Julia Sweeney News

Geffen Playhouse raised more than $1.3 million for the theater's education, community engagement and artistic initiatives at its 17th annual Backstage at the Geffen fundraiser held May 19, it was announced today. Danny Glover (Lethal Weapon franchise, The Color Purple, Dreamgirls) presented the Artistic Impact Award for Harry Belafonte, which was accepted by daughter Gina Belafonte on his behalf, and Jane Fonda (Grace & Frankie, Book Club, 9 to 5) presented the Distinction in Theater Award to Lily Tomlin.

The fifth annual Mammoth Lakes Film Festival (MLFF), taking place May 22 through 26, is pleased to announce this year's Sierra Spirit Award honoree and Closing Night film.

Geffen Playhouse will honor legendary singer, songwriter, actor and activist Harry Belafonte and groundbreaking performer, comedienne and activist Lily Tomlin during its 17th annual Backstage at the Geffen fundraiser, it was announced today.

Hulu has renewed Shrill for an 8-episode second season. 

The Second City invites you to celebrate Mother's Day with Margaret Trudeau, the mother of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. In a world premiere engagement, Margaret Trudeau is coming to Chicago to bring her intimate staged performance Certain Woman of an Age exclusively to UP Comedy Club at The Second City, 230 W. North Ave. Co-written by Ms. Trudeau, herself, and directed by Kimberly Senior, this solo performance follows the compelling story of one of the world's most fascinating figures, chronicling her courageous public and private journeys.

Luckily for us, after a 10-year hiatus raising her adopted daughter Mulan ("Yes, that was her given name in China," she shared with embarrassment) with her Eastern European Jewish husband in suburban Chicago, the Irish Catholic comic recently moved back to Los Angeles to resume her career as a writer and performer. While currently filming a recurring role in the upcoming Hulu series Shrill, opposite Aidy Bryant, she decided it was time to get back on the stage and grab the spotlight again now that her daughter has moved out as a college freshman. In her new solo show, JULIA SWEENEY: OLDER & WIDER, she offers hilarious takes on parenting, religion, cancer, feminism and even her iconic SNL characters' place in today's modern landscape. And though she shared this was the first time she performed using a handheld microphone in front of an audience, Sweeney appeared to be totally at ease and enjoying the accolades from her many fans in attendance on opening night.

The Geffen Playhouse Unscripted podcast has been renewed for a third season with PodcastOne, the nation's largest advertiser-supported podcast network, it was announced today. In addition, Tony-nominated Rory O'Malley (Hamilton, The Book of Mormon) has joined the podcast series as its new full-time host.

Funny lady Julia Sweeney brings her latest one-woman show JULIA SWEENEY: OLDER & WIDER to the Geffen's Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater stage for a limited comedy engagement February 5 through February 10, 2019. I had the pleasure of delving into the comedic genius of this Saturday Night Live/The Groundlings alumnus, getting some very insightful responses.

On Friday, the Napa Valley Film Festival honored The Groundlings Theatre & School with the Miner Family Winery Legacy Ensemble Tribute in a special presentation that consisted of an on-stage conversation with Groundlings alumni including Jordan Black, Stephanie Courtney, Tracy Newman, Cheri Oteri, Julia Sweeney and Michaela Watkins, moderated by current Groundling Michael Churven. The theater was filled with laughter as the group looked back on their time at The Groundlings, giving the audience a peek into the early days of SNL and working with other amazing talents that have come up through the Groundlings program.

UCLA's Center for the Art of Performance (CAP UCLA) presents Los Angeles' legendary UnCabaret, celebrating 25 years of groundbreaking comedy in a one-time-only evening of wildly fun, idiosyncratic live performance, music and never-before-seen footage. Special guests include alumni Julia Sweeney, Janeane Garofalo, Bob Odenkirk, Maria Bamford, Greg Behrendt, Andy Kindler, Scott Thompson, Allee Willis, Laura Kightlinger, Alex Edelman, Rebecca Corry, Jill Soloway and many more to be announced, hosted by creatrix Beth Lapides with musical director Mitch Kaplan on Sunday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. at The Theatre at Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles. Tickets for $29.50-$59.50 are available now at cap.ucla.edu and theatre.acehotel.com, 310-825-2101 and The Theatre at Ace Hotel box office.

The Groundlings Theatre has announced that Groundlings and SNL alumna, Julia Sweeney's brand new solo show, I, As Well, at The Gary Austin Theatre at The Groundlings School. The show opens on Sunday, September 16th, with six other scheduled performances to follow.

UCLA's Center for the Art of Performance (CAP UCLA) and The Theatre at Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles will once again team up to present 14 bold programs by leading innovators and acknowledged masters in contemporary dance, music, theater and literature, featuring pioneering champions for social justice and diverse world views. Offering more than 40 unique events and 60 performances, CAP UCLA's new season runs from September 22, 2018, to May 10, 2019, and will open and close with programs at Ace.

UCLA's Center for the Art of Performance (CAP UCLA) announces three additions to its 2018-19 season, which honors legacy artists and features pioneering social justice champions and diverse global perspectives. Bestselling humorist David Sedaris will return with new and unpublished work for the 20th anniversary of his first appearance at Royce Hall. Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning filmmaker and activist Josh Fox will appear in a live solo performance of The Truth Has Changed ahead of the midterm elections. Pulitzer Prize finalist and Latino Literature Hall of Fame member Luis Alberto Urrea will join previously announced Pulitzer winner Viet Thanh Nguyen in a conversation exploring their writing about the immigrant experience and society we all share as Americans.

The Off-Broadway League has announced that Terry Byrne was elected as the new President of The Off-Broadway League. Byrne is the first female president in the nearly 60 year history of the League. The organization also announced three new additions to the Board, including Dean Carpenter, Steven Chaikelson and Casey York.

The Second City announced today that SNL vet Julia Sweeney's one-woman show Julia Sweeney: Older and Wider will move to the theater's e.t.c. stage for a six-week run beginning April 24, 2018. Sweeney has been honing her first-ever stand-up show in front of live audiences since she began a January workshop run in one of Second City's studio theater spaces. Julia Sweeney: Old and Wider will run on the e.t.c. stage at The Second City April 24 - May 30, 2018.

Saturday Night Live veteran, author, actor, and TED talk maestro Julia Sweeney will make her stand-up debut this January in a brand new workshop production staged in Judy's Beat Lounge at The Second City. In Julia Sweeney: Older and Wider, the Grammy-nominated comedian hilariously takes on parenting, religion, cancer, feminism and even her iconic androgynous character, SNL's Pat, through a very modern 2018 lens. Audiences will get to see the creative process in action up close and personal for an evening of laughter from one of comedy's most indelible, indestructible voices.

BroadwayWorld has teamed up with Broadway alum Ilana Levine, who makes her entrance onto the podcast stage with her new show Little Known Facts. Ilana's unique brand of celebrity interview, 'Podcast Verite,' is unfiltered, raw, honest and uniquely funny.

The Second City and Gilda's Club Chicago celebrated a once in a lifetime evening at the comedy institution's iconic Mainstage theater during a star-studded benefit, I Can't Believe They Wendt There: The Roast of George Wendt. More than 230 guests dined, drank and donated while being entertained by a raucous panel of roasters and special guests that concluded with a surprise appearance by Chris Rock.

The Second City has announced more big names to the star-studded roster of "I Can't Believe They Wendt There: The Roast of George Wendt."

The Second City is excited to announce more big names to the star-studded roster of "I Can't Believe They Wendt There: The Roast of George Wendt."