Tony Schwartz

BlackRock Center for the Arts has announced its 22nd season of programming as a dedicated hub for inspiring performing and visual arts experiences in the most diverse county in the United States, Montgomery County, Md.   

Daisy tells the true story of the controversial ad campaign surrounding Lyndon B. Johnson's presidential run in 1964. The attack ad that was created to support Johnson used fear marketing, playing on people's emotions to convince them that a vote for Johnson's rival, Barry Goldwater, would send America into nuclear war.

Almost 20 months ago, GCTC opened Sean Devine's Daisy, a play about the creation of the first modern political attack ad. One day later, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the theatre to close. Since then, the show has been dark. But the wait is nearly over. 

In March 2020, Great Canadian Theatre Company (GCTC) opened the Canadian premiere of Sean Devine's Daisy, only to close it the very next day due to the pandemic. This December, the play will triumphantly return to the stage as the first show of GCTC's much anticipated 2021-22 season, and marks the theatre's return to in-person theatre after a 20-month hiatus.

Based on true events and strikingly relevant today, DAISY explores the moment in TV history when the political attack ad was born. In the autumn of 1964, one year after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, bloody turmoil over Civil Rights was spilling onto the streets, a fearful ideology that made the threat of nuclear war palpable was growing from the conservative right, and a skirmish in the far-off nation of Vietnam wouldn't go away. With the presidential election looming, an advertising agency working for Lyndon Johnson unleashed the most devastating political commercial ever conceived, the 'Daisy' ad.

As the final weeks of the presidential campaign draw to a close, International City Theatre will stream a virtual presentation of Daisy, a fascinating look at the creation of and psychology behind TV's first political attack ad.

Daisy tells the true story of the first modern political attack ad: the a?oeDaisya?? ad commissioned by the White House to help Lyndon Johnson win the 1964 presidential race against Barry Goldwater. The firm they chose was Madison Avenue's Doyle Dane Bernbach (DDB), who created an ad that swept through the public consciousness like an atomic shockwave.

A&E Network will premiere the six-hour documentary series “Biography: The Trump Dynasty” drawing from first-hand accounts and never-before-seen archival footage that examine the life and heritage of the 45th President of the United States. As part of the network's award-winning Biography series, the documentary spans three generations of the Trump family saga and offers an in-depth exploration of the influences that shaped Donald Trump's personality, celebrity, and ambition in business and politics. “Biography: The Trump Dynasty” premieres Monday, February 25 at 9PM ET/PT and airs over three consecutive nights.

Boulder-based Local Theater Company(Local) announces selections for its eighth annual Local Lab New Play Festival taking place March 15-17 at Dairy ARTS Center, including 'Flame Broiled. or the ugly play,' by Broadway actor and Colorado resident Rodney Hicks, 'Discount Ghost Stories' by Alexander Sage Oyen and Colorado resident Jessica Kahkoska, and 'Orange Crush' by Daniel Goldstein, presented in partnership with Roundabout Theatre in New York City.

National Alliance for Musical Theatre has announced initial casting for the 30th Annual FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS, which takes place on Thursday, October 25 and Friday, October 26, 2018 at New World Stages

National Alliance for Musical Theatre announces the line-up of directors for their 30th Annual FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS, which takes place on Thursday, October 25 and Friday, October 26, 2018 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues). The Festival events will kick off on Monday, October 22 with Thank You, 30!, a gala event to celebrate the 30th Annual Festival.

National Alliance for Musical Theatre (Betsy King Militello, Executive Director) is thrilled to announce the line-up of new musicals for their 30th Annual FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS, which takes place on Thursday, October 25 and Friday, October 26, 2018 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues). The Festival events will kick off on Monday, October 22 with Thank You, 30!, a gala event to celebrate the 30th Annual Festival.

DAISY is an interrogation of the current political arena, which is fun to watch, even when a dubious argument is presented.

In our current political climate where candidates regularly hurl insults at each other on things such as penis size it's hard to remember that politics used to be about the candidate's stand on issues as well. So when did that change? When did we go from building up our own candidate in an ad to tearing down the other candidate with scandal, derision and fear? ACT might have the answer to that with their world premiere play "Daisy" that takes a look into the creation of one of the most infamous political ads and one of the first attack ads ever created.

With a Presidential election looming, a group of advertisers working for Lyndon B. Johnson unleash the most infamous political commercial ever conceived, the "Daisy ad". The ad played once, but it carved a scar into the American psyche. Based on actual persons and events, ACT presents the world premiere of political thriller Daisy by Sean Devine. This explosive play explores the power of manipulation in advertising and the clear moment in television history that launched the age of negative attack ads, and forever changed how we elect our leaders.

Take a walk down memory lane with Lucy, Ricky, Fred, and Ethel when the Castle Craig Players present TROUBLE AT THE TROPICABANA, an audience participation murder mystery by Tony Schwartz and Marylou Ambrose. This hilarious spoof on the classic TV series 'I Love Lucy' will run for two weekends only - February 26-March 6 - at the group's intimate Meriden venue.

'In Thrive, Arianna urges all of us to get in touch with who we really are so that we can live life on our own terms. From the importance of sleep to the imperative to listen to our own inner voice for ways to deal with the daily time crunches we all feel, this book lays out a path for each of us to look within and make our lives more authentic and fulfilling.' -Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook COO and author of Lean In