Ken Kesey News

25 Shows & Performances in the Tampa Bay Area That Rocked Our World from 2010 to 2019!

 'Surely, you can't be serious!' In 2020, 14 of movie history's greatest romances, funniest comedies, scariest monsters, boldest visions, ultimate adventures, and most unforgettable dramas will be back in movie theaters across the country as Fathom Events and Turner Classic Movies present the fourth annual, yearlong TCM Big Screen Classics series.

Exclusive to Melbourne, a stage adaptation of one of the world's most iconic stories comes only to Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne for a strictly limited season from 23 May 2020.

The Spectrum Theatre Ensemble has mounted a vivid, stylish production of Dale Wasserman's play that captures the spirit of Ken Kesey's novel in a powerful evening of theater.

Over the last decade, Ryan Murphy has become one of the most influential creators in entertainment. The screenwriter, director and producer has won six Emmy Awards out of 28 nominations and a Tony Award in 2019 for Best Revival of a Play, as a producer. He has also earned three Grammy Award nominations, as a producer.

Stroll Down Penny Lane is a live performance with beautiful accompanying films of the music of the most iconic songwriter of our age: Paul McCartney. The show includes songs spanning McCartney's career - from early influences, to the Beatles, through the Wings period, and beyond. You'll also hear songs that have never been performed in concert - anywhere, by anyone!

Spectrum Theatre Ensemble (STE) of Providence will present ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST, adapted by Dale Wasserman, from the novel by Ken Kesey, and directed by Clay B. Martin (Providence). The play tells the story of institutional madness where obedience and conformity are the only acceptable indications of good mental health. Randle P. McMurphy, a charismatic rogue, instantly questions the procedures of the asylum, a system at odds with the individual. The 'system' is most clearly represented by cold and calculating Nurse Ratched, and the play is presented from the perspective of Chief Bromden, who views the asylum as a giant machine that was built to control him and his fellow inmates.

Created and performed by a real-life couple, Shine journeys into the distant corners of the mind with a new immersive thriller that follows the mysterious disappearance of a little girl.

On Friday, June 7, I had the pleasure of seeing ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST at the Ridgefield Theater Barn in Ridgefield, CT.  This brilliantly written and phenomenally performed dark drama is based on the novel by Ken Kesey and adapted for the stage by Dale Wasserman.  Director Kevin Sosbe brings the best out in this strong cast of actors and actresses whose talents blend together well, creating a show that excels in generating intense feeling and emotion from the captivated audience. 

In the airless unfunny farm over which dour Nurse Ratched presides, McMurphy appears to foment anarchy. Yet, given the oppressive circumstances, the only thing subversive in his intention is to restore a sense of dignity and free will to those he views as the downtrodden -- captives of a rigged system that is oblivious to their best interests.

The Meta Award winning Hudson Players Club presents One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest from April 4-14 at Hudson Village Theatre.

Custom Made Theatre Co. presents the Bay Area Premiere of Aaron Posner's comedy "Life Sucks" which runs May 2nd through June 1st at Custom Made Theatre, 533 Sutter St. in San Francisco, just one block north of Union Square.

Multiple Grammy and Oscar winning artist, musician and producer T Bone Burnett gave a thought provoking keynote speech at SXSW today, warning of the current dangers of the dominance of digital monopolies like Google and Facebook, while championing the value of the independence of artists. See below for the full text of the speech.

BroadwayWorld has a first look at Aaron Posner's JQA, recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New Play Award. The first of Posner's plays that is not adapted from an existing work, JQA shines a spotlight with humor and care on an ineffectual presidency, the idea of government and how a society lives in relationship to it, and the American experiment as it continues to evolve. Directed by Posner as well, JQA runs March 1 through April 14, 2019 in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle.

"Man of La Mancha," the first fully-staged musical in the 34-year history of the Hampton Theatre Company, will be the third play of the HTC's 2018-2019 season, opening on March 21 at the Quogue Community Hall and running through April 7.

Fresh off the heels of their critically acclaimed revival of Happy Birthday, Wanda June, Wheelhouse Theater Company and its Founding Members, Matt Harrington, David Kenner, Michael Schantz, and Jeffrey Wise, has announced that it will present the New York Premiere of Aaron Posner's Life Sucks., March 22nd through April 20th at The Wild Project (195 East 3rd Street). The cast features Jeff Biehl, Nadia Bowers, Kimberly Chatterjee, Barbara Kingsley, Stacey Linnertz, Austin Pendleton, and Michael Schantz. Wheelhouse's Jeff Wise directs the production, which will have its official opening night on March 27th at 7:00PM. 

Stroll Down Penny Lane is a live performance with beautiful accompanying films of the music of the most iconic songwriter of our age: Paul McCartney. The show includes songs spanning McCartney's career - from early influences, to the Beatles, through the Wings period, and beyond. You'll also hear songs that have never been performed in concert - anywhere, by anyone!

SHOWTIME announced today it has acquired U.S. rights to THE GO-GO'S, a feature documentary about the most successful female rock band of all time, with plans to premiere the film later this year. Alison Ellwood (HISTORY OF THE EAGLES, American Jihad) will direct the project. The band granted full access for this textured biography featuring candid interviews and archival footage to tell the real story of their meteoric rise to fame and the journeys, triumphs, laughter and struggles along the way.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces the full company for the world premiere of Aaron Posner's JQA, recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New Play Award. The first of Posner's plays that is not adapted from an existing work, JQA shines a spotlight with humor and care on an ineffectual presidency, the idea of government and how a society lives in relationship to it, and the American experiment as it continues to evolve. Directed by Posner as well, JQA runs March 1 through April 14, 2019 in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces the full company for the world premiere of Aaron Posner's JQA, recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New Play Award. The first of Posner's plays that is not adapted from an existing work, JQA shines a spotlight with humor and care on an ineffectual presidency, the idea of government and how a society lives in relationship to it, and the American experiment as it continues to evolve. Directed by Posner as well, JQA runs March 1 through April 14, 2019 in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle.