Margo Lion News

Earlier today, President Barack Obama presented the National Medal of Arts in conjunction with the National Humanities Medals. The medals were presented by the President during an East Room ceremony at the White House. The National Medal of Arts is a White House initiative managed by the National Endowment for the Arts. Each year, the NEA organizes and oversees the National Medal of Arts nomination process and notifies the artists of their selection to receive a medal, the nation's highest honor for artistic excellence.

The Planet Connections Theatre Festivity presents Walden, a story-theatre style musical adaptation of Thoreau's best seller, featuring his work on the underground railroad and his star-crossed romance. Six performances for Walden will be held at the Robert Moss Theatre, 440 Lafayette Street, NYC from today, May 29-June 15 as part of The Planet Connections Theatre Festivity. The Festivity will take place May 29th through June 23rd at Gene Frankel and Robert Moss Theatres in New York City.

Applications for the second annual T. Fellowship will be accepted from May 22, 2013 through August 1, 2013. Applications and instructions are available online at www.tfellowship.com.

Applications for the second annual T. Fellowship will be accepted from May 22, 2013 through August 1, 2013. Applications and instructions are available online at www.tfellowship.com.

Award-winning composer/lyricist Joel B. New will presents an evening of original songs from the first season of his hit iTunes Podcast, "Something New," at Stage 72 on Monday, May 20th at 7pm. All proceeds will benefit the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization. (www.hrc.org)

The Planet Connections Theatre Festivity presents Walden, a story-theatre style musical adaptation of Thoreau's best seller, featuring his work on the underground railroad and his star-crossed romance. Six performances for Walden will be held at the Robert Moss Theatre, 440 Lafayette Street, NYC from May 29-June 15 as part of The Planet Connections Theatre Festivity. The Festivity will take place May 29th through June 23rd at Gene Frankel and Robert Moss Theatres in New York City.

From Kristin Chenoweth to Deborah Cox to Idina Menzel to Barbra Streisand to Michael Crawford to the Ladies of THE VIEW to Adam Pascal, Patti LuPone, Raul Esparza, Alan Menken, Lea Salonga, Bernadette Peters, Laura Osnes, Victoria Clark, GLEE and Everything in Between - It's the BroadwayWorld.com 2013 Valentine's Day Special - It's the Biggest Ever!

The producers of the new Broadway revival of THE HEIRESS have just announced that the production will recoup its $3 million capitalization during the final week of performances. The final performance is on Saturday, February 9th at 7:00 p.m. (note the new early curtain time) at Broadway's Walter Kerr Theatre (219 W. 48th St. NYC). THE HEIRESS will have played 27 previews and 117 regular performances.

The producers of the new Broadway revival of THE HEIRESS have announced that the production will now play its final performance on Saturday, February 9 at 7:00 p.m. (note the new early curtain time). The previously scheduled Sunday, February 10 closing performance has been cancelled to enable Jessica Chastain, who plays the title character, to attend the BAFTA Awards (the British equivalent to the Academy Awards) where she is nominated for Best Actress on Sunday, February 10th in London. Ms. Chastain is nominated for an Academy Award and has already received Golden Globe and Critics Choice Awards for her performance in the film Zero Dark Thirty. THE HEIRESS is currently playing at Broadway's Walter Kerr Theatre (219 W. 48th St. NYC).

Today we are talking to the proud "Pope Of Trash" himself - the iconic writer/director of such seminal cinematic entries as cult classics PINK FLAMINGOS, FEMALE TROUBLE, DESPERATE LIVING, HAIRSPRAY, CRY BABY, SERIAL MOM, CECIL B. DEMENTED, A DIRTY SHAME and many more - the one and only John Waters. Packing a characteristically caustic conversation into a relatively brief time slot was no trouble for Waters, for he and I cover a wide range of topics, from his favorite 2012 films to his all-time favorite movie musicals and much more. Most importantly, Waters discusses his process in adapting the hit Tony Award-winning stage property HAIRSPRAY into concert form and what we can expect from his newly-penned narration and role as narrator in the live Baltimore Symphony Orchestra presentation of HAIRSPRAY: IN CONCERT on January 24. Additionally, Waters expounds on his experiences creating the original HAIRSPRAY film and how it compares to both its musical sister, as well as the hit 2007 feature film adaptation of it (in which he makes a cameo appearance as - what else? - "the flasher who lives next door"). Plus, Waters opens up about the plot and themes of HAIRSPRAY 2: WHITE LIPSTICK, a project he was commissioned to create a few years ago as a new film project but which is currently on hold indefinitely. All of that, filming the remarkable 2012 horror film EXCISION, memories of the recently deceased Patti Page and the unforgettable use of the Bob Merrill pop earworm "How Much Is That Doggie In The Window" at the grand finale of PINK FLAMINGOS, an update on his children's film project, FRUITCAKE, as well as details about his new book and what we can expect from Waters in 2013 insofar as personal speaking engagements go - and, how Justin Bieber is the new Shirley Temple. All of that and much, much more awaits!

The hit Broadway revival of The Heiress has partnered with GoldDerby.com on an exclusive sweepstakes where fans can enter to win round trip air travel for two to New York City, a two night stay at the DoubleTree by Hilton Metropolitan and a pair of tickets to The Heiress, plus a backstage tour of the Walter Kerr Theatre. For more information, go to www.goldderby.com/news/3804/the-heiress-contest-broadway.html.

Previously, we reported that THE HEIRESS' Jessica Chastain would be missing performances on Broadway on January 10th, 13th and 27th to support her film Zero Dark Thirty at the Critic's Choice, Golden Globes and SAG Awards. Now, one more date has been added to the list, Tuesday January 8th, when she will be honored by the National Board of Review.

THE HEIRESS' Jessica Chastain announced on her Facebook page on Thursday that she will not be performing on Broadway on January 10th, 13th and 27th to support her film Zero Dark Thirty at the Critic's Choice, Golden Globes and SAG Awards. Her understudy Mairin Lee will be playing the role of 'Catherine' on those dates.

What follows is a transcript of the remarks by the First Lady Michelle Obama at the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards, held in the East Room this afternoon, November 19, 2012.

PlayhouseSquare honored the founding chair of its board of trustees, Oliver C. "Pudge" Henkel, Jr., and his successor, John F. Lewis, with its highest award, the PlayhouseSquare Star Award for Achievement in the Performing Arts, at its annual Chairman's Dinner on Monday night. Past honorees include legendary composer Marvin Hamlisch, Disney Theatricals President Thomas Schumacher and Broadway producers Kevin McCollum and Margo Lion.

On yesterday's episode of 'The View' on ABC, Jessica Chastain stopped by and discussed the excitement surrounding her first Broadway play, The Heiress. Check out the full interview below!

On this morning's 'Good Morning America' on ABC, Jessica Chastain and Dan Stevens discussed the excitement surrounding their first Broadway play, THE HEIRESS. Check out their appearance below!

The Heiress' Jessica Chastain & Dan Stevens will appear on ABC's "Good Morning America" tomorrow, Thursday, September 8th between 8:30AM-9:00AM on channel 7. Jessica Chastain will also appear on ABC's "The View" tomorrow between 11:00AM-12 noon on channel 7. Check local listings.

Family, friends, and colleagues will gather to celebrate the life and voice of Broadway librettist Mark O'Donnell on Monday, November 12 at 3pm at Manhattan Theatre Club's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, 261 West 47th Street, between Broadway and Eighth Avenue. Doors will open at 2:30pm and the event is open to the public.