John Logan News

There's something intrinsically dramatic about a formidable artist/instructor who, because of whatever circumstances, finds that he or she has to step down a rung on the ladder of fame in order not to slip from that ladder altogether. It isn't necessarily a new theme that Theresa Rebeck tackles in the acid-etched comedy SEMINAR, directed by Irene Crist and currently running at Circuit Playhouse. While watching it, I was reminded of other works dealing with artists who, out of necessity, must share their genius (and sharpen their verbal talons) on eager, ambitious upstarts. Not too long ago, there was a production of John Logan's RED, about the artist Mark Rothko and his fictional assistant. Nor should we forget Terrence McNally's MASTER CLASS, with diva Maria Callas holding a voice master class with students trembling under her aura. Other, similar (if fictional) titles leap to mind: Consider that holy terror from THE PAPER CHASE, 'Professor Kingsfield' (John Houseman), intimidating Timothy Bottoms' frustrated law student. To these master instructors we can now add the imperious 'Leonard' (deliciously played by Michael Detroit, who, as a real-life instructor, has an innate understanding of the interplay between teacher and student), a famous novelist who has been to the well of inspiration once too often and is now (for $5000 per student) reluctantly willing to train his weary eyes on material that more often than not elicits blistering barbs of criticism; and a varied and pretentious lot they are - the affluent 'Kate' (whose spacious and expensive apartment furnishes the setting for the seminar meetings, and whose six-year struggle with a story is rather like a plane that bumps along a runway and can't quite take flight); the name-dropping 'Douglas,' who has written something fit for THE NEW YORKER (ordinarily an impressive feat - except when Leonard derides its 'detached intelligence'); the opportunistic 'Izzy,' who isn't beyond parlaying her particular affinity for sex into a form of self-promotion; and, finally, the disproving 'Martin,' whose intellectual probity causes him to roll his eyes at the pretentiousness of people like Douglas.

Today we are talking to a world renowned stage and screen star who has excelled in playing a dizzying array of recognizable characters onstage and onscreen over the course of his unique and diverse career - the affable Alfred Molina. Besides discussing his many upcoming endeavors, Molina points out the importance of The Actors Fund in Los Angeles and highlights his participation in the upcoming LA Actors Fund Tony Awards Viewing Party, which will be held on June 7, and reflects on some of his fellow honorees, as well. Offering news on many of his current and forthcoming projects, Additionally, Molina also looks back at some of his most memorable roles to date ranging from his work with Paul Thomas Anderson on both BOOGIE NIGHTS and MAGNOLIA to his recent rapturously reviewed indie hit LOVE IS STRANGE co-starring John Lithgow to the Joe Orton stage-to-screen adaptation PRICK UP YOUR EARS and much more. Besides of all of that, Molina also comments on his time spent on stages around the world, notably Broadway headlining the most recent revival of Golden Age classic FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, as well as outlines some future roles he would like to pursue onstage, as well. All of that and much, much more with one of Broadway and Hollywood's very best!

On TONY Awards Sunday (June 7), CUNY TV will present 8 hours of interviews related to this year's nominated musicals, plays, and individuals - from 12 noon right up till Tony time (8 p.m. on CBS). Included in the mix is the premiere at 7 p.m. of an all-new episode of THEATER TALK, Critics Review the Broadway Season, with Ben Brantley of The New York Times, Peter Marks of The Washington Post, John Simon of the Westchester Guardian, and Terry Teachout of The Wall Street Journal.

The production has several aces up its sleeve, the first being John Logan's script. Logan-the scribe behind the plays Red and I'll Eat You Last, films Gladiator, The Aviator, Sweeney Todd, Hugo, and Skyfall, and the T.V. show Penny Dreadful-is easily one of the greatest contemporary writers in any medium. His gift for creating edge-of-your-seat pacing, engrossing and flawed characters, and witty dialogue shows through in Never the Sinner, Logan's 1985 work and first play.

16-time Grammy Award winning musician and composer Sting performed two intimate concerts last night, May 19, at the Heath at The McKittrick Hotel, featuring songs from his Tony-nominated score for THE LAST SHIP. Proceeds from the shows benefited The Actors Fund. Scroll down for photos!

