James Thurber News

Buntport Theater Company remounts the second show they created together for three nights only!

Jules Poetry Playhouse and Teatro Paraguas are pleased to present Albuquerque poet Rich Boucher reading from his new book All of This Candy Belongs to Me, published by Jules Poetry Playhouse Publications this year.

Randall Duk Kim and Anne Occhiogrosso headline Centenary Stage Company's (CSC) presentation of a free staged reading of Sophocles' drama Oedipus Rex on Wednesday, September 19 at 7:30 PM in the Kutz Theatre at the Lackland Performing Arts Center, Hackettstown, New Jersey.

Randall Duk Kim and Anne Occhiogrosso headline Centenary Stage Company's presentation of a free staged reading of Sophocles' drama "Oedipus Rex" on Wednesday, September 19 at 7:30 PM in the Kutz Theatre at the Lackland Performing Arts Center, Hackettstown, New Jersey. The September 19 reading and the master classes that precede and follow it marks the first installment of the 2018 Gates Ferry Lecture Series: "What is Truth?" The September 19 reading will be the first of three presentations, all featuring Kim and Occhiogrosso, which also includes a staged reading of scenes from Shakespeare's "King Lear" on November 14 and a full stage production of Henrik Ibsen's "Enemy of The People" from February 15-March 3, 2019. To reserve tickets, please call the Centenary Stage Company box office at (908) 979 0900 or visit www.centenarystageco.org.

Randall Duk Kim and Anne Occhiogrosso headline Centenary Stage Company's presentation of a free staged reading of Sophocles' drama "Oedipus Rex" on Wednesday, September 19 at 7:30 PM in the Kutz Theatre at the Lackland Performing Arts Center, Hackettstown, New Jersey.

The past several Broadway seasons have seen extraordinary developments in musical theatre, with a steady stream of new shows, usually transferring from non-profit Off-Broadway, offering smart writing, inventive storytelling and expanded notions of the subject matter and musical styles that can be welcomed into the art form.

Marking its 40th anniversary as one of New York's most vital cultural institutions,Symphony Space is proud to announce a new season of bold programming, presented in a uniquely warm and welcoming environment. From September through June, Symphony Space offers an exciting lineup of events that connect art, ideas, and the city's rich mosaic of communities.

Sensory-friendly concerts, creative Thursday night gatherings and the 125th birthday celebration of a hometown cartoonist are among the highlights of nine central Ohio arts organizations receiving a total of $250,000 in grants from the PNC Foundation through PNC Arts Alive.

New author J. R. Strayve, Jr. has written a novel that early readers compare to the historical fiction storytelling of multiple bestselling author, Ken Follett. Being likened to an novelist with over 160 million books sold is high praise for any author, especially a brand new one. "Braxton's Century" tells the story of a British aristocrat from birth in 1866 until his 100th birthday. As a young boy, he is surrounded by the rarefied world of his fictional royal family. Protagonist Prince Braxton is typical of the men in classic 19th Century romance stories. He is brilliant, strikingly handsome, talented, and ambitious. Readers will be mesmerized as Braxton builds fame and fortune in London, Vienna, Venice, St. Petersburg, Moscow, Tokyo, Calcutta, San Francisco, Colorado, and New York. The novel follows an interesting cast of characters including Braxton's mother, a Contessa who became a Princess before being crowned Queen Mercedes. Historical Fiction fans can learn more about the book by visiting the book's website www.BraxtonsCentury.com, where readers can download a copy of the first chapter. On the site, they can click on a link to the Publishizer Crowdfunding page to learn more about how author J.R. Strayve, Jr. plans to interact with his readers, solicit their input on final cover design and invite them to participate in the book's formal launch this summer. Here are some early reader comments sent to the author: '...I really liked the first chapter. Really captivating, great character development already and well written. I'm ready for the rest of the book! (I left the manuscript on the plane purposely. Hopefully it will spread virally)' - Tom Lein '...I received the first chapter of your book. I downloaded and read it in bed last night. I have to say, I totally enjoyed reading it. It was as if I was in attendance to all the going on. Can't wait to get the book so can finish reading it. It is definitely my kind of story.' - Lin Haymaker J. R. Strayve, Jr. has a bit of Author James Thurber's daydreaming character Walter Mitty in him. The father of three adult children and three grandchildren, creating stories for them was one of the best parts of parenting for this true creative. "Braxton's Century" came to life after Strayve suffered an accident in 2016 and was only able to work part-time as a Financial Planner in San Diego, California where he still lives. Fatigued and weakened by illness, he passed out while working out at a gym. After the accident it took a few months to regain his strength, so he would go for long walks to exercise and refocus his thoughts. He says that during those walks in the inspiring beauty of San Diego, he reverted to the 'daydreaming, window gazing, wildly imaginative' days of his youth which gave birth to Prince Braxton. Strayve's favorite person history is Winston Churchill who was born in 1875. His familiarity with the time-period, vivid imagination and literary license gave birth to this gripping page-turner that readers say is hard to put down.

