Donny Jackson News

For Laura, in Noel Coward's beautiful pre-World War II black & white film, Brief Encounter, it is an unexpected meeting at a train station that leads to a secret romance with a friendly stranger named Alec. In ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE, the stage play inspired by Coward's film, written and directed by Stephen Sachs, it is a moment in a modern day New York subway station that thrusts Emily (Deanne Bray) into a similar romantic conundrum with another stranger, Sam (Troy Kotsur).

Perhaps, as suggested by playwright Peter Lefcourt in his world premiere play THE DEATH AND LIFE OF MARY JO KOPECHNE, she had also been drinking and could not say no to a man of considerable power and influence, a man who could help advance her career, a man she also may have admired after the death of his brother Robert the previous year. Certainly, this dilemma has become particularly prominent in the #MeToo era in which we are now living where men of power are being taken to task for making unwanted sexual advances on those working for them who go along with it for career gain. What we do know is that Kennedy survived and she did not. But who was Mary Jo Kopechne?

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.

An unforgettable love story inspired by one of the most romantic movies of all time. Stephen Sachs directs Deaf actors Deanne Bray (Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye, Heroes) and Troy Kotsur (title role in Cyrano at the Fountain, Big River on Broadway) in Sachs' newest play, inspired by the screenplay for Noel Coward's Brief Encounter. The world premiere of Arrival & Departure will open on July 14 and continue through September 30 at the Fountain Theatre. The cast also features hearing actors Jessica Jade Andres, Adam Burch, Brian Robert Burns, Shon Fuller, Kyra Kotsur, Aurelia Myersand Stasha Surdyke.

An unforgettable love story inspired by one of the most romantic movies of all time. Stephen Sachs directs Deaf actors Deanne Bray (Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye, Heroes) and Troy Kotsur (title role in Cyrano at the Fountain, Big River on Broadway) in Sachs' newest play, inspired by the screenplay for Noel Coward's Brief Encounter. The world premiere of Arrival & Departure will open on July 14 and continue through September 30 at the Fountain Theatre. The cast also features hearing actors Jessica Jade Andres, Adam Burch,Brian Robert Burns, Shon Fuller, Kyra Kotsur, Aurelia Myersand Stasha Surdyke.

In the years before computers and cell phones to assist Bernard with scheduling, he uses a datebook and the world globe sitting on his desk to keep track of where each of the three stewardesses he plans to marry will be travelling, and has managed to keep 'one up, one down and one pending.' But Bernard's life is about to get incredibly bumpy when his friend, Robert (pratfall expert Brian O'Sullivan), comes to stay and unexpected schedule changes bring all three women to Paris and Bernard's apartment at the same time. And with Robert meeting all these lovely ladies for the first time on the same day, he soon forgets which lies to tell to whom to keep Bernard out of the doghouse. Hilarity ensues!

Accomplished actress Lois Robbins takes us on a poignant and comic journey as one woman explores her sexual history, in what ultimately becomes her coming of age story, L.O.V.E.R. Directed by Sonia Sebastian, L.O.V.E.R. opens on April 13, running through May 12 at the Zephyr Theatre on Melrose Avenue.

The critically-acclaimed, Emmy Award-winning CNN Original Series, United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell, returns for its third season on Sunday, April 29, at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT, following the super-sized season 11 premiere of Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown. The eight-episode docuseries follows sociopolitical comedian W. Kamau Bell as he explores communities across the country, using humor to start a conversation about race and how our differences unite and divide us.

Accomplished actress Lois Robbins takes us on a poignant and comic journey as one woman explores her sexual history, in what ultimately becomes her coming of age story, L.O.V.E.R. Directed by Sonia Sebastian, L.O.V.E.R. opens on April 13, running through May 12 at the Zephyr Theatre on Melrose Avenue.

