Mark Twain News

The Pasadena Playhouse, announced today that it will add four additional performances of Val Kilmer in CITIZEN TWAIN to its limited engagement. Val Kilmer, famous for his portrayals of iconic characters such as Jim Morrison (The Doors), Doc Holliday (Tombstone) and Batman (Batman Forever), inhabits the spirit of legendary American figure Mark Twain in his acclaimed one-man show CITIZEN TWAIN. Exploring the famed author's wry humor - from politics to death, love to money, racism, cats and everything in between - Val Kilmer reveals the wit and wisdom of the man considered to be America's greatest storyteller and first stand-up comedian. Kilmer continues to develop CITIZEN TWAIN, a solo show, with this now nine-show engagement, that will play August 21 through August 30, 2013, at The Pasadena Playhouse.

Mark Twain once said: 'Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; truth isn't.'

The show features Easton Curtis as 'Tom,' Zac Chevalier as 'Huckleberry Finn,' Madyson Bakalekos as 'Becky' and Norma Bundy as 'Aunt Polly. 'Tom Sawyer' runs September 19th through October 9th with shows on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 and Sundays at 2:00. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $10 for children and students. For more information or to purchase your tickets, please visit our new website at hpactn.com or call 615-826-6037.

Unbound Productions Co-Artistic Directors Jonathan Josephson, Paul Millet, and Jeff G. Rack have announced a special WICKED LIT installation of Edgar Allan Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart which will be staged exclusively at LA Mart in conjunction with ScareLA,during the first annual Los Angeles Halloween Convention (beginning today August 10, and running through tomorrow, August 11). The limited-seating eight-performance run will be staged throughout one of the vacant floors of the 14-story warehouse style building, and feature the full array of theatrical effects and creative artistry that fans of WICKED LIT have come to expect.

Carol Burnett, America's beloved comedienne, is teaming up with legendary mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne at the Music Academy of the West this month for coaching sessions with the young vocalists who will headline this year's Cabaret gala on August 8, which benefits the Music Academy's full-scholarship program. Ms. Burnett, as the Academy's Cabaret Creative Contributor, and Ms. Horne, Voice Program Director, will instruct Music Academy Voice Fellows in the art of musical comedy, both in private classes and individually. The renowned Summer School and Festival, now in its 66th season, runs through August 10 in scenic Santa Barbara.

'Is He Dead?' by Mark Twain will play at the Adobe Theater from Sept. 13 to Oct. 6 with performances Fri. and Sat. at 8 PM, and Sun. at 2 PM. Tickets are $15, Students and seniors $13. Reservations: 898-9222 weekdays or www.adobetheater.org any time.

BroadwayWorld.com, the largest theatre site on the Internet, is excited to announce a new feature to its comprehensive regional coverage - the Featured Regional Theater of the Week! Each week, BWW will introduce its readers to a regional theater located in one of our (over 130!) coverage cities. By exploring these different venues, their history and showcasing the production seasons, BWW continues its commitment to expand our presence in communities and cities across the United States. This Week's Featured Regional Theater: Mesa Encore Theatre in Mesa, AZ

A rare opportunity to learn writing from one of America's most popular New York Times bestselling authors will be offered when internationally acclaimed bestselling thriller writer Steve Berry visits Liberty Hall Museum on Thursday, October 24 for an exclusive History Matters engagement. The all-day event will begin with an elegant V.I.P. luncheon from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., followed by Berry's wildly popular writing workshop, Lessons from a Bestseller, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

On The Jeselnik Offensive, Joan Rivers explains why Old Sex is the best, while Dave Attell still has plenty of questions. Watch a sneak peek below!

The one and only Lily Tomlin will host The 2013 Women's Media Awards this year. Jane Fonda, Robin Morgan and Gloria Steinem, Co-Founders of the Women's Media Center, made the announcement. This celebration will be held on October 8th at 583 Park Avenue in New York City. Tables and tickets can be purchased now.

Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma will round out its 50th Anniversary summer shows with the presentation of Oklahoman Roger Miller's BIG RIVER. This country music tapestry will run today, August 6 through 10 at the Civic Center Music Hall, starring Alex John Enterline as Huck Finn and Broadway's Derrick Cobey as Jim. Based on Mark Twain's classic novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, BIG RIVER combines bluegrass music with moving gospel melodies.

After a highly successful sold out run at the St. Lou Fringe Festival in June, Highly Distracted Productions is presenting three encore performances of ASPBERGER'S: A HIGH-FUNCTIONING MUSICAL on August 16 and 17 at 8 p.m. and Sunday August 18 at 2 p.m. at the Clayton High School Little Theatre, 2 Mark Twain, Circle, Clayton MO.

WaterTower Theatre Producing Artistic Director Terry Martin has announced the co-production of Red Hot Patriot: the Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins with Stage West, running August 18 -September 29, 2013 in the Studio Theatre at the Addison Theatre Centre. Georgia Clinton reprises her performance as the well-known Texas journalist Molly Ivins.

COMEDY CENTRAL announces its BEST BETS for week of August 4th.

In the wake of critical raves and sold-out houses, Pointless Theatre is proud to announce a remount of "Mark Twain's Riverboat Extravaganza", their production for the 2013 Capital Fringe Festival. Described by MD Theatre Guide as the "down-homiest, eye-catchiest, gee-whizziest show in the Fringe" and named an Editor's Pick by the Washington Post. "Riverboat" is a vaudevillian ride through America's tallest tales hosted by Mark Twain and performed by his iconic characters.

Cambridge House of Maryville, a BMA affordable assisted living community will host a Mark Twain presentation at 2 p.m. today, July 31.

Cambridge House of Maryville, a BMA affordable assisted living community will host a Mark Twain presentation at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31.

La Jolla Playhouse, in association with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, has announced casting for its re-imagining of Henry Krieger (music) and Bill Russell's (book and lyrics) Side Show, produced in association with the Kennedy Center. Helmed by Academy Award-winning director Bill Condon and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast, the production will run in the Playhouse's Mandell Weiss Theatre November 5 - December 15, 2013 and will run in the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater June 14 - July 13, 2014. Tickets for the Playhouse run go on sale September 8 and are available atLaJollaPlayhouse.org or by calling Patron Services at (858) 550-1010.