Nia Vardalos News

Lea Michele stars in the upcoming ABC holiday film, 'Same Time, Next Christmas,' which premieres on Thursday, Dec. 5, at 9:00-11:00 p.m. EST.

Broadway legend Bernadette Peters was honored with the Craig Zadan Theatre for Life Award by the Educational Theatre Foundation (ETF) at the annual star-studded Thespians Go Hollywood Gala held on Monday, November 18, at The Avalon in Hollywood, California. Over 300 people were on hand to help raise more than $180,000 that will support ETF's national theatre education programs for schools in need.

Broadway legend Bernadette Peters was honored with the Craig Zadan Theatre for Life Award by the Educational Theatre Foundation (ETF) at the annual star-studded Thespians Go Hollywood Gala

Off the heels of Lifetime's Fall Ripped from the Headlines slate which reached 16.4 million Total Viewers*, Lifetime has ordered three new original movies to join the network's Winter 2020 Ripped from The Headlines slate of five movies centered on true-life events. Starring Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominee Nia Vardalos, Poisoned Love: The Stacey Castor Story follows the tale of a woman whose black widow tendencies are revealed with her murder plots to take down her ex-husbands and daughter. Also greenlit is the psychological thriller The Neighbor in the Window (wt), the story of a suburban wife who finds herself and the security of her family threatened by another seemingly friendly neighborhood mom, starring Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Jenn Lyon. The slate includes You Can't Take My Daughter, an inspiring story about a young woman who fought to keep her rapist from gaining custody of her daughter, starring SAG nominee Lyndsy Fonseca and Golden Globe and Emmy winner Kirstie Alley.

ABC embraces the season with the upcoming original holiday movie a?oeSame Time, Next Christmas,a?? which premieres on Thursday, Dec. 5, at 9:00-11:00 p.m. EST. The soon-to-be fan-favorite holiday film will also rebroadcast on ABC on Monday, Dec. 23, at 8:00-10:00 p.m. EST, as well as on Freeform as part of their a?oe25 Days of Christmasa?? programming. You can also watch the movie via streaming on ABC.com, the ABC app and Hulu. 

The Educational Theatre Foundation (ETF) will honor Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures with the ETF Entertainment Industry Award, at Thespians Go Hollywood, Monday, November 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Avalon Hollywood. The annual benefit supports theatre education programs for schools in need by bringing together film, theatre, and television professionals with current high school students in a cabaret show that is entertaining, inspiring and not-to-be-missed.

ABC is the home for unforgettable holiday programming as the network celebrates the joy of the season. In November, the network serves up a bounty of Thanksgiving-themed episodes and the classic animated special “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.” In December, ABC decks the halls with special Christmas and Hanukkah-themed episodes—the return of fan-favorite series “The Great Christmas Light Fight” and “The Great American Baking Show: Holiday Edition”; and an all-new holiday movie, “Same Time, Next Christmas,” starring Lea Michele. Timeless cartoons and beloved holiday films will also return. The fun continues after Christmas with New Year's-themed programming ringing in 2020. 

Cheryl Strayed's TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS, the best selling book that collects the highlights of The Rumpus's “Dear Sugar” advice columns, is loved for its insight, humor, and compassion. Nia Vardalos, the star of MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING, along with Marshall Heyman and Thomas Kail, co-conceived a stage version inspired by Strayed's beloved book.  TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS, the play, makes its Philadelphia premiere at Arden Theatre Company this fall.  The production runs now through December 8 at the Arcadia Stage. 

ABC embraces the season with the upcoming original holiday movie “Same Time, Next Christmas,” which premieres on Thursday, Dec. 5, at 9:00-11:00 p.m. EST. The soon-to-be fan-favorite holiday film will also rebroadcast on ABC on Monday, Dec. 23, at 8:00-10:00 p.m. EST, as well as on Freeform as part of their “25 Days of Christmas” programming. You can also watch the movie via streaming on ABC.com, the ABC app and Hulu.

The Fine Arts Center Theatre Company is excited to present a?oeTiny Beautiful Things,a?? Nov. 8-Dec. 1, 2019. The play is based on the book by Cheryl Strayed (adapted for the stage by Nia Vardalos) and directed by Henry award-winner Christy Montour-Larson.

The Educational Theatre Foundation (ETF) will honor award-winning actress Bernadette Peters at the non-profit's annual 'Thespians Go Hollywood' benefit, which raises awareness and funds for theatre programs in underserved schools across the country. 

Due to popular demand, Victory Gardens Theater announces the extension of its critically acclaimed production of Tiny Beautiful Things, based on the book by Cheryl Strayed, adapted for the stage by Nia Vardalos, co-conceived by Marshall Heyman, Thomas Kail, Nia Vardalos and directed by Vanessa Stalling. Tiny Beautiful Things now runs through October 20, 2019, at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Cheryl Strayed, author of the Oprah-sanctioned book Wild (later turned into an Oscar nominated film starring Reese Witherspoon), spent some time as an online advice columnist known as Sugar. During her tenure, Dear Sugar became a must-read site, known for dispensing advice with grace, humor, and a deep, deep empathy for the advice-seekers. After her time as a?oeDear Sugara?? ended, Strayed turned her experiences into the best-selling book, Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar.

The Consul General of Canada Mr. Zaib Shaikh and his wife Kirstine Stewart celebrated the 70+ Canadian Emmy nominations last evening at the official Canadian Residence in Los Angeles last evening (Saturday, September 21).

TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS lives in that unique space between the everyday and the extraordinary.

American Theatre magazine, published by Theatre Communications Group, has just released its annual lists of the Top 10 Most-Produced Plays and Top 20 Most-Produced Playwrights for the 2019/2020 season.

TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS is a play that will make you laugh, tug at your heartstrings, teach you to appreciate little things while not sweating the small stuff, and, ultimately, make you glad you decided to spend 85 minutes at the theater. The season-opener at Merrimack Repertory Theatre is based on the memoir by Cheryl Strayed, a?oeTiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar,a?? and adapted for the stage by Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding). Living up to their newly-minted mission statement at the starting gate, Merrimack a?oebring(s) joy to our art forma?? with the dramatization of real letters submitted to Strayed's advice column and her empathetic, down-to-earth responses.

BRON Studios, along with Rita Wilson (Mamma Mia, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 1 &2) and Rare Bird Films (Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie) are set to produce DREAM DOLL, the life story of Ruth Handler, who created the Barbie Doll.  Academy Award nominee Melisa Wallack (Dallas Buyers Club) is writing the feature film based on Handler's memoir Dream Doll: The Ruth Handler Story.  Aaron L. Gilbert will produce for BRON Studios. Along with BRON and Wilson, Cristan Crocker and Andrea Nevins will produce for Rare Bird Films.  BRON's Anjay Nagpal and Steven Thibault are executive producers and Solome Williams and Jordan Moldo will oversee development.

Victory Gardens Theater kicks-off its 45th Anniversary season with the Chicago Premiere of Tiny Beautiful Things, based on the book by Cheryl Strayed, adapted for the stage by Nia Vardalos and co-conceived by Marshall Heyman, Thomas Kail and Nia Vardalos and directed by Vanessa Stalling. Tiny Beautiful Things runs September 6 - October 13, 2019, with press performance on Friday, September 13, 2019 at 7:30pm at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Following its Tony-nominated hit Broadway run seen by tens of thousands, Tony Award winner John Leguizamo's one-man play “Latin History for Morons” will be presented by Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles from September 5 through October 20, 2019. See photos from opening night!