"The award-winning actor will helm industry readings of the new play 'Thoughts of a Colored Man on a Day When the Sun Set Too Early.' The cast will include Blake Russell as Passion, Chad Goodridge as Love, Reynaldo Piniella as Lust, James T. Lane as Happiness, Carvens Lissaint as Anger, Forrest McClendon as Depression, Benton Greene as Despair, and Charles E. Wallace as Wisdom with dancers Hollie Wright and Dionne Figgins, vocalist Madison McFerrin, and percussionist William Catanzaro."
"But keep your eyes on McClendon, and everything comes into focus. He's not just a good, even great actor—he's a fascinating and continually surprising one. He manages to simultaneously suggest a historical character and a modern one, which underscores Red Velvet's ultimate, crushing point—more than 150 years after Aldridge, our theater is still grappling—often unsuccessfully—with racial politics and casting."
"A provocative and entertaining drama about race and theater... The success of this fine production rests on the elegant shoulders of Forrest McClendon...whose performance is a virtuosic demonstration of acting styles and accents."
"Lantern Theater Company launches its 24th season with the regional premiere of Lolita Chakrabarti's stirring play, "Red Velvet," running Sept. 7-Oct. 8 at the theater, 10th and Ludlow Sts. in Philadelphia. Starring in the role of Ira Aldridge, the first African American actor to play Othello in London at Covent Garden, is Tony-nominated and two-time Barrymore award winner actor Forrest McClendon."
"Tony-nominated actor Forrest McClendon appears as the Cook, an "aging Don Juan" as the actor describes him. "And through him Brecht makes some interesting points about mothers," McClendon says. "Mother Courage fights to get her children through this war, but the Cook has been estranged from his mother throughout the entire play. His mother has not been present in his life, although we come to find out she has died of cholera."
"As an institution with a strong history of championing the dramatic classics through our resident theater, Connecticut Repertory Theatre, we are very proud to have the opportunity to host this exhibition for our state," says Anne D'Alleva, dean of UConn's School of Fine Arts. "This is an important document in the life of the arts and our students and wider community to experience here on campus." The exhibition opens on September 1 with a public reception and remarks by Tony Award nominated actor, Connecticut native and UConn alumnus Forrest McClendon."
"Students join hands and form a circle with Forrest McClendon during an acting workshop in advance of the show 'Chicago' at Wyoming Seminary's Performing Arts Institute. 'Forrest is at the top of his game,' Chicago director Steve Pacek said. 'Not everyone at the top of their game is so giving, and willing to teach others."
"Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) announces the casting for their production of Peter and the Starcatcher, the play by Rick Elice, based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, with music by Wayne Barker. Directed by CRT Artistic Director Vincent J. Cardinal, Peter and the Starcatcher is the second show of the 2016 Nutmeg Sumer Series featuring Tony Award-nominee Forrest McClendon as Slank/King Prawn alongside Barrymore Award-winner Michael Doherty as Black Stache."
"Tony Award winners Chuck Cooper, LaChanze and Tony nominee Norm Lewis will star in the City Center Encores! staging of the 1940 Vernon Duke-John Latouche musical Cabin in the Sky. Set to run Feb. 10-14, 2016, Cabin in the Sky will also include J. Bernard Calloway, Marva Hicks, Carly Hughes, Forrest McClendon and J.D. Webster. Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson directs with choreography by Camille A. Brown."
"Sundance Institute has kicked off its 2015 Theatre Lab, under the supervision of artistic director Philip Himberg and producing director Christopher Hibma, in Sundance, Utah. The labs continue through July 26. This year's acting participants include David Abeles (Once), America Ferrera (Ugly Betty), Forrest McClendon (The Scottsboro Boys), Tony Plana (Ugly Betty), Will Pullen (The Wayside Motor Inn), Stacey Sargeant (Big Love), and Margo Seibert (Ever After), among others. Creative advisers are playwright Ayad Akhtar (Disgraced) and Tricycle Theatre artistic director Indhu Rubasingham."
"A strong turnout of Norwalk High School alumni were on hand Thursday night under the Cranbury Park Pavilion for the announcement of the latest additions to the NHS Wall of Honor. They are Ralph DePanfilis, Class of 1942; Gene Braunstein, Class of 1967; Greg Hampikian, Ph.D., Class of 1979; Forrest McClendon, Class of 1983; and Todd Philcox, Class of 1994."
