David Keith News

2019 Tony Award winner André De Shields spent his day off from HADESTOWN at The National Black Theatre Festival® (NBTF) in Winston-Salem, NC.

Following a successful World Premiere run at The Marsh San Francisco, Who Killed Sylvia Plath, written by award-winning playwright Lynne Kaufman and starring Lorri Holt, will transfer to The Marsh Berkeley this Fall.

The Oscar-Qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival saw a record 6,000 submissions from over 80 countries for their 15th anniversary. The organizers are thrilled to announce that over 400 films from 30 different countries will compete for this year's top prizes during the festival's 10-day run from August 8-17 at TCL Chinese Theatres in Hollywood. Last year, four HollyShorts finalists were nominated for an Academy Award with three bringing home the gold, including the Best Live Action Short a?oeSkina?? from filmmakers Andrew Carlberg, Guy Nattiv, and Jaime Ray Newman.

The North Carolina Black Repertory Company (NC Black Rep) announces that George C. Wolfe's Tony Award Winning musical, Jelly's Last Jam, will be the opening night performance at the 2019 National Black Theatre Festival (NBTF).

Hamilton's Euan Morton is the latest Broadway star to lend his voice to the acclaimed children's storytelling podcast, Circle Round.

The Grammy Museum will be hosting NOTES ON LIVING: ALL-STAR JAZZ WITH TALES BY BRIAN DOYLE May 14, 2019 as a joint benefit for WordTheatre in the Schools (WITS) and the Grammy Museum. WordTheatre's artistic director Cedering Fox will be producing and directing this evening of selected stories by award-winning author Brian Doyle, read by a star-studded cast, and accompanied by an all-star jazz band led by Starr Parodi. Cedering opened up some of her early evening time to speak to me.

Be More Chill's Stephanie Hsu (last seen in SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical) is the latest Broadway star to join the cast of the acclaimed children's storytelling podcast, Circle Round.

The Marsh San Francisco presents the World Premiere of Who Killed Sylvia Plath, written by award-winning playwright Lynne Kaufman and starring Lorri Holt. Poet Sylvia Plath returns to her burial place in West Yorkshire, England to view the fourth replacement of her tombstone. The previous ones have been defaced by feminists who chiseled off her married name, claiming it was Ted Hughes who caused Sylvia Plath's death. Did Hughes kill Plath? Was her suicide at age 30 a "good career move"? Would she do it again? And what does it say to us today?

Broadway legends -- and real-life husband and wife -- Danny Burstein (My Fair Lady, Moulin Rouge) and Rebecca Luker (The Sound of Music, Music Man) have joined forces to tell a playful tale about the pitfalls of greed.

The nominees for the 50th NAACP Image Awards were exclusively announced today at the Television Critics Association's (TCA) TV One's joint press conference with Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP and Alfred Liggins, Chairman and CEO of TV One. The winners will be revealed during the Two-Hour LIVE TV special airing on TV One on Saturday, March 30, 2019.

Composer, arranger, and conductor, David Berger, is recognized internationally as a leading authority on the music of Duke Ellington and the Swing Era. Conductor and arranger for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra from its inception in 1988 through 1994, Berger has transcribed more than 750 full scores of classic recordings, including more than 500 works by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. Several of these transcriptions in addition to a number of original arrangements are featured in last season's Broadway hit, After Midnight.

The Actors Fund and Fraser Entertainment are very proud to announce the 5th annual presentation of CABARET IS ALIVE AND WELL AND LIVING IN LOS ANGELES.  Conceived by renowned director David Galligan, this fifth celebration of Cabaret in L.A. will take place as a series of 3 concerts over 3 evenings at 3 different Los Angeles venues, Friday, October 12, Saturday, October 13, and Sunday, October 14.  Proceeds from all 3 shows will benefit The Actors Fund.

Jaffrey's River Street Theatre (a project of The Park Theatre) has become part of the New York Film Critics Series of 'sneak preview' premieres of the best new independent films. The films are accompanied with interviews of the stars and the film creators. Film critic Peter Travers (Rolling Stone) is the host. The first 'sneak preview' the River Street Theatre will present is American Dresser starring Tom Berenger (Platoon, Someone To Watch Over Me, Gettysburg) Keith David (Crash, Barbershop, Armageddon), Gina Gershon, Penelope Ann Miller (The Artist), Jeff Fahey (Silverado)and Bruce Dern (Nebraska, Coming Home). It will be shown only once, Friday, September 21 at 7pm.

The Acting Company (Ian Belknap, Artistic Director; Elisa Spencer-Kaplan, Executive Director) will honor director and artistic leader Bill Rauch and the married civic leaders Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel and Ambassador Carl Spielvogel- individuals whose exemplary work aligns with the artistic and educational ideals of the storied repertory company that produces nationally recognized theater productions and arts education programs-at the Company's 2018 Fall Gala, on November 12. Held at the historic Metropolitan Club (One East 60th Street), the event will bring together awards, live entertainment, silent and live auctions, dinner, and cocktails in celebration of theater and its contribution to American society.

Acid Test is the true story of Ram Dass, renowned spiritual teacher and LSD pioneer. Presented by The Marsh San Francisco, the show explores Ram Dass' many incarnations from being Richard Alpert, the scion of a wealthy Jewish family and a psychology professor at Harvard, to launching the psychedelic revolution along with Timothy Leary. Whether meeting his guru in India or suffering a paralyzing stroke, Ram Dass illuminates his search for inner peace and lasting truth with humor and humility.

Two Broadway legends have joined forces to tell a whimsical tale about what can happen when you become your own personal MacGyver.

Word for Word celebrates this 25th season with a rare production "Anniversary! Stories by Tobias Wolff and George Saunders" featuring Wolff's "Deep Kiss" and Saunders' "Victory Lap," works by two of the companies favorite authors, directed by Joel Mullennix and Delia MacDougall. "Anniversary! Stories by Tobias Wolff and George Saunders" opens with a press night Saturday August 11, 8pm (Preview Aug 8, 9 & 10) running through September 2 at Z Space Main Stage in San Francisco's Mission/SOMA district. Tobias Wolff and George Saunders are brilliant performers in the short story form, and the company feels lucky to be staging their stories for its 25th Anniversary. Over the past quarter century, Word for Word has had the pleasure and the honor to work with some of the best writers of all time.

GFour Productions, winner of 44 Tony Awards and 54 Drama Desk Awards, proudly brings the international hit show Menopause The Musical® to Long Wharf Theatre (222 Sargent Drive) in New Haven, Conn., for a limited engagement Friday, June 15 through Sunday, July 1. Tickets are on sale now and available at the Long Wharf Theatre Box Office, www.longwharf.org, or by calling (203) 787-4282. Greater discounts for groups of 10+ available by calling (203) 772-8202.