Taraji P. Henson to star in Pasadena Playhouse’s ‘Above the Fold’

The Pasadena Playhouse announced Thursday that Academy Award nominee Taraji P. Henson (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) will star in the world premiere of “Above the Fold.”

Written by former New York Times correspondent Bernard Weinraub, “Above the Fold” is set in a journalism world in transition, amid a shift from print to digital storytelling.

Jane, the character to be played by Henson, is an African American newspaper reporter covering three white fraternity boys accused of raping an African American woman at a Southern university. Steven Robman will direct the production.

PHOTOS: Hollywood stars on stage

Until her character’s death in an episode last month, Henson was in the cast of the hit CBS series “Person of Interest.”

“I am tremendously excited about mounting the first production of this play, which we developed in our Hothouse series,” said Sheldon Epps, the Pasadena Playhouse’s artistic director. “Bernie writes of a world that he knows very well, so it provides a fascinating insider’s look at the intricacies and the sometimes dangerous aspects of the world of journalism.”

Weinraub covered Hollywood for the Times in the 1990s, and is married to Amy Pascal, co-chairman of Sony Pictures.

Other cast members include Kristi Johnson, Arye Gross, Kris Higgins, Mark Hildreth, Joe Massingill and Seamus Mulcahy.

“Above The Fold” is scheduled to run from Jan. 28 through Feb. 23.

ALSO:

L.A. Phil tries something new with Green Umbrella Concert

Norman Rockwell painting sells for record-breaking $46 million

Ai Weiwei retrospective highlights opening of new Miami art museum

Twitter: @debvankin