David Martin News

Dimensions Festival completes its ambitious 2020 programme with the news that Underground Resistance Live, Ash Lauryn, Moritz Von Oswald, Batu, DVS1, JASSS, Voigtmann, Reiss, Youandewan, Huerta, Red Greg, Yak, Freakenstein, Charles Webster, LSDXOXO, Josh Cheon as well as new partners VBX, Love Muscle and Stamp The Wax also get involved. For the first time this year, this all goes down at breathtaking natural bay The Garden Resort, Tisno from 13-17th August, 2020. 

The city lights of Washington may typically obscure the night sky, but a portal to the cosmos has opened in downtown DC. Playwright Lauren Gunderson has gifted us a corner of the galaxy through the telescopic lens of astronomer Henrietta Leavitt's life and scientific discoveries. Leavitt's work may have been rooted in facts and figures, but SILENT SKY is bursting with imagination.

Freeform's new series 'Everything's Gonna Be Okay,' which The New York Times called 'a charming dramedy, with an oddball voice and a bittersweet undercurrent,' will have a special airing of its pilot episode on FX on WEDNESDAY, JAN. 22, at 10 p.m. EST/PST.

Ford's Theatre Society announced full casting and the design team for Silent Sky by Lauren Gunderson, a captivating play based on the life of trail-blazing astronomer Henrietta Leavitt. The Ford's Theatre production is directed by Seema Sueko and features Laura C. Harris (Arena Stage's The Heiress, Signature Theatre's The Flick) as Henrietta Leavitt, Nora Achrati as Annie Jump Cannon, Emily Kester as Margaret Leavitt, Jonathan David Martin as Peter Shaw and Holly Twyford as Williamina Fleming. Performances are January 24 to February 23, 2020. A media performance is scheduled for January 29, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.

'Occupant' is a beautiful, intimate piece about a fascinating woman, presented in a clever and engaging manner. Every element of the production is thoughtful, and it's thoroughly enjoyable to settle in for an evening with Louise and her part-admiring, part-critical interviewer.

Edward Albee's Occupant, Theater J's second show of its 19/20 season, begins performances in the renovated Aaron and Cecile Goldman Theater at the Edlavitch DC Jewish Community Center on November 7, 2019 and continues through December 8, 2019.

Netflix has ordered The Iliza Shlesinger Sketch Show, sketch comedy series from Iliza Shlesinger. The six-episode half-hour series will shoot in New York this fall and launch in 2020.

Freeform announces Josh Thomas' return to television with 'Everything's Gonna Be Okay,' premiering THURSDAY, JAN. 16. Critically acclaimed for his series 'Please Like Me,' Thomas once again takes on a multifaceted role as creator, writer, executive producer and star of the 30-minute comedy, which introduces Nicholas (Josh Thomas), a neurotic twenty-something-year-old visiting his dad and teenage half-sisters, one of whom is on the autism spectrum. When Nicholas' trip is extended due to his father's untimely death, the siblings are left to cope with not only a devastating loss, but also the realization that Nicholas is the one who will have to rise to the occasion, move in, and hold it all together. A first-look clip wherein Nicholas proposes guardianship of his sisters, Matilda and Genevieve, is available below.

Freeform announces Josh Thomas' return to television with a?oeEverything's Gonna Be Okay,a?? premiering THURSDAY, JAN. 16.Critically acclaimed for his series a?oePlease Like Me,a?? Thomas once again takes on a multifaceted role as creator, writer, executive producer and star of the 30-minute comedy, which introduces Nicholas (Josh Thomas), a neurotic twenty-something-year-old visiting his dad and teenage half-sisters, one of whom is on the autism spectrum. When Nicholas' trip is extended due to his father's untimely death, the siblings are left to cope with not only a devastating loss, but also the realization that Nicholas is the one who will have to rise to the occasion, move in, and hold it all together.

Healdsburg's Raven Players, located in the heart of the Northern California wine country, have announced they are accepting submissions for their inaugural Short Play Festival to run February 28 - March 1, 2020 at the Raven Performing Arts Theater in Healdsburg. The competitive festival is themed 'Love Bites' and will feature plays of 10 to 20 minutes in duration. Playwrights from around the world are invited to submit original works that generally focus on the joy, heartbreak, humor and/or tragedy of any type of love.

A film by Columbia College Hollywood alumna Aneesah Dowd has been selected as an Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Finalist for a 2019 Centre International de Liaison des Ecoles de Cinéma et de Télévision prize.

