Ben Johnson News

Marin Theatre Company begins 2013 and the second half of its critically acclaimed 46th Season with Samuel Beckett's modern classic, Waiting for Godot, which runs from January 24 to February 17. MTC's artistic director Jasson Minadakis directs, returning to "this greatest of 20th-century plays" (The New York Times) over a decade after he first directed an "excellent, electrifying" (The Cincinnati Enquirer) production at Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival. MTC's production features a talented cast: Oregon Shakespeare Festival company member Mark Bedard, popular Bay Area actors James Carpenter and Mark Anderson Philips and Cirque du Soliel and Ringling Bros. clown Ben Johnson, as well as two local southern Marin youths. Opening night is on Tuesday, January 29.

Beyond Merritt, a short film directed by Reuben Johnson starring Alysia Rogers (Boyz N The Hood, Class Act), sets out to reveal startling facts about single moms and the battles they face with poverty and drug addiction.

The second concert of Accordo's 2012-13 season is a celebration of the great composer Debussy on his 150th birthday and includes works by Janácek, Ravel, Debussy, and Fauré, selected by members of the ensemble. Special guest Benjamin Hochman, acclaimed pianist and winner of 2011's prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant, will join the 'chamber music supergroup' (TC Daily Planet) for tonight's December 3 program.

Ben Johnson, Director of Northrop Concerts and Lectures at the University of Minnesota, announces his departure effective January 1, 2013 to accept a new position in Los Angeles as the Director of Programs for the United States Artists Foundation. In this position, Johnson will administer the prestigious USA Fellows program, which awards major $50,000 grants annually to 50 artists who work in film, theater, dance, music, design, visual arts, literature, and American craft. He will be directly engaged with USA Projects, which is an online micro-philanthropy platform for artists to raise funds for the creation of new projects.

The second concert of Accordo's 2012-13 season is a celebration of the great composer Debussy on his 150th birthday and includes works by Janácek, Ravel, Debussy, and Fauré, selected by members of the ensemble. Special guest Benjamin Hochman, acclaimed pianist and winner of 2011's prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant, will join the 'chamber music supergroup' (TC Daily Planet) for the December 3 program.

SPN Films' Broke, which kicked off the 30 for 30 Vol. II series on October 2, ranks as the highest-rated 30 for 30 documentary yet, delivering a 1.9 HH cvg rtg and 2.7M viewers. Broke is the second highest-rated and most viewed documentary on ESPN, only preceded by ESPN Films' The Fab Five. Many athletes and celebrities took to Twitter while the film aired Tuesday night, with LeBron James, Michael Vick, Dwyane Wade, John Wall, Logan Morrison, Graham Rahal and Roddy White among those tweeting to discuss and weigh in on the topic.

ESPN Films, creators of the Emmy-nominated and Peabody Award-winning 30 for 30 film series, has announced the schedule for the new slate of films in its 30 for 30 series, presented by Buick Verano. The series kicks off with Broke tonight, Oct. 2, at 8 p.m. on ESPN/ESPNHD and will air on consecutive Tuesday nights in October, concluding the 2012 run with one film airing in December after the Heisman Trophy Presentation. The 30 for 30 documentaries airing this fall are: Broke, 9.79*, There's No Place Like Home, Benji, Ghosts of Ole Miss, and You Don't Know Bo.

ESPN Films, creators of the Emmy-nominated and Peabody Award-winning 30 for 30 film series, has announced the schedule for the new slate of films in its 30 for 30 series, presented by Buick Verano. The series kicks off with Broke on Tuesday, Oct. 2, at 8 p.m. on ESPN/ESPNHD and will air on consecutive Tuesday nights in October, concluding the 2012 run with one film airing in December after the Heisman Trophy Presentation. The 30 for 30 documentaries airing this fall are: Broke, 9.79*, There's No Place Like Home, Benji, Ghosts of Ole Miss, and You Don't Know Bo.

Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will remember the life and career of Academy Award(R)-winning actor Ernest Borgnine with a 24-hour marathon of his films today, July 26.

The Glendale Centre Theatre continues its 2012 season with the heartwarming and poignant Tony Award-nominated On Golden Pond starring stage and screen veterans Andrew Prine and Salome Jens, tonight, July 12 through August 11, 2012 at the Glendale Centre Theatre in Glendale, Calif.

Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will remember the life and career of Academy Award(R)-winning actor Ernest Borgnine with a 24-hour marathon of his films on Thursday, July 26.

In anticipation of three-time Oscar-winning filmmaker Oliver Stone's return to the screen with the ferocious thriller Savages, the original motion picture soundtrack was released this week via iTunes. In stores as of July 3rd, the album features an eclectic group of musicians including legends such as Bob Dylan, Peter Tosh and Massive Attack, alongside the critically acclaimed Cut Copy and Yuna. Adam Peters, a former member of the groundbreaking band Echo and the Bunnymen, provides the unique dramatic score.

It's finally that time of year: grab your blanket, your friends, and your family and and head to the park for some summer Shakespeare! This Weekend: Beat the crowds and come this week for The Winter's Tale opening tonight, Thursday June 28.

The Glendale Centre Theatre continues its 2012 season with the heartwarming and poignant Tony Award-nominated On Golden Pond starring stage and screen veterans Andrew Prine and Salome Jens, July 12 through August 11, 2012 at the Glendale Centre Theatre in Glendale, Calif.

Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is celebrating this week's premiere of TNT's all-new series DALLAS by unveiling a 10-gallon list of the Top 10 Texas Movies.

Students of all ages can sign up for a summer of fun at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Classes abound in expanded offerings for kids and adults during the School of Theatre's summer session - plus, teens have a special opportunity to spend part of their break in a four-week Summer Intensive or the new Teen Actors Studio. Activities begin July 2 at the Theatre's performing-arts complex in downtown Berkeley.

Northrop Concerts and Lectures at the University of Minnesota presents the 58th Annual Summer Music Festival at Northrop 2012 (SMFN) on Northrop Plaza. A free, outdoor summer concert series, SMFN will 'Rock the Mall' by featuring well-known local musicians and DJs, alongside emerging U of M student bands. Curated by a U of M Student Advisory Committee with Northrop Concerts and Lectures, the line-up presents an eclectic sampling of musical genres including hip-hop, dance music, singer-songwriter, folk, Latin, and spoken word.

HAIRSPRAY, the Tony Award-winning musical, is presented at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, opening April 19 and running through June 17, 2012.

Gingold Theatrical Group's GOLDEN SHAMROCK GALA was held last night at The Players Club (16 Gramercy Park South), honoring the talents of playwright, Terrence McNally, actor, Brian Murray and, of course, George Bernard Shaw. BWW was there to cover this event. Check out the photos below!

Gingold Theatrical Group's GOLDEN SHAMROCK GALA will be held in the evening on Saturday, March 17 at the Players Club (16 Gramercy Park South), honoring the prodigious talents of playwright, Terrence McNally, actor, Brian Murray and, of course, George Bernard Shaw.