John Cooper News

The Academy of Country Music® and dick clark productions announced today that the 55TH ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS will take place in Nashville, TN for the first time in the show's 55-year history.

This weekend, COUNTRY MUSIC and bluegrass icon Ricky Skaggs returns to his home away from home, the Grand Ole Opry. For the past five weeks, amidst the current COVID-19 crisis and without an audience in attendance, the Grand Ole Opry has remained on the air as it has for 4,919 consecutive Saturday nights for nine decades.

Gibson has maintained the highest standard of protocol and recommended hygiene practices throughout the evolving COVID 19 situation, including daily leadership briefings and pro-active communication to all employees. This also included the monitoring of accordance with federal, state and local entities – and other professional sources. Until last Friday, the majority of manufacturing facilities across all industries remained open in the greater Nashville area, and beyond. Gibson's facilities have NOT been in operation since Friday and will remain closed until further notice. To date, there have been zero reported cases of coronavirus across the Gibson employee base.   

The first names have been revealed for the 2020 Chester Literature Festival, taking place 7 a?" 28 November at the award-winning Storyhouse in Chester.

Poet Simon Mole and musician Gecko have joined forces to write and perform an interactive musical show for children, aged 4-11, and families a?" Mole & Gecko: THE SHOW which they are bringing to Wakefield Library on Saturday 7 March at 11am. What's more, tickets are FREE! Book in advance to avoid disappointment. Email: wakefieldlibrarymuseum@wakefield.gov.uk or telephone: 01924 305376.

The Actors Centre is kicking 2020 into high gear by announcing major programming changes including a new senior leadership team.

Sundance Institute announced Giving Voice as the winner of the Festival Favorite Award, selected by audience votes from the 128 features screened at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, which took place in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Sundance, Utah, from January 23–February 2, 2020.

Today, Sundance Institute announced Tabitha Jackson as the new Director of the Sundance Film Festival. Jackson was chosen from a worldwide search and follows outgoing Director, John Cooper, who served in the role for 11 years and will assume a newly-created Emeritus Director role. An award-winning filmmaker, she has served as Director of the Institute's Documentary Film Program for the last six years. Jackson will oversee the Festival's overall vision and strategy, while leading a senior team in close collaboration with Director of Programming, Kim Yutani. In his new role, Cooper will oversee special projects including preparations for the Institute's 40th anniversary in 2021.

Once Upon a Mattress opens Upstairs at the Gatehouse in March 2020. Returning to the Gatehouse with another classic musical rarely seen in London, Mark Giesser steps back into the director's chair for his new production of Once Upon A Mattress, the first musical by Mary Rodgers, daughter of legendary musical composer Richard Rodgers.

Sundance Institute today announced a first-of-its-kind collaboration with Sony Pictures Classics and Trafalgar Releasing: on January 26, the Utah premiere of The Climb, screening in the Spotlight category of the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, will be simulcast across ten cinemas across the U.S., with the following Q&A simulcast live from The Ray Theatre in Park City, enabling independent film fans in markets nationwide to participate in the buzz of Festival from afar.

Sundance Institute will curate dozens of offscreen events, including behind-the-scenes panels on the art of filmmaking, musical performances and a?" around the theme of Imagined Futures a?" a public Bonfire and several extended post-screening conversations (known as IF Screenings), at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival taking place in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Sundance, Utah, January 23 through February 2, 2020.

The nonprofit Sundance Institute announced today the showcase of new independent feature films selected across all categories for the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. The Festival hosts screenings in Park City, Salt Lake City and at Sundance Mountain Resort, from January 23a?"February 2, 2020. The Sundance Film Festival is Sundance Institute's flagship public program, widely regarded as the largest American independent film festival and attended by more than 120,000 people and 1,300 accredited press, and powered by more than 2,000 volunteers last year.

12-times multi-platinum rock band SKILLET are returning to the road in North America this winter in support of their tenth album Victorious, out now. The band will embark on a headline trek, dubbed the 'Victorious Tour,' which kicks off on February 6 in Wichita, Kansas and runs through March 14 in Norfolk, Virginia, as exclusively revealed by Loudwire. Joining Skillet for this tour will be From Ashes to New and Ledger, the latter of which features Skillet drummer Jen Ledger. Skillet are fresh off back-to-back, Fall 2019 co-headline North American tours with Sevendust and Alter Bridge, respectively. The band just wrapped a sold-out headline tour of Europe, as well. 

Nashville Mayor John Cooper has issued a proclamation that October 25th is 'Mister Rogers' Music Day.' And, today, a newly recorded collection of Fred's songs, Thank You, Mister Rogers: Music & Memories, is available wherever music is sold or streamed. 

Sundance Institute announced today that John Cooper, Director of the Sundance Film Festival, will move into a newly-created Emeritus Director role following the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. 2020 will mark his 30th Sundance Film Festival, and his 11th year as Festival Director.

Cult performance poet Dr John Cooper Clarke is to bring his new The Luckiest Guy Alive tour to Warrington.

Hot on the heels of his sell-out 2018 NYC shows, and with a just published poetry collection ('The Luckiest Guy Alive' on Macmillan) the British 'People's Poet' Dr. John Cooper Clarke is back in New York City with a three-night run at the legendary Joe's Pub, March 22 to March 24.

Luke Wright, Poet Laureate, is his first ALL NEW poetry show in three years ... and a bid for poetry's top job?

Special extended version of poet's first ALL NEW poetry show in three years.

Dominic Biddle is a Creative Associate of theatre company 1927, and Assistant Director of 'The Animals and Children Took to the Streets' - which combines performance with music and animation - currently playing at Lyric Hammersmith.