Larissa Mark News

The Dramatists Legal Defense Fund (DLDF) has announced the recipients of 2023 Defender Awards. By refusing to succumb to the banning of books and drag performances, both recipients are leaders in the fight against censorship and the repression of free speech that has overtaken parts of the country.

The Dramatists Guild Legal Defense Fund has announced that the recipient of the 2021 Defender of the Year Award is Sharai Bohannon. The Defender Award is given in recognition of an individual, group, or organization’s efforts in support of free expression in the dramatic arts.

On February 27, 2017, the Dramatists Guild of America, Inc. will hold its annual Awards Night at the French Institute / Alliance Francaise in New York City and among the other honors given that night, an award from the Dramatists Legal Defense Fund will be presented to producer Jeffrey Seller, director Thomas Kail, author Lin-Manuel Miranda, and the cast of Hamilton, for exercising their right to free speech by reading a statement directed at Governor and Vice President-elect Mike Pence, who was in attendance, at the November 18, 2016 performance.

High schools in Connecticut and Pennsylvania made national news this year when their principals canceled productions of 'controversial' musicals Rent and Spamalot. Now the National Coalition Against Censorship is honoring those who stood up for the shows' performances on their list of Top 40 Free Speech Defenders of 2014.

Back in December 2013, BroadwayWorld chronicled the long battle for thespians at Connecticut's Trumbull High School to produce their production of RENT, which was halted by school administrators when first-year principal Marc Guarino and the school board decided to cancel the Trumbull High Thespian Society's planned production of Jonathan Larson's hit rock opera. Well, the show did go on as planned last month, and BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below! Plus, Al Larson visited the show on opening night. Scroll down for photos!

The Dramatists Guild of America held their annual awards ceremony last night at The Lambs Club in New York. The ceremony was hosted by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson Lopez. Check out a look back at the festivities below!

The Dramatists Guild of America has announced the recipients of their annual awards, which will be presented at an awards ceremony hosted by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson Lopez on Monday, February 24, 2014, at The Lambs Club in New York.

The long battle for thespians at Connecticut's Trumbull High School is at last over, as BroadwayWorld has just learned that earlier today, it was announced that the show will go on. The high school's production of RENT was halted by school administrators at the end of last month, when first-year principal Marc Guarino and the school board decided to cancel the Trumbull High Thespian Society's planned production of Jonathan Larson's hit rock opera.

Yesterday, BroadwayWorld reported that Connecticut's famed Goodspeed Musicals had offered to let the students of Trumbull High School put on their cancelled production of RENT at the Goodspeed Opera House. But as of today, that offer is no longer needed. According to a Facebook post on the 'Trumbull For RENT' page, administrators have now committed to moving the show forward on its home turf.

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Trumbull High School had their spring musical, the school edition of RENT, halted by school administrators. But the show must go on! In response to Trumbull High Thespian Society president Larissa Mark's social media efforts to keep RENT alive, Connecticut's famed Goodspeed Musicals has now offered to let the students put on their production at Goodspeed Opera House.

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Trumbull High School has had their spring musical, the school edition of RENT, halted by school administrators. On Monday, Nov. 25, first-year principal Marc Guarino called a Thespian Society meeting, announcing that their planned production of Jonathan Larson's hit rock opera would be cancelled, according to Howard Sherman. Since then, the Board of Education has met, deciding to support the principal's decision to cancel the show. Board chairman Deborah Herbst said: 'Without proper planning, Rent, the school edition, has the potential to become a speech rather than a meaningful dialogue."

On Monday, Nov. 25, first-year principal Marc Guarino called a Thespian Society meeting, announcing that their planned production of Jonathan Larson's hit rock opera would be cancelled, according to Howard Sherman.