Ken Russell News

JJJ Productions in Association with Culture Project and Aaron Grant Theatrical, Inc have announced that the world premiere of THE ANTHEM, an original musical lovingly inspired by the classic Ayn Rand Novella, 'Anthem', with a book by Gary Morgenstein, music by Jonnie Rockwell and lyrics by Erik Ransom will begin previews on Tuesday, May 20, 2014, Off-Broadway at Culture Project's Lynn Redgrave Theatre on 45 Bleecker Street. This musical helmed by Rachel Klein officially opens on Thursday, May 29, 2014. Spiderman's JASON GOTAY, Spring Awakening's REMY ZAKEN and RANDY JONES of The Village People lead a cast of theatrical favorites in this rollicking sci-fi musical, featuring an expansive aerial and circus environment, about a revolt of the young against an evil state.

The Laguna Playhouse Executive and Artistic Directors, Karen Wood and Ann E. Wareham are thrilled to present screen legend Leslie Caron, in her first Southern California theatrical performance in over 25 years! SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS, written by Richard Alfieri, with choreography by Donna McKechnie (A Chorus Line) and directed by Michael Arabian (Waiting for Godot). SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS will also feature 6-time Ovation Award-winning actor David Engel. "What an honor to have on our stage the incomparable Leslie Caron and the multi-talented David Engel," remarks Wood. "It's a dream cast and a dream come true. With Michael Arabian and Donna McKechnie directing and choreographing, this has to be one of the most anticipated productions in the Playhouse's storied history,' adds Wareham. SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS will begin previews on Saturday, April 26 and will open on Saturday, May 3 at 7:30pm and run through Sunday, June 8, 2014 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

John Corigliano, the celebrated Oscar-, Pulitzer-, and Grammy-winner and one of the most honored and often-performed American composers of the last quarter-century, who has worked with everyone from Leonard Bernstein and Yo-Yo Ma to film directors Ken Russell and Francois Girard. Plus the Music from Copland House ensemble with acclaimed soprano Amy Burton.

The Laguna Playhouse is thrilled to present film great Leslie Caron (An American In Paris, Gigi, Fanny) in a comic and heartfelt valentine to the human condition, SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS, written by Richard Alfieri and directed by Michael Arabian (Waiting for Godot). Additional exciting casting news to be announced shortly! SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS will begin previews tonight, November 26 and will open on Saturday, December 7 at 7:30pm and run through Sunday, December 29, 2013 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

John Corigliano, the celebrated Oscar-, Pulitzer-, and Grammy-winner and one of the most honored and often-performed American composers of the last quarter-century, who has worked with everyone from Leonard Bernstein and Yo-Yo Ma to film directors Ken Russell and Francois Girard. Plus the Music from Copland House ensemble with acclaimed soprano Amy Burton.

Gemini CollisionWorks and The Brick Theater, Inc. will present Purchase on November 11 - 23, 2013. The show is written, designed, and directed by Ian W. Hill and assisted by Berit Johnson. It will be performed by Alyssa Simon and Anna Stefanic.

Oscar and three-time Tony Award-winner Tony Walton will receive the Mike and Dianne Bowman Lifetime Achievement award at Texas State University this fall and will hold the title of Artist-in-Residence for the 2013-2014 season, as part of the Bowman Guest Artist Series.

The producers of Tennessee Williams' The Two-Character Play starring Tony Award winner Amanda Plummer (Agnes of God, Pulp Fiction,Hunger Games: Catching Fire) and Academy Award nominee Brad Dourif (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Deadwood), now playing throughSeptember 29th at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street), are pleased to welcome Rob Sedgwick and Elize (Lisi) Russell to the company. The pair will perform the roles usually played by Mr. Dourif and Ms. Plummer at the Monday, September 9 and Wednesday, September 11 (matinee & evening) performances, while Mr. Dourif is out of town attending a funeral of a close relative who recently passed away.

The Laguna Playhouse is thrilled to present film great Leslie Caron (An American In Paris, Gigi, Fanny) in a comic and heartfelt valentine to the human condition, SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS, written by Richard Alfieri and directed by Michael Arabian (Waiting for Godot). Additional exciting casting news to be announced shortly! SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS will begin previews on Tuesday, November 26 and will open on Saturday, December 7 at 7:30pm and run through Sunday, December 29, 2013 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

Surflight Theatre, under the leadership of Executive Director Ken Myers presents the 1920s musical comedy The Boy Friend, from May 25 through June 16. Check out a first look at the cast in action, below!

Screen Actors Guild Foundation and Broadway World have partnered for an inaugural filmed Conversations Q&A series to recognize and celebrate the vibrant theatre community in New York City and the union actors who aspire to have a career on the stage and screen. The most recent event was a two hour career conversation with 2013 Tony nominee Keith Carradine moderated by Broadway World's own Richard Ridge, and you can check out highlights from the discussion below!

