Ed Williams News

For UNDER THE INFLUENCE artists from Los Angeles to New York and Chicago to Florida will converge on Provincetown to celebrate the enduring influence of America's great playwright in performances of plays, dance, music, art, and special events throughout the seaside village that inspired the writer during his early years.

The newly restored Church of St. Francis Xavier and the Mary Lou Williams Foundation will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of the First Lady of Jazz with a concert to benefit Xavier Mission outreach programs including the homeless shelter and soup kitchen. WBGO Jazz 88.3FM radio host Rob Crocker will emcee the celebration taking place on Saturday, May 8, 2010 at 7:30pm.

he newly restored Church of St. Francis Xavier and the Mary Lou Williams Foundation will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of the First Lady of Jazz with a concert to benefit Xavier Mission outreach programs including the homeless shelter and soup kitchen. WBGO Jazz 88.3FM radio host Rob Crocker will emcee the celebration taking place on Saturday, May 8, 2010 at 7:30pm. The concert will serve as the first of many events marking the church's recent restoration. The lineup will include: renowned jazz pianist Aaron Diehl with his trio, including special guest Victor Goines on saxophone and clarinet; Yasushi Nakamura on bass and Marion Felder on drums; Laurel Massé, founding member of the vocal group Manhattan Transfer and a 40-voice choir directed by John Uehlein, Music Director at the Church of St. Francis Xavier. Mr. Diehl was hailed by The New York Times as a 'revelation' and by the Chicago Tribune as 'the most promising discovery that [Wynton] Marsalis has made since Eric Reed.'

National Pastime, the new musical comedy about a fictitious, unbeatable baseball team, will have a pre-Broadway bow on vaunted soil.

PACIFIC SYMPHONY POPS PAYS TRIBUTE TO A MULTIPLE-AWARD-WINNING LEGEND-JOHN WILLIAMS-THE COMPOSER WHOSE FILM SCORES HAVE DEFINED MODERN AMERICAN CULTURE on Thursday-Saturday, March 11-13, at 8 p.m. in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Conducted by Principal Pops Conductor Richard Kaufman, the orchestra celebrates the man and his music by performing melodies from such blockbuster movies as the Harry Potter films, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial, Jaws, the Indiana Jones films, Star Wars, Superman, Hook and many more.

PACIFIC SYMPHONY POPS PAYS TRIBUTE TO A MULTIPLE-AWARD-WINNING LEGEND-JOHN WILLIAMS-THE COMPOSER WHOSE FILM SCORES HAVE DEFINED MODERN AMERICAN CULTURE on Thursday-Saturday, March 11-13, at 8 p.m. in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Conducted by Principal Pops Conductor Richard Kaufman, the orchestra celebrates the man and his music by performing melodies from such blockbuster movies as the Harry Potter films, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial, Jaws, the Indiana Jones films, Star Wars, Superman, Hook and many more.

PACIFIC SYMPHONY POPS PAYS TRIBUTE TO A MULTIPLE-AWARD-WINNING LEGEND-JOHN WILLIAMS-THE COMPOSER WHOSE FILM SCORES HAVE DEFINED MODERN AMERICAN CULTURE on Thursday-Saturday, March 11-13, at 8 p.m. in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Conducted by Principal Pops Conductor Richard Kaufman, the orchestra celebrates the man and his music by performing melodies from such blockbuster movies as the Harry Potter films, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial, Jaws, the Indiana Jones films, Star Wars, Superman, Hook and many more.

PACIFIC SYMPHONY POPS PAYS TRIBUTE TO A MULTIPLE-AWARD-WINNING LEGEND-JOHN WILLIAMS-THE COMPOSER WHOSE FILM SCORES HAVE DEFINED MODERN AMERICAN CULTURE on Thursday-Saturday, March 11-13, at 8 p.m. in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Conducted by Principal Pops Conductor Richard Kaufman, the orchestra celebrates the man and his music by performing melodies from such blockbuster movies as the Harry Potter films, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial, Jaws, the Indiana Jones films, Star Wars, Superman, Hook and many more.

One of the most popular annual Hollywood Bowl traditions continues when composer/conductor John Williams returns to share some of his favorite film scores, Friday and Saturday, September 4 and 5, at 8:30 p.m.

One of the most popular annual Hollywood Bowl traditions continues when composer/conductor John Williams returns to share some of his favorite film scores, Friday and Saturday, September 4 and 5, at 8:30 p.m.

One of the most popular annual Hollywood Bowl traditions continues when composer/conductor John Williams returns to share some of his favorite film scores, Friday and Saturday, September 4 and 5, at 8:30 p.m.

The Whiting is proud to present Chicago based band LIL' ED & THE BLUES IMPERIALS as part of its Jazz, Blues & Beyond Series on Saturday, April 18 at 8pm at UM-Flint Theatre. Ticket are just $26, with a special student rush rate of $12 the day of the show. To order tickets to this amazing performance simply visit TheWhitng.com, call (810) 237-7333 or (800) 8-CENTER, or visit the Ticket Center located at 1241 E. Kearsley St. just off I-475 between the University of Michigan Flint and Mott Community College. For a complete schedule and full details on the entire 2008-09 season line-up, visit TheWhiting.com or phone the Ticket Center and request a free brochure.

