Kirk Douglas News

Some 9 million American kids wake up every day without enough guidance and support to make the kind of crucial decisions that will shape their futures. It's the kind of support that mentors like author, Aaron Kirk Douglas, believe every child should have access to. January 2016 marks the 15th year of National Mentoring Month, a campaign aimed at connecting more of our community's young people with caring, invested adults. It's also the month that Portland author and award winning mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Aaron Kirk Douglas' first-of-its-kind mentoring memoir comes out. And it was Douglas' own 'coming out,' in 1977, that plays an integral part in the story he shares in 'Growing Up Twice: Shaping a Future By Reliving My Past' (ISBN: 978-09970501-0-3), as he explores what it's like to be a gay, Jewish man mentoring a troubled young Latino boy named Rico (the son of an undocumented immigrant from Guatemala). For Douglas, what started as a one page 'Friendship Agreement,' had, six years later, created a whole new definition of family for both him and the boy he mentored. 'At its core the book is really about the search for acceptance by individuals who have been marginalized,' says Douglas. And though Douglas admits he didn't face many of the difficulties and obstacles that Rico experienced (living in the foster care system, the son of an illegal immigrant) he did struggle to retain a sense of hope and faith in the face of anger and rejection at home, while growing up. Douglas says, 'This is not just a story about mentoring with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, it's a story about breaking the traditional mold in that role - about how, I couldn't be just someone who showed up once a week to do homework or go out for ice cream. Rico needed more than that - he needed an invested male role model and a father figure.' 'Growing Up Twice' is available on Amazon.com and other online retailers in print, and as an ebook download. For more information on 'Growing Up Twice' visit the publisher's website at: http://www.newsworthybooks.com About the Author Aaron Kirk Douglas is a life-long creative, a passionate philanthropist, and award-winning mentor with over a decade's experience in mentoring at-risk youth. A journalism graduate of the University of Oregon and former marketing director at some of the largest and most prominent law and commercial real estate firms in the Pacific Northwest, Douglas is also an award-winning documentary filmmaker, whose film Monster Camp was lauded by Variety. He is currently working on a new musical in development with co-conductor of Broadway's Hamilton, Kurt Crowley. Expertise & Awards • Board member, and 10-year volunteer with Big Brothers/Big Sisters Columbia Northwest (Portland, OR) • Top three finalist, national mentoring recognition from The National Mentoring Partnership (2015) • Recipient of one of Oregon's highest individual honors for outstanding personal achievement in volunteerism in support of low-income children and families. (2011) • Nominee, National Big Brother of The Year (2010) Book Facts Growing Up Twice: Shaping a Future By Reliving My Past Publisher: Newsworthy Books, USA Print: Kindle: Publ. Date: Media kit: Sources ISBN 978-09970501-0-3, $14.95, 238 pages, 5.25' x 8' paperback ISBN 978-0-9970501-8-9 $3.49 Release Date: January 1, 2016 http://www.newsworthybooks.com/media-kit KATU - AM Northwest (2/14/11) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AJtxMrfLIo&feature=player_embedded Interview for documentary https://youtu.be/Jbn_QJFTASc?t=1m37s (The above video interviews feature Douglas' Little Brother's real name, which has been changed to 'Rico' in the book, at his request.) Contact: Vanessa Nix Anthony Phone: (646) 799-2536 Email: editor@newsworthybooks.com

Center Theatre Group and Humanitas announce that Ngozi Anyanwu has won first place for the inaugural Humanitas/CTG Playwriting Prize, with Dan O'Brien in second place and Louisa Hill in third place. The prize is awarded annually to the best new unproduced play written by a Southern California-based writer. The winning plays will be developed with CTG's literary staff, led by CTG's Director of New Play Development Pier Carlo Talenti, and will be presented in staged readings at Humanitas Play Fest, Celebrating Southern California Playwrights, at the Kirk Douglas Theatre from February 12-14.

Diane Rodriguez, associate artistic director at the Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles, California was appointed by President Obama and confirmed by the United States Senate to be a member of the National Council on the Arts, the advisory body of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Long Wharf Theatre presents, in conjunction with Eva Price, THE LION, written and performed by Benjamin Scheuer, directed by Sean Daniels, from tonight, January 6 through February 7, 2016. The play will take place on Stage II. The press opening will take place on January 13, 2016 at 7:30 pm.

