Anne Meara News

The 6th Annual Shorty Awards, handed out in New York last night, honor the best of social media, recognizing the people and organizations producing real-time short form content

Matt Okin, Artistic Director of Black Box Studios and its Ensemble, and Alex Diaz, Director of Education at The Performing Arts School at bergenPAC, announced the next fully-produced theatrical production to hit downtown Englewood this season, John Guare's House of Blue Leaves. House will run from March 27 through April 6, with performances Thursdays at 8pm, Saturdays at 9:30pm, and Sundays at 8pm, at the Van Brunt Studios of The Performing Arts School at bergenPAC, 30 North Van Brunt, just two doors away from the bergenPAC Mainstage. Tickets, $20.00 (with group rates available), go on sale on March 5th, at www.blackboxnynj.com/house.

Warner Archive Collection announces new releases!

Ted Sod: I was wondering if you'd tell us where you were born, where you were educated and when you decided to become a playwright.

In this humorous allegory for the AIDS crisis in the 1980s, Anna, an unmarried schoolteacher, is diagnosed with ATD (Acquired Toilet Disease). It's fatal and mysterious, so she and her brother Carl take off for a dream tour of Europe before the inevitable happens. As Anna drowns herself in the sensuality of food and sex, Carl becomes involved in a wild Third Mannish espionage scheme to find a cure for his sister. But the cracks in the story start to widen and soon the audience becomes aware that they are engaged in Anna's fantasy attempt at keeping her brother's spirit alive when she cannot save his life.

HBO Documentary Films presents a weekly series this fall, debuting provocative new specials every Monday, now through December 9. Featuring recently unearthed photographs, rediscovered performance footage and the words of entertainers and historians, WHOOPI GOLDBERG PRESENTS MOMS MABLEY includes interviews with Eddie Murphy, Joan Rivers, Sidney Poitier, Kathy Griffin, Harry Belafonte, Bill Cosby, Quincy Jones, Arsenio Hall, Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, who emphasize how Mabley paved the way for female comedians and performers everywhere in provocative stand-up routines that challenged racism, sexism and ageism. WHOOPI GOLDBERG PRESENTS MOMS MABLEY debuts as part of the HBO Documentary Films Fall Series on Monday, November 18. Watch a promo for the doc below!

Often referred to as 'the funniest woman in the world,' the iconic African-American standup comedienne Jackie 'Moms' Mabley broke racial and sexual boundaries and continues to inspire comedians to this day. In her directorial film debut, a modern-day comedy favorite pays homage to this pioneering talent when WHOOPI GOLDBERG PRESENTS MOMS MABLEY debuts MONDAY, NOV. 18 (9:00-10:15 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.

Stage and screen star Whoopi Goldberg was on hand at the BIG FISH opening last night, and while she was there she chatted with Richard Ridge about her upcoming projects. When asked if she would be returning to Broadway soon, she responded: 'Eventually I think I probably will, but it's gonna be a little while. I've just finished a documentary on Moms Mabley, so that would probably be the next thing that I would do on a stage.'

George Street Playhouse and Artistic Director David Saint have announced the casting of MARLO THOMAS, award-winning actress of stage and screen, in the world premiere production of Clever Little Lies, by Tony Award-winner JOE DiPIETRO (rescheduled from the 2012-13 season). Mr. Saint will helm the production, slated to take the stage in New Brunswick, November 19 - December 22. The remainder of the cast will be announced at a later date.

9 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick will be rockin' every night beginning September 24 with music and laughter. George Street Playhouse and Artistic Director David Saint have announced casting for the opening production for the venerable theatre's fortieth season. Gettin' The Band Back Together (formerly titled Garage Band) is a rockin' valentine to the Garden State, and will be directed by Tony Award-winner John Rando - who also helmed The Toxic Avenger in New Brunswick (and New York) a few seasons back. Gettin' The Band Back Together will rock the house beginning Tuesday, September 24 and continue through Sunday, October 27. Opening night is set for Friday, October 4. Gettin' The Band Back Together is performed by special arrangement with Davenport Theatrical Enterprises, Inc. and Roy Putrino.

If ever a show has become part of the 'fabric' of New York and pop culture, it is the Tony Award-winning musical AVENUE Q -- with its colorful cast of humans and puppets. The ground-breaking musical hits a new landmark this summer when it celebrates its 10th anniversary on Wednesday, July 31, 2013 with a 'Thank Q' to fans for the decade of laughter and love: starting at 10 a.m., the first 100 patrons in line can purchase $10 seats (cash only) to the special 7 p.m. 10th anniversary performance at New World Stages (340 W. 50 St.), where AVENUE Q has performed for the past four years following its triumphant six-year run on Broadway.

Groundbreaking actor, singer, dancer, author and educator Rita Moreno has been named the 50th recipient of SAG-AFTRA's highest tribute - the SAG Life Achievement Award for career achievement and humanitarian accomplishment.

A public memorial for actress Helen Hanft will be held on tonight, July 14 at 7 PM in the Ellington Room at Manhattan Plaza, 400 W. 43 St. (Ninth Ave. building).

If ever a show has become part of the 'fabric' of New York and pop culture, it is the Tony Award-winning musical AVENUE Q -- with its colorful cast of humans and puppets. The ground-breaking musical hits a new landmark this summer when it celebrates its 10th anniversary on Wednesday, July 31, 2013 with a 'Thank Q' to fans for the decade of laughter and love: starting at 10 a.m., the first 100 patrons in line can purchase $10 seats (cash only) to the special 7 p.m. 10th anniversary performance at New World Stages (340 W. 50 St.), where AVENUE Q has performed for the past four years following its triumphant six-year run on Broadway.

A public memorial for actress Helen Hanft will be held on Sunday, July 14 at 7 PM in the Ellington Room at Manhattan Plaza, 400 W. 43 St. (Ninth Ave. building).

HBO has acquired all U.S. broadcast and home video rights to MOMS MABLEY: I GOT SOMETHIN' TO TELL YOU, from first-time director Whoopi Goldberg, it was announced today by Sheila Nevins, president, HBO Documentary Films.

Playing on Air, a new public radio show that features short stage plays performed by great American actors, is now available online for listening, streaming and downloading.

Tony nominee Anne Meara guest-stars on NBC's LAW & ORDER: SVU tonight, December 5. The episode, titled "Dreams Deferred," also guest-stars Patricia Arquette.

Tonight, December 2, Rubicon Theatre Company will present a benefit performance of Love, Loss, and What I Wore with a star-studded cast of women including Emmy and Tony-winner Tyne Daly, Amy Peitz and Amanda McBroom.

Tony nominee Anne Meara guest-stars on NBC's LAW & ORDER: SVU on Wednesday, December 5. The episode, titled "Dreams Deferred," also guest-stars Patricia Arquette.