Fishburne, Pettiford, Usher, Wolfe, et al. Win NAACP Theatre Awards

Laurence Fishburne and Valarie Pettiford were among the winners
at the 17th Annual Beverly Hills/Hollywood NAACP Awards, which were held at the Directors Guild of Los Angeles on Monday, February 19.

The ceremony was co-hosted by Chandra Wilson of Grey’s Anatomy and actor Steve Harris. Presenters and performers included Brian McKnight, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Ben Stiller, and Magic Johnson.

As previously reported, actor/singer Usher Raymond, who appeared on Broadway last year in Chicago, received the group’s Spirit Award, while George C Wolfe, the former artistic director of the Public Theater and director of such Broadway hits as Angels in America and Caroline, or Change, received the group’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

In the Equity categories, Fishburne was named Best Lead Actor for Without Walls. Marion J. Caffey was named Best Director for Da Kink in My Hair, which also won for Best Playwright (Trey Anthony), Best Ensemble Cast, and Best Sound Design (M. Scott Grabau). Other multiple Equity winners included productions of Demeter in the City and Intimate Apparel.

In the local categories, Pettiford was named Best Lead Actress for The Wild Party, which also picked up awards for director Daniel Henning, costumer Dana Peterson, and its producers at the Blank Theatre, including television star Noah Wyle.
Meanwhile, Jason C. White was named Best Local Playwright for The Dance: The History of American Minstrelsy, which begins a two-week run at New York’s Richmond Shepard Theatre on February 22.

For more information, visit www.bhwdnaacptheatreawards.com.