Carl Johnson News

In 1948 Alfred Hitchcock directed the film Rope based on Patrick Hamilton's 1929 play. Its setting was switched from London to New York, and at least for me, the psychological crime story played out in a very talky, uninteresting manner. The stage play, by the way, is rarely produced. Currently onstage at Actors Co-op, Rope is a fun, delightful romp through a game of murder that perks attention from the moment it starts, and thanks to brilliant director Ken Sawyer and his outstanding cast, it's a riveting and enjoyable evening in the theatre, far, far ahead of that Hitchcok movie. I hate the word p

Actors Co-op Theatre Company (Ovation Award-Winner 2017 Best Play, Intimate Theatre for 33 Variations) presents the first show in its 27th Season with the thriller ROPE, written by Patrick Hamilton, directed by Ken Sawyer, produced by Kevin Shewey.  ROPE will preview on Thursday, September 20 at 8pm and will open Friday, September 21 at 8pm and run through Sunday, October 29 at the Actors Co-op Crossley Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. 90028 (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

Although Urbandale Community Theatre's dedication to producing classic shows may be safer than putting on contemporary pieces, a classic must be done in a fresh way in order to convince the audience that the show must be seen. This production remains fresh enough to receive that seal of approval and entertains in spite of certain scenes that slow down the action. I will say that I wish Urbandale Community Theatre would sometimes be riskier in its selection of show, but Guys & Dolls convinces me enough that classics are here to stay.

Four years ago, the Centerstage Board commissioned its Artistic Director, Alan Bryce, to write three new shows. The first of these, For All That, was nominated for a Gregory Award as "Most Outstanding New Play of 2015". The second, Death on the Supermarket Shelf, about the Chicago Tylenol Murders of 1982, received critical acclaim. The third in the series, Cardinal Sins, opens on Saturday, May 13th.

THE ROAD THEATRE COMPANY and Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, are thrilled to announce the fifth show of its 2015-2016 - 25thAnniversary Season, the critically acclaimed (LA Times CRITIC'S CHOICE, Stage Raw TOP TEN), world premiere ofJOHN IS A FATHER, written by Julie Marie Myatt, starring Sam Anderson and directed by Dan Bonnell is EXTENDINGthrough SATURDAY, JULY 16 at the Road on Lankershim, 5108 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood.

Know Theatre of Cincinnati wants you take a chance by picking a show, any show, at the 13th Annual Cincinnati Fringe Festival, running May 31-June 11, 2016. With 12 days full of of opportunities to catch 50 live productions, Visual Fringe art projects, musical guests, and the nightly Fringe Bar Series at Know Theatre (Fringe Headquarters), you'll find yourself lucky to have more to experience at Fringe this year than ever before.

Two exceptional plays, one extraordinary playwright, THE ROAD THEATRE COMPANY and Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, announce the fifth show of its 2015-2016 - 25th Anniversary Season, the World Premiere of JOHN IS A FATHER, written by Julie Marie Myatt and directed by Dan Bonnell. JOHN IS A FATHER will run in repertory with BIRDER, also by Julie Marie Myatt. JOHN IS A FATHER will begin previews on Monday, May 9 at 8pm; will open on Thursday, May 12 at 8pm and run through Sunday, July 3 at the Road on Lankershim, 5108 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood.

Theatre of NOTE closes its 2015 season with the world premiere of THE WHISKEY MAIDEN, written and directed by Chris Kelley, making this his 20th production at Theatre of NOTE.

Los Angeles continues to be a hotbed of new musicals. After a dizzying number of new musicals appeared in the recent Hollywood Fringe Festival, soon the 18th annual Stages Musical Theatre Festival will be returning to Los Angeles this August. This prestigious festival features new musicals, which have been developed across the country, presented in concert readings. This year's festival features six musicals, presented in two venues over two weekends: August 21-23 at New Musicals Inc., 5628 Vineland in North Hollywood and August 28-30 at 3D Theatricals, 1255 N. Knollwood Circle in Anaheim, CA 92801

