David Esbjornson News

Put succinctly, Turner is a marvel to watch as she takes on character of the sharp-tongued political journalist Molly Ivins.

Today we are talking to a Tony Award-winning star known for her many impressive appearances on Broadway in JELLY'S LAST JAM, PLAY ON!, THE WILD PARTY and her tremendous title turn in the towering CAROLINE, OR CHANGE - the one and only Tonya Pinkins. Opening up about her career and many of her most memorable roles, Pinkins lets us in to her world and shares experiences of working with some of the most noted names in theatre - George C. Wolfe, Harold Prince, August Wilson, Stephen Sondheim, Lloyd Richards, Daniel Sullivan, David Esbjornson and many more among them - on everything from MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, her Broadway debut, to her many musical roles to August Wilson's THE PIANO LESSON and RADIO GOLF all the way to last season's Shakespeare In The Park double-header of THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR and MEASURE FOR MEASURE. Most importantly, Pinkins fills us in on all the details about her upcoming Ethel Waters tribute at 54 Below and what we can expect from one of musical theatre's most dynamic divas taking on the song catalog of an entertainment pioneer in this New York premiere of the in-development new musical solo spotlight showcase. Additionally, Pinkins shares some candid reminiscences about some of her most fondly remembered film and television roles - such as ABOVE THE RIM, BEAT STREET, ROMANCE & CIGARETTES, ENCHANTED and others - as well as offers her thoughts on the ever-changing world of soaps, having appeared in major roles on both AS THE WORLD TURNS and ALL MY CHILDREN. All of that, comments on her two upcoming feature films - HOME and NEWLYWEEDS - and much, much more!

Iconic stage and screen actress Kathleen Turner returns to Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater to star in Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins, as the feisty, unforgettable political journalist. Written by twin-sister journalists Margaret Engel and Allison Engel and directed by David Esbjornson (Broadway's The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? and Driving Miss Daisy), the D.C. premiere kicks off Arena Stage's 2012/13 season playing tonight, August 23 through October 28, 2012 in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle.

Iconic stage and screen actress Kathleen Turner returns to Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater to star in Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins, as the feisty, unforgettable political journalist. Written by twin-sister journalists Margaret Engel and Allison Engel and directed by David Esbjornson (Broadway's The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? and Driving Miss Daisy), the D.C. premiere kicks off Arena Stage's 2012/13 season playing August 23 through October 28, 2012 in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle.

Five-time Tony Award® and three-time Academy Award® nominee Angela Lansbury and two-time Tony Award® winner and Academy Award® winner James Earl Jones are coming together in Brisbane in Alfred Uhry's Pulitzer Prize-winning classic play Driving Miss Daisy. It was announced today by Events Queensland and Australian theatre producer John Frost that Driving Miss Daisy will play an exclusive Australian season at the Playhouse, QPAC, Brisbane from February 5, 2013.

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Angela Lansbury and James Earl Jones will lead an Australian premiere of DRIVING MISS DAISY next winter. According to Courier Mail, the show is set to open at the Playhouse Theatre at QPAC on February 5.

Vassar & New York Stage and Film will present the 28th annual Powerhouse Theater season from June 22 through July 29, 2012 with an all-star line up. BroadwayWorld was on hand today to meet select members from the team and brings you photo coverage below!

Following critically acclaimed sell-out runs on Broadway and in the West End, Alfred Uhry's Pulitzer prize winning play, DRIVING MISS DAISY, starring Gwen Taylor as Daisy Werthan, Don Warrington as Hoke Coleburn and Ian Porter as Boolie Werthan will go on a national tour from 10 October 2012.

Vassar & New York Stage and Film has announced casting highlights for the 28th annual Powerhouse Theater season (June 22-July 29, 2012) and the schedule for Readings Festival 1 (June 22-24).

New York Stage and Film (Johanna Pfaelzer, Artistic Director; Thomas Pearson, Executive Director, Mark Linn-Baker, Max Mayer, Leslie Urdang, Producing Directors) and Vassar College's (Ed Cheetham, Producing Director) Powerhouse Theater have revealed the first casting for their 2012 Powerhouse Season. Chloe Sevigny ("Big Love", Boys Don't Cry, American Psycho) is set to star in Abigail/1702, written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa with direction by David Esbjornson. Abigail/1702 runs from Wednesday, June 27th to Sunday, July 8th.

Arena Stage today announced an addition to the 2012/13 season, Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins, starring the iconic stage and screen actress Kathleen Turner as the feisty, unforgettable political journalist.

According to NY Magazine, Angela Lansbury, who is currently starring in GORE VIDAL'S THE BEST MAN on Broadway, has signed on to star alongside James Earl Jones in an Australian tour of DRIVING MISS DAISY next winter.

New York Stage and Film (Johanna Pfaelzer, Artistic Director; Thomas Pearson, Executive Director, Mark Linn-Baker, Max Mayer, Leslie Urdang, Producing Directors) and Vassar College (Ed Cheetham, Producing Director) have announced the line-up of their 2012 Powerhouse Theater season. The full season is as follows:

New York Stage and Film and Vassar College have announced the line-up of their 2012 Powerhouse Theater season. Season highlights will include:

Guthrie Director Joe Dowling today announced 11 mainstage productions of the theater's 2012-2013 season. The theater's 50th season and seventh on the Mississippi River looks ahead to a vital future with highlights including three new commissioned plays and works that deal vigorously with themes of war, race and politics through history and contemporary times.

The production will now play through Sunday, April 1 and is the inaugural production in The End Stage Theatre at the company's new home The Pershing Square Signature Center.

Signature Theatre today announced a second extension for EDWARD ALBEE'S THE LADY FROM DUBUQUE, directed by David Esbjornson. Extended last week through April 1, the production will now play two additional weeks, through Sunday, April 15. EDWARD ALBEE's THE LADY FROM DUBUQUE is the inaugural production in The End Stage Theatre at the company's new home The Pershing Square Signature Center. The production opened on Monday, March 5. Tickets during the extension week are $75 each. Check out performance highlights below!

Signature Theatre today announced a second extension for EDWARD ALBEE'S THE LADY FROM DUBUQUE, directed by David Esbjornson. Extended last week through April 1, the production will now play two additional weeks, through Sunday, April 15. EDWARD ALBEE's THE LADY FROM DUBUQUE is the inaugural production in The End Stage Theatre at the company's new home The Pershing Square Signature Center. The production opened on Monday, March 5. Tickets during the extension week are $75 each.

The Broken Heart, a 1629 tragic-comic play written by John Ford (Tis Pity She's a Whore), directed by Selina Cartmell in her American debut is Theatre for a New Audience's fourth production of the 2011 - 2012 theatre season.

Signature Theatre Company presents Edward Albee'S THE LADY FROM DUBUQUE, directed by David Esbjornson. The production will play Monday, March 5 through Sunday, April 1 and is the inaugural production in The End Stage Theatre at the company's new home The Pershing Square Signature Center. Check out the production photos below!