Waterwell, one of the Village Voice's Best Arguments for Devised Theater and creators of GOODBAR and #9, continues its annual series of developmental workshop productions with a commission by Dael Orlandersmith (Forever, Yellowman, Beauty's Daugther) for its senior Drama Class of 2016 at the Professional Performing Arts School (PPAS). The new play, Some of the Things Inside, will be directed by Allison Talis and will premiere at PPAS in April 2016.

Bryan Cranston will receive the prestigious 'Spotlight Award' at this year's Palm Springs International Film Festival gala to be held on Saturday at the Palm Springs Convention Center.

WOMEN LAUGHING ALONE WITH SALAD by Sheila Callaghan, directed by Neel Keller, will make its West Coast premiere beginning March 6, 2016, opening March 13 and running through April 3, 2016 at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre.

Solar power confronts spirit power in a new drama by Stephen Sachs about climate change, cultural change and the moral consequences of personal choice. Cameron Watson directs Elizabeth Frances and Brian Tichnell in the world premiere of Dream Catcher, opening January 30 at the Fountain Theatre in Hollywood.

Center Theatre Group and HUMANITAS will be accepting submissions from Los Angeles-based playwrights from January 15 to February 29, 2016, for the second edition of its PLAY LA Workshop.

The much admired and acclaimed Critical Mass Performance Group has announced the world premiere of its newest work, Ameryka, written and directed by Nancy Keystone in collaboration with the company. Ameryka will play for five weeks only with one preview performance on Friday, February 5 and opening on Saturday, February 6 at 8pm. Ameryka will run through March 6 at Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles. 

Long Wharf Theatre presents, in conjunction with Eva Price, THE LION, written and performed by Benjamin Scheuer, directed by Sean Daniels, from January 6 through February 7, 2016. The play will take place on Stage II. Tickets are $25-$85. The press opening will take place on Wednesday, January 13, 2016 at 7:30 pm.

THE CHRISTIANS, a new play written by Lucas Hnath, opened at the Center Theatre Group / Mark Taper Forum last night, December 13, 2015, at 7 p.m. CTG and Playwrights Horizons are presenting performances of the Actors Theatre of Louisville production through January 10, 2016. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities below!

Ed and his three adult sons have gotten together to celebrate Christmas. They enjoy cheerful trash-talking, brotherly pranks and takeout Chinese, but find themselves confronting a problem that even being a happy family can't solve when youngest brother Matt seems upset about something he cannot share with his family. Their unconditional love is what matters when identity and privilege are problematic, for what is the value of being a straight white man if you have no real purpose or goals in life?

THE CHRISTIANS, a new play written by Lucas Hnath, will open at the Center Theatre Group / Mark Taper Forum on Sunday, December 13, 2015, at 7 p.m. CTG and Playwrights Horizons are presenting performances of the Actors Theatre of Louisville production through January 10, 2016. Previews are currently underway, and BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Jessika Malone directs Actors Bridge Ensemble's 20th Anniversary Season's upcoming production of Jennifer Haley's The Nether, opening December 4 at the new Actors Bridge Studio at the Darkhorse Chapel, 4610 Charlotte Avenue (entrance on 47th Avenue).

The critically acclaimed off-Broadway hit THE ABSOLUTE BRIGHTNESS OF LEONARD PELKEY, written by and starring James Lecesne, the writer of the Academy Award-winning film Trevor, will have a limited 23 performance engagement at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, Wednesday, January 13 to Sunday, January 31, 2016 (press opening Thursday January 14).

Center Theatre Group welcomes singers from across the greater Los Angeles area to perform as members of the church choir in the West Coast premiere of THE CHRISTIANS written by Lucas Hnath and directed by Les Waters. THE CHRISTIANS is presented by CTG and Playwrights Horizons at the Mark Taper Forum, tonight, December 2, 2015, through January 10, 2016. The opening is set for December 13.

Center Theatre Group has selected singers from across the greater Los Angeles area to perform as members of the church choir in the West Coast premiere of THE CHRISTIANS written by Lucas Hnath and directed by Les Waters. THE CHRISTIANS is presented by CTG and Playwrights Horizons at the Mark Taper Forum, December 2, 2015, through January 10, 2016. The opening is set for December 13.

After reviewing over 230 play submissions, Center Theatre Group announced today that 10 finalists have been chosen for the first annual Humanitas/CTG Playwriting Prize. The award will be given to the best new, unproduced play written by a Southern California playwright.