Joan Rivers News

This week's "Theater Talk" welcomes award-winning librettist Hunter Bell and his SILENCE! The Musicalstars, David Garrison and Jenn Harris. Along with hosts Michael Riedel and Susan Haskins, they focus on the process of turning the classic movie thriller The Silence of the Lambs into the funniest musical of the season.

Today we are talking to a stand-up comedienne celebrated for her caustic wit, erudite political humor and illuminating social observations who has also made a name for herself over the last two decades as an actress by appearing in over 100 feature films and television shows, including recurring roles on the TV series SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, THE BEN STILLER SHOW, THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW and 24, as well as her film resume, ranging from roles in ROMY & MICHELE'S HIGH SCHOOL REUNION to WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER to REALITY BITES, COP LAND, THE CABLE GUY, NOW AND THEN and many more - the one and only Janeane Garofalo. In addition to a twenty-year career retrospective, touching upon many of her most notable big screen and small screen appearances - sharing comments on many of her favorite colleagues and co-stars along the way - Garofalo also opens up about the theatrically attuned work she has previously done - such as HBO's THE LARAMIE PROJECT - and, most importantly, fills us in on the new play she is starring in for The New Group, RUSSIAN TRANSPORT, directed by Scott Elliott. Besides all about RUSSIAN TRANSPORT, her character in it and the political and social issues the new original play bravely tackles, Garofalo shares her enthusiasm for her newfound experiences in the theatre world and her intention of pursuing a theatre career further. Also, she clues us in on her upcoming film projects, BAD PARENTS and GENERAL EDUCATION, and offers her classic views on current politics as only she can, in her own delightfully droll and ingratiatingly idiosyncratic fashion - plus, much, much more!

This week, "Theater Talk" welcomes award-winning bookwriter and his SILENCE! The Musical stars, David Garrison and Jenn Harris. Along with hosts Michael Riedel and Susan Haskins, they focus on the process of turning the classic movie thriller The Silence of the Lambs into a musical. This episode will premiere on WNET/Thirteen Friday February 24th at 1:30 AM and repeat on CUNY TV Saturday February 25th at 8:30 PM, Sunday February 26th at 12:30 PM and Monday February 27th at 7:30 AM, 1:30 PM & 7:30 PM.

Playwright Joseph Beck 'takes on the proliferation of reality shows and the struggling U.S. economy in the very timely political comedy Dictators For Hire.'

The Golden Nugget, Las Vegas, will be the site of THE REEL AWARDS (21st Annual) on Monday, February 20, 2012. This annual spectacle, produced by International Celebrity Images, brings together the best celebrity impersonators from around the world. It's a surreal gathering of talent including red carpet arrivals to a show featuring music, dance, comedy, and an awards show like no other. This year's emcees are Joan Rivers clone, Dee Dee Hanson and Stephen Sorrentino, a musical comedian and master of improvisation with over 200 impressions.

Brent Barrett, Jenn Harris and the entire cast of SILENCE! The Musical are set to take the stage at the Upper East Side Barnes & Noble next Thursday, February 23rd at 5 PM to perform selections from the parody of the classic film The Silence of the Lambs. The Musical Director for the event will be Brian J. Nash, and the cast will sign copies of the show's newly released CD afterwards.

Playwright Joseph Beck 'takes on the proliferation of reality shows and the struggling U.S. economy in the very timely political comedy Dictators For Hire.'

Jesse Tyler Ferguson (ABC's 'Modern Family'), Joan and Melissa Rivers ('Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?'), Regina King ('Southland') and Gabrielle Union ('Good Deeds') are featured FEBRUARY 20-24 on THE CHEW (weekdays, 1:00-2:00 p.m., ET; broadcast in stereo).

Brent Barrett, Jenn Harris and the entire cast of SILENCE! The Musical are set to take the stage at the Upper East Side Barnes & Noble next Thursday, February 23rd at 5 PM to perform selections from the hit parody of the classic film The Silence of the Lambs.

The Southern Fried Chicks will perform one show only on Saturday, March 3, at 8 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora. Tickets are $38.50. For tickets and information, go to ParamountAurora.com, call the Paramount box office, (630) 896-6666, or visit the box office Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and two hours prior to evening performances.

SILENCE! The Musical, the unauthorized parody of The Silence of the Lambs, will add Sunday evenings to the new spring playing schedule beginning March 4th at The 9th Space Theatre at Performance Space 122, 150 First Avenue (at 9th St.)

Regis Philbin ('LIVE! With Regis and Kelly'), Joan Rivers ('Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?'), Georgia Engel ('The Mary Tyler Moore Show'), Rhea Perlman ('Cheers'), Roger Bart ('Desperate Housewives'), Kevin Nealon ('Weeds'), Craig Bierko ('Cinderella Man') and Josh Cribbs (wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns) have been tapped to guest star on this season of TV Land's hit sitcom HOT IN CLEVELAND airing Wednesdays at 10pm ET/PT.

The Golden Nugget, Las Vegas, will be the site of THE REEL AWARDS (21st Annual) on Monday, February 20, 2012. This annual spectacle, produced by International Celebrity Images, brings together the best celebrity impersonators from around the world. It's a surreal gathering of talent including red carpet arrivals to a show featuring music, dance, comedy, and an awards show like no other. This year's emcees are Joan Rivers clone, Dee Dee Hanson and Stephen Sorrentino, a musical comedian and master of improvisation with over 200 impressions.

From Nick Jonas and Michael Urie to the Ladies of THE VIEW to Adam Pascal, Raul Esparza, Barbra Streisand to Alan Menken, Bernadette Peters to Susan Boyle, Colin Quinn to GLEE and Everything in Between - It's the BroadwayWorld.com 2012 Valentine's Day Special - It's the Biggest Ever!

The hilarious and talented Joan Rivers will be performing live at bergenPAC on Thursday, April 5th at 8P.M. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com or bergenPAC.org or by calling the box office at 201 227 1030. Tickets are $39, $49, $59, $89.

CBS has announced it's schedule of upcoming guests on LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN for the weeks of February 13th to March 1st.

The new, highly provocative TV commercial for this season's smash hit, SILENCE! The Musical, is set to being airing today on most major networks. SILENCE! The Musical, the unauthorized parody of The Silence of the Lambs, with book by Hunter Bell, music & lyrics by Jon and Al Kaplan, and direction & choreography by Christopher Gattelli, opened July 9, 2011 to unanimous rave reviews. The show immediately became a sold-out phenomenon and was recently selected by Time Magazine as one of the year's Top 5 Musicals.

Legendary comedian JOAN RIVERS returns to The Laurie Beechman Theatre in Times Square for an additional show on Valentine's Day -- Tuesday, February 14 at 8pm.

Donald Trump, executive producer and star of CELEBRITY APPRENTICE announced today the newest and largest-ever lineup of famous faces appearing on the fifth installment of the series, premiering Sunday, February 12 at 9pm EST/PST on NBC.

Mario Cantone is set to perform at the Ridgefield Playhouse for a night of stand up comedy, music and more on March 2nd.