Kevin Anderson News

The T.R.U.T.H Project (Telling Real Unapologetic Truths through Healing) commemorates National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) themed: I am my Brother/Sister's Keeper: Fight HIV/AIDS with a community discussion and artistic performance emphasizing mental health, Tuesday, February 7, 2017, 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Montrose Center 401 Branard St, Houston, TX 77006.  

When Russ Katz heard the story a hair stylist in his building was telling about her life in Vietnam and how she came to the United States, it stuck with him. Eventually he decided the world needed to hear her story, and the result is 'The Principal's Daughter,' based on Tran Lê Kim Tuyen's life. Katz's book has earned the Dog Ear Publishing Award of Literary Excellence - and has led to at least one unexpected reunion. Katz couldn't be more thrilled. 'I was excited to hear about the award of excellence,' he said. 'I immediately told everyone around me at the time. To think that something I wrote could even be considered - it made my day.' Dog Ear Publishing's editorial team determines award winners, with the managing editor, editorial services manager and the publisher reviewing its recommendations. Winning books include the award logo on their covers. Although Katz is happy about the award, it's a reunion that took place as a result of his research that makes him most proud. 'While telling me the story, Kim had remembered the soldier's name her family was friendly with (in Vietnam). It wasn't a common name, so later that day I did a little research and found him living just two hours away.' Nearly a year later, Kim and her sister Joanna met for dinner with that soldier, Robert Toporek. 'I learned the soldier had spent considerable time looking for Kim's sister (who had moved to America before the war ended) and she for him as well,' Katz said. 'The looks on their faces when they saw each other after 40 years was priceless.' 'The Principal's Daughter: Based on the True Story of Tran Lê Kim Tuyen' describes Kim's life starting as a happy 10-year-old playing among trees. When the Viet Cong marched just 100 meters from her home near Saigon and began attacking the nearby U.S. Army base, her life changed forever. She and her family spent that night in 1968 huddled in a makeshift cellar, fearing for their lives when their home was caught in the crossfire. 'While Kim was cutting my hair, she started telling me about where she was from and how she came to the United States. Her daring boat escape, being fired upon and thrown in jail. This story rang through my head in so many different scenarios I couldn't stop thinking about it,' Katz said. 'Although the Vietnam War has been a source of controversy for many decades, I don't think people really understand why the war began in the first place. Although I didn't go into this in much detail, I hope people could see the beautiful place Vietnam was before the war and the impact it had on them after it ended. Hollywood only tells the stories of the soldiers, but what about the people the soldiers went to try to protect, what happened to all of them?' Dog Ear editor Leslie Wilhelm Hatch writes that the book gives a view of Vietnam that probably few people have thought about. 'Russ Katz's story telling style is very approachable - it's very emotional, but not overly so - he lets the facts and the people tell their story without bias or political overtones. The fact that the story is true makes it even stronger. Katz is able to share a lot about Vietnamese culture, growing up in Vietnam, the war itself (how it affected the characters), the country's customs, and the workings of Communism. He shares all this in the context of the story - so not only was I entertained and enthralled, but I learned a lot as well.' 'This manuscript tells an extraordinary story, a story that deserves to be told to as many people as want to know about it,' writes Terry Hummer, editor and publishing consultant with Kevin Anderson & Associates. 'The material is rich, the characters are vivid, and the narrative itself is riveting and moving. I don't think I've ever read a piece of prose that so galvanized my attention. Whatever you do with this, keep Kim's spirit alive. She is a Personage. You are lucky to know her. I am lucky to know something about her now.' Kirkus Reviews describe the book as 'an absorbing taste of the everyday in a place that that was the victim of superpower geopolitics. ... An important contribution to primary-source oral histories of Vietnamese people.' The author finds it funny he would choose to write a book, much less a second book. (His first was 'Evolution,' a science fiction novel published in 2012.) 'I was never good at reading or writing in school; it was my weakest subject,' he said. 'I never found joy in reading until just recently, really just the past year or two. It is somewhat a love-hate relationship. I love the finished product and just how the accomplishment makes me feel.' Katz has set up monthly promotions for 'The Principal's Daughter' through BookDaily.com and plans to do more marketing. Katz, who grew up in East Brunswick, N.J., lives in Fairfax, Va. For additional information, please visit www.RussKatz.com The Principal's Daughter: Based on the True Story of Tran Lê Kim Tuyen Russ Katz Dog Ear Publishing ISBN: 978-1-4575-4892-5 304 pages $15.95 US Available at Ingram, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and fine bookstores everywhere.

The T.R.U.T.H Project (Telling Real Unapologetic Truths through Healing) kicks off its 2nd annual fundraiser entitled: We Are Gold, Saturday, October 22, 2016, 4:00p.m. - 7:00p.m. Zimm's Martini & Wine Bar 4321 Montrose Blvd, Houston, TX 77006   "The growth and impact we have in the community is still very surreal to me," says Founder Kevin Anderson. "It's humbling to have the support of artists and healthcare providers who understand the vision for using the arts as a tool for healing through information, education, and access to resources."   This year's fundraiser will include a montage of video clips from previous installments and live demonstrations of spoken word, live music, and visual art to showcase how the T.R.U.T.H. Project connects art and health.  

