Jonathan Demme News

Ben Platt originated the title role in 'Dear Evan Hansen' to critical acclaim (Obie Award, Outer Critics Circle and Drama League nominations) and won the 2017 Tony Award for his Broadway performance. Platt was the original Elder Cunningham in the Chicago production of 'The Book of Mormon' and reprised the role on Broadway (dir. Trey Parker and Casey Nicholaw).

Town Hall announces that this year's FRIEND OF THE ARTS AWARD - it's 97th annual - will honor Multimedia Performance Artist, LAURIE ANDERSON; TheaterWorksUSA Co-Founder, CHARLES HULL; and Nonesuch Records' Long-Time President, ROBERT HURWITZ.

Good morning BroadwayWorld! Today's top stories: get a first look at Jessica Vosk and Ryan McCartan in Wicked, and more!

HRC announced that the organization will honor Academy Award-winning actress Anne Hathaway with the HRC National Equality Award at the 22nd annual HRC National Dinner next Saturday, September 15, 2018. As previously announced, the 47th Vice President of the United States Joe Biden will speak, as well as former Attorney General of the United States Eric Holder; trailblazing Virginia Delegate Danica Roem; and Nevada Secretary of State candidate Nelson Araujo. Earlier in the day, Stacey Abrams, the Democratic nominee for governor of Georgia, will address HRC members.

The Jacob Burns Film Center (JBFC), a nonprofit cultural arts center and one of the most successful suburban film houses in the country, will celebrate its meaningful connection to Broadway by honoring two visionaries of the theater community at its gala, BUILDING IMAGINATION, on Monday, September 17th.

Roundabout Theatre Company's premiere of Theresa Rebeck's Bernhardt/Hamlet begins previews today. Get to know the cast as they begin Broadway performances!

Jamie Brickhouse's award-winning, critically-acclaimed solo show Dangerous When Wet: Booze, Sex, and My Mother directed by Obie Award-winning David Drake (The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me) is his alcoholic odyssey from small-town sissy to louche Manhattanite that's wickedly intoxicating as he hits bottom and discovers he can't escape the all-consuming love of his mother Mama Jean. A Texan Elizabeth Taylor with the split personality of Auntie Mame and Mama Rose, she never has a thought she doesn't speak and unwittingly helps Jamie become an out, proud gay, HIV-positive man in recovery. Darkly comic, you'll cry laughing.

The Lark Theater is pleased to present Talking Heads: Stop Making Sense as part of their Rockin' at the Lark On The Big Screen series. Over the course of three nights at Hollywood's Pantages Theater in December 1983, filmmaker Jonathan Demme joined creative forces with cinematographer Jordan Cronenweth and Talking Heads... and miracles occurred. Following a staging concept by singer-guitarist David Byrne, this euphoric concert film transcends that all-too-limited genre to become the greatest film of its kind. A guaranteed cure for anyone's blues, it's a celebration of music that never grows old, fueled by the polyrhythmic pop-funk precision that was a Talking Heads trademark, and lit from within by the geeky supernova that is David Byrne.

Film fans will FALL in love with the new lineup of events and happenings at the Jacob Burns Film Center (JBFC), a nonprofit cultural arts center and one of the most successful suburban film houses in the country. JBFC announced today a variety of unique and compelling film series launching and returning this fall. Select film screenings also feature thought-provoking and engaging Q&As with renowned American and international filmmakers, environmentalists, politicians, and more. 

Live Nation Productions today announced two key hires for its production and development departments. Seasoned-producer and studio exec Matthew Stein will be the company's new Head of Scripted Development and Production, while Emmy Award-winning producer Ryan Kroft has been named Head of Unscripted Development and Production. Both will report into Heather Parry, Live Nation Productions' President of Production, Film and Television.

On Thursday, May 17 the Jacob Burns Film Center (JBFC), a nonprofit cultural arts center and one of the most successful suburban art house theaters in the country, received the Bill Webber Community Service Award at Hudson Link's Annual Spring Benefit Dinner hosted at the Grand Hyatt New York. This year's benefit dinner marked Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison's 20th Anniversary.  For the past two decades, Hudson Link has provided college education, life skills, and re-entry support to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated men and women to help them make a positive impact on their own lives, families, and communities.

Deadline has reported that actress Lola Kirke has signed on to join Tony Award-winning Dear Evan Hansen star Ben Platt in an upcoming feature film titled LOVE & OATMEAL produced by Black Label Media.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is pleased to announce a $10 million commitment from KeyBank Foundation. This is the single largest philanthropic contribution ever given to the Rock Hall.

This week, The Sheen Center for Thought & Culture (18 Bleecker Street, NYC) presents three special live music events on the stage of the Loreto Theater. Tickets are available at SheenCenter.org, by phone at (212) 925-2812, or in-person at The Sheen Center box office. 

From Thursday, April 26 through Sunday, April 29, BAMcinématek presents the eighth annual New Voices in Black Cinema, one of a variety of New Voices Arts & Media programs presented in partnership with BAMcinématek since 2009. The series provides a showcase of new and established voices in black independent cinema reflecting the wide spectrum of stories by and about African diasporic communities in the United States and beyond. This year's series includes 10 feature length films and three short film programs comprising diverse work from up and coming talent.

This April, The Sheen Center for Thought & Culture (18 Bleecker Street, NYC) welcomes in the spring with three special live music events on the stage of the Loreto Theater. Tickets are available at SheenCenter.org, by phone at (212) 925-2812, or in-person at The Sheen Center box office.   

Lin-Manuel Miranda has teamed up with Ben Platt for the newest song in his #Hamildrop series, Found/Tonight. The song, which features vocals by both men, features bits of 'The Story of Tonight' from Hamilton and 'You Will Be Found' from Dear Evan Hansen. Listen below!

As previously announced, Lin-Manuel Miranda is teaming up with Ben Platt for the next #Hamildrop track. It was recently revealed that the track is called 'Found Tonight' and will be released tonight at midnight. A portion of the proceeds from the track will go to the March For Our Lives Initiative.

Ben Platt took to Twitter today to share an audition tape of himself singing 'Maria' from West Side Story. A film remake by Steven Spielberg is currently in the works but no word on if that's the project Platt was auditioning for or his involvement, if any.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is getting ready to shine in the spotlight when its induction ceremony returns to Cleveland next month. Adding to the Rock Week excitement, the new Hall of Fame, an entire floor celebrating Inductees, opens April 7 during Celebration Day at the Museum with free admission. It cranks up the fan engagement and gives Rock Hall visitors a chance to voice their choice for who should be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The new experiences cap off the latest phase of the Rock Hall's multi-year, multi-million-dollar transformation, which included the opening of the Power of Rock Experience in the Connor Theatre this past summer.