Culture Clash News

FAHIM SPEAKS: A Warrior-Actor's Odyssey from Afghanistan to Hollywood and Back is the riveting life-story of Fahim Fazli, who narrowly escaped his war-torn homeland, made his way to Hollywood to pursue his dream of becoming an actor, and then returned to fight for a free Afghanistan as an interpreter with the American Marines.

Montoya's writing is impassioned, witty and insightful and we can't help but come away knowing that we and our family history are part of the Night too. The play disappoints, however, when it allows leftist politics a soapbox.

Boomerang is bewitched this October with a line-up of spooky episodes and specials themed around everyone's favorite haunted celebration. Spotlighting the month-long Halloween festivities, Boomerang will feature spooktacular blocks of The Funky Phantom, Goober and the Ghost Chasers, What's New, Scooby-Doo?, The Munsters (live-action series, 1964-66) and The Addams Family (animated, 1992-95, as well as live-action series, 1964-66) on weekdays from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (ET, PT) and 9 p.m. to midnight (ET, PT).

Every state has a shape, and every border has a surprising story to tell. But are Americans aware that our jagged geography actually helped shape us as a nation? HOW THE STATES GOT THEIR SHAPES is back and putting America to the test with back-to-back 30 minute episodes premiering tonight, September 29 at 10 p.m. on H2.

TNT has ordered the hit legal series Franklin & Bash back to court for a third season. Starring Breckin Meyer and Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Franklin & Bash averaged 4.3 million viewers in its new Tuesday 10 p.m. (ET/PT) timeslot, up 10% over its first season. The buddy drama also averaged 1.8 million adults 18-49 and 2.0 million adults 25-54.

Yale Rep (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) opens its 2012-13 season with AMERICAN NIGHT: THE BALLAD OF JUAN JOSÉ, written by Richard Montoya, developed by Culture Clash and Jo Bonney, and directed by Shana Cooper. AMERICAN NIGHT will play now through October 13 at the University Theatre (222 York Street). Opening Night is tonight, September 27.

Today's announcement by Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell of the Shaw Festival's 2013 season introduces new and provocative conversations for its 52nd season. In a playbill rich with culture clashes, magical transformations and dazzling ideas, The Shaw continues its theatrical exploration of the mystery and beauty of contemporary life.

La Jolla Playhouse presents the next production in its acclaimed Without Walls (WoW) series this fall, featuring award-winning actor Luke Macfarlane (ABC's Brothers and Sisters) in Sam Bendrix at the Bon Soir, by Keith Bunin, directed by Mark Rucker.

This spring, Goodman Theatre broadens the scope of its Latino Theatre Festival, an event that has introduced more than 160,000 Chicagoans to prominent Latino theater companies around the globe-from Spain to Mexico to Brazil-for the past decade. Under the direction of Goodman Resident Artistic Associate and Festival Curator Henry Godinez, Latino Fest 2013 will span over an extended time period to run in conjunction with the height of the season.

Yale Rep (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) opens its 2012-13 season with AMERICAN NIGHT: THE BALLAD OF JUAN JOSÉ, written by Richard Montoya, developed by Culture Clash and Jo Bonney, and directed by Shana Cooper. AMERICAN NIGHT will play September 21-October 13 at the University Theatre (222 York Street). Opening Night is Thursday, September 27.

Every state has a shape, and every border has a surprising story to tell. But are Americans aware that our jagged geography actually helped shape us as a nation? HOW THE STATES GOT THEIR SHAPES is back and putting America to the test with back-to-back 30 minute episodes premiering on Saturday, September 29 at 10 p.m. on H2.

The Denver Center Theatre Company will begin selling single tickets to the upcoming 2012/13 season today, August 12. Tickets may be purchased online at www.denvercenter.org, by phone at 303.893.4100 (TTY 303.893.9582) or at Denver Center Ticket Services in the lobby of the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex, Mon - Sat from 10am to 6pm.

The Denver Center Theatre Company will begin selling single tickets to the upcoming 2012/13 season on Sunday, August 12. Tickets may be purchased online at www.denvercenter.org, by phone at 303.893.4100 (TTY 303.893.9582) or at Denver Center Ticket Services in the lobby of the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex, Mon - Sat from 10am to 6pm.

La Jolla Playhouse presents the next production in its acclaimed Without Walls (WoW) series this fall, featuring award-winning actor Luke Macfarlane (ABC's Brothers and Sisters) in Sam Bendrix at the Bon Soir, by Keith Bunin, directed by Mark Rucker.

Silk Road Rising presents three staged readings of Shane Sakhrani's new play THE DOCTOR IS INDIAN, directed by Anish Jethmalani, and featuring Minita Ghandi, Puja Mohindra, Kelly O'Sullivan, Anita Chandwaney, Dipika Cherala, Behzad Dabu, Neal Dandade, Kamal Hans, and Khurram Mozaffar.

San Francisco International Arts Festival (SFIAF), Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) and the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts (MCCLA) present playwright Paul S. Flores' premiere of PLACAS, directed by Michael John Garces of Cornerstone Theater and starring Ricardo Salinas of Culture Clash. PLACAS will premiere at the Lorraine Hansberry Theater in San Francisco's Union Square, September 6 - 16, 2012.

Stage and screen star Sanaa Lathan (A Raisin in the Sun, Contagion) returns to the title role in Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage's By the Way, Meet Vera Stark for its West Coast premiere at the Geffen Playhouse. Lathan, who originated the character of Vera Stark in the critically acclaimed New York run, will once again take the stage as the 1930's era maid turned movie star, reunited with original cast member Kimberly Hebert Gregory (Spike Lee's Red Hook Summer) reprising her role as fellow aspiring African American actress Lottie. Broadway vet and Geffen alum Merle Dandridge (Spamalot, Rent, Aida) will take on the spicy role of Anna Mae, who fakes a Brazilian accent for a slice of fame, and former leading lady of ABC's Man Up, Amanda Detmer, will portray Gloria Mitchell, the white starlet dubbed "America's little sweetie pie" and Vera's first employer. Helmed by award-winning director Jo Bonney, the West Coast premiere cast also features Kevin Carroll (Paid in Full, Being John Malkovich), Spencer Garrett (Iron Man 3, Air Force One) and Geffen alum Mather Zickel (Extraordinary Chambers, Rachel Getting Married).

As first reported on EWonline, ABC will, for the very first time, air a live broadcast of the AFTER THE ROSE post-Bachelorette finale special. In addition, the network announced that it will air the final episode of 'The Bachelorette' on a new night, tonight, July 22, from 8 to 10 pm. The live 'After the Rose' special will immediately follow.