Olympia Dukakis News

The Lynne Show's next two interviewees have won awards for their work in theater, film and TV. They are honored and respected by their colleagues. They have all struggled with and overcome significant obstacles, in order to achieve the skill they have achieved and the recognition of their peers. Another thing they have in common is their remarkable candor, openness, unselfconsciousness, self-deprecation and amazing generosity.

Today, September 9th, 2012, David Youse, FOUR THINGS PRODUCTIONS in association with L.A. WORKS will present an unprecedented staged reading of the critically-acclaimed play, "Steel Magnolias" at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica. In partnership with playwright Robert Harling, FOUR THINGS PRODUCTIONS is honored to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of this remarkable story written for Harling's sister whom he lost through complications of diabetes. This very special performance will be directed by two-time Tony Award winner Judith Ivey and will feature multiple Emmy nominee and Golden Globe-winning actress Frances Conroy, Golden Globe and Emmy-nominee Elizabeth Perkins, Jennifer Coolidge and Golden Globe and Emmy nominee Annie Potts, along with additional cast members to be announced shortly. Conroy is replacing the previously-announced Kathy Bates in the role of Ouiser due to a scheduling conflict.

The Milwaukee LGBT Film/Video Festival returns this October 18-21. This year's series will be the long running Festival's '2nd Annual 25th Anniversary Edition.'

Direct from its sold-out premiere in Los Angeles, American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) continues its 2012-13 season with A.C.T.

The Lynne Show's next three interviewees have all won awards for their work in theater, film and TV-Mary Testa, Ed Asner and Austin Pendleton.

Chance Theater presents the fourth show of its 2012 season with a biting new world premiere play, OVERLOOKED, written by Brian Nelson (the writer of the acclaimed film "Hard Candy") and directed by Marya Mazor.

On Sunday, September 9th, 2012, David Youse, FOUR THINGS PRODUCTIONS in association with L.A. WORKS will present an unprecedented staged reading of the critically-acclaimed play, "Steel Magnolias" at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica. In partnership with playwright Robert Harling, FOUR THINGS PRODUCTIONS is honored to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of this remarkable story written for Harling's sister whom he lost through complications of diabetes. This very special performance will be directed by two-time Tony Award winner Judith Ivey and will feature multiple Emmy nominee and Golden Globe-winning actress Frances Conroy, Golden Globe and Emmy-nominee Elizabeth Perkins, Jennifer Coolidge and Golden Globe and Emmy nominee Annie Potts. According to the reading's official website, Mae Whitman has also joined the cast, with Jill Larson acting as host.

The Starz network premieres the second season of its drama series BOSS, starring Kelsey Grammer as Mayor Tom Kane. Joining the cast this season will be Jonathan Groff in the role of Kane's young adviser Ian Todd, Sanaa Lathan and T.I. Check out the full-length trailer for the show below!

The Starz network released a full-length trailer for the upcoming second season of its drama series BOSS, starring Kelsey Grammer as Mayor Tom Kane. Joining the cast this season will be Jonathan Groff in the role of Kane's young adviser Ian Todd, Sanaa Lathan and T.I. Check out the clip below!

On Sunday, September 9th, 2012, David Youse, FOUR THINGS PRODUCTIONS in association with L.A. WORKS will present an unprecedented staged reading of the critically-acclaimed play, "Steel Magnolias" at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica. In partnership with playwright Robert Harling, FOUR THINGS PRODUCTIONS is honored to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of this remarkable story written for Harling's sister whom he lost through complications of diabetes. This very special performance will be directed by two-time Tony Award winner Judith Ivey and will feature multiple Emmy nominee and Golden Globe-winning actress Frances Conroy, Golden Globe and Emmy-nominee Elizabeth Perkins, Jennifer Coolidge and Golden Globe and Emmy nominee Annie Potts, along with additional cast members to be announced shortly. Conroy is replacing the previously-announced Kathy Bates in the role of Ouiser due to a scheduling conflict.

