David O News

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!

Britain's best-loved astrologer and Strictly Come Dancing favourite Russell Grant will guest star in the smash hit musical Grease for its limited week run in Wimbledon. He will don the sparkly suit to play the role of 'Teen Angel' and is set leave audiences hopelessly devoted to his charms when Grease rocks into the New Wimbledon Theatre from Monday 15 - Saturday 20 October 2012.

The RRazz Room, San Francisco's premier nightclub, will welcome back acclaimed entertainer Lypsinka for a special two-week engagement from September 4 to 16 to celebrate Lypsinka's 30th anniversary. She will recreate the widely popular show 'The Passion of the Crawford' - a fab fantasia about the refraction of celebrity and addiction to fame - for the first time in the Bay Area in more than five years.

Birdland (315 West 44th Street - between 8th & 9th Aves.) has announced entertainment for the month of September, 2012.

Road Less Traveled Productions' (RLTP's) Emanuel Fried New Play Workshop (NPW) today announced a special benefit reading of Eurydice, a contemporary take on the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus & Eurydice by acclaimed playwright Sarah Ruhl (In The Next Room, or The Vibrator Play). The reading will be presented at 8:00 PM tonight, August 18th at the Road Less Traveled Theater (RLTT) in the Market Arcade Film & Arts Centre, in Downtown Buffalo. The reading will benefit the NPW, an integral component of RLTP's mission to develop and produce plays by Western New York (WNY) writers. RLTP will also be producing Ruhl's Clean House in the Spring of 2013.

The Toronto International Film Festival® announces the addition of 3 Galas and 18 Special Presentations, including 8 World Premieres, to its slate. The Festival will close with Paul Andrew Williams' A SONG FOR MARION, starring Vanessa Redgrave and Terence Stamp.

The REP, Point Park University's professional theatre company, launches its 2012 - 2013 season at the Pittsburgh Playhouse on September 7th with a pillar of modern drama, August: Osage County by Tracy Letts. The recipient of the Pulitzer Prize and five Tony Awards in 2008, August: Osage County runs Sept. 7 through Sept. 23; John Shepard directs.

Road Less Traveled Productions' (RLTP's) Emanuel Fried New Play Workshop (NPW) today announced a special benefit reading of Eurydice, a contemporary take on the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus & Eurydice by acclaimed playwright Sarah Ruhl (In The Next Room, or The Vibrator Play). The reading will be presented at 8:00 PM on Saturday, August 18th at the Road Less Traveled Theater (RLTT) in the Market Arcade Film & Arts Centre, in Downtown Buffalo. The reading will benefit the NPW, an integral component of RLTP's mission to develop and produce plays by Western New York (WNY) writers. RLTP will also be producing Ruhl's Clean House in the Spring of 2013.

With baseball season in full swing, NATIONAL PASTIME, a new screwball musical comedy, makes its New York debut, beginning performances Off-Broadway tonight, August 8, 2012 at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater at Playwrights Horizons in Manhattan (416 West 42nd Street).

Hollywood…ROCKIN' WITH THE AGES & THE PINK LADY present the World Premiere production of THE BEAT GOES ON! A Musical Celebration of the Young at Heart, featuring musical direction by David O, and written, choreographed and directed by Ovation Award-winner Cate Caplin. THE BEAT GOES ON! Will begin previews on Thursday, October 4 and will have two Opening nights on Friday, October 12th and Saturday, October 13th and will continue through Sunday, November 11th at the Theatre of Arts Arena Stage, 1625 N. Las Palmas Avenue in Hollywood.

NYC shows its love for John Oliver and his friends when the third season of JOHN OLIVER'S NEW YORK STAND UP SHOW premieres tonight, July 27.

According to Deadline.com, stage veteran Liev Schreiber has joined the cast of the upcoming Lee Daniels film The Butler, as Lyndon B Johnson. Danny Strong wrote the script with Daniels.

Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts announced today that Sara Jaffe has been appointed as the new Senior Director of Development for Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts.

Riverfront Theater, Chicago's newest entertainment destination, presents the U.S. Premiere of the theatrical phenomenon La Soiree. The production runs now through Sunday, August 5, 2012 at the new Riverfront Theater, located at 650 W. Chicago Avenue, just east of Halsted Street. Press opening is tonight, July 21, 2012 at 8:00pm. Get a first look at the show in the photos below!

It was the happiest day of the bride's life, but it was also her last. For the newlyweds featured on Investigation Discovery's new series HAPPILY NEVER AFTER, the reality of 'til death do you part' hits sooner than expected when homicide crashes the honeymoon. Part wedding show and part police drama, each episode unveils the murder of a newlywed amidst flashbacks to the couple's happy romance and the moment marital bliss turned to tragedy. Narrated by Emmy Award-winning actress Marlo Thomas, HAPPILY NEVER AFTER premieres tonight, July 21 at 10 PM E/T on Investigation Discovery.

Join the Des Moines Community Playhouse in Honoring Playhouse Legends tonight, July 21. The event begins at 4:00 PM with a cocktails and hors d'oeuvres reception. The program follows at 4:30 PM. Tickets for Honoring Playhouse Legends are $25 per person and may be reserved online at dmplayhouse.com or by calling the Playhouse ticket office at 515-277-6261.

John Oliver is back, and he's brought some new friends for the third season of JOHN OLIVER'S NEW YORK STAND-UP SHOW, premiering on COMEDY CENTRAL tonight, July 20 at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Birdland (315 West 44th Street - between 8th & 9th Aves.) has announced its line-up of entertainment for the month of August, 2012.

Tim leaves the competition - who are you backing?

With baseball season in full swing, NATIONAL PASTIME, a new screwball musical comedy, will make its New York debut, beginning performances Off-Broadway on August 8, 2012 at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater at Playwrights Horizons in Manhattan (416 West 42nd Street).