When Danny, son of an ultra-Orthodox Hasidic rabbi, injures the more traditionally Orthodox Reuven during a baseball game between their rival yeshivas, their two universes collide and a unique friendship is born. "This powerful story shows how essential it is to consider the views of those who are different from us," says director Levy. "It's an antidote to the toxicity of our times. Potok beautifully depicts what it means to bridge chasms - between modernity and tradition, the secular and the sacred, Zionism and Hasidism, adolescence and adulthood, friendship and family, fathers and sons, the head and the heart, and the struggle to choose for ourselves, to fight for what we believe in and who we want to be."

Friendship, faith and fatherhood. Jonathan Arkin, Alan Blumenfeld, Dor Gvirtsman and Sam Mandelstar in The Chosen, the award-winning stage adaptation by Aaron Posner and Chaim Potok of Potok's beloved novel. Simon Levy directs for aJanuary 20 opening at the Fountain Theatre, where performances continue through March 25. The Fountain celebrates the novel's 50th anniversary (last April) with the West Coast premiere of Posner's new, streamlined version.

Friendship, faith and fatherhood.Jonathan Arkin, Alan Blumenfeld, Dor Gvirtsman and Sam Mandelstar in The Chosen, the award-winning stage adaptation by Aaron Posner and Chaim Potok of Potok's beloved novel. Simon Levydirects for a January 20 opening at the Fountain Theatre, where performances continue through March 25. The Fountain celebrates the novel's 50th anniversary (last April) with the West Coast premiere of Posner's new, streamlined version.

Broadway veteran James Leo Ryan and stage and screen actor Arthur Richardson will join Emmy Award-winner Donna Mills to complete the cast of The Colony Theatre's production of Alfred Uhry's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Driving Miss Daisy.

Mark Blanchard, Samadahi Entertainment and The Actorhood have announced the successful John Patrick Shanley production of 'The Dreamer Examines His Pillow,' starring the exceptional cast of Scottie Thompson, Ade M'Cormack, and Sal Landi, and will re-open at the beautiful Hudson Mainstage Theatre.

Mark Blanchard, Samadahi Entertainment and The Actorhood have announced the successful John Patrick Shanley production of 'The Dreamer Examines His Pillow,' starring the exceptional cast of Scottie Thompson, Ade M'Cormack, and Sal Landi, and will re-open at the beautiful Hudson Mainstage Theatre.

Studio C Artist and Combined Artform present TOLSTOY IN SUFFOLK, written and directed by Robert Allan Ackerman, featuring Stephen Caffrey & JD Cullum, opening October 20th running through November 19th at Studio C - 6448 Santa Monica Blvd. Los Angeles CA 90038.

Extended through August 20: After a sold-out run during the 2017 Hollywood Fringe Festival, and the 2017 Better Lemons Audience Choice Award winner, A Steady Rain, written by Keith Huff (Mad Men, House of Cards) and directed by premier acting coach John Kirby (The Count of Monte Cristo, Peter Pan, Scream 4, This is Us), continues its run that has audiences on the edge of their seats. A Steady Rain re-opens July 14 at The John Kirby Studio in Hollywood for a three-week run through July 30.

After a sold-out run during the 2017 Hollywood Fringe Festival, and the 2017 Better Lemons Audience Choice Award winner, A Steady Rain, written by Keith Huff (Mad Men, House of Cards) and directed by premier acting coach John Kirby (The Count of Monte Cristo,Peter Pan, Scream 4, This is Us), continues its run that has audiences on the edge of their seats. A Steady Rain re-opens July 14 at The John Kirby Studio in Hollywood for a three-week run through July 30.

After a sold-out run during the 2017 Hollywood Fringe Festival, and the 2017 Better Lemons Audience Choice Award winner, A Steady Rain, written by Keith Huff (Mad Men, House of Cards) and directed by premier acting coach John Kirby (The Count of Monte Cristo, Peter Pan, Scream 4, This is Us), continues its run that has audiences on the edge of their seats. A Steady Rain re-opens July 14 at The John Kirby Studio in Hollywood for a three-week run through July 30.

A STEADY RAIN to be presented at the 2017 Hollywood Fringe Festival. Written by Keith Huff (Mad Men, House of Cards, American Crime) and Directed by prominent Hollywood acting coach, John Kirby (The Age of Adeline , The Count of Monte Cristo, Stick It).