Carl Reiner News

JEM Productions presents the world premiere of Jeffrey E. Milstein's uproarious send-up of the prison system: Fort Dicks, a new musical.

The Kennedy Center today unveiled an all-star lineup and new producers for the 21st annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, which this year will celebrate Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Under the direction of the creative team from Done + Dusted, the Kennedy Center's new producing partner for the Mark Twain Prize, the cast will feature many of Louis-Dreyfus's admirers, friends, and collaborators, including Stephen Colbert, Bryan Cranston, Tina Fey, Ilana Glazer, Tony Hale, Abbi Jacobson, Keegan-Michael Key, Kumail Nanjiani, and Jerry Seinfeld. The live Gala Performance will take place on Sunday, October 21, 2018 at 8:00 p.m. ET in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall, and will be taped by WETA Washington, D.C.

BroadwayWorld is sad to report that legendary playwright Neil Simon has died at 91. 

Subtitled 'A Light Comedy About Dark Jews,' we meet Bubby as she prepares a much-too-salty matzo ball soup for Rosh Hashana dinner in a period-perfect kitchen as the center piece of a realistic two-story set designed by Joel Daavid in anticipation of her entire family gathering to celebrate the holiday. Even her son and grandson will be there, a special evening (she hopes) as the two have not spoken to each other in years. But after continuously forgetting to bring home the chicken for dinner, Joey's alcoholic father David finally shows up at the table, causing alliances to be challenged and hopefully, new beginnings to be forged. And leave it to Zayda to show up at just the right moments to forward the story and add his own insights into his family's history and character. Oy vey!

Acclaimed TV and film actor John Pleshette(Knots Landing, Murder One, Curb Your Enthusiasm) and stand-up comedian and actress Cathy Ladman (I'm Dying Up Here, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Scandal) - a late-night favorite who has made numerous appearances on The Tonight Showand has her own HBO One Night Stand special - anchor the ensemble cast of an outrageous new comedy inspired by a true story about "family dysfunction, atonement and matzo balls." Took A Cab Productions and the world-famousImprov comedy club chain present the world premiere of Jews, Christians and Screwing Stalin by Mark Lonow and Jo Anne Astrow. Lonow directs for an Aug. 18 opening at the Matrix Theatre, where performances will continue through Sept. 23.

Acclaimed TV and film actor John Pleshette (Knots Landing, Murder One, Curb Your Enthusiasm) and stand-up comedian and actress Cathy Ladman (I'm Dying Up Here, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Scandal) - a late-night favorite who has made numerous appearances on The Tonight Show and has her own HBO One Night Stand special - anchor the ensemble cast of an outrageous new comedy inspired by a true story about "family dysfunction, atonement and matzo balls." Took A Cab Productions and the world-famous Improv comedy club chain present the world premiere of Jews, Christians and Screwing Stalin by Mark Lonow and Jo Anne Astrow. Lonow directs for an Aug. 18 opening at the Matrix Theatre, where performances will continue through Sept. 23.

Lively McCabe Entertainment is pleased to announce that it has signed the original classic children's property Free To Be . . . You and Me as a management client.  The company will focus primarily on securing a new music administration agreement, the development of a new regional live stage musical, and the exploration of book publishing opportunities in the lead up to Free To Be's 50th anniversary in 2022.

Join the incomparable Mel Brooks live on stage for an exclusive, inside look at his storied career, and the making of the legendary and groundbreaking movie Blazing Saddles on Saturday, October 6th, 2018 at Bellco Theatre. This outrageous masterpiece, considered one of the top comedy films of all time, will be presented on the big screen followed by a conversation and audience Q&A with Mel Brooks himself.

Casting has begun for the latest production of playwright, Jeffrey E. Milstein and his prison expose: Fort Dicks - the Musical.

Acclaimed TV and film actor John Pleshette (Knots Landing, Murder One, Curb Your Enthusiasm) and stand-up comedian and actress Cathy Ladman (I'm Dying Up Here, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Scandal) - a late-night favorite who has made numerous appearances on The Tonight Show and has her own HBO One Night Stand special - anchor the ensemble cast of an outrageous new comedy inspired by a true story about "family dysfunction, atonement and matzo balls." Took A Cab Productions and the world-famous Improv comedy club chain present the world premiere of Jews, Christians and Screwing Stalin by Mark Lonow and Jo Anne Astrow. Lonow directs for an Aug. 18 opening at the Matrix Theatre, where performances will continue through Sept. 23.

