Keith Gordon News

Sundance Channel today announced that two of their highly anticipated original scripted series, "Top of the Lake" and "Rectify" will debut during the 2013 Sundance Film Festival taking place in Park City Utah in January. "Top of the Lake" will screen in the premiere category, marking the first time the Sundance Film Festival has included a scripted long form series in their lineup. The seven-part series will screen in its entirety on Sunday, January 20th at the Egyptian Theater in Park City and will be followed by a Q&A with the creators and cast. Campion will also participate in a discussion of the creative appeal of working in long-form episodic narrative as part of a Festival panel titled "Power of Story: The New Face of Independent Voice" on January 19.

The new short film ALBUM, written and directed by David Rimmer, author of the Pulitzer Prize finalist long-running play, has been accepted into the NYC Independent Film Festival. The short will screen on Sunday, October 21st at 1pm at the Producer's Club, 358 West 44th Street in Manhattan.

Today we are focusing a super-special spotlight on one of the Fall's most intriguing musical entries trying out in New York, the York Theatre Company's lab mounting of the new Paul Jabara jukebox musical LAST DANCE, by talking to the show's lead, recognizable TV and film star Rob Morrow, and the show's lead producer, noted comedic shepherd and filmmaker Robert D. Wachs, whom filled me in on all aspects of the show in a comprehensive chat late last week just prior to this week's start of rehearsals. In this all-encompassing conversation, Morrow, Wachs and I discuss the genesis of the new disco-themed musical celebrating the life and career of Jabara, the accomplished Emmy, Grammy and Academy Award-winning composer of Broadway shows (RACHAEL LILY ROSENBLOOM… AND DON'T YOU EVER FORGET IT), movie songs ("Last Dance" from THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY; the titular "The Main Event") and numerous pop/rock/disco hits, such as "It's Raining Men" by The Weather Girls, Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer's epic disco duet "Enough Is Enough (No More Tears)" and his many solo hits, as well as the finer points of the story, concept, casting and the ultimate goals of the new Philip William McKinley-directed production, which features a book by Shaun McKenna. Additionally, Morrow and Wachs each generously share showbiz tales from their storied careers involving such big names as Eddie Murphy, Michael Bennett, Jonathan Larson, Tony Scott and many more and both copiously convey their infectious enthusiasm for the forthcoming fully-produced lab presentation of the new musical that will play for five performances beginning September 20 as they prepare for its first viewing before a paying audience. All of that and much, much more awaits!

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) is extending the submission deadline for the 2012TRU Voices New Musicals Reading Series to August 23 (for musicals without a producer) and August 30 (with a producer attached). Two to three musicals will be chosen and read on Mondays in December at a theater to be confirmed. Submission guidelines are available at www.truonline.org/Musicals12guidelines.htm.

Today we are talking to a spectacularly talented stage and screen star who has appeared in countless film and TV properties over the years as well as in many remarkable theatrical productions all about her major role on the USA special miniseries event POLITICAL ANIMALS, which concludes this Sunday at 9 PM - Carla Gugino. In her many film roles - including SON IN LAW, MICHAEL, SNAKE EYES, the SPY KIDS trilogy, SIN CITY, NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM, WATCHMEN, SUCKER PUNCH, MR. POPPER'S PENGUINS and NEW YEAR'S EVE, to name but a few - as well as in her string of stage successes - Arthur Miller's AFTER THE FALL, Tennessee Williams's SUDDENLY, LAST SUMMER, Eugene O'Neill's DESIRE UNDER THE ELMS, and, most recently, treading the boards with Rosemary Harris and Jim Dale in THE ROAD TO MECCA - Gugino has displayed a considerable commitment to her craft and a striking sensitivity for the medium she is inhabiting.

It's closing night for TADA! YOUTH THEATER's EVERTHING ABOUT SCHOOL (ALMOST). Conceived by Eric Rockwell, Everything About School (Almost) has music and lyrics by Brad Alexander along with Daniel Acquisto, Deirdre Broderick, Helen Chayefsky, Richard Chiarappa, Van Dean, David Ganon, Keith Gordon, Bruce Keisling, Jim Lochner, Margaret Rose, Dan Shore, Shawn Sturnick, and Eddie Sugarman. Directed and choreographed by Joanna Greer, Everything About School (Almost) concludes its limited engagement at TADA! Youth Theater (15 West 28th St. 2nd Fl. New York, NY 10001) today at 4pm.

