James Walker News

ALISO VIEJO, Calif., Jan. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ Johnny Rockets, the all-American global restaurant chain, announces today the appointment of Crystal Wells to Director of Franchise Sales. In this role, Wells will manage the overall lead generation and qualification process related to Johnny Rockets domestic franchise growth strategy. With the promotion of Wells, Johnny Rockets' franchise sales and development team, led by James Walker, increases its presence in order to meet the domestic growth needs for the brand.

Aligning with Johnny Rockets' aggressive domestic expansion strategy, the restaurant's franchise development team announces its nationwide list of markets ideally suited for the all-American brand. With Johnny Rockets' flexible footprint, including three expressions Johnny Rockets, Johnny Rockets Express and Johnny Rockets Route 66 franchise owners now have the opportunity to find their best fit, particularly in the following U.S. cities: Tucson, Ariz., Houston, Texas, Bridgewater, N.J., Gainesville, Fla., Bakersfield, Calif. and Fresno, Calif.

Heartbeat Opera is a new company intent upon re-imagining opera in intimate spaces for a new generation. Employing a minimalism that allows the emotional integrity of the music to shine through, the company's work focuses on the body of the singer and the visceral power of the music. Co-Artistic Directors Louisa Proske and Ethan Heard, who trained together in the Directing program at the Yale School of Drama, are committed to nurturing the actor in every singer they work with. The company creates productions of classics and new pieces that are daring and visceral—productions that manifest the emotional grandeur and theatrical power of opera with minimal means. Heartbeat's one-act festival presentation of György Kurtág's Kafka-Fragments, directed by Heard, and the New York premiere of Jacques Offenbach's Daphnis & Chloé, in a new English translation directed by Proske, marks this young company's debut. Heartbeat Opera's resident music ensemble Cantata Profana, described by The New York Times as “a stylish early music ensemble,” will provide musical accompaniment.

Heartbeat Opera is a new company intent upon re-imagining opera in intimate spaces for a new generation. Employing a minimalism that allows the emotional integrity of the music to shine through, the company's work focuses on the body of the singer and the visceral power of the music. Co-Artistic Directors Louisa Proske and Ethan Heard, who trained together in the Directing program at the Yale School of Drama, are committed to nurturing the actor in every singer they work with. The company creates productions of classics and new pieces that are daring and visceral—productions that manifest the emotional grandeur and theatrical power of opera with minimal means. Heartbeat's one-act festival presentation of György Kurtág's Kafka-Fragments, directed by Heard, and the New York premiere of Jacques Offenbach's Daphnis & Chloé, in a new English translation directed by Proske, marks this young company's debut. Heartbeat Opera's resident music ensemble Cantata Profana, described by The New York Times as “a stylish early music ensemble,” will provide musical accompaniment.

Heartbeat Opera is a new company intent upon re-imagining opera in intimate spaces for a new generation. Employing a minimalism that allows the emotional integrity of the music to shine through, the company's work focuses on the body of the singer and the visceral power of the music.

Heartbeat Opera is a new company intent upon re-imagining opera in intimate spaces for a new generation. Employing a minimalism that allows the emotional integrity of the music to shine through, the company's work focuses on the body of the singer and the visceral power of the music. Co-Artistic Directors Louisa Proske andEthan Heard, who trained together in the Directing program at the Yale School of Drama, are committed to nurturing the actor in every singer they work with. The company creates productions of classics and new pieces that are daring and visceral—productions that manifest the emotional grandeur and theatrical power of opera with minimal means. Heartbeat's one-act festival presentation of György Kurtág's Kafka-Fragments, directed by Heard, and the New York premiere of Jacques Offenbach's Daphnis & Chloé, in a new English translation directed by Proske, marks this young company's debut. Heartbeat Opera's resident music ensemble Cantata Profana, described by The New York Times as “a stylish early music ensemble,” will provide musical accompaniment.

If I wanted to watch people sniping at each other with no discernible plot or story then I'll watch reality TV. Unfortunately that's what the latest outing from Sound Theatre Company, 'School For Lies', felt like. David Ives' adaptation of Moliere's 'The Misanthrope' felt like such a contrived and one-note exercise in insults that I may have well have been watching the Real Housewives in verse. True the cast commits to the style but the style they've adopted is so forced and flat that I felt beaten over the head with the humor to the point that I didn't care about any of the characters.

