George Lucas News

Two new exhibitions summon two painters of grand, perhaps flawed ambitions, yet of undeniable power.

THE KENNEDY CENTER HONORS recently announced their honorees for 2015 will be singer-songwriter Carole King, filmmaker George Lucas, actress and singer Rita Moreno, conductor Seiji Ozawa and actress and Broadway star Cicely Tyson. They will be recognized during THE 38TH ANNUAL KENNEDY CENTER HONORS, to be broadcast Tuesday, Dec. 29 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. CBS has broadcast the special each year since its debut 38 years ago.

'[Thank you] to an incredible cast of British and American actors who make the Atlantic look like a little creek you can just kind of pop across,' said Dame Helen Mirren upon receiving her 2015 Tony Award. The stage and screen star reprised her critically-acclaimed performance in THE AUDIENCE after a West End run in 2013, and she was just one of many to 'pop across' an ocean for a stab at Broadway.  An unprecedented amount of British talent took over Broadway last year, bringing us such productions as THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME, WOLF HALL: PARTS 1 & 2, and SKYLIGHT.   It doesn't seem like the trend is ending anytime soon. This fall, Broadway will welcome a slew of British actors- some of whom will be making their US stage debuts in incoming productions. And it's not just performers. We're getting some complete British imports in shows like A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE and KING CHARLES III. Below, we're taking a moment to shine a spotlight on this season's British imports.

While Broadway has yet to see a live adaptation of Lucas' epic, there have been valiant efforts made to bring STAR WARS to the stage.

The Orpheum Theatre will welcome the all-new live show MythBusters Jamie & Adam UNLEASHED!, starring Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage, co-hosts of the Emmy-nominated Discovery series 'MythBusters,' for one night only on Saturday, November 14, 2015 at 8:00 PM. Tickets are on sale now.

Lois Braverman, President & CEO, Ackerman Institute for the Family, announced today that actor Jimmy Smits will be honored with the Ackerman Leadership Award at the Moving Families Forward annual gala which will take place at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel at 301 Park Avenue on Monday, October 26th in New York City.

Just last night, the American Theatre Wing hosted its annual Gala at The Plaza Hotel (Fifth Avenue at Central Park South), honoring legendary actor James Earl Jones. Mr. Jones is a two-time Tony Award winner, two-time Obie Award winner and alumnus of the American Theatre Wing Professional School. CeCe Black, Anki Leeds, and Marva Smalls will serve as Gala Chairs.

Chicago Humanities Festival (CHF) has announced its 26th Annual Benefit Evening tonight, September 15 at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago (N Michigan Ave at Delaware Pl). The Benefit Evening will feature author and Aspen Institute president Walter Isaacson in conversation with Mellody Hobson, president, Ariel Investments. Isaacson will participate in the CHF Benefit Evening following a public program at 5:30 p.m. the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago (126 E Chestnut St). Proceeds from both programs will directly advance the CHF's mission to create opportunities for people of all ages to support, enjoy, and explore the humanities. Additionally, proceeds from the event's paddle raise will support CHF's EdLab education and outreach initiatives.

Today at D23, Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn announced that writer-director Colin Trevorrow will direct Star Wars: Episode IX, which is set for release in 2019. While production won't begin for a few years, Trevorrow is heading to Lucasfilm this year to begin working with artists and his fellow Star Wars directors.

Nashville's Actors Bridge Ensemble has revealed some new course offerings for this fall, including Level One in the Meisner Technqiue taught by Vali Forrister, producing artistic director and co-founder of the critically lauded company - and includes a buzzed-about Star Wars Study Group, led by David Ian Lee.

The Santa Fe Opera announced that they will present an opera based on the life of Steve Jobs called 'The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs,' by composer Mason Bates and librettist Mark Campbell.  It is set to debut in 2017. 

As the galaxy prepares for the next generation of Star Wars, the six epic films will each release as commemorative Blu-ray steelbooks on November 10th.

Chicago Humanities Festival (CHF) has announced its 26th Annual Benefit Evening on Tuesday, September 15 at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago (N Michigan Ave at Delaware Pl). The Benefit Evening will feature author and Aspen Institute president Walter Isaacson in conversation with Mellody Hobson, president, Ariel Investments. Isaacson will participate in the CHF Benefit Evening following a public program at 5:30 p.m. the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago (126 E Chestnut St). Proceeds from both programs will directly advance the CHF's mission to create opportunities for people of all ages to support, enjoy, and explore the humanities. Additionally, proceeds from the event's paddle raise will support CHF's EdLab education and outreach initiatives.

INDIANA JONES, JURASSIC PARK, and STAR WARS -- perfect examples of science fiction inspiring science fact.

INDIANA JONES, JURASSIC PARK, and STAR WARS -- perfect examples of science fiction inspiring science fact.

SUICIDE NOTES: In Their Own Words is a gripping one hour play that uses real suicide notes and performed by four actors in the vein of The Vagina Monologues and Love Letters. Stan Zimmerman, a TV and film veteran and award winning theatre writer/director, returns to Hollywood Fringe Festival for his three straight year. But this time, he departs from his usual comedy ventures to create this unique theatrical piece after loosing a close friend to suicide three years ago.

The Emmy(R)-winning television event, which this year will celebrate the career of actor, comedian, author, playwright, screenwriter, producer and musician Steve Martin, will continue premiering on TNT or TBS through 2018, with encores each year on sister network Turner Classic Movies (TCM).

The Gene Siskel Film Center (GSFC) of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) once again saluted a leader in cinematic artistry when it honored two-time Academy Award® nominee Mark Ruffalo

A long, long time ago, in a land far, far away…a man named George Fredric Handel crafted an opera entitled Rinaldo. A few hundred years later, an opera company that prides itself in bringing a fresh perspective to the art form added their own charms to the libretto. Under the guise of the Star Wars franchise, Fresco Opera Theater, under the direction of Melanie Cain, has created a nerd haven in The Overture's cozy Playhouse Theater entitled Rinaldo and the Galactic Crusades.

National Security Advisor Susan Rice, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, former United States Attorney General Eric Holder, United States Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James, United States Secretary of Department of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald, actor George Newbern, members of Congress and other distinguished guests attended the Ford's Theatre Annual Gala the evening of Sunday, May 31, 2015, at Ford's Theatre (511 10th Street NW). Scroll down for photos from the event!