Shirley MacLaine News

In recognition of her outstanding lifetime contribution to American culture, Martina Arroyo was saluted as one of five recipients of this year's Kennedy Center Honors in a star-studded gala celebration held on December 8 that will be broadcast nationwide as a two-hour prime time special on CBS-TV this Sunday, December 29 at 9pm, ET/PT. Seated with President and Mrs. Obama at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, as well as with her fellow honorees (actress Shirley MacLaine and musicians Herbie Hancock, Billy Joel and Carlos Santana), the pre-eminent American soprano was introduced in a speech by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who also narrated a short video about Arroyo. She was then saluted by a musical tribute celebrating her legendary portrayal of the title role in Verdi's Aida. First, Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja performed Radames's aria 'Celeste Aida,' and soprano Sondra Radvanovsky sang Aida's aria 'O patria mia.' Then the two star singers were joined by graduates of the Martina Arroyo Foundation's programs-Ryan Speedo Green, Chantelle Grant, Robert Kerr, and Yuriy Yurchuk-as well as the Army Herald Trumpets and the U.S. Naval Academy Glee Club, to perform the opera's Act II finale.

Today we are talking to a standout star of the internationally adored period-set drama series DOWNTON ABBEY all about her unforgettable character on the show as well as what we can expect from the highly anticipated upcoming extended Christmas episode - the convivial Lesley Nicol. Looking back at an incredibly accomplished career thus far, Nicol shares some insights on her favorite TV and film roles to date while also casting a glance back at some of her most memorable stage performances - as an original cast member of the inaugural West End JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR as well as a multi-year run in long-running hi MAMMA MIA! included. Most importantly, Nicol outlines the finer points of her charming and committed characterization of the belabored chef of Downton Abbey itself and imparts her enthusiasm and enjoyment with the delectable and dramatic storylines conjured up by creator Julian Fellowes as well as shares some of her own favorite scene partners and events in the show's rich history. Additionally, Nicol clues us in on this year's Christmas ep and her own impressions of this year's sequence of events just as US viewers gear up for the first stateside showings of Season 4, starting in early 2014. Plus, Nicol looks ahead to DOWNTON ABBEY Season 5, set to film in 2014, and beyond. All of that and much, much more awaits!

Grammy and Emmy award winner John McDaniel celebrates his St. Louis roots, debuting his new show, HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, featuring special guests Mary Beth Black and Cindy Degnan. The show will take place tonight, December 20th, at 7 PM at the Kranzberg Arts Center, N. Grand Boulevard, St Louis, MO 63103.

Alice Ripley won a Tony Award for her leading role in the Pulitzer Prize winning musical "Next to Normal," and was a Tony-nominee for the musical "Sideshow" on Broadway. This January, she joins the star-studded lineup of the celebrated Broadway at NOCCA series, on January 6, 2014 at 7:00 PM for one show only. Jessica Means joins her at piano. For tickets please visit http://www.broadwaynola.com/ or call 1-800-838-3006. This holiday season, NOCCA is making available tickets to two Tony-winners for the price of one. Both Alice Ripley and Sutton Foster may be purchased together with The Broadway @ NOCCA Holiday Pass for just $50.

In celebration of the Season 4 of Downton Abbey, the PBS hit TV series which starts in January 2014, Hotel Viking will once again offer the special Downton Abbey Tea in addition to their regular tea service, a tradition at the hotel since 2005. The Downton Abbey Tea is available on Saturdays and Sundays from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. from January 18th through until February 23, 2014 when the 4th season of the award-winning PBS drama ends. The Downton Abbey Tea includes an assortment of freshly prepared tea sandwiches, assorted scones served with lemon curd, a selection of freshly baked tea breads, chocolate truffles and a glass of Kir Royale. Guests can sign up to win DVD's of the first three seasons of the award-winning, immensely popular PBS series created by Julian Fellows. To indulge in the Downton Abbey Tea Time, which is $15.95 per person not including tax or gratuity, call 401-848-4824 to make reservations.

