I. Fell News

"I want you to tell me your name, real name if it's different. And I'd also like to know where you were born…"

Heavy Metal Anthem (www.facebook.com/heavymetalanthem), a Los Angeles-based band formed by former Mighty Six Ninety founder Rich Michalowski and Adam Merrin of The 88 (www.the88.net) have confirmed January 21, 2014 for the release of their debut E.P.

Intent on integrating classic literature with the modern world, Kate Hackett Productions and AntiKaiser officially announced on Tuesday the upcoming release of Classic Alice, a vlog-style webseries set at the fictitious New England college, Valeton University.

Former Florida quarterback and Heisman winner, Tim Tebow, has been hired as a college football analyst for the SEC Network launching in August 2014.

With all the turmoil that has hit Mali since singing guitar master Habib Koité's last recording, it is no wonder that his February 25, 2014 release, titled Soô (which translates to Home in English), was recorded in his own home. But the civil strife in Mali was not what drove the musician to do his first home recording. The real reason simply was-just like many other established musicians-because he could. What started as a logistical decision paved the way for the album's theme.

Seattle Public Theater (SPT) will present the Pacific Northwest premiere of Lisa Dillman's American Wee-Pie, a sweetly melancholic comedy about economic recession, career second acts, and the life-altering power of the savory things in life, namely, cupcakes.

Parade Productions will present Deborah Zoe Laufer's The Last Schwartz from January 30th through February 23rd at the Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center's Studio Theatre.

The special, which features inspirational stories about children adopted from foster care into loving families, will air Wednesday, Dec. 18 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

Here in Portland, Maine, in the last two months a young actor has been creating a sensation in two tour de force performances of two vastly different comedies. Thirty-four year-old Dustin Tucker, who now makes his home in Maine's largest city, is having what many would consider a breakout year - starring first in Morris Panych's dark theatre of the absurd, Vigil, and then reprising his hilarious turn as David Sedaris' Elf Crumpet in the Santaland Diaries, both at Portland Stage.

In this week's edition, we caught up with Mary Michael Patterson, who is starring as 'Christine' in The Phantom of the Opera- currently playing at the Majestic Theatre.

Playwright Franz Xaver (F.X.) Kroetz is infrequently presented in Chicago, despite being Germany's most-produced living playwright during the 1980s and 90s. All that will change when the side project - known for its hyper-intimacy - takes on Kroetz, known for his hyper-realism and unrelenting depictions of loneliness, with a two-show rep in January and February.

Rrazz Entertainment presents A Spring Rockin Doo Wop Spectacular at Tarrytown Music Hall located at 13 Main Street in Tarrytown New York…

The Top Six sing their heart outs this week with two songs, one they chose to dedicate to someone special and one chosen by their coach.

John Walcutt takes over as the new Producing Artistic Director of Shakespeare Orange County (formerly The Grove Shakespeare Festival), succeeding his Thomas F. Bradac, who has led it for 34 years. The festival, now called simply SOC, performs summers in the beautiful outdoor 540 seat Garden Grove Amphitheater in Garden Grove.

In December, Donny and Marie are embarking on a tour to celebrate the season of Christmas and to share many aspects their Vegas show with many all over the country. I caught up with Donny as he was preparing to depart for the tour and asked him about the tour, Vegas and what it's like to be Donny Osmond.

Tony nominated Brad Oscar talks about replacing Nathan Lane, working with Susan Stroman and appearing the the new musical BIG FISH

DelGaudio, one-half of the tandem in the evening of magic NOTHING TO HIDE, draws inspiration from Gene Kelly and Willy Wonka.

Celebrity biographer and author Randy Jernigan has released a new book telling the story of his dramatic weight-loss of 158 pounds and shares tips and recipes that helped him beat the odds against a deadly case of diabetes and hypertension. In the books first chapter, titled, My Story, the author tells of his experiences as a child with obesity problems and being brutally bullied in school. 'I wanted to die, the pain and humiliation was too much for me to handle and I thought about suicide many times at that tender age. No child should ever have to feel that sort of pain. For the most part I suffered in silence. I had no real friends and I didn't want to trouble my parents. They were dealing with their own issues. After a full day of constant bullying at school I would come home, load up on anything and everything I could find in the kitchen, then lock myself in my bedroom and eat until I fell asleep. It was my way of escaping the pain.' By the time Jernigan was 35 years old he weighed 355 pounds and suffered from many weight related illnesses. 'My Blood pressure was astronomical and I developed a severe case of diabetes. I was also suffering with a debilitating gout pain because of my poor food choices.' Jernigan admits to trying many diets in those days and actually lost a little weight here and there but was never able to stay on the diet. 'My love for food was too strong-it was my sanctuary in a cold, harsh world.' Jernigan goes on the share how, years later, he nearly died after collapsing in his bathroom, of a horrifying emergency room experience, and the succeeding events that caused him to turn his life, and health condition, around and survive his deadly illnesses. 'I've always been totally obsessed with food and I had to make major changes in my thinking as well as my body,' said Jernigan. 'It wasn't easy but it was something that had to be done if I wanted to live, and I now had something to live for...' In 'Losing To Win' Jernigan shares his own diabetic friendly recipes and weight loss tips that has helped him lose a total of 158 pounds to date, and live a healthier lifestyle. 'Losing To Win!: A Digest of Recipes and Tips to Keep You Fit and Healthy' is now available through amazon.com or wherever fine books are sold.

New Line's season closes with the regional premiere of this new rock musical, inspired by true events, with music and lyrics by Amanda Green (High Fidelity, Bring It On), music by Trey Anastasio (of the rock band Phish), and a script by Doug Wright (Pulitzer Prize winner, I Am My Own Wife), adapted from the 1997 documentary of the same name.

Star of Broadway's NO MAN'S LAND and WAITING FOR GODOT, Patrick Stewart, covers this week's edition of Time Out New York. In the interview, Stewart comments on the challenges and joys of performing reparatory theater at 73, his pal and current Broadway costar Ian McKellen, his move to Brooklyn, his love of Twitter, and much more. Some of my favorite quotes are pasted below.