Ramping up the excitement for the new Stratford Festival revival production of The Who's seminal rock opera TOMMY even more, festivities are just coming to a close for Pinballapalooza - an attempt to break the world record for simultaneous pinball play.

Expanding on its popular 'Movie Music' programs that feature live orchestration of film scene scores, Chicago's new art music leader, Fulcrum Point New Music Project, with a 100-member orchestra, presents the complete film score and screening of the 1980 science fiction classic, Altered States. The live score performance is part of a citywide, four-day 'Forever Young' festival celebrating the 75th birthday of modern master composer John Corigliano. Fulcrum Point presents Altered States in one performance only at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Street, tonight, April 23 at 7 pm.

Expanding on its popular 'Movie Music' programs that feature live orchestration of film scene scores, Chicago's new art music leader, Fulcrum Point New Music Project, with a 100-member orchestra, presents the complete film score and screening of the 1980 science fiction classic, Altered States. The live score performance is part of a citywide, four-day 'Forever Young' festival celebrating the 75th birthday of modern master composer John Corigliano. Fulcrum Point presents Altered States in one performance only at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Street, Tuesday, April 23 at 7 pm.

Marking its 15th Anniversary this year, Chicago's Fulcrum Point New Music Project has grown into a critically acclaimed ensemble performing adventurous contemporary classical music programs in a variety of Chicago area venues. In 2013, Fulcrum Point continues this tradition with a wide ranging season including a performance with 100-member orchestra of the John Corigliano film score, 'Altered States,' accompanying the film screening, April 23, in honor of the composer's 75th birthday year, along with presenting a free Concert for Peace in the Pritzker Pavillion at Millennium Park with special guest artists, sarod virtuoso Soumik Datta and the Chicago Children's Choir, September 11.

Today we are talking to the proud "Pope Of Trash" himself - the iconic writer/director of such seminal cinematic entries as cult classics PINK FLAMINGOS, FEMALE TROUBLE, DESPERATE LIVING, HAIRSPRAY, CRY BABY, SERIAL MOM, CECIL B. DEMENTED, A DIRTY SHAME and many more - the one and only John Waters. Packing a characteristically caustic conversation into a relatively brief time slot was no trouble for Waters, for he and I cover a wide range of topics, from his favorite 2012 films to his all-time favorite movie musicals and much more. Most importantly, Waters discusses his process in adapting the hit Tony Award-winning stage property HAIRSPRAY into concert form and what we can expect from his newly-penned narration and role as narrator in the live Baltimore Symphony Orchestra presentation of HAIRSPRAY: IN CONCERT on January 24. Additionally, Waters expounds on his experiences creating the original HAIRSPRAY film and how it compares to both its musical sister, as well as the hit 2007 feature film adaptation of it (in which he makes a cameo appearance as - what else? - "the flasher who lives next door"). Plus, Waters opens up about the plot and themes of HAIRSPRAY 2: WHITE LIPSTICK, a project he was commissioned to create a few years ago as a new film project but which is currently on hold indefinitely. All of that, filming the remarkable 2012 horror film EXCISION, memories of the recently deceased Patti Page and the unforgettable use of the Bob Merrill pop earworm "How Much Is That Doggie In The Window" at the grand finale of PINK FLAMINGOS, an update on his children's film project, FRUITCAKE, as well as details about his new book and what we can expect from Waters in 2013 insofar as personal speaking engagements go - and, how Justin Bieber is the new Shirley Temple. All of that and much, much more awaits!

As a super-special companion column to this week's extensive InDepth InterView with nine-time Tony Award-winning performer/choreographer/director Tommy Tune, please enjoy this selection of the most pertinent and eye-popping moments from Tune's tremendous career, covering many of his best-loved and most fondly remembered musicals to date - among them: THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS, NINE, GRAND HOTEL, MY ONE & ONLY, THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES and more!

Today we are thrilled to be talking to a nine-time Tony Award-winning performer/director/choreographer all about his illustrious career onstage and behind the scenes working on classic musicals such as THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS, NINE, GRAND HOTEL, THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES and many more as well as all about his new solo piece premiering at Feinstein's At Loews Regency this weekend - the one and only Tommy Tune. Taking a look back at his near-peerless legacy as the top director of the 1980s and 1990s on Broadway, Tune imparts his candid insights about show business and reflects upon many aspects of the aforementioned hit shows - from their inception and creation to their critical and public reception and their ultimate legacy - as well as shares stories about his time as a performer, both then and now, with the star-studded tales cumulatively involving such legendary luminaries as Gene Kelly, Barbra Streisand, Michael Bennett, Hal Prince, Maury Yeston, Ken Russell, Jane Krakowski, Sutton Foster and many more. Plus, Tune gives us an enticing glimpse of his new Feintein's At The Regency showcase, TAPS, TUNES AND TALL TALES, playing November 18-26, and casts his sights on the future, near and far, and discusses the types of projects he would like to tackle next - including, first up, finding the perfect NYC location for his environmental new theatre piece, 54. All of that, tons of taps, top hats and tails and much, much more!