Today Broadway World talks to Kevin Anderson, the CEO and founder of The T.R.U.T.H. Project, Inc., about their latest show RISE ABOVE: A STORY OF HOPE, the goals of The T.R.U.T.H. Project, and the limits of art.

The T.R.U.T.H Project (Telling Real Unapologetic Truths through Healing) presents 'Rise Above: A Story of Hope,' an artistic performance about surviving abuse with two free shows Today, September 10, 2016, 3:30p.m. and 7:30p.m at MATCH 3400 Main St. Houston, TX 77006.

The T.R.U.T.H Project (Telling Real Unapologetic Truths through Healing) hosts community discussion with local artists about art and activism entitled: ARTivismThursday, July 28, 2016, 6:30p.m. - 8:30p.m. 401 Branard St. Houston, TX 77006.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and members of the Chicago City Council today  honored Steppenwolf Theatre Company's 40th Anniversary, recognizing the organization for its invaluable artistic contributions to Chicago. Additionally, in a separate resolution, Mayor Emanuel and the City Council paid special tribute to former Steppenwolf artistic director Martha Lavey on her two decades of transformational leadership from 1995 to 2015.

? Steppenwolf Theatre Company will to welcome Sandra Marquez and Caroline Neff to its world-renowned ensemble. Both have performed in multiple shows with the company and can currently be seen on Steppenwolf's stages in Mary Page Marlowe and The Flick respectively. Marquez and Neff are the first two members added under Artistic Director Anna D. Shapiro.

The T.R.U.T.H Project (Telling Real Unapologetic Truths through Healing) hosts encore presentation of Dear HIV/ AIDS, an artistic collaboration about the human side of HIV/ AIDS and stigma, Sunday, February 27, 2016, 6:00p.m. at MATCH (Midtown Arts and Theatre Center Houston) 3400 Main St. Houston, TX 77002.

The Human Race launches its 2015-2016 Eichelberger Loft Season with the smash hit THE FULL MONTY: THE BROADWAY MUSICAL. With a book by Tony Award winnerTerrence McNally and music and lyrics by Drama Desk Award winner David Yazbek, the hilarious and heartwarming story follows six unemployed Buffalo steelworkers who, in need of quick cash and low on prospects, come up with the outrageous idea to put on a strip act after seeing the local women's wild enthusiasm for touring Chippendales dancers. Opening night is tomorrow, September 11. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

The global hit musical Sunset Boulevard based on the Billy Wilder film of the same name featuring music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Lyrics by Christopher Hampton and Don Black will run at the Bridewell Theatre on Fleet Street, central London from 6 to 12 October in a brand new production. NODA affiliated companies have been able to perform the musical for the first time in 2015, and Geoids Musical Theatre have been awarded the only license in central London.

The Human Race proudly launches its 2015-2016 Eichelberger Loft Season with the smash hit The Full Monty: The Broadway Musical. With a book by Tony Award winner Terrence McNally and music and lyrics by Drama Desk Award winner David Yazbek, the hilarious and heartwarming story follows six unemployed Buffalo steelworkers who, in need of quick cash and low on prospects, come up with the outrageous idea to put on a strip act after seeing the local women's wild enthusiasm for touring Chippendales dancers.

To celebrate the conclusion of its 40th Anniversary Season, Illusion Theater is excited to present a concert version of its beloved musical, ALWAYS AND FOREVER, for four performances only, September 24-27, at its downtown Minneapolis theater, located on the eighth floor of the Cowles Center, 528 Hennepin Ave.

The Human Race completes its 28th season of producing professional theatre for the Miami Valley with actress/playwright Regina Taylor's hit Crowns. Based on Michael Cunningham and Craig Marberry's book by same name, the play begins as troubled Brooklyn teenager Yolanda is sent to live with her church-going grandmother down South after the death of her brother. There she finds healing in the personal stories of the ladies of the congregation and the hats that adorn their heads. Through time and space, their intimate histories create a soulful, joyous triumph of song, dance, culture and glorious 'hattitude' in this powerhouse gospel musical like no other. The Human Race Theatre Company's production runs June 11 - 28, 2015 at The Loft Theatre. It is co-directed by Dayton Contemporary Dance Company Artistic Director Debbie Blunden-Diggs, who also serves as choreographer, and Human Race Theatre Founding Resident Artist Scott Stoney. Resident Artist Scot Woolley is the musical director.

After seeing the new INTO THE WOODS movie twice over the holidays, I posted on Twitter about how two of the songs had stuck with me. After a tweet conversation, my BWW colleague Jeff Walker and I decided to put our heads together to try and come up with a list of Sondheim's most hummable tunes. Despite not discussing it beforehand, Jeff ended up picking songs from the 1960s and 70s, and I filled in the gaps with numbers from the 80s and 90s.

Knife Thrower's Assistance is set for the Cutting Room, Friday, February 7th, doors at 9:30pm Show at 10pm. Tickets: $15 Advanced $20 Day of the show. The Cutting Room is located at 44 East 32nd Street.