Francis Scott Key News

The Library of Congress is preparing for the 2013 National Book Festival on the National Mall in Washington D.C., this weekend, Sept 21-22. This annual celebration of American literature and culture is expected to draw tens of thousands of visitors per day from across the capital region and beyond, boasting an attendance record of over 200,000 in 2011. The number of authors, illustrators, and poets as presenters has doubled since that time to over 100.

The Library of Congress is preparing for the 2013 National Book Festival on the National Mall in Washington D.C., Sept 21-22. This annual celebration of American literature and culture is expected to draw tens of thousands of visitors per day from across the capital region and beyond, boasting an attendance record of over 200,000 in 2011. The number of authors, illustrators, and poets as presenters has doubled since that time to over 100.

This summer, the Utah Symphony will present four programs to the public in its Summer Community Concert Series. Each concert will be held in a beautiful venue in northern Utah: Sundance Resort in Sundance, Thanksgiving Point at the Waterfall in Lehi, Browning Fine Arts Center at Weber State University and Snowbasin Resort in Huntsville.

This summer, the Utah Symphony will present four programs to the public in its Summer Community Concert Series. Each concert will be held in a beautiful venue in northern Utah: Sundance Resort in Sundance, Thanksgiving Point at the Waterfall in Lehi, Browning Fine Arts Center at Weber State University and Snowbasin Resort in Huntsville.

America's history will come to life in Baltimore this summer with three historic commemorations marking important moments in the creation of our nation's identity: the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 and birth of 'The Star-Spangled Banner,' a tribute to Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad, and the continuation of the 150 th anniversary of the Civil War.

On last night's THE COLBERT REPORT on Comedy Central, host Stephen Colbert tackled the brewing controversy over Beyonce's 'Lip-Gate.' Check it out below!

Thanks to the exquisitely crafted and wonderfully creative Outside Paradise, a new play written by Bill Feehely and given an opulent world premiere production from Actors Bridge Ensemble, the story of these two tragic figures is brought to life onstage.

Baltimore Choral Arts salutes the 1812 Anniversary and our national anthem, and presents the Baltimore premiere of Ysaye Barnwell's Fortune's Bones: The Manumission Requiem, tonight, November 3, at 8 pm in Goucher College's Kraushaar Auditorium.

On Sunday, November 4 at 2pm, the Maryland Historical Society (MdHS) will host an 1812 Fashion Show. 'This is a new way of looking at history,' says emcee Vince Vaise, Chief of Interpretation with the National Park Service at Fort McHenry. 'Fashion puts an emphasis not on dates and objects, but rather, on people.'

Baltimore Choral Arts salutes the 1812 Anniversary and our national anthem, and presents the Baltimore premiere of Ysaye Barnwell's Fortune's Bones: The Manumission Requiem, on Saturday, November 3, at 8 pm in Goucher College's Kraushaar Auditorium.

President Obama issued a proclamation today making this month, October 2012, National Arts and Humanities Month. Read it below!

A key moment in American history is coming to life in Detroit next week. The U.S. Navy, Marines and Coast Guards are joining with civilian groups to commemorate the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 in a series of special events in Detroit September 4-10, 2012. The War of 1812 set into motion forces that made the United States a global maritime superpower, and also inspired Francis Scott Key to pen the U.S. national anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner."

Hello, everybody. Please have a seat. Welcome to the White House. I am going to be brief, because on a night like tonight my job is to get out of the way and let the professionals do their job.

A unique album featuring great poems recited by great voices-- from Jim Broadbent, Helena Bonham Carter, Ruby Dee, and Amber Rose Johnson to James Earl Jones , Garrison Keillor, Terence Stamp and Meryl Streep--and set to classical music arrives just in time for April's National Poetry Month. Words For You (Mighty Village/Universal/UMe), released April 12, 2011, brings together the emotional words of the likes of Shakespeare, Walt Whitman, Edgar Allen Poe and Maya Angelou with the powerful music of classical giants such as Chopin, Debussy, Grieg and Mahler as well as others.

The Baltimore Playwrights Festival (www.baltplayfest.com) announces the sixth public reading 'Marathon' of their 30th Season, to take place on Saturday, February 26th at The Strand Theater, 1823 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland, 21201. Beginning at 11:00 a.m. five one-acts plays will be read, including Top of the Hour by Kitty Felde, The Rapier and the Rose, and The Unfinished Story, both by Steve Prevosto, The Chick Files by Sharon Goldner, and Protest by Adam Meyer. Each reading will be followed by a discussion of the script with the playwright, director and actors. The event is free, and the general public is encouraged to attend.

A unique album featuring great poems recited by great voices-- from Jim Broadbent, Helena Bonham Carter, Ruby Dee, and Amber Rose Johnson to James Earl Jones , Garrison Keillor, Terence Stamp and Meryl Streep--and set to classical music arrives just in time for April's National Poetry Month. Words For You (Mighty Village/Universal/UMe), released April 12, 2011, brings together the emotional words of the likes of Shakespeare, Walt Whitman, Edgar Allen Poe and Maya Angelou with the powerful music of classical giants such as Chopin, Debussy, Grieg and Mahler as well as others.

The Laurie Beechman Theatre, located within The West Bank Café (407 West 42nd St.), is pleased to continue our Friday night soiree, THE AFTER PARTY. Now going strong it's third, THE AFTER PARTY is billed as 'a weekly schmoozefest for the theatrically inclined.'

The Laurie Beechman Theatre, located within The West Bank Café (407 West 42nd St.), is pleased to continue our Friday night soiree, THE AFTER PARTY. Now going strong it's third, THE AFTER PARTY is billed as 'a weekly schmoozefest for the theatrically inclined.'