There's a lightning-in-a-bottle quality that permeates Steel Magnolias. With a cast that includes Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis, and Julia Roberts, it's no surprise that the film version was such a hit and continues to be an enduring classic. But the true power of Steel Magnolias is its story and themes of the bonds between women, and that's exactly why City Theatre's production of the play is such a success. Director Andy Berkovsky and his incredible cast of six aren't interested in replicating Sally, Dolly, Shirley, Daryl, Olympia, and Julia. They're interested in creating original characters with deep friendships.

Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja gave a very special surprise performance at last night's presentation of the 2013 Kennedy Center Honors.

Below are the official remarks by President Obama at the 2013 KENNEDY CENTER HONORS reception, held Sunday, December 8th from the East Room of The White House

The Chicago Jazz Orchestra (CJO) under the direction of Jeff Lindberg is excited and honored to have been chosen to perform at the 36th Annual Kennedy Center Honors Gala tonight, December 8, 2013 in Washington, D.C. This performance marks the 25th consecutive year that the CJO has been chosen for this singular honor.

The eagerly anticipated annual Downton Abbey Christmas special is nearly upon us at long last and the first trailer for the spectacular new entry in the hit period series is now available to view, featuring familiar faces as well as more than merely a few new surprises.

SPOILER ALERT! 'Downton Abbey' has just released the new teaser for its upcoming season 4 Christmas special, which will air for two hours on ITV on December 25th. But if you live in the US and haven't seen season 4, you might want to steer clear of the teaser for now to avoid spoilers. The Christmas special will air here as the final episode of season 4's run on PBS' Masterpiece. Season 4 begins January 5, 2014. Click below to watch the teaser!

The King Center for the Performing Arts and WUCF TV, Central Florida's PBS station, are hosting a free screening of the first hour of Season 4 British drama 'Downton Abbey' before it airs January 5th on television stations around the country.

Below, check out clips from PBS in which the cast and creators talk about the new season which Season premieres Sunday, Jan. 5 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on PBS.

RETURN TO DOWNTON ABBEY premieres tonight, December 1, 2013 at 9:00 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings).

In an interview with Boston Common magazine this week, DOWNTON ABBEY star Michelle Dockery talked about the success of the historical drama and how it has changed her life.

Brenda Knight, publisher and founder of Viva Editions, an imprint of Cleis Press, will be appearing on the national radio show Coast to Coast AM with George Noory on Thanksgiving night at 10pm PST to discuss her new book The Grateful Table: Blessings, Prayers and Graces for the Daily Meal. She will also discuss legends from the town she grew up in, Point Pleasant, West Virginia, which was where the mythical Native America figure of the Mothman was first spotted. Shelf Awareness also featured the interview.

Grammy and Emmy award winner John McDaniel celebrates his St. Louis roots, debuting his new show, HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, featuring special guests Mary Beth Black and Cindy Degnan. The show will take place on Friday, December 20th, at 7 PM at the Kranzberg Arts Center, N. Grand Boulevard, St Louis, MO 63103.

The Heath Show is a one man, high envergy, original character sketch comedy. Heath has toured internationally as a comedy headliner and has opened for entertainment greats such as Michael Buble, Ray Charles, Wynonna Judd, and Brooks and Dunn. He is known for his unique, show-stopping work as a headlining act for Disney Cruise Lines.

In recognition of her outstanding lifetime contribution to American culture, Martina Arroyo will be one of five recipients of this year's Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, December 8 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. Seated with President and Mrs. Obama, as well as with her fellow Honorees (actress Shirley MacLaine and musicians Herbie Hancock, Billy Joel, and Carlos Santana), the pre-eminent American soprano will be saluted with performances and tributes during the star-studded gala celebration that will be broadcast nationwide as a two-hour prime time special on CBS-TV (Dec 29 at 9pm, EST). The honor is a fitting one, for Arroyo has devoted herself to opera over the course of a decades-long career. Since retiring from the stage, where her voice was heralded by the New York Times as "among the most glorious in the world," the Harlem-born soprano has continued to serve the art form through the Martina Arroyo Foundation, the non-profit cultural organization she established ten years ago to provide new generations of talented young singers with the tools to pursue careers in opera and prepare them for the stage.

54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Cabaret and Broadway favorites Jeff Harnar, Linda Hart, Nicolas King and Jennifer Sheehan in 'COME FLY WITH ME' tonight, November 21, 2013.