Sound Theatre Company will launch into raunch and ruffles this summer with the Seattle premiere of The School for Lies by David Ives, co-directed by Teresa Thuman and Ken Michels. This saucy update of Moliere's The Misanthrope by Tony Award-nominated David Ives (Venus in Fur) stuffs contemporary off-color slang into the classic baroque farce, in which rivals scheme romance to expose a notorious cynic. A few cunning lies set party girl Celimene and acerbic wit Frank up for battle and sex. Misbehavior, gossip, glamour and scandal reign in this clowning burlesque written in rhymed couplets.

The BAFTA Awards -- the EE British Academy Film Awards took place on 16 February at The Royal Opera House in London's Covent Garden. Stephen Fry returned to host this year's ceremony, which was broadcast on BBC One in the UK and in all major territories around the world. Scroll down for the full list of winners!

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts announced the nominations for the 2014 EE British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) and Gravity leads with 11 nominations, while 12 Years a Slave and American Hustle each received 10 nominations.

So it turns out that the remedy to the hideous tradition of pantomime is Jane Austen. While Austen's characteristically subtle repartee was replaced with camp, raucous humour, there was a sense of ironic wit throughout - and some universally understood 'in' jokes for any lit geek to revel in.

Interview with writer/director Keith-James Walker from Monkey Backstage on their upcoming premiere

By Jove's uproarious take on Jane Austen's beloved novel is back. Following a packed out run at the White Bear Theatre Club last year, the company bring Pride & Prejudice: The Panto to The Cockpit for three shows only in honour of the 200th anniversary of the book's publication and coinciding with Austen's 22nd birthday.

For the 34th consecutive year, ESPN will televise the NFL Draft presented by Bud Light (April 25-27) from Radio City Music Hall in New York. The first hour of Round 1 on Thursday, April 25 (8 p.m. ET), will be presented with limited commercial interruption for the second consecutive year. The three-day event will also be available via WatchESPN. Highlights:

Gustavo Dudamel will lead the combined forces of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela - joined by the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Los Angeles Children's Chorus and community choruses - in a performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 8, known as the 'Symphony of a Thousand,' at the historic Shrine Auditorium for a spectacular performance with over 1000 musicians and singers. A roster of vocal soloists will also take part.

Gustavo Dudamel will lead the combined forces of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela - joined by the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Los Angeles Children's Chorus and community choruses - in a performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 8, known as the 'Symphony of a Thousand,' at the historic Shrine Auditorium for a spectacular performance with over 1000 musicians and singers. A roster of vocal soloists will also take part.

Ivan Shulman, Music Director of the Los Angeles Doctors Symphony Orchestra (LADSO), has announced the orchestra will kick off its 2010 - 2011 (57th Annual) Season, in their new permanent artistic home at the historic Ebell of Los Angeles. During the course of LADSO's Inaugural Season in residence at The Ebell of Los Angeles, the orchestra will present two concert programs in the Grand Lounge, one on November 12, 2010, and another on March 20, 2011. The season will culminate with a performance in the Wilshire Ebell Theatre on Sunday, June 5, 2011.

Ivan Shulman, Music Director of the Los Angeles Doctors Symphony Orchestra (LADSO), has announced the orchestra will kick off its 2010 - 2011 (57th Annual) Season, in their new permanent artistic home at the historic Ebell of Los Angeles. During the course of LADSO's Inaugural Season in residence at The Ebell of Los Angeles, the orchestra will present two concert programs in the Grand Lounge, one on November 12, 2010, and another on March 20, 2011. The season will culminate with a performance in the Wilshire Ebell Theatre on Sunday, June 5, 2011.

Producer Daryl Roth announces that following a sold out developmental run last spring, THE DIVINE SISTER, the new comedy written by and starring Charles Busch, directed by Carl Andress, will transfer to the SoHo Playhouse (15 Vandam Street) featuring the entire original company: Alison Fraser, Amy Rutberg, Jennifer Van Dyck, Jonathan Walker, and Julie Halston.

Miriam Zendle takes a look at what's on in theatre and chats with Departure Lounge creator Dougal Irvine and wigmaker Richard Mawbey.