George Saunders News

Robert Falls' and Seth Bockley's world premiere adaptation of Roberto Bolaño's famed novel, 2666, which has received extraordinary audience enthusiasm during previews, officially opens tonight, February 16, 2016.

Robert Falls' and Seth Bockley's world premiere adaptation of Roberto Bolaño's famed novel, 2666-which has received extraordinary audience enthusiasm during previews and officially opens tomorrow, February 16-has been extended. Four additional performances include March 17, 18 and 19 at 6:30pm and March 20 at 1pm. The 15-member all-Chicago ensemble cast remains unchanged during the added performances.

Winning Writers is pleased to announce the results from its first annual North Street Book Prize competition for self-published books. Jenna Leigh Evans of Brooklyn, NY won first prize in Genre Fiction for her novel Prosperity. Gloria Taylor Weinberg of Fort Pierce, FL won first prize in Mainstream/Literary Fiction for her novel A Homicide in Hooker's Point. Elizabeth Kirschner of Kittery Point, ME won first prize in Creative Nonfiction/Memoir for her memoir Waking the Bones. We received 400 entries from around the world.

On last night's LATE SHOW, AUTHOR George Saunders tells Stephen about his writing process, the nun in his head and sings a song about winning (sort of). Later, Saunders lulls Stephen to sleep with the real meaning of Christmas.

After 15 years, 240 world premiere theater pieces, and being hailed 'the premiere short play festival in the Midwest' by the Chicago Reader, Collaboraction will stage its 15th and final SKETCHBOOK Festival at the place where it all started, the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., Chicago, January 14-24, 2016.

Stories on Stage presents 'Carpe Diem' today, September 19 at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Su Teatro Cultural and Performing Arts Center, 721 Santa Fe Drive, Denver, CO 80204.

On October 2, 3, and 4, 2015, The New Yorker will present its sixteenth annual Festival, a three-day celebration that brings to life the magazine's rich reporting and incisive cultural coverage, plus live performances, film previews, and one-of-a-kind excursions throughout New York City. Drawing together an acclaimed and exciting group of writers, artists, and thinkers from a range of fields-including film, music, television, politics, architecture, science, food, and literature-the Festival is New York City's foremost cultural event of the season.

Stories on Stage presents 'Carpe Diem' on Saturday, September 19 at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Su Teatro Cultural and Performing Arts Center, 721 Santa Fe Drive, Denver, CO 80204. Single tickets are $28 Adult/ $15 Student; tickets for groups of 6 or more are $20 per person and LoDough (scholarship) tickets are also available. Tickets are available online at www.storiesonstage.org or by calling 303-494-0523.

Stories on Stage presents 'Carpe Diem' on Saturday, September 19 at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Su Teatro Cultural and Performing Arts Center, 721 Santa Fe Drive, Denver, CO 80204.

CBS SUNDAY MORNING WITH CHARLES OSGOOD remained the #1 Sunday morning news program with adults 25-54, the demographic that matters most to those who advertise in news, and viewers, according to Nielsen live plus same day ratings for June 14.

Sideshow Theatre Company is pleased to announce its full 2015/16 Season, beginning this fall with the world premiere of Hansol Jung's surreal and mischievous new comedy NO MORE SAD THINGS, directed by Elly Green. Next winter, the season continues with another world premiere, David Jacobi's chilling new drama MAI DANG LAO directed by artistic associate Marti Lyons. The season concludes next spring with CAUGHT, a new, head-spinning collaboration with playwright Christopher Chen, Chicago's Xiong Art Gallery and director Seth Bockley. All three productions will be presented at Chicago's Victory Gardens Richard Christiansen Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., where Sideshow continues its multi-year residency. For additional information and updates, visit www.sideshowtheatre.org.

A math-obsessed boy discovers wonders in the stars, a historic brick exerts an ominous influence on a loveable aunt, and two new parents begin to wonder what lies behind their son's improbable stories in The Landing, the new musical by celebrated composer John Kander and presented by the Deep Dish Theater Company. The regional premiere will open on Halloween and play through November 22, continuing the company's fourteenth season at University Mall.

When I was in Afghanistan, all's I wanted to do was come back to America. But when I got home to America there was this empty feeling and I just wanted to go back to Afghanistan. When your life is so extreme every single day, and you're just adrenaline pumping every day, and then you just come home to this perfect little world, it kind of just sets you off balance.­-Lance Corporal Kevin Daly.

Joe's Pub at The Public presents A Good Read, a new ongoing no-frills reading series of classic works of prose and poetry curated by writer and actor John Cameron Mitchell. On Tuesday, June 3 and Wednesday, June 11 at 7:00 PM, actor Denis O'Hare will join Mitchell for Volume 2: Luminous Nictitation - an Evening of Russian Metafictional Absurdity at Joe's Pub. The actors will perform two-hander adaptations of works by Vladimir Nabokov. Tickets ($20) are available online and at The Public Theater Box Office (425 Lafayette, NYC, 212-967-7555).

Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) today launched the 'Cultivating Thought' author series, a new program that features original essays written by influential thought-leaders, authors, actors and comedians on its restaurant packaging. Created in partnership with New York Times best-selling author Jonathan Safran Foer (Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Eating Animals, Everything is Illuminated), who curated the series, these stories are meant to entertain customers while exposing them to some of the most creative and influential people of our time.

Taye Diggs recently received the Arents Award from his alma mater, Syracuse University. The George Arents Award is Syracuse University's highest alumni honor, presented annually to alumni who have made outstanding contributions to their chosen fields. Below, watch interviews with many of Taye's colleagues and friends, including his wife and fellow Broadway star Idina Menzel, plus the man himself!

The noted musical director, currently taking on BIG FISH, also takes on the issues of children, poverty, and education with her arts organization, ASTEP

Mexico City-based company La Piara in collaboration with Chicago writers/directors Seth Bockley and Devon de Mayo (who previously co-wrote and co-directed As Told by the Vivian Girls for Dog & Pony Theatre Company as part of Steppenwolf's Garage Rep) returns to Chicago with its satirical physical comedy Guerra: A Clown Play at Links Hall, 3111 N. Western Ave., for seven performances, today, July 26-Aug. 4. The piece was previously performed in Chicago at Millennium Park in March 2012.

Guerra: a clown play is a satirical physical comedy created by Mexico City-based company La Piara in collaboration with writers/directors Seth Bockley (February House at The Public Theatre) and Devon de Mayo (The Further Adventures of Hedda Gabler with Dog & Pony Theatre Company). Performed in three languages, Guerracombines slapstick, clown, dance, bouffant and farce to tell the story of a military outpost desperate for recruits, and the cannon fodder that a hapless General sends to war. This contemporary story of war's inhumanity is given a darkly humorous edge through the medium of clown.