Alan Ball News

The Hollywood Reporter has announced that screen star Nelsan Ellis passed away at age 39. The cause of death is reported to be complications from heart failure.

Twenty years ago the fledgling Jackson Shakespeare Festival mounted a production of The Taming Of The Shrew. In the director's chair was internationally-renowned actor/director/playwright John Neville-Andrews. On stage was the first pairing of Janice Waldron and David Blixt, playing opposite each other as Kate and Petruchio. Waldron had just graduated from the Hilberry conservatory program in Detroit, while Ann Arbor native Blixt had performed as Mercutio at the festival the previous year. The results were electric.

Led by Oscar® nominee and TV icon Oprah Winfrey and Emmy® nominee Rose Byrne, the “Intriguing and thought provoking” (The New York Times) HBO® Film, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, is available to own on Blu-RayTM and DVD September 5, 2017.

Twenty years ago the fledgling Jackson Shakespeare Festival mounted a production of The Taming Of The Shrew. In the director's chair was internationally-renowned actor/director/playwright John Neville-Andrews. On stage was the first pairing of Janice Waldron and David Blixt, playing opposite each other as Kate and Petruchio. Waldron had just graduated from the Hilberry conservatory program in Detroit, while Ann Arbor native Blixt had performed as Mercutio at the festival the previous year. The results were electric.

Manhattan Theatre Club's New York premiere of Cost of Living, the new play by Martyna Majok (Ironbound, Mouse in a Jar), directed by Jo Bonney (Father Comes Home from the Wars; By the Way, Meet Vera Stark), begins performances tonight, Tuesday May 16, at MTC at New York City Center - Stage I (131 West 55th Street).

HBO announced the 30 writers selected to advance to the semi-final round of the 2017 HBOAccess Writing Fellowship.

As the city hosts the Summer of Love, there's certainly plenty to love at The Epstein Theatre this summer as the historical venue hosts yet another sizzling season of sensational shows for everyone to enjoy!

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) has announced five productions as part of its complete 2017/18 Season.

L ynne Meadow (Artistic Director) and Barry Grove (Executive Producer) have announced full casting for Manhattan Theatre Club's New York premiere of Cost of Living, the new play by Martyna Majok (Ironbound, Mouse in a Jar), directed by Jo Bonney (Father Comes Home from the Wars; By the Way, Meet Vera Stark).

Debuting SATURDAY, APRIL 22 at 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT), THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS stars Oprah Winfrey, Rose Byrne, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Reg E. Cathey, Rocky Carroll, Courtney B. Vance, Ruben Santiago-Hudson and Leslie Uggams.

The Michigan Shakespeare Festival, the Official Shakespeare Festival of the State of Michigan, designated by the Governor and State Legislature, continued their 2017 "Lend Me Your Ears" reading series with Noel Coward's sophisticated comedy PRIVATE LIVES.  The reading, held at Jackson's Symphony Orchestra Hall (which also houses the offices of the MSF), featured touring company actors Derek Ridge and Sara Long, long-time artistic associate David Blixt, and Producing Artistic Director Janice L Blixt.

National Geographic today announced the cast for the global scripted event series based on Martha Raddatz's New York Times best-seller THE LONG ROAD HOME.

The stars of HBO's THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS, Oprah Winfrey and Tony winner Renee Elise Goldsberry, grace the cover of the April issue of Essence magazine. Below, the stars discuss the importance of honoring Lacks and bringing her story to the forefront.

Honor! Madness! Blood! Obie Award-winner Jo Bonney directs the world premiere of an edgy, intense and darkly comic new play by John Pollono (Small Engine Repair, Lost Girls) in a Latino Theater Company production presented in association with The Temblors, a unique new collective of seven Los Angeles-based playwrights. Rules of Seconds opens March 23 at The Los Angeles Theater Center, with low-priced previews beginning March 16. 

Oprah Winfrey, Tony Award winner  Renée Elise Goldsberry (HAMILTON) and Rose Byrne star in this adaptation of Rebecca Skloot's critically acclaimed, bestselling nonfiction book of the same name.

Oprah Winfrey, Renee Elise Goldsberry, and Rose Byrne star in this adaptation of Rebecca Skloot's critically acclaimed, bestselling nonfiction book of the same name. The film tells the story of Henrietta Lacks, an African-American woman whose cells were used to create the first immortal human cell line.

Honor! Madness! Blood! Obie Award-winner Jo Bonney directs the world premiere of an edgy, intense and darkly comic new play by John Pollono (Small Engine Repair, Lost Girls) in a co-production of the Latino Theater Company and The Temblors, a unique new collective of seven Los Angeles-based playwrights. Rules of Seconds opens March 23 at The Los Angeles Theater Center, with low-priced previews beginning March 16.

HBO has confirmed that the HBO Films presentation THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS will debut SATURDAY, APRIL 22 at 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT).

MainStage Irving-Las Colinas continues its 2016-17 Razzle Dazzle season with the female-fueled play, FIVE WOMEN WEARING THE SAME DRESS. The production opens January 20 and runs through February 4 at the Irving Arts Center's Dupree Theater (3333 N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving, TX 75062). All evening performances are at 7:30 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m. Single tickets range from $21-28 and are on sale now at the Irving Arts Center Box Office (972.252.2787/ www.irvingartscenter.com). Ticket discounts are available for seniors and students. 

MainStage Irving-Las Colinas will continue its 2016-17 Razzle Dazzle season with the hilarious 1993 Alan Ball hit FIVE WOMEN WEARING THE SAME DRESS. The production opens January 20 and runs through February 4 at the Irving Arts Center's Dupree Theater (3333 N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving, TX 75062).