John Ross News

In 1993 Neil Simon penned his experiences as a young writer for Your Show of Shows on early 50s television in a play entitled Laughter on the 23rd Floor. At that time he was a novice learning from the likes of series star Sid Caesar and fellow-writers Mel Brooks, Larry Gelbart, Carl Reiner, and Selma Diamond among others. The seven member team plus Caesar collaborated on sketch comedy that ran live weekly on NBC. Daily work was hellish with the crazies bringing their personal issues and divergent styles of expression every hour of every day to the writers' room. The sketch material was not only affected by their various personalities clouded by bold ethnic traits but also by the world around them that included the infamous attacks of McCarthyism. In the arts actors, writers, directors and other artists were endangered of being branded a communist and fired from their work. NBC found Your Show of Shows to be too sophisticated and thereby made cuts threatening the show's existence. It was cut back to an hour. In the play Sid Caesar is Max Prince (Pat Towne), an alcoholic and drug addicted tyrant who will stop at nothing to prove his point. He fights NBC; of course, to no avail. Laughter... plays the Garry Marshall Theatre through April 22, brilliantly directed b

WildClaw Theatre Company, bringing the world of horror to the stage for 10 years in Chicago, proudly presents their first production of the 2018 season FUTURE ECHOES by Paul Foster and directed by Norine McGrath. Previews begin April 24th at The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave.

BOOTLEG THEATER is thrilled to announce the world premiere of THE WILLOWS, written by Kerri-Ann McCalla and directed by Jessica Hanna. THE WILLOWS will preview on Friday, April 6 & Saturday, April 7 at 7pm; Sunday April 8 at 2pm; will open on Thursday, April 12 at 7pm and run through Saturday, May 5 at 7pm at the Bootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Blvd. in Los Angeles.

Micah Fowler of ABC's Speechless was honored on Sunday, March 11 by United Cerebral Palsy of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties (UCPLA) at their fourth annual Art of Care Gala.  Fowler received their coveted Trailblazer Award that is given to individuals who use their influence to raise awareness about developmental disabilities.

WildClaw Theatre Company, bringing the world of horror to the stage for 10 years in Chicago, proudly presents their first production of the 2018 season FUTURE ECHOES by Paul Foster and directed by Norine McGrath. Previews begin April 24th at The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. WildClaw, Chicago's premiere horror theater, begins its 10th year with a dinner party as a group of college friends reunite to reminisce about old times… only to find that time is no longer on their side. For more info please visit us at www.wildclawtheatre.com.

A reimagined, revitalized production of Pulitzer Prize and Tony-winning playwright Neil Simon's classic Laughter on the 23rd Floor marks the final production in the nonprofit's 4-Play Inaugural Season. Featuring John Ross Bowie (Speechless, The Big Bang Theory) and directed by Co-Artistic Director of Los Angeles' award-winning Celebration Theatre Michael A. Shepperd, Laughter on the 23rd Floor will play a limited run, March 23 through April 22, 2018.

Celebration, under the artistic direction of Michael Matthews & Michael A. Shepperd, and in association with Ryan Allen, Andrew Carlberg and Amy Miller Gross is thrilled to announce that the fastest selling show in its history and the second show in its 2017-2018 season, its critically acclaimed (LA Times CRITIC'S CHOICE, Stage Raw RECOMMENDED), Los Angeles intimate theatre premiere of PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT The Musical, book by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott, based on the Latent Image/Specific Films Motion Picture Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., presented in special arrangement with Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW) with choreography by Roman Pantoja, musical direction by Jennifer Lin, directed by Jessica Hanna and produced by Stephen Soucy and Jay Marcus is EXTENDING through SUNDAY, MAY 6 at Celebration Theatre @ the Lex Theatre, 6760 Lexington Ave. in Los Angeles.

