Hank Williams News

PBS today announced at the Television Critics Association a new addition to the Ken Burns pipeline, COUNTRY MUSIC. The film will air in 2018.

The Sundance Institute welcomes the members of the six juries awarding prizes at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, today, January 16-26 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah.

Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre's production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Passion will feature three Jeff-Award lauded performers in its lead roles, Artistic Director Fred Anzevino has announced. The role of Fosca, the sickly woman obsessed with a handsome young soldier in 19th Century Italy, will be played by Danni Smith, who just last year was honored with the Jeff Award for Actress in a Supporting Role for her work in Bailiwick Chicago's production of the musical See What I Wanna See. Smith's win came after two previous nominations in the same category, for Theo Ubique's Pump Boys and Dinettes and Bohemian Theatre Ensemble's The Glorious Ones. Playing Giorgio, the military officer who is the object of Fosca's affections, will be Peter Oyloe, a three-time Jeff Award winner. Oyloe's recent win as best leading actor in a musical for 2013's Hank Williams: Lost Highway was preceded by wins for his leading role in Equus and supporting role in The Pillowman, both at Redtwist Theatre. Collette Todd, Jeff-nominated for her role as Giulietta in Theo Ubique's Aspects of Love and recipient of critical and audience raves for her leading roles in Light Opera Works' productions of Man of La Mancha, Oliver! and Annie Get Your Gun, will play Clara - the third member of Passion's love triangle. Ms. Todd will also understudy the role of Fosca.

Cady Huffman (Tony Award-winning star of The Producers (original Ulla),The Nance, Will Rogers Follies) will debut her new one-woman show about life, love and what she ate along the way, And She Can Cook Too!, tonight, Januray 14 at 54 Below.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:

Sundance Institute announced today the members of the six juries awarding prizes at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, January 16-26 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah. Short Film Awards will be announced at a ceremony on January 21 at Park City's Jupiter Bowl. Feature film awards will be announced at a separate ceremony on January 25 in Park City, hosted by husband-and-wife duo Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally and livestreamed at www.sundance.org/live. Offerman headlines the film Nick Offerman: American Ham in the Festival's Premieres section. Mullally voices a character in the English-language version of Ernest and Celestine, which will have its world premiere in the Festival's new Sundance Kids section.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The BroadwayWorld Chicago Award winners will be announced tonight! Plus 'Ghost' and 'Phantom' haunt the Loop, 'Wicked' casts Tim Kazurinsky, productions like 'Sweet Smell' and 'Nunsense,' The Midtown Men, news out of Circle Theatre and more!

American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity Ensemble, hosts "Blue Bash," their annual fundraiser, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014 from 5:30 - 9 p.m., at the office of Seyfarth Shaw, Suite 2400, 131 S. Dearborn. The "Blue Bash," hosted by ABC 7's Linda Yu and co-chaired by Joan Esposito and Jill DeVaney, includes live and silent auctions, the presentation of two awards; the 2014 Blue Ink Playwriting Award and the Focus Award to the family of the late Arthur D. "Chip" Pringle, III, board member and long time supporter of American Blues Theater, as well as a sneak preview of their 29th Season. Proceeds from the "Blue Bash" benefit American Blues Theater's artistic programs and services, including the Education Outreach Initiative, The Lincoln Project. Individual tickets for the 2014 "Blue Bash" are $125 and may be purchased by calling 312.725.4228 or online at americanbluestheater.com.

Veteran press agent Leslie Baden Papa will launch Vivacity Media Group, an entertainment public relations agency on January 6, 2014. Publicist Whitney Holden Gore will join the firm as Vice President.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. It's the Mosh Pit's 'Top Ten Hot Topix' for the second half of 2013!!

Cady Huffman (Tony Award-winning star of The Producers (original Ulla),The Nance, Will Rogers Follies) will debut her new one-woman show about life, love and what she ate along the way, And She Can Cook Too!, on Januray 14 at 54 Below. From her grandmother's burnt toast, tomato sandwiches to Iron Chef Michael Symon's lamb heart tartar, Cady Huffman has eaten it all, loved it all and gone back for seconds. In addition to starring on Broadway, Cady is a regular food judge on Food Network's Iron Chef America! Joining long time collaborators Eugene Gwozdz on the piano and Roger Cohen on drums, get ready to laugh, maybe cry and definitely sing along to the foodie tunes of Hank Williams, Joni Mitchell, Cy Coleman, Lionel Bart and many more!

Voting is now underway for Chicago! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.

Million Dollar Quartet, now the longest-running Broadway musical production in Chicago's history, is celebrating the holidays by adding performance dates and a special number for a limited time. For the holidays only, the classic 1958 song 'Run, Run, Rudolph' has been added to the finale of the show.

Nine-time Grammy winners Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel delivers Santa Loves to Boogie at The Grand 1894 Opera House for one not-to-miss holiday treat Today, December 21 at 8pm. With a repertoire that combines the band's most popular songs with holiday favorites and originals such as 'Christmas in Jail', 'Merry Texas Christmas Y'all', 'Pretty Paper', and many more performed in true eggnog -swinging style as only Asleep at the Wheel can deliver. This performance is part of Galveston's Passport to Holiday Magic activities and events.

The Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) is pleased to welcome back American music legend Tony Bennett to the theatre on Saturday, March 8, 2014 at 8P. Mr. Bennett will be joined by very special guest Antonia Bennett for this concert. Mr. Bennett previously appeared at PPAC as a featured artist at one of the Annual Galas.

Voting is now underway for Chicago! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.

The Doyle & Debbie Show, the spot-on, critically acclaimed country music parody that simultaneously lampoons and pays homage to the genre's tradition of iconic duos, makes its Minneapolis debut February 22-March 30, 2014 at Hennepin Theatre Trust's New Century Theatre. Created by veteran Country Music Television writer Bruce Arntson, The Doyle & Debbie Show is a clever tribute inspired by the stories, banter and music of famous pairs like Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash and June Carter, and Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton. The production is a freewheeling joyride with a wickedly funny script and sidesplitting original songs like 'Whine Whine Twang Twang,' 'Stock Car Love' and 'Blue Stretch Pants.' Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, December 20. To purchase and for more information, visit HennepinTheatreTrust.org, call 612.455.9501 or buy in person (no service fees) at the New Century Theatre (615 Hennepin Ave.).

The quintessential portrait of maniacal ambition and lust for power is on stage in William Shakespeare's epic history play Richard III at Folger Theatre. Robert Richmond

Voting is now underway for Chicago! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.

Voting is now underway for Chicago! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.