Steve Martin News

NBC's 30 ROCK, which achieved impressive ratings and critical acclaim with its first live episode in 2010 - goes live again on Thursday, April 26 (8:30-9 p.m. ET) from the iconic Studio 8H in Rockefeller Center in New York.

Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton and Lionel Richie, Rascal Flatts and Steve Martin, and Toby Keith with surprise Las Vegas guest performers are set to perform a variety of special duets and collaborations on the 47th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, April 1 (8:00-11:00 PM live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network.

North Coast Repertory Theatre announces its 31st Season. Visit http://northcoastrep.org/ for more information.

The Public Theater has announced additional casting today for the 50th Anniversary season of free Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte. David Furr (Orlando) and Stephen Spinella (Jaques) join the previously announced MacIntyre Dixon (Adam), Renee Elise Goldsberry (Celia), Omar Metwally (Oliver), and Lily Rabe (Rosalind) in Shakespeare's comedy AS YOU LIKE IT, directed by Daniel Sullivan.

The Wilmington Drama League presents Picasso at the Lapin Agile, written by Steve Martin and directed by Jean Eggen from March 16 - 31, 2012.

The Gladstone will present THE COMMUNICATION CORD by Brian Friel and directed by John P. Kelly from March 28th through April 14th.

Martin Short performs his one-man show, An Evening with Martin Short, this Saturday, March 31, at 8 p.m., in Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts.

The best in digital comedy is celebrated and honored as the digital nominations for the second annual 'The Comedy Awards' were announced today, recognizing the outstanding work available every day in the world of digital comedy.

MotorCity Casino Hotel welcomes Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers to Sound Board on Thursday June 28 at 8:00 p.m Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers is a bluegrass band that released its first collaborative album "Rare Bird Alert" in March, 2011. The record debuted at #1 on Billboard's Bluegrass Chart and #43 on the Billboard's Top 200. On September 29, 2011, Steve Martin and the Rangers jointly won the 'Entertainers of-the-Year' award at the International Bluegrass Music Association Awards.

A likely return to TV in a new comedy series has forced LILY TOMLIN to postpone her performance at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County, which was originally scheduled for April 15, 2012, and will now take place on May 6, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. in the John S. and James L. Knight Concert Hall. As a part in the Center's 2011-2012 Comedy Planet Series, LILY TOMLIN's performances are always filled with unforgettable laughter.

Lily Tomlin and her longtime partner, writer Jane Wagner, were honored with the 345th star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars on Friday.

The Mirage Hotel & Casino will welcome Emmy Award-winning actor and master of slapstick comedy Martin Short to the Terry Fator Theatre as he makes his Aces of Comedy debut June 29 - 30. Short, who has appeared on the small screen, in feature films and on Broadway, is widely known for his comedic, sidekick roles such as the character "Franck" in Steve Martin's "Father of the Bride" series.

The Gladstone will present THE COMMUNICATION CORD by Brian Friel and directed by John P. Kelly from March 28th through April 14th.

Classic Stage Company's upcoming production of Bertolt Brecht's GALILEO (translated by Charles Laughton) starring Academy Award winner F. Murray Abraham closes on Sunday, March 18.

Hunter Parrish will release his debut album April 17, which is preceded by his single. Listen to the single, Sitting at Home, in the video below!

Two-time Golden Globe® winner, Academy Award® & Tony Award® nominee Kathleen Turner returns to Toronto in the National Tour of Matthew Lombardo's play HIGH, May 8-13, 2012 at The Royal Alexandra Theatre. Directed by Rob Ruggiero, HIGH also features Evan Jonigkeit as "Cody Randall" and Timothy Altmeyer as "Father Michael Delpapp".

A likely return to TV in a new comedy series has forced LILY TOMLIN to postpone her performance at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County, which was originally scheduled for April 15, 2012, and will now take place on May 6, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. in the John S. and James L. Knight Concert Hall. As a part in the Center's 2011-2012 Comedy Planet Series, LILY TOMLIN's performances are always filled with unforgettable laughter.