Celebration, under the artistic direction of Michael Matthews & Michael A. Shepperd, has announced that the fastest selling show in its history and the second show in its 2017-2018 season, the Los Angeles intimate theatre premiere of PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT The Musical, book by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott, based on the Latent Image/Specific Films Motion Picture Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., presented in special arrangement with Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW) with choreography by Roman Pantoja, musical direction by Jennifer Lin, directed by Jessica Hanna and produced by Stephen Soucy and Jay Marcus is EXTENDING through SUNDAY, APRIL 15 at Celebration Theatre @ the Lex Theatre, 6760 Lexington Ave. in Los Angeles.

A compelling blend of obscure history and a story seemingly ripped from the headlines, SOVEREIGNTY is a fitting entry in this year's Women's Voices in the Theatre Festival. Playwright Mary Kathryn Nagle has crafted a powerful rumination on Native American affairs and one woman's connection to her past and her own plight in the time of the 'Me too' movement.

Mary Kathryn Nagle's daring new work Sovereignty makes its world premiere at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. Under the direction of Artistic Director Molly Smith, Sovereignty travels the intersections of personal and political truths, and historic and present struggles, in the fight to save the sovereignty of Cherokee Nation both past and present. A gripping political exploration, Sovereignty will run January 12-February 18, 2018 in the Kreeger Theater.

The World-Premiere of SOVEREIGNTY opened January 12th and runs through February 18th at Arena Stage as part of the Women's Voices Theater Festival. Mary Kathryn Nagle's play, which features flashbacks spanning to the 1830s, follows a modern-day Native American woman, trying to use her powers as a lawyer to restore rights to the Cherokee Nation. SOVEREIGNTY explores anger over injustice, and how long it takes things to reach a boiling point.

Celebration presents under the artistic direction of Michael Matthews & Michael A. Shepperd, the second show in its 2017-2018 season, the Los Angeles intimate theatre premiere of PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT The Musical,book by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott, based on the Latent Image/Specific Films Motion Picture Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., presented in special arrangement with Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW) with choreography by Roman Pantoja, musical direction by Jennifer Lin, directed by Jessica Hanna and produced by Stephen Soucy and Jay Marcus.

The World-Premiere of Mary Kathryn Nagle's SOVEREIGNTY is currently playing at Arena Stage as part of the Women's Voices Theater Festival. The play, which features flashbacks spanning to the 1830s, follows a modern-day Native American woman, trying to use her powers as a lawyer to restore rights to the Cherokee Nation. SOVEREIGNTY opened January 12th and runs through February 18th.

Mary Kathryn Nagle's daring new work Sovereignty makes its world premiere at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. Under the direction of Artistic Director Molly Smith, Sovereignty travels the intersections of personal and political truths, and historic and present struggles, in the fight to save the sovereignty of Cherokee Nation both past and present. A gripping political exploration, Sovereignty will run January 12-February 18, 2018 in the Kreeger Theater. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!

WildClaw Theatre Company proudly presents the world premiere production of NIGHT IN ALACHUA COUNTY running through October 7th at The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. WildClaw, Chicago's only horror theater, continues their 2017 season with a disturbing new work by Chicago playwright Jennifer Rumberger. After staying away for 17 years, Violet returns home to a back-woods part of Florida to face the mother and sister she left behind, and the disturbing secrets they share and also some necromancy and an eyeless demon creature. Tickets are on sale now at www.wildclawtheatre.com. Tickets are $30 General Admission & $20 for students & industry professionals.

WildClaw Theatre Company proudly presents the world premiere production of NIGHT IN ALACHUA COUNTY opening September 8th and running through October 7th at The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Spirit Fox Productions presents its inaugural production of the Euripedes tragedy, Iphigenia at Aulis, at Alchemical Laboratory Theatre for two performances only this August.

Spirit Fox Productions presents its inaugural production of the Euripedes tragedy, Iphigenia at Aulis, at Alchemical Laboratory Theatre for two performances only this August.

CSN Northwest launches a new college football studio show, TALKIN' HUSKIES, this today, August 31 at 9 p.m. PT. The weekly show will air throughout college football season, and will include analysis of breaking news, in addition to interviews with coaches and key players.

Spirit Fox Productions presents its inaugural production of the Euripedes tragedy, Iphigenia at Aulis, at Alchemical Laboratory Theatre for two performances only this August.