Barbara Darwall

The Ordway Center for Performing Arts announced today that producer and director Rod Kaats will assume the position of Producing Artistic Director beginning February 1, 2018. Mr. Kaats succeeds James A. Rocco, who stepped down from the Ordway last year.

National Geographic Entertainment (NGE) has announced the acquisition of worldwide rights to the film 'Blue Man Group: Mind Blast' for distribution to giant-screen, digital and IMAX 3-D and 2-D theaters. The 3-D live-action comedy, slated for release in Spring 2011, will feature an original screenplay and score and will star the group's original cast members. 'Blue Man Group: Mind Blast' is the fourth major film acquisition for NGE this year, following the Sundance hit 'Amreeka,' opening in select cities throughout September; 'City of Life and Death,' which screened this week at the 2009 Toronto Film Festival; and 'The Wildest Dream,' which will be released in 2010 on IMAX and giant screens worldwide and on 35 mm screens in the United States.