It is a rare enough occurrence for a genuine born and bred Broadway star to emerge post-millennium, but one as astonishingly versatile as Raul Esparza, having scored accolades since his blazing debut in a string of hit plays and musicals, ranging from Mamet and Sondheim and Pinter to CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG and his aforementioned Broadway bow in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, is a downright cause for celebration. Esparza makes his grand return to the Broadway stage in a musical with his upcoming starring role in Alan Menken & Glenn Slater's adaptation of the Steve Martin film LEAP OF FAITH, featuring a country and gospel influenced score and a spirited, energetic production by Christopher Ashley (who, incidentally, helmed Esparza's first Broadway show, ROCKY HORROR). While Esparza has been seen in many - most, if not quite all - Broadway seasons in the decade since 2001, he has also scored in leading roles in regional productions such as 2002's spectacular SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE and MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG revivals, part of the unprecedented Sondheim Celebration, as well as the Cincinnati Playhouse COMPANY, directed by John Doyle, which transferred to Broadway and was subsequently preserved on DVD and Blu-ray, in addition to being presented on PBS as part of Great Performances. Besides Esparza's many notable musical revival performances (lest we forget his essaying of the Emcee in CABARET), he also created the Broadway iterations of his roles in the controversial and brilliantly scored TABOO, produced by Rosie O'Donnell and composed by Boy George, as well as the stage adaptation of the hit family classic CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, as well as originating the lead role in TICK, TICK...BOOM! Having played three of Sondheim's most memorable male roles was not enough, though, apparently, for Esparza recently took on the part of the hapless Hapgood in Sondheim's ANYONE CAN WHISTLE when it was revived at City Center's Encores! - with Tony-winners Donna Murphy and Sutton Foster his co-stars, no less - with much success. Yet, in one of a myriad of examples of the broad spectrum of Esparza's abilities, it is instructive to remember he first made a name for himself with the role of Che in an Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice show, directed by no less than the ultimate man of the theatre himself, Harold Prince - EVITA, which, of course, is being revived this season with Ricky Martin in the role of Che. Besides Esparza's many musical roles throughout the past decade and prior, he has also carved out a seriously impressive straight drama resume, having appeared in plays by the great playwrights of our age, such as Pinter (THE HOMECOMING), Mamet (SPEED-THE-PLOW), Stoppard (ARCADIA) and, the greatest of all, Shakespeare (AS YOU LIKE IT, part of Shakespeare In The Park). ROCKY HORROR to ARCADIA to, now, with LEAP OF FAITH, Esparza constantly and consistently surprises fans and audiences alike with his audacious choice in roles and electrifying performances that are indelibly enjoyable in their uniqueness, variety and sheer breadth of emotion - time and time again. Yes, indeed, Raul Esparza is the best of the best Broadway has to offer, so let us hope LEAP OF FAITH is the ideal star vehicle for one of the most charismatic and multi-talented leading men of the 21st century and that it brings him his well-deserved Best Actor Tony at last.

The Public Theater announced the dates today for the 50th Anniversary season of free Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte. AS YOU LIKE IT, directed by Daniel Sullivan, will begin previews on Tuesday, June 5 and continue for four weeks through Saturday, June 30. Joining the previously announced Lily Rabe (Rosalind) will be Macintyre Dixon (Adam); Renee Elise Goldsberry (Celia); and Omar Metwally (Oliver).

Ravinia Festival President and CEO Welz Kauffman announced the festival's 2012 season, which offers more than 100 separate events exemplifying most musical genres, including the 77th residency of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The summer boasts a variety of music's legends from Philip Glass to James Taylor, along with 43 debuts, including Glee and Wicked star Idina Menzel, reggae master Jimmy Cliff, classic rocker Santana, Grammy-and-Oscar sensation Esperanza Spalding, and Musical America's "conductor of the year" Jaap van Zweden. Ravinia Music Director James Conlon celebrates the 35th anniversary of his own festival debut as his contract is extended through 2014.