George Ball News

Rubicon Theatre Company's 2016-2017 Season was publicly announced today at a special event hosted by Joe Spano(Emmy Award and L.A. Drama Critics' Circle Award-winning veteran of stage and screen) and Peter Van Norden (whose numerous credits include five Broadway shows, regional theatre, film and television). The two actors star as Marley and Scrooge, respectively, in the company's adaptation of A Christmas Carol, which was a Critic's Choice in the L.A. Times and will be reprised this December under the direction of Brian McDonald. The season also features the third play in Arlene Hutton's celebrated Nibroc Trilogy, Gulf View Drive, helmed by London-based director Katharine Farmer; Miche Braden reprising her Off-Broadway performance in The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith written by Angelo Parra and directed by Joe Brancato of Penguin Rep; the return of the most popular comedy in Rubicon history, A.R. Gurney's Sylvia, directed by Stephanie A. Coltrin; direct from Off-Broadway, The Other Mozart written by and starring Silvia Milo and directed by Isaac Byrne, about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's equally remarkable sister Nannerl; Someone Who'll Watch Over Me, Frank McGuinness' riveting tale based on a true story about three hostages held in Beirut in1986, directed by Katharine Farmer; and King Lear by William Shakespeare, directed by James O'Neil.

The Stella Adler Studio of Acting hosted the 11th Annual Stella by Starlight Benefit Gala last night at The Prince George Ballroom in New York City. The event honored actor Jeff Daniels, the late director Nancy Malone, real estate developer Sharif El-Gamal and New York City Department of Correction Deputy Commissioner of Youthful Offender and Young Adult Programming Winette Jackson.

The Stella Adler Studio of Acting will host the 11th Annual Stella by Starlight Benefit Gala on June 13 at The Prince George Ballroom in New York City. This year's honorees include actor Jeff Daniels(Group Theater Award), the late director Nancy Malone (The Stella Adler Leading Lady Award), real estate developerSharif El-Gamal (Stella Adler Corporate Award) and New York City Department of Correction Deputy Commissioner of Youthful Offender and Young Adult Programming Winette Jackson (Harold Clurman Spirit Award). 

The Stella Adler Studio of Acting announced today that the 11th Annual Stella by Starlight Benefit Gala will be held on June 13 at The Prince George Ballroom in New York City. This year's honorees include actor Jeff Daniels (Group Theater Award), the late director Nancy Malone (The Stella Adler Leading Lady Award), real estate developer Sharif El-Gamal (Stella Adler Corporate Award) and New York City Department of Correction Deputy Commissioner of Youthful Offender and Young Adult Programming Winette Jackson (Harold Clurman Spirit Award).

Celebrities dressed in Western attire walked the red carpet last Saturday as Rubicon Theatre Company of Ventura presented the American Premiere of the stage play THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE by Jethro Compton. Attendees included musician Jim Messina of Loggins & Messina, Poco and Buffalo Springfield and his beautiful wife Michaela; Golden Globe nominated actor Ted Neeley with his wife Leeyan and daughter Tessa; and Emmy Award-winning actor Joe Spano with his daughters Liana and Meili. Scroll down for photos from the opening night festivities!

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance was originally a short story penned in 1953 by Dorothy M. Johnson (1905 - 1984), who wrote numerous articles and stories with Western themes. In 1962, Valance was adapted for motion pictures in a blockbuster film directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne, James Stewart, and Lee Marvin, in the title role of the sadistic gunslinger who is taken on by Stewart, who portrayed a tenderfoot attorney new to the dusty town of Shinbone. Jethro Compton's new stage play is based on the short story instead of the movie, getting its start in England in 2014. The Rubicon Theatre Company's new production marks the play's American debut, starring Gregory Harrison in the role of Bert Barricune, the equivalent of John Wayne's Tom Doniphon in the film. Reviews of the play have called it 'gripping drama' and 'consistently absorbing.' We spoke with Jenny Sullivan, who is directing Rubicon's production and she talked about the process of presenting a subject that has become much more famous through the film adaptation than for the original story.

