John Waters News

The Colony Theatre Company presents the fifth and final production of its 2008 ? 2009 season, the Los Angeles premiere of the Off-Broadway, Smash-Hit Musical Thriller, No Way to Treat a Lady, book, music and lyrics by Douglas J. Cohen, (based on the novel by William Goldman) and co-directed by West Hyler and Shelley Butler. No Way to Treat a Lady will preview on Wednesday, April 15; Thursday, April 16 and Friday, April 17 at 8:00pm and will open on Saturday, April 18 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, May 17 at The Colony Theatre, 555 North Third Street (at Cypress) adjacent to the Burbank Town Center.

Broadway Sessions w/ Ben D welcomes Michael Buchanan on March 24th. Buchanan made his Broadway debut last year in the John Waters inspired musical 'Cry-Baby'. Regionally Mr. Buchanan has been seen in Urinetown at Chicago's Mercury Theater (Bobby Strong), Mame at the Kennedy Center, and most recently starred in the Arizona Theater Companies hit staging of Hair

From the writer and producer of 'Vaudeville at the Gin Mill' comes a sexy, hilarious whodunnit - a new play about a murder at a burlesque club. The show features beautiful dancers performing 15 dance numbers, outrageous comedy in the style of John Waters, and a murder mystery that will keep the audience guessing while rolling with laughter!

Variety is reporting that Amanda Bynes is set to star in the new ABC pilot 'Canned.' Bynes plays Sarabeth, a 'naive Midwesterner who's being exploited by her boss - and doesn't realize it'.

It's time to let your hair down and dance the night away! HAIRSPRAY, Broadway's musical comedy phenomenon that inspired a major motion picture is coming to the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines for one weekend only Friday, March 20 to Sunday March, 22

It's time to let your hair down and dance the night away! HAIRSPRAY, Broadway's musical comedy phenomenon that inspired a major motion picture is coming to the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines for one weekend only Friday, March 20 to Sunday March, 22

Variety is reporting that John Waters will perform his standup show 'This Filthy World -- Dirtier and Filthier' on April 24th at the first CPH:PIX film fest in Copenhagen.

Florida Studio Theatre continues it's Stage III Series with ...and L.A. is Burning opening March 4 and continues through March 19, 2009. Called 'a powerful examination of a changing nation' by the Houston Press ...and L.A. is Burning recently received the Smith Prize from the National New Play Network for 2008.

It's time to let your hair down and dance the night away! The national tour of HAIRSPRAY, Broadway's musical comedy phenomenon that inspired a major motion picture is returning to the Fabulous Fox Theatre for a limited four show engagement April 24-26. Curtain times for this U.S. Bank Broadway series presentation are Friday & Saturday at 8 p.m. and Saturday & Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets go on sale Sunday, March 1 at noon at the Fox Theatre box office and through MetroTix.

Variety reports that ShoWest has named Zac Efron as its 2009 breakthrough performer of the year. Efron will be presented with the honor at ShoWest's Final Night Banquet and Award Ceremony on Thursday, April 2nd, at Bally's and Paris Las Vegas.

Producer Randy Taradash announced today that bare, the original rock musical by Damon Intrabartolo and Jon Hartmere will hold an invite only New York presentation on Tuesday, February 24 in anticipation of its San Francisco Bay Area premiere in late Fall of 2009. The cast for the reading includes Scott Porter (NBC's 'Friday Night Lights', Altar Boyz), Matt Doyle (Spring Awakening, the CW's 'Gossip Girl'), Shoshana Bean (Wicked, Hairspray), Manoel Felciano (2006 Tony award nominee Sweeney Todd), Kecia Lewis-Evans (The Drowsy Chaperone), Janine LaManna (The Drowsy Chaperone, Sweet Charity), Neil Haskell (Altar Boyz), and Alysha Umphress (2008 MAC Award nominee, Make Me A Song: The Music of William Finn).

The Independent Film 2009 Spirit Awards were given out last night Saturday, February 21 in Los Angeles and The Wrestler was a big winner, nabbing Best Film and Best Actor for star Mickey Rourke. Other acting awards went to Melissa Leo for Best Actress for Frozen River, James Franco won best supporting actor for Milk, while Penelope Cruz snagged a best supporting win for Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Woody Allen earned a Best Screenplay award for the film as well.

Producer Randy Taradash announced recently that bare, the original rock musical by Damon Intrabartolo and Jon Hartmere will hold an invite only New York presentation on Tuesday, February 24 in anticipation of its San Francisco Bay Area premiere in late Fall of 2009.

Producer Randy Taradash announced today that bare, the original rock musical by Damon Intrabartolo and Jon Hartmere will hold an invite only New York presentation on Tuesday, February 24 in anticipation of its San Francisco Bay Area premiere in late Fall of 2009. The cast for the reading includes Scott Porter (NBC's 'Friday Night Lights', Altar Boyz), Matt Doyle (Spring Awakening, the CW's 'Gossip Girl'), Shoshana Bean (Wicked, Hairspray), Manoel Felciano (2006 Tony award nominee Sweeney Todd), Kecia Lewis-Evans (The Drowsy Chaperone), Janine LaManna (The Drowsy Chaperone, Sweet Charity), Neil Haskell (Altar Boyz), and Alysha Umphress (2008 MAC Award nominee, Make Me A Song: The Music of William Finn).

Various online sources, including mega website PerezHilton.com is reporting that High School Musical star Zac Efron will host Saturday Night Live on April 11th, 2009. Efron has a new film coming out, '17 Again' and a SNL hosting gig is an ideal platform to showcase the release.

The current touring cast of Broadway's recently-closed hit musical Hairspray never has to worry about being without love. Indeed, the show has been welcomed with open arms and standing ovations in Canada, China, Japan and, of course, all over the United States. This weekend, the show will introduce Cleveland to the nicest kids in town when it arrives at the Palace Theatre for five performances?from February 6-8.

Despite closing recently on Broadway, Hairspray's beat is nowhere near stopping. The critically lauded tour is still going strong and bringing a little of the swingin? sixties to Cleveland?s Palace Theatre from February 6-8.

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) officially opened their production of Charles Busch's The Third Story on Monday, February 2nd and BWW was there to celebrate opening night!

Florida Studio Theatre opens its Stage III Series with an inside look at the life of acclaimed American sculptor Louise Nevelson by the three time Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Edward Albee. Edward Albee's Occupant runs through January 31, 2009 at the Gompertz Theatre. Born into a Ukrainian Jewish family, Nevelson's family immigrated to America when she was a young child. With a personality as impressive as her art, was she destined for greatness? What is the relationship between creator and creation? Who was Louise Nevelson? Only she knew. 'Fascinating' hailed Variety Magazine. Director Susan Greenhill used Nevelson's words as a guide in getting to the root of what she was about. One of her favorite quotes to reference was 'A truth isn't a truth to me, a lie isn't a lie. If I were to accept academically these words and what they stand for, it would kill me immediately.' Actress Kate Alexander commented, 'You cannot undertake a role like Louise Nevelson without reflecting upon your own life. For her life was a work of art: She lived life as art, as philosophy and history as myth, she created her own reality.'

Film directors Barry Levinson and John Waters talked one-on-one about their films and their connection to Baltimore to the Baltimore Sun. The filmmakers grew up just a few Beltway exits from one another, Levinson in Park Heights, Waters in Lutherville. As the Sun reveals 'Maybe 10 miles, but worlds apart'.