For 2-weeks only, the international hit musical sensation MAMMA MIA! comes to the Barn Players stage, August 22nd through September 1st, 2019 at downtown Kansas City's Arts Asylum, 1000 East 9th Street, Kansas City, MO 64106. So who is bride-to-be Sophie's Dad? Even Donna, her rockin' Mamma can't be sure who it is. Brace yourself for one riotous trip down the aisle when they all reunite for Sophie's Greek island wedding!

Elizabeth Stanton (Elizabeth Stanton's Great Big World) and James Maslow (Big Time Rush) host week twelve of the new non-competitive television show, THE BIG STAGE, airing on The CW Network on Friday, August 23, 2019 at 8:30 p.m./7:30 p.m. Central. This week's original episode features Aerialist Maya Kramer, Robotics Dance Crew Poreotics, Celebrity Impressionist Ryan Goldsher, Singers Ace Young & Diana DeGarmo, and Feline Acrobats, The Savitsky Cats. The show is executive produced by David McKenzie and David Martin for Associated Television International.

 Fuse Media, a cross-platform entertainment media brand for the multicultural millennial and GenZ audience, announced today that the Fuse channel has set premiere dates for its new fall lineup.  Additionally, Fuse has unveiled the guest star list for new series Made From Scratch, renewed popular series Complex x Fuse for a fifth season, expanded the digital documentary series Soundcheck To Stage to linear and will premiere The Candidates, a new documentary in its Fuse Docs franchise.  

Elizabeth Stanton (Elizabeth Stanton's Great Big World) and James Maslow (Big Time Rush) host week eleven of the new non-competitive television show, THE BIG STAGE, airing on The CW Network in a new 30-mintue time slot on Friday, August 16, 2019 at 8:30 p.m./7:30 p.m. Central. This week's Encore episode features Dancers Charity & Andres, Acrobat Lina Liu, Juggler Josh Horton, Singer Mikalah Gordon, Balancing Act Cristin Sandu and Ventriloquist Terry Fator and Winston, The Impersonating Turtle. The show is executive produced by David McKenzie and David Martin for Associated Television International.

MASTERS OF ILLUSION, produced by Associated Television International and hosted by Dean Cain, will return for Week Ten of their sixth anniversary season on The CW with an Encore 30-minute episode airing on Friday, August 16, 2019 at 8:00 p.m./7:00 p.m. Central. MASTERS OF ILLUSION features amazing magic performed by 40 cutting-edge illusionists, escape artists and performers.

Elizabeth Stanton (Elizabeth Stanton's Great Big World) and James Maslow (Big Time Rush) host week ten of the new non-competitive television show, THE BIG STAGE, airing on The CW Network in a new 30-mintue time slot on Friday, August 9, 2019 at 8:30 p.m./7:30 p.m. Central. This week's original episode features Singer James Maslow, Lady Light Laser Girl, Aerialist Jasmin Rituper, Acrobats Sergey & Sasha, Juggler Jason Garfield and Dancers 34th & Phunk. The show is executive produced by David McKenzie and David Martin for Associated Television International.

Elizabeth Stanton (Elizabeth Stanton's Great Big World) and James Maslow (Big Time Rush) host week nine of the new non-competitive television show, THE BIG STAGE, airing on The CW Network in a new 30-mintue time slot on Friday, August 2, 2019 at 8:30 p.m./7:30 p.m. Central. This week's original episode features New Wave Dance Troupe Poreotics, Spinning Plates on Steroids Lina Liu, Singer Brandon Rogers, Celebrity Impressionist Ryan Goldsher, Amazing Pedestal Balancing Act by Junru Wang and Insane Roller Skate Spinners Duo Transcend. The show is executive produced by David McKenzie and David Martin for Associated Television International.

Leawood Stage Company, the mainly city supported suburban, community theater program under the Leawood (KS) Park and Recreation District operates in several city controlled locations including the outdoor Ironwoods Amphitheatre. The current production, Cole Porter's "Kiss Me Kate," opened this past weekend and will be performed through July 20 at 8:00 p.m. nightly. Leawood City has provided everything needed to put on a great show. Tickets are free.

Is it Sam, Bill, or Harry? Who is bride-to-be Sophie's Father? She has 3-choices and even her own rockin' Mamma Donna Sheridan doesn't know for sure! Find out who's her Dad when the international musical sensation MAMMA MIA! comes to the Barn Players stage (for two weeks only), August 22nd through September 1st, 2019, at the Arts Asylum:1000 East 9th Street, Kansas City, MO 64106. Be there and be sure to brace yourself for one riotous, rhythmic trip down the aisle when everyone reunites for Sophie's ceremony!