James Pickens Jr., Nicole Ari Parker, Stephen Byrd, Alia Jones, and Willis Edwards Honored At The 22nd NAACP Theatre Awards On Nov 5th

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Oct. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The NAACP Beverly Hills/Hollywood Branch announced the complete list of honorees for the 22^nd Annual NAACP Theatre Awards. The show will be held on Monday, November 5, 2012 at the Directors Guild of America in Hollywood and will feature performances by Tichina Arnold (Everyone Hates Chris) and Shoshana Bean (Wicked). Celebrity presenters include Samuel L. Jackson (Avengers), Blair Underwood (L.A. Law), Kate Burton (Grey's Anatomy), Judy Reyes (Scrubs), Richard Roundtree (Shaft), Victoria Rowell (The Young and the Restless), Jamie Kennedy (Malibu's Most Wanted) and many more.

The following distinguished individuals will be honored with special awards:

James Pickens, Jr. - This year's Lifetime Achievement honoree started acting at the Karamu House, is a member of NEC (Negro Ensemble Company), and was featured in "Soldier's Play" with co-stars Denzel Washington and Samuel L. Jackson. Pickens is well known to television audiences for his recurring roles on the hit series "Grey's Anatomy," where he received a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Drama Ensemble and most recently won an NAACP Image Award. 

Stephen Byrd & Alia Jones (Front Row Productions) - This year's Trailblazer honorees are the only African-American theatre producers to produce on Broadway and on London's West End. Together, they are the producers of the African-American production of "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof" starring James Earl Jones, Phylicia Rashad, Terrence Howard and Anika Noni Rose.  The London transfer of "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof" garnered the duo London's prestigious Olivier Award. Byrd and Jones' next success is "A Street Car Named Desire".

Nicole Ari Parker – This year's Spirit honoree is a seven-time NAACP Image Award nominee best known for her outstanding performance as 'Teri Joseph' of Showtime's award winning original series "Soul Food". Nicole has performed in For Colored Girls directed by Jasmine Guy, and "A Street Car Named Desire".  Nicole is a graduate of NYU's famed Tisch School of the Arts, Circle in the Square Studio.

Willis Edwards –This year's Humanitarian honoree was a longtime Vice-President and National Board Member of the NAACP, who passed away at the age of 66. He was a key force behind bringing national television exposure for the NAACP Image Awards and gaining a postage stamp image and a Congressional Gold Medal for civil rights icon Rosa Parks.

SOURCE The NAACP Theatre Awards