Jane Wagner News

The Santa Monica Playhouse presents the World Premiere of local playwright Lisa Phillips Visca's Raise Me Up. Raise Me Up is a true story set in post war America in the 1950's, about a 'moonstruck' couple's forbidden love, the hilarity and drama from their deeply passionate Italian-Greek families, and how they spent their last day on Earth together. Below, BroadwayWorld has photos from opening night, including celebrity attendee Betty White and more!

For the seventh installment of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's ongoing series, Conversations With Coco, Miss Coco Peru's series of live, unscripted interviews with celebrated performing artists, the L.A. drag legend welcomes the legendary actress Jane Fonda to the Center's Renberg Theatre. Like her previous get-togethers with Lily Tomlin, Lainie Kazan, Charles Busch, Lesley Ann Warren, Karen Black and the late Bea Arthur, Miss Coco has prepared a multi-media presentation featuring highlights of Ms. Fonda's storied career, as well as ample opportunity for the kind of casual yet in-depth conversation audiences have come to relish at Coco's table.

Nearly 40 years ago, producer Norman Lear brought a television program about a black family's life in a Chicago housing project into millions of American homes.  And while the show never ignored the dangers and hardships of living in an underserved, crime-ridden community, Good Times focused on the safe haven provided by family and friends that nurtured artistry and activism while providing the expected abundance of sitcom laughter.

To go along with today's extensive InDepth InterView with comedy legend Joan Rivers, enjoy two exclusive clips from tonight's episode of JOAN & MELISSA: JOAN KNOWS BEST? on WE TV at 9 PM.

Today we are talking to a veritable legend in her own time - arguably the most influential and recognizable female stand-up comedian of all time, the one and only Joan Rivers. Opening up and revealing her trademark, impossible-to-top wit all the while, Rivers and I discuss many aspects of her life and career, with a particular focus on her many current projects - most importantly, the third season of her smash hit reality series JOAN & MELISSA: JOAN KNOWS BEST? on WE TV. What will happen when Joan, Melissa and company visit Colonial Williamsburg? What illicitness will they discover on Willie Nelson's former tour bus? Will Joan get arrested for protesting her book being banned at a big retailer? Answers to these questions all will be arrived up on Saturday. In addition to all about JOAN & MELISSA Season Three and the current series-high ratings run of FASHION POLICE, Rivers and I take a look back at many of the remarkable figures she has encountered and worked with over the course of her career - among them: Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler, Woody Allen and many more - and she generously shares candid backstage stories and remembrances as only she can. Of paramount interest to theatre fans may be the announcement of a revival of her one-woman play SALLY MARR… AND HER ESCORTS, which she will be reviving in a special weekly pop-up theatre space on Broadway later this year. Also, as if all of that were not enough, Joan gives us the 411 on her new uncensored web series, IN BED WITH JOAN, as well as her cute new pet lover's web project, MY FAT PET. Plus, her fashion forecast for 2013 and best current trends, favorite films of awards season, thoughts on Broadway today and her picks for the best shows to see as well as much, much more awaits in this career-spanning conversation!

The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center presents Michele Balan, one of the greatest out-and-proud comedians, for two uproarious nights at the Center's Renberg Theatre. Her performances tonight, March 9-10 will be her first L.A. appearances in years, giving long-time fans and new fans alike the chance to find out why Backstage Magazine named her one of their 'Top 10 Comedians.'

StandOut Productions and the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center present a screening of the award-winning documentary I Stand Corrected, followed by a hosted reception and a concert by the film's subject, transgender jazz bass virtuoso Jennifer Leitham. This special event celebrates the one-year anniversary of the film's premiere and is a rare opportunity to see the film and Ms. Leitham's acclaimed trio in one evening.

The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center celebrates Black History Month with two concurrent free events highlighting some of the cultural contributions African Americans have made to our society: A Tribute to African American Authors, in which renowned actors and singers perform selected works; and a reception for the new exhibit Ain't Just Paint: Works from the CCH Pounder Collection. Both events take place today, Feb. 25, in the Renberg Theatre and Advocate & Gochis Galleries at the Center's Village at Ed Gould Plaza. The Tribute will begin at 7:30 p.m., followed immediately by a reception in the Galleries.