VIDEO: Trailer Debut of Netflix's DUCK DUCK GOOSE, Starring Jim Gaffigan and Zendaya

Today PBS announced BETTY WHITE: FIRST LADY OF TELEVISION will premiere this summer on Tuesday, August 21 (Times Vary by Location, Check Local Listings). Filmed over the course of five years by the team behind the acclaimed PIONEERS OF TELEVISION series,BETTY WHITE: FIRST LADY OF TELEVISION is a warm look at the life and career of the beloved television and film legend who celebrates 80 years in show business this year — officially the longest career in the history of TV. Lauded for her roles as the bawdy Sue Ann on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” the innocent Rose on “The Golden Girls” and her more recent role as the worldly Elka on “Hot in Cleveland,” Betty White is also an industry pioneer. She was the first woman to produce a national TV show, the first woman to star in a sitcom, the first producer to hire a female director and the first woman to receive an Emmy nomination.

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of Robert F. Kennedy, getTV will air a historic episode of “The Merv Griffin Show” featuring the late Senator, on June 6 at 9:00PM ET/8C. The show originally aired October 3, 1967, six months before Kennedy officially declared himself a candidate for President in the 1968 election.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will present the 21st annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor to Julia Louis-Dreyfus on Sunday, October 21, 2018 in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. The Prize, which is named to honor one of the world's greatest humorists, will be given at a gala performance featuring some of the biggest names in comedy. This year's ceremony marks the 21st consecutive year that the Kennedy Center's marquee comedy award will be presented and broadcast nationally. On-sale and ticketing information for this event will be available at a later date, and sponsorship packages for the Mark Twain Prize gala performance are on sale now.

Last night's star-studded event, Backstage at the Geffen, at the Geffen Playhouse grossed more than $1 million for the theater's education, outreach and artistic initiatives. The fundraiser, which recognizes leaders in the artistic community, supports the theater's mission to produce original, quality work and raises funds for its education and community engagement programs, honored legendary stage and screen performer Dick Van Dyke and award-winning composer, lyricist and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda. Comedian Jim Carrey presented the Distinction in Theater Award to Van Dyke and EGOT award-winning actress Rita Moreno presented the Education Impact Award to Miranda.

Stage and screen star, Patricia Morison died today at the age of 103 at home in Los Angeles of natural causes. A stage icon and legend best known for her starring roles in Cole Porter's Kiss Me Kate and The King & I opposite Yul Brynner, she established an indelible mark in films with a reputation as a the villainous femme fatale with large blue eyes and extremely long, dark hair that made her a favorite of studios and fans alike. 

Backstage at the Geffen, the Geffen Playhouse's annual fundraiser event, has launched its online auction featuring luxury vacations, one-of-a-kind artwork and VIP experiences. Proceeds will benefit the Geffen's mission to produce original, quality work and raises funds for its award-winning education and community engagement programs, which bring live theater to more than 15,000 disadvantaged youth, seniors and veterans annually.

Wajatta - the new group formed by beat-boxer/comedian/musician Reggie Watts and electronic music artist/DJ/producer John Tejada - offers Casual High Technology, its first album, on May 11, 2018 via Comedy Dynamics. Presented as a cosmic collection of funk-infused techno, Casual High Technology is the culmination of decades' worth of Watts and Tejada's favorite electronic music shaped to fit a new dance sensibility. Check out the first single, 'Runnin',' on SoundCloud and the latest offering, 'Get Down (With Ya Bad Self)' [feat. Justin Maxwell] at https://soundcloud.com/comedydynamics/get-down-with-ya-bad-self. Pre-orders are live now: http://radi.al/WajattaTechnology.

Comedy Dynamics announced today it will release Jim Gaffigan's unprecedented sixth stand-up special, Noble Ape, in theatres and through the Comedy Dynamics Network (Cdn) on July 13, 2018. The groundbreaking distribution model includes all major transactional platforms such as iTunes, Amazon, Google, PlayStation and many major telco & satellite providers, including AT&T, Comcast, Charter, Dish, and Verizon.

4/15/18 ~ HONORING GEORGE CHAKIRIS, BARRIE CHASE & TONI BASIL There's a certain feeling that invades my consciousness when I attend a Dancer's Event... It is a deep, passionate, all-encompassing love amongst it's members. And that is what I was feeling, attending a most prestigious (in my opinion) Event; The Professional Dancer's Society 31st Annual Luncheon & “Gypsy” Award Ceremony, held Yearly in the International Room at the Beverly Hilton.