Robin Williams News

Feb. 11 marks six months since we learned of the suicide death of one of our favorite actors, Robin Williams. We were all stunned and heartbroken. Since Williams' death, approximately 20,000 people in the United States have died by suicide (afsp.org). Author Wendy Parmley understands too well the devastating effects of suicide. In her book, Hope after Suicide: One Woman's Journey from Darkness to Light, released the day after Williams' death, Parmley details her own healing journey following the suicide death of her mother nearly 40 years ago. She was 12 at the time, and her mother was just 31.

The Unauthorized Harry Experience - A Parody by Dan and Jeff, written and performed by two-time Olivier Award-nominated actors Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner, comes to Jacksonville's Times-Union Center's Terry Theater from Tuesday, April 7-Sunday, April 12 for eight performances only! Tickets go on sale Friday, February 13 at 10AM through the FSCJ Artist Series, sponsored by Chase, the official presenter of the Jacksonville show.

Last night's GRAMMYS paid tribute to the artists who have passed away over the course of the year. Below, watch the annual In Memoriam tribute.

Tony Award winner Dame Edna stopped by this week's THE TALK on CBS to discuss her amazing career in show business spanning six decades and how the late Joan Rivers helped her get her start.

Melissa Leo returns to Penny Templeton Studio for a two-day Master Class Workshop on the craft of acting, Saturday, March 28th and Sunday, March 29th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Chicagoland's longest running musical theatre, The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, IL, kicks off their 40th anniversary 2015 season with one of Broadway's all-time biggest hits, La Cage aux Folles.

Chicagoland's longest running musical theatre, The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, IL, kicks off their 40th anniversary 2015 season with one of Broadway's all-time biggest hits, La Cage aux Folles. The 11-time Tony Award-winning musical, the first to win Best Musical three times, opens tonight, February 4, and runs through March 22, 2015. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Chicagoland's longest running musical theatre, The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, IL, kicks off their 40th anniversary 2015 season with one of Broadway's all-time biggest hits, La Cage aux Folles. The 11-time Tony Award-winning musical, the first to win Best Musical three times, is currently in previews and opens February 4, running through March 22, 2015. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The hilarious and poignant musical LA CAGE AUX FOLLES is coming to StarStruck Theatre! Directed by Jennifer Jones with live musical accompaniment by Peter Jones, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES will be THE musical of the season! The cast is led by 2011 & 2013 BroadwayWorld Award Winner Josh Rhett Noble* in the role of 'Albin/Zaza' and Doug Jabara* as 'Georges'. The cast also features New York actors Matt McClure, William Stanley and Santino DeAngelo with local powerhouse talents Jean & Jessica Ferreira, James Channing, Sharon Owens, Michael Izzolo, Mary Murphy and more!

Hotel Nikko San Francisco and Michael Feinstein are honored to welcome Tony and Grammy Award-winning singer, composer, actor, playwright and director Billy Porter to Feinstein's at the Nikko for three performances only - tonight, January 30 (8 p.m.); Saturday, January 31 (7 p.m.) and Sunday, February 1 (7 p.m.). Porter will perform songs from his new critically acclaimed album, 'Billy's Back on Broadway,' as well some of his other favorites!

At first glance, the musicals THE COLOR PURPLE, CALVIN BERGER, and LA CAGE AUX FOLLES may not seem to have much in common. The settings couldn't be more different - the rural South in the early 20th century, a modern day high school, and a drag club in 1970s France. But since I happened to see them all on the same weekend, I couldn't help but draw parallels between them. All three musicals all speak to themes of beauty, identity, self-worth, and having the courage to be who you really are, despite what the world is telling you. In THE COLOR PURPLE, a young, poor, black woman is told that she's ugly and worthless, but after a lifelong journey she arrives at a place of strength and self-love. CALVIN BERGER sets the classic play Cyrano de Bergerac in a modern high school, where a young man feels that his large nose prevents him from getting what he wants in life and chooses to hide behind the handsome popular guy, both of whom eventually learn it's better to be loved for who you are. Finally, in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, a middle aged man who feels more comfortable dressed as a woman is asked by his own son to hide who he is, but confidently declares 'I am who I am!' Another thing these three musicals have in common is that they can all currently be seen on Twin Cities stages featuring talented local casts. Read on for more details on each, pick one that suits your fancy, and go see a local musical that just may inspire you to love you you really are!

The hilarious and poignant musical LA CAGE AUX FOLLES is coming to StarStruck Theatre! Directed by Jennifer Jones with live musical accompaniment by Peter Jones, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES will be THE musical of the season! The cast is led by 2011 & 2013 BroadwayWorld Award Winner Josh Rhett Noble* in the role of 'Albin/Zaza' and Doug Jabara* as 'Georges'. The cast also features New York actors Matt McClure, William Stanley and Santino DeAngelo with local powerhouse talents Jean & Jessica Ferreira, James Channing, Sharon Owens, Michael Izzolo, Mary Murphy and more!

?Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts (PTPA) will present Academy Award-nominated actor Chazz Palminteri in his critically acclaimed one man performance, 'A Bronx Tale,' on Sunday, March 8, at 3 p.m. Ticket proceeds benefit the Patchogue Knights of Columbus Council #725.

New York's treasured radio and TV host Joe Franklin died on Saturday, Jan. 24, from prostate cancer. He was 88.

'Dame Edna's Glorious Goodbye -The Farewell Tour,' begins previews at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre tonight, January 24, opens January 28 and continues through March 15, 2015. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the Dame onstage!

'Dame Edna's Glorious Goodbye -The Farewell Tour,' begins previews at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre on January 24, opens January 28 and continues through March 15, 2015. Check out the video below of her career history!

Alan Menken, who just boarded Broadway's HAPPY TRAILS creative team, confirmed to Entertainment Weekly today that he is also collaborating with David Zippel and Harvey Fierstein on a musical adaptation of MRS. DOUBTFIRE.

In a side-splitting, historic finale, Dame Edna Everage (Barry Humphries) is capping a spectacular career spanning 50 years of bravura showmanship in this farewell celebratory show at the Moore Theatre, this weekend, January 15-18, 2015. Dame Edna's Glorious Goodbye - The Farewell Tour will give audiences the chance to bid farewell to the incomparable Dame Edna, arguably Australia's greatest entertainment export.

Brad Williams will appear at Comedy Works Downtown in Larimer Square, tonight, January 14 - 17.