Kaplan News

ABC comedies “American Housewife” and “Bless This Mess” have been given full-season orders, Karey Burke, president, ABC Entertainment, announced today.

The Marriott Theatre presents Lionel Bart's OLIVER!, which is now running through Sunday, December 29th. The Tony Award-winning musical based on the classic Charles Dickens novel, Oliver Twist, is directed by eight-time Jeff Award winner for Outstanding Direction, Nick Bowling, with musical direction by Jeff Award winner Ryan T. Nelson and choreography by Jeff Award winner Brenda Didier.

In celebration of her upcoming induction into the National Theater Hall of Fame on November 18th, I sat down with Broadway legend, Donna McKechnie for a spirited, informative, career-spanning chat.

Jaap van Zweden and the New York Philharmonic will mark the centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which granted equal voting rights to women, by commissioning and premiering works by 19 women composers. The multi-season initiative a?" the single largest women-only commissioning initiative in history a?" will launch in February 2020 with the first six World Premieres. Two more World Premieres will follow in Maya?"June 2020. The eleven remaining commissions will be premiered in future seasons. The commissioned composers are Unsuk Chin, Mary Kouyoumdjian, Joan La Barbara, Tania León, Nicole Lizée, Caroline Mallonee, Jessie Montgomery, Angélica Negrón, Olga Neuwirth, Paola Prestini, Ellen Reid, Maria Schneider, Caroline Shaw, Sarah Kirkland Snider, Anna Thorvaldsdottir, Joan Tower, Melinda Wagner, Nina C. Young, and Du Yun.

Back to the Backlot, a live musical comedy variety show, will bring back many of West Hollywood's famed Backlot Theatre's original showcase stars to commemorate the end of an era of one of the country's most famous venues for live entertainment. The event will mark the beginning of the preservation project known as Robertson Lane, which will re-build the venue formally known as The Factory and the famous Studio One Nightclub. The historic building opened in 1929 as the home of Mitchell Cameras, an early and important movie camera maker for the large movie studios. It was then the Studio One nightclub/Backlot Theatre from the late 1970s through the 1990s.

Just in time for the ho-ho-holidays, Merry Happy Whatever launches Thursday, November 28th.

Primary Stages (Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Shane D. Hudson, Executive Director; Casey Childs, Founder) announced today that it will postpone its production of On That Day in Amsterdam, written by Clarence Coo (Beautiful Province (Belle Province -a?"Yale Drama Prize), which was planned to begin previews Friday, November 1 at the Cherry Lane Theatre. Ticketholders can contact their point of purchase for a refund. A new timeline for On That Day in Amsterdam will be determined and announced at a later date.

Center Theatre Group has selected participants for the 2019-2020 L.A. Writers' Workshop, where local playwrights are invited to spend eight months in residence at the company researching and writing new works with the feedback from artistic staff and their fellow writers. The workshop, administrated by Center Theatre Group's Artistic Department, is designed to foster new voices, inspire playwrights to create their best work, encourage bold writing and build relationships among local playwrights, Center Theatre Group and the Los Angeles theatre community. 

Huntington Theatre Company has announced the creative team for We All Fall Down, a new comedy about a family trying out tradition for the first time, written by Boston area local playwright and Huntington Playwriting Fellow Lila Rose Kaplan. Directed by Obie Award winner and artistic director of Hartford Stage Melia Bensussen, We All Fall Down will begin performances at the Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA (527 Tremont Street, Boston) on Friday, January 10, 2020 and run through Sunday, February 9, 2020. The official press opening night will be Wednesday, January 22, 2020. Tickets are on sale now.