Anchorage photographer Carl Johnson began fieldwork in 2011 to produce a book about the Bristol Bay region of Alaska that would highlight the culture and economy of the region as expressed in commercial fishing, subsistence hunting and fishing, and recreation and tourism. The book, entitled 'Where Water is Gold: Life and Livelihood in Alaska's Bristol Bay,' is being published by Braided River and is scheduled for release in 2016. While the content of the book will primarily be photos drawn from over 24,000 images captured during Johnson's fieldwork, it will include essays that explore the riches of the region. The Alaskan writers who will write the core essays for the book have been selected and are as follows: Bill Sherwonit Dave Atcheson Anne Coray and Steve Kahn Nick Jans Erin McKittrick The essays will provide an introduction to the region, explore the lifestyle and economics of commercial fishing, provide insight into the subsistence way of life, highlight the recreational and tourism values of the region, and explore the exploration of mineral claims in the region. Bill Sherwonit has produced several books, including 'Animal Stories: Encounters with Alaska's Wildlife,' 'Changing Paths: Travels and Meditations in Alaska's Arctic Wilderness,' and 'Living with Wildness: An Alaskan Odyssey.' Dave Atcheson is the author of 'Dead Reckoning: Navigating a Life on the Last Frontier, Courting Tragedy on Its High Seas' and 'Hidden Alaska: Bristol Bay and Beyond,' among other works. Anne Coray is a poet whose collections include 'A Measure's Hush,' 'Violet Transparent' and 'Bone Strings.' Steve Kahn is the author of 'The Hard Way Home: Alaska Stories of Adventure, Friendship, and the Hunt' and coauthor of 'Lake Clark National Park and Preserve.' Nick Jans is the author of 'A Wolf Called Romeo,' 'The Grizzly Maze' and 'The Last Light Breaking.' Erin McKittrick is the author of 'Small Feet Big Land: Adventure, Home, and Family on the Edge of Alaska' and 'A Long Trek Home: 4,000 Miles by Boot, Raft and Ski.' Carl Johnson has been selected to serve as Artist-in-Residence in three national parks, received the 'Environmental Issues' award in the Windland Smith Rice International Awards, and is a past recipient of a Rasmuson Foundation Artist Fellowship.

Jonah White, the founder of Billy Bob Teeth in Hardin, Illinois and CEO of a multi-million dollar gag-gift empire, is in search of new products for his redneck-approved Billy Bob line. After taking the Halloween and costume industries by storm and building an empire based on his own invention of fake redneck buck teeth, Jonah has accomplished the America dream and created a booming business with over 300 products sold throughout the world, including over 20 million Billy Bob Teeth. Now, inventors from all over are coming to Billy Bob World to pitch Jonah their own outrageous ideas for a piece of the pie. Find out what it takes to go from pitch to rich in Discovery Channel's new six-part series BILLY BOB'S GAGS TO RICHES premiering tonight, November 4 at 10 PM ET/PT.

The National Alliance For Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced today its selections for the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Beautiful Poison, Cubamor, Great Wall, How To Break, Mary Marie, The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes, String and Stu For Silverton make up the eight new musicals that will be presented at the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals today, October 23, 2014 and Friday, October 24, 2014 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

Jonah White, the founder of Billy Bob Teeth in Hardin, Illinois and CEO of a multi-million dollar gag-gift empire, is in search of new products for his redneck-approved Billy Bob line. After taking the Halloween and costume industries by storm and building an empire based on his own invention of fake redneck buck teeth, Jonah has accomplished the America dream and created a booming business with over 300 products sold throughout the world, including over 20 million Billy Bob Teeth. Now, inventors from all over are coming to Billy Bob World to pitch Jonah their own outrageous ideas for a piece of the pie. Find out what it takes to go from pitch to rich in Discovery Channel's new six-part series BILLY BOB'S GAGS TO RICHES premiering Tuesday, November 4 at 10 PM ET/PT.

The National Alliance For Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced today the all-star lineup of directors and musical directors participating in the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals on Thursday, October 23, 2014 and Friday, October 24, 2014 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

The National Alliance For Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced today its selections for the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Beautiful Poison, Cubamor, Great Wall, How To Break, Mary Marie, The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes, String and Stu For Silverton make up the eight new musicals that will be presented at the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals on Thursday, October 23, 2014 and Friday, October 24, 2014 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

Charlotte, N.C.

Dunedin, Fla.

Carl Johnson served as the Artist-in-Residence for Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve in 2007. He was the first photographer selected for that residency. During his residency, which involved a trip in the Alatna River watershed, Carl captured 'Alatna Headwaters.' As part of his residency, he donated a framed print of that image to the park's permanent collection. That print has been selected to represent Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve in the upcoming Voices of the Wilderness exhibit. The multimedia pieces that make up the exhibit celebrate the diversity of Alaskan wilderness and were created by artists from across the United States and the world, many of who were artist-in-residences hosted by agencies that manage federally designated wilderness. This exhibit is sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The traveling show was created to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1964 Wilderness Act and represents artwork inspired by twenty different wilderness areas in Alaska. Through the Voices of the Wilderness artist residency program, artists spend up to two weeks in one of Alaska's spectacular wilderness areas with a ranger participating in stewardship duties, such as pulling invasive weeds, helping with wildlife research, cleaning up garbage and marine debris, and monitoring air quality. Through a variety of media, including poetry, sculpture, painting, photography, fiber arts and music, artists translate how the wilderness has inspired them. The exhibit will travel to seven Alaskan cities throughout 2014: Sitka, Ketchikan, Juneau, Fairbanks, Homer, Kenai and Anchorage. The Voices of the Wilderness Traveling art exhibit is made possible with funding by Rasmuson Foundation through the Harper Arts Touring Fund, and is administered, under contract, by the Alaska State Council on the Arts.

The Laramie Project Ten Years Later/by Moises Kaufman, Leigh Fondakowski, Greg Pierotti, Andy Paris and Stephen Belber/produced by Jon Imparato/directed by Ken Sawyer/The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center,Davidson/Valentini Theatre/through November 16