Joan Didion News

Shows featuring a solitary performer onstage are a hell of a thing. Playwrights/authors put their thoughts and ideas into a piece that is often biographical, and just as often fictional. The sole performer then must bear their soul onstage, working one on one with a director to inhabit the persona of the character. With no nets, no outside help, this actor or actress then leave themselves emotionally naked onstage with only themselves for help; equally terrifying and fulfilling. Janis Stevens does just that in her performance of THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING at the Theater at Monmouth. A performance that will leave you in awe.

Rounding out Theater at Monmouth's 2013 summer fare is Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking, opening tonight, July 26 at 7:30 p.m. In this adaptation of her best-selling memoir of the same name, Didion presents a life-affirming approach to the grief experienced after the death of a loved one. Told with eloquent language, humor, and the searing candor Didion is known for, this one-woman tour de force paints an insightful portrait of a lifetime of love and a moment of loss.

Rounding out Theater at Monmouth's 2013 summer fare is Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking, opening Friday, July 26 at 7:30 p.m. In this adaptation of her best-selling memoir of the same name, Didion presents a life-affirming approach to the grief experienced after the death of a loved one. Told with eloquent language, humor, and the searing candor Didion is known for, this one-woman tour de force paints an insightful portrait of a lifetime of love and a moment of loss.

Earlier today, President Barack Obama presented the National Medal of Arts in conjunction with the National Humanities Medals. The medals were presented by the President during an East Room ceremony at the White House. The National Medal of Arts is a White House initiative managed by the National Endowment for the Arts. Each year, the NEA organizes and oversees the National Medal of Arts nomination process and notifies the artists of their selection to receive a medal, the nation's highest honor for artistic excellence.

The American Theatre Wing (William Ivey Long, Chairman, Board of Trustees; Heather Hitchens, Executive Director) is pleased to announce new appointments to its Board of Trustees and Advisory Committee.

Today, July 10, 2013, President Obama will award the 2012 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal in the East Room. The First Lady will also attend. Among this year's honorees for the 2012 National Medal of Arts are opera star Renee Fleming, screenwriter and playwright Tony Kushner and director and producer George Lucas. Scroll down for the full list!

On Wednesday, July 10, 2013 President Obama will award the 2012 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal in the East Room. The First Lady will also attend. Among this year's honorees for the 2012 National Medal of Arts are opera star Renee Fleming, screenwriter and playwright Tony Kushner and director and producer George Lucas. Scroll down for the full list!

Today we are talking to an exceptionally accomplished actress known for her many leading and featured roles in a number of illustrious musical theatre properties - among them, part of the original Broadway casts of FALSETTOS, CITY OF ANGELS, PARADE, LESTAT, THE ADDAMS FAMILY, SCANDALOUS and many more - the gifted and genuine Carolee Carmello. Discussing many aspects of originating roles in those aforementioned shows as well as her replacement gigs in everything from KISS ME, KATE to SISTER ACT and MAMMA MIA!, Carmello sheds some light on her process in bringing such a striking series of characters to life onstage eight times a week, including creating roles Off-Broadway in ELEGIES, HELLO AGAIN and JOHN & JEN. Additionally, Carmello shares stories from the set of NBC's musical drama series SMASH as well as comments on other potential roles she would like to pursue someday. Most importantly, Carmello previews her highly anticipated performance at this Monday night's NIGHT OF A THOUSAND JUDYS and comments upon her affection for the iconic Ms. Garland. Plus, Carmello shares behind-the-scenes stories involving many of her notable collaborators and inspirations such as William Finn, Stephen Sondheim, Kathie Lee Gifford and she also expresses enthusiasm for her upcoming turn in the new musical TUCK EVERLASTING, set to premiere later this season. All of that, early Broadway and touring memories from CHESS, LES MISERABLES, CITY OF ANGELS, observations on the newly-released SCANDALOUS cast recording and much, much more in this career-spanning conversation.

With the start of Memorial Day, hordes of summer visitors flock to Maine for an idyllic summer of sailing, swimming, hiking, kayaking, and reveling in the beauty of the rocky coast, serene lakes and mountains, and pine-scented air. But exploring the outdoors is not the only reason to visit the state whose moniker is 'Vacationland.' For theatre lovers there are some excellent opportunities to experience exciting professional and community theatre productions.

Spinning Tree Theatre presents the Kansas City premiere of Hello Again, with words and music by Michael John LaChiusa, suggested by the play La Ronde by Arthur Schnitzler. The production is directed by Michael Grayman and Andy Parkhurst.

Spinning Tree Theatre presents the Kansas City premiere of Hello Again, with words and music by Michael John LaChiusa, suggested by the play La Ronde by Arthur Schnitzler. The production is directed by Michael Grayman and Andy Parkhurst.

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater's Artistic Director David Van Asselt and Managing Director Brian Long previously announced that Jesse Eisenberg and Vanessa Redgrave will star in the world premiere of Eisenberg's The Revisionist, directed by Kip Fagan, which begins its limited run tonight, February 6 and opens Thursday, February 21 at the Cherry Lane Theatre, 38 Commerce Street. The Revisionist is scheduled to run through March 31, 2013.

Spinning Tree Theatre presents the Kansas City premiere of Shipwrecked! An Entertainment - The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont (As Told by Himself), a play by Pulitzer Prize winner Donald Margulies. The production stars Charles Fugate*, Jennie Greenberry* and Bob Linebarger and is directed by Michael Grayman and Andy Parkhurst.

Spinning Tree Theatre presents the Kansas City premiere of Shipwrecked! An Entertainment - The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont (As Told by Himself), a play by Pulitzer Prize winner Donald Margulies. The production stars Charles Fugate*, Jennie Greenberry* and Bob Linebarger and is directed by Michael Grayman and Andy Parkhurst.

No menu necessary at the world's greatest restaurant, the Café du Grand Boeuf in Paris. Why? 'Because we have everything,' headwaiter Claude (Matthew McGee) admonishes waiter-in-training Antoine (Greyson Lewis).

No menu necessary at the world's greatest restaurant, the Café du Grand Boeuf in Paris. Why? 'Because we have everything,' headwaiter Claude (Matthew McGee) admonishes waiter-in-training Antoine (Greyson Lewis).

It's always hard for me to come up with the best of anything in entertainment. With my backstage theatre background, I'm obsessed with detail, and I can't simply sit back and enjoy any show. As a writer, I'm obsessed with the words, the sentence, the grammar, etc., and I can never read strictly for pleasure. In the pressure cooker of coming up with the best picks for 2012, I have a mixed pot.

The RRazz Room, San Francisco's premier nightclub, presents the return of Tony nominated performer Mx Justin Vivian Bond for a special three night engagement, October 12 through October 14. This engagement is the Bay Area premiere of Bond's new show "Mx America," which celebrate the release of the album 'Silver Wells.'

The RRazz Room, San Francisco's premier nightclub, presents the return of Tony nominated performer Mx Justin Vivian Bond for a special three night engagement, October 12 through October 14. This engagement is the Bay Area premiere of Bond's new show "Mx America," which celebrate the release of the album 'Silver Wells.'