Tonight, May 19, 16-time Grammy Award winning musician and composer Sting will bring The Last Ship back to New York City for one-night-only when he performs songs from his Tony Award-nominated score in a uniquely intimate venue, The Heath at The McKittrick Hotel (542 West 27th Street), home of Sleep No More.   Proceeds from this concert event will benefit The Actors Fund.

Two-time Tony Award® winner, Patti LuPone (American Horror Story, Life Goes On, Evita, Gypsy), captivates this week's episode of PENNY DREADFUL in a special guest appearance on Sunday, May 17 at 10PM ET/PT on SHOWTIME.

On Tuesday, May 19, 16-time Grammy Award winning musician and composer Sting will bring The Last Ship back to New York City for one-night-only when he performs songs from his Tony Award-nominated score in a uniquely intimate venue, The Heath at The McKittrick Hotel (542 West 27th Street), home of Sleep No More.   Proceeds from this concert event will benefit The Actors Fund.

The Divine Miss M is back! As previously announced, Bette Midler is touring the country beginning this month in support of her newest solo recording 'It's the Girls.'

PENNY DREADFUL ON A NEW DATESHOWTIME will now premiere the sophomore season of the critically-acclaimed psychological thriller PENNY DREADFUL tonight, May 3rd at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

SHOWTIME has partnered with YouTube content creators Fine Brothers Entertainment, MadeYewLook and VSauce3, who today have debuted their custom PENNY DREADFUL videos

Victory Gardens Theater announces the final show of its 40th anniversary season, the Midwest Premiere of The Who and the What by Ayad Akhtar, directed by Ron OJ Parson.  The Who and the What runs June 12 - July 12, 2015 with the press performance on Friday, June 19, 2015, at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

South Coast Repertory's 2015-16 season will take audiences- theatrically speaking-from Brighton, England, in the swinging '60s (Richard Bean's One Man, Two Guvnors) to 18th-century Austria (Peter Shaffer's Amadeus) to the American Wild West (Beth Henley's Abundance). In addition, the season will delve into the lives of artist Mark Rothko (Red by John Logan) and writer Sandra Tsing Loh (in her adaptation of her memoir, The Madwoman in the Volvo).

Westchester Broadway Theatre presents WEST SIDE STORY, based on a concept by Jerome Robbins with book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, directed and choreographed by Barry McNabb and musical direction by Ryan Edward Wise. The show runs now through July 5th, 2015 and officially opens tonight, April 16th, 2015. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast below!

Westchester Broadway Theatre presents WEST SIDE STORY, based on a concept by Jerome Robbins with book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, directed and choreographed by Barry McNabb and musical direction by Ryan Edward Wise. The show runs now through July 5th, 2015 and officially opens on April 16th, 2015. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast below!

This spring, SHOWTIME will bid farewell to one of its signature series with the premiere of NURSE JACKIE's final season tonight, April 12th at 9 P.M. ET/PT, followed by the highly-anticipated second season of the hit drama series PENNY DREADFUL on Sunday, April 26th at 10 P.M. ET/PT.

Bette Midler stopped by this week's ELLEN to perform 'Be My Baby' from her new album 'For the Girls.' Check out the appearance below!

Chicago Inclusion Project Founder and Producer Emjoy Gavino announces the launch of The Chicago Inclusion Project, a collective dedicated to championing inclusion and diversity in Chicago theatre.

What goes into the creation of a major piece of art? Does it flow like water out of the artist, or is it a struggle as painful as childbirth? Does pain lend it greater legitimacy? Stage West presents a searing look into the depths of an artist's ambition and vulnerability in John Logan's Red, beginning its 5-week run tonight, April 9.

The World Premiere of An Issue of Blood by Marcus Gardley, directed by Chay Yew, was penned by Gardley in response to recent events and social injustices. An Issue of Blood runs tonight, April 3 - May 3, 2015 with the press performance on Friday, April 10, 2015, at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.