The Beverly Hills/Hollywood NAACP Branch announced the co-hosts for the 26th Annual NAACP Theatre awards being held on Monday, November 21, at Saban Theatre located at 8440 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA, 90211 at 6 p.m.
Co-hosting this year’s show will be Actress Wendy Raquel Robinson and Actor Miguel Nunez, Jr. One of the most talented, professional actors in the entertainment industry, Robinson is known for her groundbreaking role as the sexy and feisty sports manager, Tasha Mack, from BET’s #1 rated scripted series, “The Game.” Robinson earned a 2015 and 2016 NAACP Image Award nomination for “Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series” and is the 2014 NAACP Image Award recipient for “Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series.”
She is the founder of a NAACP Award-winning program, Amazing Grace Conservatory (AGC), a community based non-profit, 501(c)3 in South Los Angeles that focuses on performing arts training in acting, voice and dance for youth, ages 5-18.
Funny man Miguel Nunez has built quite a fan base over the years. Born into a family of nine children in New York, following high school, he moved to Los Angeles with dreams of becoming an actor. He’s best known as Jamal in the basketball comedy film, “Juwanna Man,” with other prominent roles in “Harlem Nights”, “LIFE”, “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” and UPN’s hit television show “SPARKS”. In his latest film project, he stars alongside rapper/actor AKON in “The American King” hitting theatres in 2017.
Multi-NAACP Image award and EMMY award-winner Joe Morton, known for his role as Eli Pope in ABC’s “Scandal”, will be presented the NAACP Lifetime Achievement Theatre Award by actress, choreographer and executive producer of “Grey’s Anatomy,” Debbie Allen.
Tony award-winning director Kenny Leon, who is scheduled to direct “Hairspray Live!” on NBC December 7, 2016, will be on hand to present actress and 2016 Tony Award nominee, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, with the NAACP Trailblazer Theatre Award. Actress Loretta Devine, will bestow nine-time Grammy nominee Ledisi with the Spirit Theatre Award.
In addition, honoree Rory Pullens, executive director of LAUSD’s Arts Education and former CEO at the Duke Ellington School of Arts in Washington, D.C., will receive the Humanitarian Award.
Other notables and entertainers who will present awards include Kenny Lattimore, Pooch Hall (“Ray Donovan”), Marsai Martin and Miles Brown (“Black-ish”), Renee Lawless (“The Haves and Have Nots”), Omar Dorsey and Timon Kyle Garrett (“Queen Sugar”), Keesha Sharp (“Lethal Weapon”), Tonya Renee Banks (“Little Women LA”), Ted Lange (veteran actor and thespian) and Paul Jackson Jr., (jazz guitarist).
Performances by 2016 EMMY Award-winner Obba Babatunde’ with a special rendition of “Mr. Bojangles” and Tammi Mac will perform a dramatic excerpt from her 2016 NAACP Theatre Award-winning one-woman play, “Bag Lady,” plus a powerful opening act that will draw attention to the positivity behind the BLACK LIVES MATTER movement are scheduled.
For more information about the 26th Annual NAACP Theater Awards, visit: www.naacptheatreawards.com or contact Lisa Humphrey, Premier Concepts at 310.293.4154, email: [email protected].
