop and 10 minute one act plays.  Together with the much anticipated Awards Show, Los Angeles is embracing this time of recognition and appreciation in our thriving black community. 

Taking place on the Tuesday after NAACP’s 100th Anniversary on July 17th, the opportunity to honor the great history of theatre in black America was felt throughout the morning’s event.  Willis Edwards, NAACP national board member and political activist, rose to the occasion with his statement that people of color have “come a long way, and have a long way to go.”  Edwards traced back the organization’s history to its first Awards ceremony at UCLA Royce Hall and the remarkable milestones since.   Hasson further voiced how impacting theatre has been in recent years, encouraging us to continue reaching social equality through creative achievements. With the launch of the newly modified LATC last year, riveting growth within Los Angeles theatre has certainly transpired with charitable support from the Beverly Hills NAACP.

NAACP has solidified its 19 year tradition with stellar theatrical performances in the following musicals and plays:

Blues for an Alabama Sky
Two Trains Running
The Wiz
Ragtime, the Musical
Atlanta
The Princess and the Black-eyed Pea
Victory
No Child…
Gem of the Ocean
Bananas!
Schoolhouse Rock
Of Equal Measure
Subway Series
The Marriage Chronicles
Once on this Island
Return: A New Musical
Gulls
The School of Night
Turpentine Jake
Reunion in Bartersville
Emergency
Black Angels over Tuskegee
The Bones of Lesser Man
Dirty Mean Tricks
Prove it on Me
And Her Hair Went with Her
As You Like It
Coffee will make You Black

Among this year’s distinguished honorees at the official ceremony will be Elise Neal of UPN’s “All of Us”, Brian White of Universal Pictures’ “Fighting” and “Stomp the Yard”, James Avery of NBC’s “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air”, Tichina Arnold of CW’s “Everybody Hates Chris” and Hosea Chanchez of CW’s “The Game”, each taking turns to announce the nominees at the conference.  A surprise appearance was made by Rohan Marley whose organic coffee company Marley Coffee is a proud sponsor.  Marley, son of late Jamaican reggae artist Bob Marley, is fast becoming an invigorating spokesperson for the black youth movement.  His fervent promotion of natural farming to sustain our land and roots inherently ties in with the underlying cause of “teaching the children the truth” through youth farming, education and theatre arts.  Another sponsor present at press time was Bradford Tonic, the health drink brainchild of Brad Beckerman, the brave man who sought alternative medical treatment after surviving a near fatal accident.  Discovering the powerful effects of Irish sea moss has produced his healthy vegetarian beverage line and lifestyle.  It is not a coincidence that Marley and Beckerman are NAACP sponsors with stories to tell.  Both are exemplary in their success and express sheer gratitude for what they are doing.  Bradford Tonic is available at select Whole Foods markets and Marley Coffee will be the choice coffee served at the NAACP Theatre Awards in August and can be purchased online at www.marleycoffee.com.  Honda, Verizon and the Los Angeles District Office of Bernard C. Parks will also sponsor the prestigious star-studded gala.  

Formal announcements of the award nominations brought on loud rounds of applause from the charmed audience.  Mr. Brian White, a fine theatre actor himself, announced the nominees for Best Lead Female, Best Ensemble Cast, Best Supporting Female and Best Supporting Male. Elise Neal read the nominees for Best Sound, Best Director, Best Playwright and Best Lead Male and Jose Chanchez closed with the lucky nominees for Best Costume, Best Choreography, Best Lighting and Best Music Director.  Tachina Arnold is scheduled to announce the nominees for the Lifetime Achievement Award, Spirit Award and the President’s Service Award at a later date.  

The press conference for the 19th Annual NAACP Theatre Awards profoundly marks the one month anniversary of the death of Michael Jackson, shedding light on what the civil rights organization has always stood for since its inception in 1909.  With the pop icon’s passing, the nation grieved as we lost a rare individual who broke race and color barriers that we struggle to overcome even in the year 2009.  Michael Jackson won for Entertainer of the Year at the 1993 Image Awards, describing the connection he felt with people when performing. He spoke of freedom and equality, “the natural feeling of every child” that he wished for the world’s healing. Michael compared the spirit of children to the spirit of the “cherished work” done by the NAACP and was truly honored to accept the award.  He spoke out again at the 1994 NAACP Image Awards before presenting to Debbie Allen, waxing poetic about the ideals upon which our country was founded.  It is fitting to fondly remember Michael Jackson's humanitarian efforts and unparalleled theatrics during the celebratory events surrounding NAACP's 100th Anniversary.   






The 19th Annual NAACP Theatre Awards will be hosted by NAACP Award winner and "Dreamgirl" Loretta Devine on Monday, August 31, 2009.  The event has been appropriately titled "A Salute to Black Theatre" and will commence 7 pm at the Directors Guild of America in Hollywood, CA.

To purchase tickets or for additional info, please visit the official website at www.bhwdnaacptheatreawards.com or contact publicist Laura Wright at PR@avidexposure.com.

Photos by Aimee Tang

Published on Jul 24, 2009