On Sunday, September 9th, 2012, David Youse, FOUR THINGS PRODUCTIONS in association with L.A. WORKS will present an unprecedented staged reading of the critically-acclaimed play, "Steel Magnolias" at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica. In partnership with playwright Robert Harling, FOUR THINGS PRODUCTIONS is honored to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of this remarkable story written for Harling's sister whom he lost through complications of diabetes. This very special performance will be directed by two-time Tony Award winner Judith Ivey and will feature Academy Award-winning actress Kathy Bates, Golden Globe and Emmy-nominee Elizabeth Perkins and Golden Globe and Emmy nominee Annie Potts along with additional cast members to be announced shortly.

Lorenzo Pisoni's celebrated one-man show, Humor Abuse, returns to American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) for an exclusive limited engagement.

Living in the South, there is an undeniable general cultural familiarity with the iconic film adaptation of STEEL MAGNOLIAS. With the utterance of those two words, images of Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis, and Julia Roberts spring to mind along with many of the movie's most quoted and loved lines. While others may be afraid to compete with the cultural memory, Stages Repertory Theatre, without trepidation and imitation, is housing a stellar, must see production of the beloved modern classic.

HERO Theatre previously announced that Joe Manganiello of HBO's True Blood and feature film Magic Mike would join Emmy Award winner William H. Macy, star of Showtime's Shameless and Academy Award nominee for Fargo, in a benefit reading of Tennessee Williams' "Small Craft Warnings", directed by John Frank Levey. The benefit will be held today, July 29 at 6pm at the Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica, Calif. The event will include a silent auction.

NewFest (www.newfest.org), New York's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Film Festival will soon roll out the rainbow carpet for its 24th season, from tonight, July 27th through Tuesday, July 31st. The stellar lineup includes fourteen narrative features, four documentaries and many anticipated short films. New this year, all screenings and panels will take place at Manhattan's film mecca, The Film Society of Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theater, marking a continued relationship between the two pioneering film organizations.

Soho Rep, in association with John Adrian Selzer, welcomes OBIE Award-winner Roberta Maxwell to the cast of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya tonight, July 25, replacing Rebecca Schull as Maria.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) Artistic Director Carey Perloff announced today the casting for the West Coast premiere of The Normal Heart, Larry Kramer's landmark play focusing on the early years of the AIDS crisis in New York City in the 1980s. Directed by five-time Tony Award winner George C. Wolfe, The Normal Heart unfolds like a real-life political thriller as a tight-knit group of friends refuse to let doctors, politicians, and the press bury the truth about an epidemic ravaging the gay community behind a wall of silence. The Normal Heart performs a limited run September 13-October 7, 2012, at the American Conservatory Theater (415 Geary Street, San Francisco). Press night is Wednesday, September 19, at 8 p.m. The Normal Heart is presented in association with Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater in Washington, D.C., by special arrangement with Daryl Roth.

HERO Theatre announced the full cast for their benefit staged reading of Tennessee Williams' "Small Craft Warnings" to be led by Emmy Award winner William H. Macy, star of Showtime's Shameless and Joe Manganiello of HBO's True Blood and feature film Magic Mike. The cast includes Tim Bagley, Stephanie Beatriz, Elisa Bocanegra, Dan Donohue, Brent Jennings, and Sam Murphy. The director is John Frank Levey. The benefit will be held on Sunday, July 29 at 6pm at the Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica, CA and will include a silent auction.

FREUD'S LAST SESSION, the runaway hit play by Mark St. Germain, ends its run on Sunday, July 22nd at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street). The date also marks the show's two-year anniversary. Upon the New York closing of FREUD'S LAST SESSION on July 22nd, the production will have played a total of 775 performances and eight previews.

Outfest 2012, the 30th Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, has announced that it will screen a never-before-broadcast episode of ABC's hit comedy show "Happy Endings." Following the screening, members of the cast and creating team will take part in a Q&A, including cast members Adam Pally (Max), Casey Wilson (Penny), Stephen Guarino (Derrick), as well as creator and executive producer David Caspe and executive producer Jonathan Groff. The panel and screening will take place today, July 22 at 1:00pm at the Director's Guild of America (DGA 1).