New York Theatre Barn (Joe Barros, Artistic Director; Jason Najjoum, Producing Director; Barry Levine, Managing Director) will launch the 6th consecutive year of its acclaimed monthly platform for emerging musical theater writers, NYTB in the D-Lounge, on July 9, 2012 at the D-Lounge of the Daryl Roth Theatre. Featured writing teams will be Charlie Sohne and Tim Rosser, and Adam Spiegel and Dan Wolpow, all alumni of the Tony Award-winning BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop. Featured writers for later months in the 6th season will be announced at a later date.

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) presents the 2012 TRU Voices New Plays Reading Series. The Sin Eater by Michael Bettencourt, produced by Block & Tackle Productions, Inc. and Elfin Frederick Vogel, will be read tonight, June 18, at 7pm at The Roy Arias Theatre, 300 W. 43rd Street, 5th Floor, Studio 500, NYC. Admission is FREE but reservations are required: email TRUStaff1@gmail.com or call 212-714-7628.

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) announces the casts of the upcoming plays in the 2012 TRU Voices New Plays Reading Series. The two plays yet to be presented are Appendage by Derek Murphy, produced by Tweiss Productions (Sharon Weiss & Eileen B. Weiss); and The Sin Eater by Michael Bettencourt, produced by Block & Tackle Productions, Inc. and Elfin Frederick Vogel. The selected plays will be read on Mondays, June 11, and 18 respectively, at 7pm at The Roy Arias Theatre, 300 W. 43rd Street, 5th Floor, Studio 500, NYC. Admission is FREE but reservations are required: email TRUStaff1@gmail.com or call 212-714-7628.

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) announces the casts of the upcoming plays in the 2012 TRU Voices New Plays Reading Series. The two plays yet to be presented are Appendage by Derek Murphy, produced by Tweiss Productions (Sharon Weiss & Eileen B. Weiss); and The Sin Eater by Michael Bettencourt, produced by Block & Tackle Productions, Inc. and Elfin Frederick Vogel. The selected plays will be read on Mondays, June 11, and 18 respectively, at 7pm at The Roy Arias Theatre, 300 W. 43rd Street, 5th Floor, Studio 500, NYC. Admission is FREE but reservations are required: email TRUStaff1@gmail.com or call 212-714-7628.

Sundance Channel announced today that Aden Young (Killer Elite, The Tree) has been cast in the lead role of the highly anticipated original drama series RECTIFY.

City Theatre has announced four exciting, original plays set for MOMENTUM, the theatre's annual festival of new plays at different stages. Whether the theme is growing old or simply growing up, this selection of works in development engages with universal topics-familial obligation and love; the pursuit of fame; race and relationships; coming of age; and the ever-raging debate between science and religion.

City Theatre announces four exciting, original plays set for MOMENTUM, the theatre's annual festival of new plays at different stages. Whether the theme is growing old or simply growing up, this selection of works in development engages with universal topics-familial obligation and love; the pursuit of fame; race and relationships; coming of age; and the ever-raging debate between science and religion.

THE PROFIT OF CREATION, a new musical with book and lyrics by Charlie Sohne and music by Tim Rosser, will be presented to an industry audience on March 13 at 3 p.m. in the North Studio at Playwrights Horizons. The cast of the reading includes Lindsay Mendez (Godspell), Hunter Ryan Herdlicka (A Little Night Music), Colin Hanlon (Rent), Sean Dugan (Next Fall), Sally Wilfert (Make Me A Song) and Michael Winther (33 Variations). The reading will be directed by Obie Award-winning director Evan Yionoulis, music directed by Paul Staroba (Lucky Guy) and stage managed by Donald Butchko.

THE PROFIT OF CREATION, a new musical with book and lyrics by Charlie Sohne and music by Tim Rosser, will be presented to an industry audience on March 13 at 3 p.m. in the North Studio at Playwrights Horizons. The cast of the reading includes Lindsay Mendez (Godspell), Hunter Ryan Herdlicka (A Little Night Music), Colin Hanlon (Rent), Sean Dugan (Next Fall), Sally Wilfert (Make Me A Song) and Michael Winther (33 Variations). The reading will be directed by Obie Award-winning director Evan Yionoulis, music directed by Paul Staroba (Lucky Guy) and stage managed by Donald Butchko.

TADA! YOUTH THEATER has announced the production of THE HISTORY MYSTERY. Book by Janine Nina Trevens, music by Eric Rockwell, and lyrics by Margaret Rose, THE HISTORY MYSTERY will be directed by Janine Nina Trevens.