"Forrest McClendon, a TONY nominee and Barrymore winner is cast as Reverend D. Forrest appeared in a reading of the play last year at Theatre Horizon playing the same role. He also appeared in a workshop of the play (fifteen) years ago (directed by Ms. Parks)."
"For the nation's theatre teaching artists, "arts education" is a redundant phrase. Their own lives and careers prove it. Teaching artists continually challenge the old adage that "those who can't do, teach." Consider Forrest McClendon, currently starring in The Scottsboro Boys in London, who spearheads in-classroom workshops associated with the show and teaches after-school workshops for at-risk youth."
"The stars have gathered in central London to celebrate the best of British theatre at the London Evening Standard Awards. The Scottsboro Boys were presented with the Ned Sherrin Award for Best Musical beating Dog Fight, Here Lies Love and Sunny Afternoon."
"The cast of the London production of the critically acclaimed musical The Scottsboro Boys will record the show's score in December at Abbey Road's Studio Two. The West End transfer of The Scottsboro Boys to the Garrick Theatre, where it officially opened Oct. 20, features Broadway actors Brandon Victor Dixon, Colman Domingo, Forrest McClendon and James T. Lane."
"We Foxes, presented as part of The York's NEO initiative ("New, Emerging, Outstanding"), will be held Sept. 12 at 3 PM. Directed by Mike Donahue, the piece features a book, music and lyrics by Oliver, whose acclaimed Jasper in Deadland was seen Off-Broadway this spring. Emily Rogers will star as Willa opposite a cast that includes Katie Thompson (Off-Broadway's Giant), Ben Platt (The Book of Mormon), Forrest McClendon (The Scottsboro Boys), Anne L. Nathan (Once), Ben Fankhauser (Newsies) and Aaron Ramey (The Bridges of Madison County)."
"THAT PHILLY-based actor Forrest McClendon is spending this week in Wisconsin is hardly big news. After all, the Land of Beer and Cheese is a popular place for rest and recreation in mid-July. But of the untold numbers of people currently visiting America's Dairyland, McClendon is unique: He is one of only 10 thespians there as part of the Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship."
"Two groundbreaking plays in the history of queer theater–Lillian Hellman's The Children's Hour and Mart Crowley's The Boys in The Band—will be presented in the format of staged readings over the next two weekends by Mauckingbird Theatre Company. Each one features a powerhouse cast, the latter with appearances by Jeff Coon, John Jarboe, Michael Philip O'Brien, Doug Greene, and Forrest McClendon (before his departure for London, where he'll be reviving his highly acclaimed performance as Mr. Tambo in The Scottsboro Boys)."
"There are two Tony nominated actors involved with WILD WITH HAPPY. First, there is playwright Domingo who was nominated for his role in the Kander & Ebb musical THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS. Also from that show, and also nominated for a Tony is Forrest McClendon who plays the leading role of Gil. The playwright played the role of Gil at New York's Public Theater but now his close friend McClendon has taken over and what a gifted actor he is."
"Ten Chimneys Foundation is proud to announce the ten actors who will participate in the 2014 Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program, a widely acclaimed national program to serve the future of American theatre. During July 13-20, the Lunt-Fontanne Fellows will join Master Teacher David Hyde Pierce for an intensive master class and immersion experience at Ten Chimneys."
"McClendon easily conveys Gil's hates-to-be-touched demeanor, along with the scars beneath the veneer. Whether wrapping himself in a dress of his mother's like a prayer shawl, or momentarily losing his cool at the sight of an urn, the actor strikes just the right note."
"Forrest is a terrific actor and a very positive force whenever he's in the room. It's a big challenge to play Caesar because he's got more said about him in the play than he actually says himself, so one has to make a very strong impression in a relatively short time. Caesar must be an extraordinary man in general, but he must also embody a whole series of specific contradictions. I think the end result is mesmerizing."
"This season, Theatre Horizon has introduced audiences to celebrated works of theatre that spark dialogue about race with its Diverse Voices Reading Series. This series will close Monday, January 27 with a free reading of Suzan-Lori Parks' Pulitzer Finalist, In The Blood. The theatre is pleased to have TONY nominee Forrest McClendon as part of the ensemble for this reading."