'SCREAMING SECRETS', written by writer and philosopher Alexander Matthews, forms part of Matthews' debut two-play season at the Tristan Bates Theatre in Covent Garden. The first play, 'Screaming Secrets' is set in 1975, in a world of free love, flared trousers, and deep thinking.

The playwright and philosopher Alexander Matthews presents the debut of his two witty social dramas at Covent Garden's Tristan Bates Theatre in spring 2018. 'Screaming Secrets' and 'Glass Roots' will have back-to-back runs and will form the first Alexander Matthews Season in the UK. Both plays are directed by Evan Keele with production design by Nancy Surman.

The playwright and philosopher Alexander Matthews presents the debut of two of his witty social dramas at Covent Garden's Tristan Bates Theatre in spring 2018. 'Screaming Secrets' and 'Glass Roots' will have back-to-back runs and will form the first Alexander Matthews Season in the UK.

Playwright Carlyle Brown is the recipient of the William Inge Distinguished Achievement in the American Theater Award, at the 37th Annual William Inge Theatre Festival at Independence Community College, Kansas. The Inge Festival, the Official Theatre Festival of the State of Kansas, takes place May 9-12, 2018.

Thurber House has announced that, along with host of The Daily Show Trevor Noah and novelist Aaron Thier, Ken Pisani is one of three finalists for the coveted Thurber Prize for American Humor for his debut novel AMP'D, published by St. Martin's Press.

'Eleanora Duse Dies in Pittsburgh' is a short dark comedy, written by Don Nigro about the terror and holiness of theater. Famous Italian actress Eleanora Duse finds herself regretful of her past actions and attempts to find some sort of relief only to be pestered by the comedic interactions of other famous characters around her, leaving her more uncertain of her eventual fate. Theater for the New City's Dream Up Festival will present the play's New York premiere August 27 to September 12. Aan Steele directs and heads the cast of eight as Duse.

A series of tweets on the parody account @TheTweetofGod landed American comedy writer David Javerbaum a book deal. Eventually that book, The Last Testament: A Memoir By God, was adapted for the stage and renamed as An Act of God. The stage version premiered at Broadway's Studio 54 Theatre in 2015 with Big Bang Theory sitcom star Jim Parsons in the leading role. A second run featured Will & Grace's Sean Hayes in the leading role, and now the B Street Theatre will give the holy role to Nick Cearley (Buyer & Cellar).

Honoring the anniversary of the birth and death of William Shakespeare, Centenary Stage Company is pleased to present classical theatre giants Randall Duk Kim and Anne Occhiogrosso starring in, The Pleasure of His Company: Our Love Affair with William Shakespeare and the First Folio, an evening of personal recollections, dramatic scenes and stories of Shakespeare's influence on Kim and Occhiogrosso's lives and careers for more than four decades on Sunday, April 23  at 3:00pm in the Lackland Performing Arts Center.

The Revival, a new comedy theater in Hyde Park, announces its lineup of shows and events playing in November 2016. Inspired by the legacy of the Compass Players, The Revival brings improvisational comedy back to the same corner where it was invented in 1955!

The Revival, a new comedy theater in Hyde Park, announces its lineup of shows and events playing in November 2016. Inspired by the legacy of the Compass Players, The Revival brings improvisational comedy back to the same corner where it was invented in 1955!

The 1979 Off-Broadway musical was the first collaboration from Alan Menken and Howard Ashman.