The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center presents Michele Balan, one of the greatest out-and-proud comedians, for two uproarious nights at the Center's Renberg Theatre. Her performances March 9-10, 2013 will be her first L.A. appearances in years, giving long-time fans and new fans alike the chance to find out why Backstage Magazine named her one of their "Top 10 Comedians."

The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center celebrates Black History Month with two concurrent free events highlighting some of the cultural contributions African Americans have made to our society: A Tribute to African American Authors, in which renowned actors and singers perform selected works; and a reception for the new exhibit Ain't Just Paint: Works from the CCH Pounder Collection. Both events take place on Monday, Feb. 25, in the Renberg Theatre and Advocate & Gochis Galleries at the Center's Village at Ed Gould Plaza. The Tribute will begin at 7:30 p.m., followed immediately by a reception in the Galleries.

The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center presents Michele Balan, one of the greatest out-and-proud comedians, for two uproarious nights at the Center's Renberg Theatre. Her performances March 9-10 will be her first L.A. appearances in years, giving long-time fans and new fans alike the chance to find out why Backstage Magazine named her one of their 'Top 10 Comedians.'

The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe is a tour through the galaxy guided by a self-proclaimed crazy person, Trudy, who collects data about life on earth with the help of her 'space chums.'

The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe is a tour through the galaxy guided by a self-proclaimed crazy person, Trudy, who collects data about life on earth with the help of her 'space chums.' Trudy uses her umbrella hat (her own invention) to place herself in the minds and bodies of her hosts, transmitting snatches of their lives and then sharing them with the audience.

The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe is a tour through the galaxy guided by a self-proclaimed crazy person, Trudy, who collects data about life on earth with the help of her 'space chums.'

The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center presents what could easily be the gayest night of comedy ever. One of the stars of LOGO's The Big Gay Sketch Show (Julie Goldman) teams up with the cult superstar "The Gay Pimp" (Jonny McGovern, also of The Big Gay Sketch Show) at the Center's Renberg Theatre on Friday, Jan. 19, at 8 p.m. Net proceeds will benefit the full range of the Center's free and low-cost programs and services.

The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center presents what could easily be the gayest night of comedy ever. One of the stars of LOGO's The Big Gay Sketch Show (Julie Goldman) teams up with the cult superstar "The Gay Pimp" (Jonny McGovern, also of The Big Gay Sketch Show) at the Center's Renberg Theatre on Friday, Jan. 19, at 8 p.m. Net proceeds will benefit the full range of the Center's free and low-cost programs and services.

The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center will present the first performance in three years of the now-legendary comedy bonanza Beverly Winwood Presents the Actors Showcase. The actors from "Beverly Winwood's acting school" return to the Center's Renberg Theatre for yet another try at Hollywood success. Beverly Winwood returns for an exclusive, one-night-only fundraiser tonight, Nov. 18, at 6 p.m.

The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center announces a special, ENCORE one-night-only performance of Larry Blum's enthralling solo show, Blink & You Might Miss Me, directed by Stan Zimmerman, at the Center's Village at Ed Gould Plaza in Hollywood. The critically acclaimed show returns to the Center's Renberg Theatre tonight Nov. 17 at 8 p.m...after the SOLD-OUT performance in September!

The L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center's Advocate & Gochis Galleries present THINK AGAIN: Collected Public Works, a retrospective exhibition featuring Los Angeles-based political artists S.A. Bachman and David John Attyah. The exhibit opens today, Nov. 9, and there will be a free reception, with light refreshments, on Thursday, November 15, from 7-10 p.m. The exhibit will be on display through December 15.

The L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center's Advocate & Gochis Galleries present THINK AGAIN: Collected Public Works, a retrospective exhibition featuring Los Angeles-based political artists S.A. Bachman and David John Attyah. The exhibit opens on Friday, Nov. 9, and there will be a free reception, with light refreshments, on Thursday, November 15, from 7-10 p.m. The exhibit will be on display through December 15.