Entertainment

Winfrey, ‘Selma’ Filmmaker Team on New Drama Series for OWN

Published

11 years ago

February 3, 2015

In this Jan. 6, 2015 file photo, Ava DuVernay, director of “Selma,” attends the National Board of Review awards gala in New York. DuVernay and Oprah Winfrey are creating a drama series for Winfrey’s TV channel. The project is inspired by the Natalie Baszile novel “Queen Sugar,” the OWN channel said Monday, Feb. 2. Winfrey will serve as executive producer and will play a recurring role, the first time she’s acted in a series for OWN, the network said. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

LYNN ELBER, AP Television Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oprah Winfrey and the director of the Oscar-nominated movie “Selma” are creating a drama series for Winfrey’s TV channel.

The project from Winfrey and filmmaker Ava DuVernay is inspired by the Natalie Baszile novel “Queen Sugar,” the OWN channel said Monday.

Winfrey will serve as executive producer and will play a recurring role, the network said. DuVernay will write, direct and executive produce the drama, her first TV series.

Former talk show queen Winfrey increased her presence on OWN’s non-scripted programs (including “Oprah Presents: Master Class”) to help steady the channel after its rocky start. The new drama will mark her acting debut on OWN after several big-screen projects and network TV movies.

Winfrey’s recent movies include “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” and DuVernay’s film about the 1965 voting rights campaign led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“Selma,” which earned DuVernay a best-director nod at last month’s Golden Globe awards, is nominated for best picture and best song at the Feb. 22 Academy Awards.

Production on Winfrey and DuVernay’s drama series is scheduled to begin later this year, OWN said. The contemporary series will follow a woman who leaves her affluent Los Angeles life to move with her teenage daughter to an inherited sugar came farm in the South.

In a statement, DuVernay said she was “captivated by the idea of a modern woman wrestling with identity, family, culture and the echoes of history.”

Winfrey, who boosted many an author’s fortunes with her talk show’s book club, said she loved Baszile’s book and “immediately saw it as a series for OWN.”

A debut date for the series was not announced.

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Oakland Post: Week of July 8 – 14, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of July 8 – 14, 2026

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July 12, 2026

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The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of July 1 – 7, 2026

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July 5, 2026

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Arts and Culture

Prescott Circus Theatre Presents Free Summer Performance Series

Now in its 41st year, the Prescott Circus Theatre is a nationally recognized performing arts education program for Oakland youth. The circus offers safe environments that challenge Oakland youth, through circus arts training, to develop the skills and confidence to thrive on stage, in school, and in life.

Published

3 weeks ago

June 26, 2026

Oakland Post

Prescott Circus showcase pathways pyramid. Photo courtesy of Prescott Circus.

By Post Staff

The Prescott Circus, Oakland’s longest-running youth circus, is returning this summer with its free shows. Join the Prescott Circus’s young stars as they share their joys and talents through stilt-dancing, tumbling, juggling, and more.

At the heart of this one-hour show, which demonstrates teamwork, pride, and joy, are Oakland Unified School District students ages 8 – 17 from more than 10 different schools

This is accomplished through no-cost school and community programs for more than 300 Oakland youth each year. Performing company members from Prescott, where the program began, perform and make appearances at as many as 40 Bay Area events each year.

The summer program is funded in part by Oakland Fund for Children and Youth, California Arts Council, Port of Oakland, and the West Davis & Bergard Foundation.

Performances will be held Tuesday, July 14, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. (ASL interpreted) and Wednesday, July 15, 11 a.m., at the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts, 1428 Alice St., Oakland. For free reservations go to