In October 1989, four years after he founded The Mable Mercer Foundation, cabaret publicist and promoter Donald Smith launched the first Cabaret Convention at New York's Town Hall. The now four-day event eventually moved to Lincoln Center's Rose Hall, but due to renovations this year at the more uptown revue, this year's 26th Annual Convention was back at its old West 43rd Street stomping grounds. Since Donald Smith died in March 2012, the Mercer Foundation's Artistic Director and de-facto Convention Producer has been cabaret star KT Sullivan, and for Monday night's opening show she greeted the audience, in measured tempo, with the infectious enthusiasm of Cole Porter (“Another Opening, Another Show”) and Irving Berlin (“There's No Business Like Show Business”). Sullivan provided an effective, entertaining onramp to an evening that featured experienced American and European artists from cabaret and theater and relative cabaret newbies who've recently made a mark on the scene.

Writer/vocalist Amanda McBroom is something of a wonder. The artist manages to be both lyrical and plain spoken, urbane and universal, polished and genuine, vulnerable and gutsy. Her sharply etched songs illuminate our hearts and minds like artful x-ray. Performance is intimate. McBroom's current show at Feinstein's/54 Below, Up Close and Personal, treats us to material exhumed in an attempt to apply feng shui to her music studio; some rarely heard, a few with the ink barely dry, and a familiar anthem.

This October, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street. For

Amanda McBroom -- American international theater and cabaret performer and writer of the hit song, 'The Rose' -- will return to 54 Below tonight, September 30th and October 1st at 7pm with her new show, UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL, featuring unheard songs from her own songwriter's trunk, plus music by some of her favorite writers including Leonard Cohen, Judy Collins, Fran Landesman, John Bucchino, Jacques Brel and more.

Rubicon Theatre Company welcomes stage and screen veterans Linda Purl, Brett Rickaby and Peter Van Norden in the company's mainstage production of the Tony-Award winning play COPENHAGEN, directed by international artist Judy Hegarty Lovett.

Rubicon Theatre Company welcomes stage and screen veterans Linda Purl, Brett Rickaby and Peter Van Norden to star in the company's mainstage production of the Tony-Award winning play COPENHAGEN, directed by international artist Judy Hegarty Lovett.

Rubicon Theatre Company just announced stage and screen veterans Linda Purl, Brett Rickaby and Peter Van Norden will star in the company's mainstage production of the Tony-Award winning play COPENHAGEN, directed by international artist Judy Hegarty Lovett.

Rubicon's Broadway Musical Concert Series continues with three performances of a concert reading of THE SECRET GARDEN (based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett with Lyrics by Marsha Norman and Music by Lucy Simon.

Rubicon's Broadway Musical Concert Series continues with three performances of a concert reading of THE SECRET GARDEN (based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett with Lyrics by Marsha Norman and Music by Lucy Simon.

Amanda McBroom -- American international theater and cabaret performer and writer of the hit song, "The Rose"  -- will return to 54 Below on September 30th and October 1st at 7pm with her new show, Up Close and Personal, featuring unheard songs from her own songwriter's trunk, plus music by some of her favorite writers including Leonard Cohen, Judy Collins, Fran Landesman, John Bucchino, Jacques Brel and more.

It's an undeniable, outstanding, and extraordinary musical milestone, to be sure: 2015 marks the thirtieth anniversary of The Mabel Mercer Foundation! Not only has the organization survived the ongoing and vastly fluctuating public tastes in music, lyrics, and performers, it has proliferated and burgeoned in its three decades of commitment to the classic, "Great Popular Songbook" -- both past and present.

The Janet and Mark L. Goldenson Broadway Musical Concert Series at Rubicon Theatre Company continues with three concerts celebrating the genius of two of the most prolific and most important writing teams in musical theatre history in a show entitled RODGERS & HART & HAMMERSTEIN.

The 10th Anniversary STELLA BY STARLIGHT Gala just took place last night, May 11, 2015 at The Prince George Ballroom in New York City, with Honorary Chair Donald Katz, to celebrate and benefit the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. The Marlon Brando Award for excellence in the arts and a life devoted to social engagement was presented to ETHAN HAWKE; The Harold Clurman Spirit Award for courageous contribution to the culture of the City of New York and beyond  to TRYMAINE LEE; The Stella Adler Award for consummate artistic achievement and interpretation to KATE MULGREW; and The Group Theater Award for prolific achievement in theater, film and television arts and community and social commitment to JOHN PATRICK SHANLEY. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from inside the special night below!

The Janet and Mark L. Goldenson Broadway Musical Concert Series at Rubicon Theatre Company continues with three concerts celebrating the genius of two of the most prolific and most important writing teams in musical theatre history in a show entitled RODGERS & HART & HAMMERSTEIN.