John Cooper News

The lineup for the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, taking place on a Sundance-built and feature-rich online platform, goes well beyond feature and short films, episodic work and the VR/XR of New Frontier.

The Appalachian Theatre has announced that it has received a major challenge grant. Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, up to $100,000 in new gifts will be matched. Gifts via memberships, Take-A-Seat, and donations into January are eligible!

Families can get creative at home this Sunday 15 November by taking inspiration from a DIY Picnic Activity Pack designed by artist Anna Bruder from A Line Arts, before logging in at 3pm for poet Simon Mole's and musician Gecko's online Poetry Picnic.

Poet Simon Mole and musician Gecko's indoor Poetry Picnic is coming to the Albany in South East London on Sunday 15 November at 3pm, with the theatre audience taking part from their picnic blankets in their bubbles, and also online.

Luke Wright returns to the Norwich stage for the first time since 2019 at Interlude.

The Frist Art Museum has established a plan for reopening in stages beginning June 22 with an initial members-only period. With continued improvement/stability of Davidson County COVID-19 metrics, the exhibition galleries will reopen to the general public on July 1 with required advance timed ticketing.

This week, mayors from cities across the nation-supported by San Francisco Mayor London N. Breed and spearheaded by the San Francisco Arts Alliance.

The Academy of Country Music® and dick clark productions announced today that the 55TH ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS will take place in Nashville, TN for the first time in the show's 55-year history.

Gibson has maintained the highest standard of protocol and recommended hygiene practices throughout the evolving COVID 19 situation, including daily leadership briefings and pro-active communication to all employees. This also included the monitoring of accordance with federal, state and local entities – and other professional sources. Until last Friday, the majority of manufacturing facilities across all industries remained open in the greater Nashville area, and beyond. Gibson's facilities have NOT been in operation since Friday and will remain closed until further notice. To date, there have been zero reported cases of coronavirus across the Gibson employee base.   

The first names have been revealed for the 2020 Chester Literature Festival, taking place 7 a?" 28 November at the award-winning Storyhouse in Chester.

Poet Simon Mole and musician Gecko have joined forces to write and perform an interactive musical show for children, aged 4-11, and families a?" Mole & Gecko: THE SHOW which they are bringing to Wakefield Library on Saturday 7 March at 11am. What's more, tickets are FREE! Book in advance to avoid disappointment. Email: wakefieldlibrarymuseum@wakefield.gov.uk or telephone: 01924 305376.

The Actors Centre is kicking 2020 into high gear by announcing major programming changes including a new senior leadership team.

Sundance Institute announced Giving Voice as the winner of the Festival Favorite Award, selected by audience votes from the 128 features screened at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, which took place in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Sundance, Utah, from January 23–February 2, 2020.

Today, Sundance Institute announced Tabitha Jackson as the new Director of the Sundance Film Festival. Jackson was chosen from a worldwide search and follows outgoing Director, John Cooper, who served in the role for 11 years and will assume a newly-created Emeritus Director role. An award-winning filmmaker, she has served as Director of the Institute's Documentary Film Program for the last six years. Jackson will oversee the Festival's overall vision and strategy, while leading a senior team in close collaboration with Director of Programming, Kim Yutani. In his new role, Cooper will oversee special projects including preparations for the Institute's 40th anniversary in 2021.

Once Upon a Mattress opens Upstairs at the Gatehouse in March 2020. Returning to the Gatehouse with another classic musical rarely seen in London, Mark Giesser steps back into the director's chair for his new production of Once Upon A Mattress, the first musical by Mary Rodgers, daughter of legendary musical composer Richard Rodgers.

Sundance Institute today announced a first-of-its-kind collaboration with Sony Pictures Classics and Trafalgar Releasing: on January 26, the Utah premiere of The Climb, screening in the Spotlight category of the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, will be simulcast across ten cinemas across the U.S., with the following Q&A simulcast live from The Ray Theatre in Park City, enabling independent film fans in markets nationwide to participate in the buzz of Festival from afar.

Sundance Institute will curate dozens of offscreen events, including behind-the-scenes panels on the art of filmmaking, musical performances and a?" around the theme of Imagined Futures a?" a public Bonfire and several extended post-screening conversations (known as IF Screenings), at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival taking place in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Sundance, Utah, January 23 through February 2, 2020.

The nonprofit Sundance Institute announced today the showcase of new independent feature films selected across all categories for the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. The Festival hosts screenings in Park City, Salt Lake City and at Sundance Mountain Resort, from January 23a?"February 2, 2020. The Sundance Film Festival is Sundance Institute's flagship public program, widely regarded as the largest American independent film festival and attended by more than 120,000 people and 1,300 accredited press, and powered by more than 2,000 volunteers last year.

12-times multi-platinum rock band SKILLET are returning to the road in North America this winter in support of their tenth album Victorious, out now. The band will embark on a headline trek, dubbed the 'Victorious Tour,' which kicks off on February 6 in Wichita, Kansas and runs through March 14 in Norfolk, Virginia, as exclusively revealed by Loudwire. Joining Skillet for this tour will be From Ashes to New and Ledger, the latter of which features Skillet drummer Jen Ledger. Skillet are fresh off back-to-back, Fall 2019 co-headline North American tours with Sevendust and Alter Bridge, respectively. The band just wrapped a sold-out headline tour of Europe, as well. 

Nashville Mayor John Cooper has issued a proclamation that October 25th is 'Mister Rogers' Music Day.' And, today, a newly recorded collection of Fred's songs, Thank You, Mister Rogers: Music & Memories, is available wherever music is sold or streamed.