The Whiting is proud to present Chicago based band LIL' ED & THE BLUES IMPERIALS as part of its Jazz, Blues & Beyond Series on Saturday, April 18 at 8pm at UM-Flint Theatre. Ticket are just $26, with a special student rush rate of $12 the day of the show. To order tickets to this amazing performance simply visit TheWhitng.com, call (810) 237-7333 or (800) 8-CENTER, or visit the Ticket Center located at 1241 E. Kearsley St. just off I-475 between the University of Michigan Flint and Mott Community College. For a complete schedule and full details on the entire 2008-09 season line-up, visit TheWhiting.com or phone the Ticket Center and request a free brochure.

New Repertory Theatre in residence at the Arsenal Center for the Arts announces the World Premiere of According to Tip, a play with music by Dick Flavin, starring Tony and Emmy award-winner Ken Howard. Just in time for election season, According to Tip will open for the press on Friday, June 27, 2008 and will play through Sunday, July 13, 2008. 'Just in time for election season, New Rep brings you the World Premiere of According to Tip. Featuring Broadway and TV star Ken Howard, this play traces the colorful and historically memorable career of Thomas P. 'Tip' O'Neill, former Speaker of the House. Tip will escort you back in time from Barry's Corner in Cambridge to the White House. Get the inside scoop on politics during the Red Scare, Watergate, and Vietnam in this touching played filled with humor, music, and beguiling Irish wit,' press notes state. New Repertory Theatre presents provocative and intelligent works of both established and emerging playwrights in an intimate setting that involves and engages the audience. New Rep has earned a reputation for dynamic productions that honor the writers and feature talented professional actors from the New England theatre community as well as guest artists from around the U.S. New Rep has received Elliot Norton and IRNE Awards for outstanding acting, scenic design, direction, and production. Programming at New Repertory Theatre is supported in part by a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Lead Sponsor for According to Tip, Bank of America. The Artists Rick Lombardo (Director) is now in his twelfth season as New Rep's Producing Artistic Director. Earlier this year: A Streetcar Named Desire, A Pinter Duet: The Lover & Ashes to Ashes, The Clean House, and Dessa Rose. Last season: The Pillowman, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol (which he also adapted), Silence, and The Wild Party, as well as Hamlet for Actors' Shakespeare Project. Other New Rep Credits: Ragtime (IRNE Awards-Best Director of a Musical and Best Musical); Bill W. and Dr. Bob (which he also directed Off-Broadway in the spring of 2007 at New World Stages in NY); Romeo and Juliet; Into the Woods (multiple IRNE Awards); Quills; Approaching Moomtaj; The Threepenny Opera; A Girl's War; his new musical adaptation of Moliere's Scapin; Waiting for Godot (IRNE Award, Best Drama); Sweeney Todd (2004 Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Director, IRNE Award for Best Director, and Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Musical Production); The Weir (IRNE Award, Best Drama); Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (Elliot Norton Award, Outstanding Director); The Scarlet Letter; American Buffalo; A Moon for the Misbegotten; Twelfth Night; Beast on the Moon; Das Barbecu; Tartuffe; and The Real Thing; among others. Additional credits include the world premiere of Moby Dick: An American Opera, for which he received the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Theatre by Northern Ohio Live. He is honored to be a two-time recipient of the Elliot Norton Award from the Boston Theatre Critics Association for Outstanding Director. Ken Howard (Tip) Ken Howard launched his acting career in 1968 when he won a role in the original Broadway production of Promises, Promises, for which he won both a Tony and an Emmy. He originated the role of Thomas Jefferson in 1776 for which he won a Theatre World Award. He returned to the role for the 1972 film version. He won a Tony for his work in Child's Play in 1970. From 1976 - 1981, he starred in as the title character in the TV series The White Shadow. He earned an Emmy in 1980 for his narration of The Body Human: Facts for Boys. Other film and television includes: The Thron Birds, The West Wing, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Crossing Jordan, Rambo, Cane, Smother and Michael Clayton. Upcoming work includes: Conrad in Still Waters, Sheriff Sedgewick in Two: Thirteen, Officer Ford in The Beacon, and Phelan Beale in the film adaptation of Grey Gardens. Dick Flavin (Playwright) is a nationally known writer and speaker. He has made thousands of speaking appearances all across America, chiefly addressing groups on the subject of how to use humor as a strategy in business and in life. His television commentaries have appeared on NBC-TV, CNN and WBZ-TV in Boston. He is the winner of seven New England regional Emmy Awards for writing and commentary. He was the narrator of The Teammates, an ESPN documentary that was nominated for three national Emmy Awards. Known as the 'Poet Laureate of the Boston Red Sox,' he has written countless poems and song parodies about the team and its history, some of which are being compiled into a compact disc and DVD. The most well-known of them, Teddy at the Bat, a salute to Red Sox legend Ted Williams that is based on Ernest Lawrence Thayer's immortal Casey at the Bat, has been performed by Mr. Flavin at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, at Fenway Park and in cities and towns across the country. He was the co-host of and contributing writer to Red Sox Stories, a weekly television series that ran during the 2007 baseball season. He has also written and performed special material for the Boston Pops and Symphony orchestras. In addition to According the Tip, his play on the life and times of the late Speaker of the House, Tip O'Neill, Mr. Flavin has also written I Feel a Song Comin' On, a soon to be produced musical about the lyricist Dorothy Fields.