John Watson News

THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES, one of the most popular and mysterious incidents in Holmes' famed casebook, is an ideally atmospheric selection to stage just as dark, chilly autumn evenings settle in over New England. This HOUND is a solid offering for the community-based players and artists at RISE.

London. Autumn. 1889. The famous consulting detective, Sherlock Holmes, and his friend and colleague, Dr. John Watson, are called in to investigate a most intriguing mystery: What could have frightened Sir Charles Baskerville to death? Is there an ancient curse on the Baskerville family? Is Sir Henry Baskerville, Sir Charles' young heir, being stalked by a supernatural Hound from Hell or a diabolically clever murderer?

Though only 38 years old, British actor Benedict Cumberbatch has already amassed an impressive list of credits on stage, on television, and on the big screen. Though he has yet to grace a Broadway stage, I have a feeling that that is just an eventuality as his popularity continues to skyrocket on this side of the Atlantic. Today we are taking a look at his career from the British stage in 'Hedda Gabler,' 'After the Dance,' and 'Frankenstein' to his work on film in '12 Years a Slave,' 'August: Osage County,' and 'Star Trek: Into Darkness,' to his iconic work on TV as the 'high-functioning sociopath' titular character on the BBC's 'Sherlock,' for which he is nominated a second time, in addition to his 2013 nomination for HBO's 'Parade's End.'

In 1982, Actors' Theatre of Columbus (ATC) kicked off its first season with a single production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. The success of that season proved that Schiller Park was an excellent venue for open air Shakespearean theater, and the troupe has continued this tradition for 35 years. 'To Tell the Truth,' Actors' Theatre's 2016 season, features four plays that ask questions about how far relationships can be strained and even broken by dishonesty, falsehood and slander.

Vika Bull and the Essential R&B Band bring Etta James' iconic music to life as the troubled singer's life is laid bare in an honest, heartfelt tribute in AT LAST: THE ETTA JAMES STORY.

On September 24, the Long Beach Playhouse opens its 88th Mainstage Season. This year's season is a journey of self discovery, adventure, and fun.

Beloved Las Vegas entertainer and newest Strip headliner, Frankie Moreno welcomes James Maslow to the UNDER THE INFLUENCE stage for three nights at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, May 20-22. 

Beloved Las Vegas entertainer and newest Strip headliner, Frankie Moreno welcomes James Maslow to the UNDER THE INFLUENCE stage for three nights at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, May 20-22. 

Ken Ludwig created one of theater's best-loved and critically acclaimed farces with Lend Me A Tenor, then updated the book of one of musical theater's most revered Gershwin titles (Girl Crazy) with the long-running and equally beloved Crazy For You. Since those two mega-hits, however, he's been less successful (although, inarguably, he's kept busy churning out scripts and cashing royalty checks) and perhaps no new script has proved that point more than Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery.

Idle Muse Theatre Company presents The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, newly adapted by Althos Low and directed by IMTC artistic director Evan Jackson. First serialized in the Strand Magazine in 1901-1902 - and perhaps the most beloved of Conan Doyle's crime thrillers - Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson trade the foggy streets of London for the country wilds of Dartmoor to shield the life of a young heir whose family is believed cursed by a murderous hellhound.

Due to high ticket demand, Idle Muse Theatre Company has added an additional performance of The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, newly adapted by Althos Low and directed by IMTC artistic director Evan Jackson. The additional performance has been scheduled for Wednesday, March 23 at 8 p.m.

In addition to adapting the script for Idle Muse Theatre Company's upcoming production The Hound of the Baskervilles,Shanghai Low Theatricals will design the puppetry for the production. Althos Low is the pen name for Shanghai Low Theatricals, an adaptation development group based in Chicago. Formed in 2001 as a group of theatre craftspeople adapting literary works for the stage, in 2009 the company expanded into the creation of graphics and visual development. In 2014 the group adapted George Orwell's Animal Farm for Director Hallie Gordon and the Steppenwolf Young Adults Program. For the Baskervillescollaboration, Steve Pickering serves as Adaptor, with input from the company, and House Artists Fred Baxter and Tom Kyzivat provide pre-production concept art. Pickering received a Joseph Jefferson Award for designing the costumes, masks, and puppets for Balliwick Repertory's production of Animal Farm in 1988.

Idle Muse Theatre Company announced casting forThe Hound of the Baskervilles, newly adapted by Althos Low and directed by Idle Muse Artistic Director Evan Jackson. First serialized in the Strand Magazine in 1901-1902 - and perhaps the most beloved of Conan Doyle's crime thrillers - Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson trade the foggy streets of London for the country wilds of Dartmoor to shield the life of a young heir whose family is believed cursed by a murderous hellhound. 

SHERLOCK is back, kind of. In a one-off New Year's special, Holmes and Watson return--in the 19th century--to solve the case of the Abominable Bride.

Benedict Cumberbatch will reprise his role as iconic fictional detectiveSherlock Holmes for BBC One's SHERLOCK Christmas special.

Let's see what the critics had to say...

Broadway In Chicago and producers Starvox Entertainmentand June Entertainment have announced the full cast for SHERLOCK HOLMES. JAMES MASLOW, the actor and singer perhaps best known for playing the role of James Diamond in Nickelodeon's 'Big Time Rush' and a member of the band with the same name, will star as the legendary Dr.John Watson, along with RENNE OLSTEAD, best known for her role as Lauren Miller in the TV sitcom 'Still Standing,' and as Madison Cooperstein in 'The Secret Life of the American Teenager,' as the well-to-do-American, Lady Irene St. John, opposite DAVID ARQUETTE in the title role as SHERLOCK HOLMES. The two actors will make their stage debuts in this new and original adaptation inspired by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic tales by playwrightGreg Kramer and directed by Andrew Shaver scheduled to play Chicago's Oriental Theatre (24 W Randolph) November 24 - 29, 2015. Check out a first look at the cast in action below!

Broadway In Chicago and producers Starvox Entertainmentand June Entertainment have announced the full cast for SHERLOCK HOLMES. JAMES MASLOW, the actor and singer perhaps best known for playing the role of James Diamond in Nickelodeon's 'Big Time Rush' and a member of the band with the same name, will star as the legendary Dr.John Watson, along with RENNE OLSTEAD, best known for her role as Lauren Miller in the TV sitcom 'Still Standing,' and as Madison Cooperstein in 'The Secret Life of the American Teenager,' as the well-to-do-American, Lady Irene St. John, opposite DAVID ARQUETTE in the title role as SHERLOCK HOLMES. The two actors will make their stage debuts in this new and original adaptation inspired by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic tales by playwright Greg Kramer and directed by Andrew Shaver scheduled to play Chicago's Oriental Theatre (24 W Randolph) November 24 - 29, 2015.  Check out the sneak peek videos below!

The very first trailer for the previously reported SHERLOCK special has just been released! PBS has also revealed the title, SHERLOCK: THE ABOMINABLE BRIDE, and will make its US premiere Friday, Jan 1, 2016, 9pm ET on MASTERPIECE on PBS. Check out the trailer below!

Nine and Numb is pitting 'Zombie' against 'Mummy' improv actors in its annual 18+ Halloween 'Night of the Laughing Dead' mature comedy improv show at 11pm tonight, October 24 at Carrollwood Players Theatre, 4333 Gunn Highway.