Lois Smith News

Steppenwolf Theatre Company Artistic Director Anna D. Shapiro announced today the addition of Celeste M. Cooper and Cliff Chamberlain to the world-renowned Steppenwolf ensemble. Cooper, an in-demand Chicago-based actor, recently performed in Steppenwolf's production of BLKS and Chamberlain, a regular on the Steppenwolf stage, was recently featured in The Minutes by ensemble member Tracy Letts.

Playwrights Horizons, under the leadership of Artistic Director Tim Sanford and Managing Director Leslie Marcus, is proud to announce the six productions of its 2018/2019 Season.  The six new works will be presented at the theater company's home at 416 West 42nd Street. 

The New Group has announced that Rhea Perlman will join F. Murray Abraham, Kate Buddeke, Laura Esterman, Nancy Giles, Lily Gladstone, Ed Harris, Charlotte Hope, Mark Linn-Baker, Amy Madigan, Rileigh McDonald, Kenny Mellman, Maulik Pancholy and Michael Rabe in the New York premiere of David Rabe's Good for Otto. Rhea Perlman will appear in the role of Nora, as Rosie O'Donnell, previously announced, is unable to appear due to illness. Directed by Scott Elliott, this production will play a limited Off-Broadway engagement February 20 - April 1, with Opening Night on Thursday, March 8 at The Pershing Square Signature Center (The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre, 480 West 42nd Street).

The New Group has announced full casting and creative team for David Rabe's Good for Otto, with Kate Buddeke, Laura Esterman, Nancy Giles, Lily Gladstone, Charlotte Hope, Mark Linn-Baker, Kenny Mellman and Maulik Pancholy joining, as previously announced, F. Murray Abraham, Ed Harris, Amy Madigan, Rileigh McDonald, Rosie O'Donnell and Michael Rabe in this New York premiere directed by Scott Elliott.

On Monday, January 22, 2018, Steppenwolf Theatre Company proudly hosts Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actor Sarah Paulson as the 2018 Honoree at the annual Steppenwolf Women in the Arts fundraising luncheon.

LADY BIRD has won the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy The film stars Laurie Metcalf (A DOLL'S HOUSE 2) and Saoirse Ronan (THE CRUCIBLE), who earlier in the evening picked up an award for Best Actress.

The New Group has announced full casting for the Off-Broadway premiere Jerry Springer The Opera with Jennifer Allen, Florrie Bagel, Brandon Contreras, Sean Patrick Doyle, Bradley Greer, Luke Grooms, Nathaniel Hackmann, Billy Hepfinger, Justin Keyes, Beth Kirkpatrick, Elizabeth Loyacano, Tiffany Mann, Jill Paice, Kim Steele and Nichole Turner joining, as previously announced, Terrence Mann and Will Swenson.

Ovation TV, America's only arts network, continues to bring premium content to its viewers with a jam-packed schedule during the month of February. Throughout the month, Ovation will debut season 11 of The Artful Detective and new series X Company, plus the broadcast premieres of indie films Marjorie Prime and Manifesto.

The New Group has announced today that Terrence Mann and Will Swenson will star in the company's Off-Broadway premiere of Jerry Springer - The Opera, as 'Jerry Springer' and 'Warm-Up / Satan,' respectively.

The one-night-only NYC premiere of Stan Zimmerman's Right Before I Go. took place on Monday, December 4, 2017 at Town Hall (123 W 43rd Street). Directed by Michael Wilson, Right Before I Go. featured a cast of 23, including Oscar, Emmy and Tony Award-winners raising awareness for suicide prevention.

Olivia Munn (X-Men: Apocalypse, The Predator) and Niecy Nash (Claws, The Soul Man) announced the nominees for the 24th Annual SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDSthis morning at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood.

The one-night-only NYC premiere of Stan Zimmerman's Right Before I Go. takes place tonight, Monday, December 4, 2017 at Town Hall (123 W 43rd Street). Directed by Michael Wilson, Right Before I Go. features a cast of 23, including Oscar, Emmy and Tony Award-winners raising awareness for suicide prevention.

The New Group presents the world premiere of Seth Zvi Rosenfeld's Downtown Race Riot, launching the company's 2017-2018 Season. Directed by Scott Elliott, this production features Cristian DeMeo, David Levi, Moise Morancy, Josh Pais, Sadie Scott, Chlo Sevigny and Daniel Sovich. A limited Off-Broadway engagement is slated through December 23 at The Pershing Square Signature Center (The Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre, 480 West 42nd Street). Check out photos from opening night below!

The Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB's Film, Music, Fashion & Create division will be celebrating the filmmaking community at the 2017 IFP Gotham Awards at Cipriani Wall Street on November 27, 2017.

Producers announced today that NFL running back and ABC's Dancing with the Stars winner Rashad Jennings, Amber Tamblyn, Hari Nef and Chris Gethard will join the cast of the New York City premiere of Stan Zimmerman's Right Before I Go. Directed by Michael Wilson, Right Before I Go. will be performed as a one-night-only benefit on Monday, December 4, 2017 at Town Hall (123 W 43rd Street). A student panel / talkback will take place at 6:30 PM followed by the 8:00 PM performance. A VIP post-show cocktail reception will take place immediately after the performance for anyone who purchased a VIP level ticket. Proceeds from the evening will benefit prominent suicide awareness and prevention charities, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (afsp.org) and JED Foundation (JEDFoundation.org). Additional casting will be announced shortly.

The New Group presents New Group Now: Where Art Meets Our Present Culture, an ongoing series of public discussions locating New Group productions within the larger context of American and/or global society, continuing on Monday, December 11 with a conversation on 'Confronting Racial Bias in Our Communities.'

The 33rd Film Independent Spirit Award Nominations were announced live today by Tessa Thompson and Lily Collins. The ceremony will air live on IFC on March 3rd. Nick Kroll and John Mulaney will return to host the event.

Beanie Feldstein currently leaves audiences infatuated with her adorable portrayal of Minnie Fay in Broadway's HELLO, DOLLY! Now she's delving further into film with this season's breakaway hit indie pic LADY BIRD. Feldstein visited Seth Meyers to chat about the film and her relationship with DEAR EVAN HANSEN's Ben Platt, watch below!

The term 'coming of age' is used fairly broadly in films these days. Any movie that focus on a young (or youngish) character who goes through difficulties generally gets this classification. However, often those films put their protagonists through incredibly tragic circumstances to help them find one specific truth as they 'come of age.' LADY BIRD, from the mind of writer and director Greta Gerwig, is a coming of age film that avoids the emotionally manipulative deaths, assaults, and addictions that often render the genre repetitive, and instead goes with the authentic difficulties that come with every day life; a hyper-critical, passive-aggressive mother; a father who is depressed because he's lost his job; a high school girl struggling with acceptance and finding her place in her family and in the world. Instead, it is a simple and subtle masterpiece, that digs down to the humor and truth of every day eccentricities.

The Theatre Hall of Fame recently welcomed its 2017 class of eight inductees including (in alphabetical order) Matthew Broderick, Oskar Eustis, Tina Howe, Arthur Kopit, Marin Mazzie, Daryl Roth and Ernie Schier.