Here are some of the highlighted events coming to Q.E.D. from Nov. 20a?"26, including: a Democratic Debate Watch Party with Frank Conniff, Christian Finnegan, and more (Nov. 20); Rory Scholl's comedic musical Thanksgiving Scarecrow: A Musical, with Rebecca Vigil and more (Nov. 21); QED Presents showcasing Lizz Winstead, Shalewa Sharpe, Liz Barrett, and Ben Katzner (Nov. 23); a bar trivia night for fans of true crime, Yellow Tape (Nov. 24); Myq Kaplan and friends Carolyn Riley, Carolyn Castiglia, and Carolyn Busa (Nov. 25); and, much more!

In 1999, David Temple claimed he discovered his eight-month-pregnant wife, Belinda Temple, shot dead inside their home. Despite two murder trials and two juries finding David guilty of Belinda's murder, he's once again awaiting sentencing, 20 years after her death. With his bail set at $1 million, Belinda's family is also waiting for justice decades after the terrible tragedy changed their lives forever. “20/20” extensively follows David's most recent trial and reports on a twist in the case involving Riley Joe Sanders III, Belinda's neighbor and student at the time of her murder. Defense attorneys alleged at trial he shot Belinda with a shotgun he secretly took from his father, but Sanders denies any involvement in her murder and was cleared as a suspect during the investigation into her death. Correspondent Deborah Roberts reports for “20/20” on Friday, Nov. 1 (9:00 – 11:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC.

The Israeli Artists Project has joined forces with host Temple Emanu-El Men's Club to present a benefit reading of the new musical 'Sacrifices' - a new musical about ancient times - with a host of familiar Broadway performers.

Cincinnati Music Theatre will open its 2019-2020 mainstage season with Kander and Ebb's iconic musical Cabaret a?" the Tony Award-winning work that helped revolutionize American musical theater. The production runs November 8-16, 2019 at the Aronooff Center's intimate Jarson-Kaplan Theater.

The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Dr. in Lincolnshire, is proud to bring the Victorian streets of London live to Lincolnshire with Lionel Bart's OLIVER!, previewing Wednesday, October 30th, opening Wednesday, November 6th at 7:30 p.m., and closing Sunday, December 29th. The Tony Award-winning musical based on the classic Charles Dickens novel, Oliver Twist, is directed by eight-time Jeff Award winner for Outstanding Direction, Nick Bowling, with musical direction by Jeff Award winner Ryan T. Nelson and choreography by Jeff Award winner Brenda Didier.

The School at Jacob's Pillow, a world-renowned center for artistic growth and excellence, announces 2020 professional advancement programs in Contemporary Ballet, Street & Club Dances, Contemporary, and Musical Theatre Dance; and professional development programs in Choreography and Dance Photography. Situated in the heart of Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, the longest-running dance festival in the United States, The School has been instrumental in furthering the careers of dance artists for over 80 years and offers innovative programs each year with its roster of renowned and sought-after choreographers and dance leaders who serve as faculty. Dancers selected to attend The School at Jacob's Pillow join one of the most influential international dance networks in the field. 

Music Director Jaap van Zweden will conduct the New York Philharmonic in the New York Premiere of Steve Reich's Music for Ensemble and Orchestra — a Philharmonic co-commission with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, London Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and Baltic Sea Philharmonic. The program will also feature Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4, with Yefim Bronfman as soloist, and Beethoven's Symphony No. 2 and will take place Thursday, December 5, 2019, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, December 6 at 11:00 a.m.; and Saturday, December 7 at 8:00 p.m.

The CBS Television Network announced today that it has rewarded all five series from its top-rated freshman class with new production orders.

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center announced today that it is now accepting submissions for the 2020 National Music Theater Conference. Writers may submit new musicals through the O'Neill's Open Submissions process through Friday, November 1, 2019. 

The Cincinnati May Festival announced program details and artists for the 2020 Festival with nine performances taking place between May 21 and 31, 2020 at Cincinnati Music Hall as well as other locations, and an additional performance on April 5, 2020 at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Covington, Kentucky. Joining the Festival's artistic leadership team of Principal Conductor Juanjo Mena and Director of Choruses Robert Porco is 2020 Artistic Partner John Adams.