Bill Simmons News

ABC and ESPN will combine to present all five NBA Christmas Day Games, Tuesday, December 25. The blockbuster schedule is highlighted by ABC's first two NBA broadcasts of the season. The doubleheader will begin with the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant hosting the New York Knicks and Carmelo Anthony at 3 p.m. ET, followed by an NBA Finals rematch with the Miami Heat, led by LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, hosting the Oklahoma City Thunder and Kevin Durant at 5:30 p.m. Mike Tirico and analyst Hubie Brown will call the Finals rematch with Lisa Salters reporting. KIA NBA Countdown will precede the ABC doubleheader at 2:30 p.m. with Magic Johnson, Bill Simmons, Jalen Rose and Michael Wilbon.

The Fulton Theatre continues its 160th anniversary season with the Agatha Christie courtroom thriller Witness for the Prosecution. The play was subsequently adapted for film, directed by Billy Wilder and starring Marlene Dietrich and Tyrone Power, in his final film role. Christie is a popular playwright among Fulton Theatre audiences. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the show below.

KIA NBA COUNTDOWN - ESPN and ABC's NBA pre-game show - will present a new look this season when Grantland editor-in-chief Bill Simmons and ESPN analyst Jalen Rose join NBA Hall of Famer Earvin 'Magic' Johnson and Michael Wilbon.

The Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis has announced the 30th anniversary of the theatre. Events will be happening all season, but the last weekend in September will be a celebration of past, present and future board members, artists, staff and founders.

ESPN Films has announced the return this fall of the Emmy-nominated documentary series 30 for 30, and is also expanding the brand to include a 30-part digital short film series. 30 for 30 Shorts will be a collaboration with Bill Simmons' Grantland.com and will be similar to the feature-length films in that each piece will represent a specific point of view of the filmmaker and will be a reflection of how they blend the narrative with their own visual style.

The Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis has announced the 30th anniversary of the theatre. Events will be happening all season, but the last weekend in September will be a celebration of past, present and future board members, artists, staff and founders.

ESPN Films has announced the return this fall of the Emmy-nominated documentary series 30 for 30, and is also expanding the brand to include a 30-part digital short film series. 30 for 30 Shorts will be a collaboration with Bill Simmons' Grantland.com and will be similar to the feature-length films in that each piece will represent a specific point of view of the filmmaker and will be a reflection of how they blend the narrative with their own visual style.

The Purple Rose Theatre Company has announced the 2012 / 2013 Season, which will feature two world premieres and two plays by award-winning playwrights. The theatre company's 22nd professional season will include: Superior Donuts by Tracy Letts, the world premiere of The Meaning of Almost Everything by Jeff Daniels, 33 Variations by Moises Kaufman and the world premiere of Miles & Ellie by Don Zolidis.

ESPN Films has announced the return of the Emmy-nominated and Peabody Award-winning 30 FOR 30 film series.

The Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis presents the opening of the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning August: Osage County by Tracy Letts. This fiercely funny play about an American family opens tonight, February 16 on the Phoenix Mainstage. View photos below!

The Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis announces the opening of the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning August: Osage County by Tracy Letts. This fiercely funny play about an American family opens Thursday, February 16 on the Phoenix Mainstage.

Yesterday the Producers Guild of America (PGA) announced this year's winning motion picture and television productions at the 23rd Annual Producers Guild Awards ceremony held at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles.

The Producers Guild of America (PGA) announced today the motion picture and long-form television nominations for the 23rd Annual Producers Guild Awards. The categories include: The Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures; The Producers Guild of America Producer of the Year Award in Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures; and The David L. Wolper Producer of the Year Award in Long-Form Television. The documentary film category and other television category nominations were already announced by the Guild in December 2011.

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater has announced the cast and creative team for the world premiere of The Wood, a new play written by award-winning filmmaker Dan Klores.

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater has announced the cast and creative team for the world premiere of The Wood, a new play written by award-winning filmmaker Dan Klores.

Fans of Friday Night Lights will once again be able to recapture the excitement of the Dillon Panthers as ESPN will air the entire series with episodes set to premiere on July 12. To celebrate the kick-off of the football-themed drama, episodes one and two from season one will air back-to-back in primetime on ESPN at 8pm and 9pm ET.

Veteran actors Jim Porterfield (Northville, MI) and Michelle Mountain (Chelsea, MI) will celebrate their 1000th performance with The Purple Rose Theatre Company during the run of the current production, Some Couples May… .

Veteran actors Jim Porterfield (Northville, MI) and Michelle Mountain (Chelsea, MI) will celebrate their 1000th performance with The Purple Rose Theatre Company during the run of the current production, Some Couples May… .

The Purple Rose Theatre Company is proud to present the third World Premiere of the 20th anniversary season this spring: Some Couples May... by Carey Crim. The production will enjoy a ten-week engagement from Thursday, March 24 through Saturday, May 28, 2011. Seven low-price previews of Some Couples May... will be performed from Thursday, March 24, through Thursday, March 31, with Press Opening on Friday, April 1, 2011. Regular performances for the duration of the engagement are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8:00 pm with Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 3:00 pm and Sunday matinees at 2:00 pm. All performances are held at The Purple Rose Theatre Company, 137 Park Street, Chelsea, Michigan 48118.

The Purple Rose Theatre Company is proud to present the third World Premiere of the 20th anniversary season this spring: Some Couples May... by Carey Crim. The production will enjoy a ten-week engagement from Thursday, March 24 through Saturday, May 28, 2011. Seven low-price previews of Some Couples May... will be performed from Thursday, March 24, through Thursday, March 31, with Press Opening on Friday, April 1, 2011. Regular performances for the duration of the engagement are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8:00 pm with Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 3:00 pm and Sunday matinees at 2:00 pm. (Editor's Note: A complete performance schedule including pricing and added performance dates can be found on page 3.) All performances are held at The Purple Rose Theatre Company, 137 Park Street, Chelsea, Michigan 48118.