Kirk Douglas News

In celebration of singer and actress Doris Day's 92nd birthday, Abby Books has published a commemorative movie posters book featuring posters from 20 of her best films. Titled 20 Doris Day Movie Posters, the mini-book includes full-sized posters on 8 x 10 pages from the Hollywood icon's following films: Romance on the High Seas (1948), her film debut. Young Man with a Horn (1950) opposite the legendary Kirk Douglas and Lauren Bacall. Lullaby of Broadway (1951), one of her best earliest films. On Moonlight Bay (1951), a musical with Gordon MacRae. Storm Warning (1951), a film noir thriller starring Ginger Rogers and Ronald Reagan. I'll See You in My Dreams (1952) opposite Danny Thomas, best known as the star of the TV series, Make Room for Daddy. By the Light of the Silvery Moon (1953), sequel to On Moonlight Bay (1951). Calamity Jane (1953), a lighthearted musical opposite Howard Keel. Love Me or Leave Me (1955), opposite the great James Cagney in a biographical romantic musical drama which tells the life story of Ruth Etting. Young at Heart (1955), a musical with legendary entertainer Frank Sinatra. Alfred Hitchcock's suspense thriller, The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), which won an Academy Award for Best Song for Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera), sung by Doris Day, which became her signature song. The Pajama Game (1957), based on the stage musical of the same name. Teacher's Pet (1958), romantic comedy opposite the iconic Clark Gable. Pillow Talk (1959), the first of three her memorable romantic comedies with Rock Hudson which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Midnight Lace (1960), a box office hit mystery thriller with Rex Harrison. Lover Come Back (1961), her second film, also a romantic comedy, with Hudson. That Touch of Mink (1962), a romantic comedy with the iconic Cary Grant. The Thrill of It All (1963), a romantic comedy with wry, handsome leading man James Garner. Move Over Darling (1964), a comedy film, her second with Garner. And, Send Me No Flowers (1964), her third film, a comedy, with Hudson. Day was one of the top box office and pop stars of the '50s and '60s, In all, she appeared in 39 feature films. The last film was 1968's With Six You Get Eggroll. 20 Doris Day Movie Posters is available from Abby Books at www.classicmovieposters.com. The book is 26 pages and sells for $12.95.

Rehearsals have begun for Samuel Beckett's classic ENDGAME, directed by one of Beckett's most renowned interpreters Alan Mandell at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre, April 24 through May 22, 2016. The opening is scheduled for May 1. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!

Steppenwolf's LookOut and Second City Theatricals have teamed up to re-create a staged-reading of the smash hit musical, "The People vs. Friar Laurence, the Man Who Killed Romeo and Juliet" as part of Shakespeare 400 Chicago on Saturday, June 25 and Sunday, June 26 at 8:00pm.  

Abby Books, publisher of more than 40 movie poster books starring Hollywood's legendary and iconic film stars, has opened an exclusive webstore to market its unique product line. Founded in 2014, Abby Books' popular full-color movie poster books feature such stars as Julie Andrews, Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Charlie Chaplin, Sean Connery, Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, Kirk Douglas, Harrison Ford, Judy Garland, Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, William Holden, Rock Hudson, Veronica Lake, Laurel & Hardy, Jerry Lewis, Marx Brothers, Marilyn Monroe, Paul Newman, Sidney Poitier, Elvis Presley, Randolph Scott, James Stewart, Elizabeth Taylor, Shirley Temple and John Wayne. The Indiana-based publisher also offers movie poster books on the films of famous private detectives, Sherlock Holmes and Charlie Chan, and great silent film western stars, as well as on such genres as silent films, sound westerns of 1930-1935, and film noir of the early 1940s. Each book is printed on 8 x 10 white paper. Page lengths and quantity of movie posters included vary by book. Authors of most of the series of books are Greg and Jake Lenburg. Greg Lenburg is best known for the best-selling book, The Three Stooges Scrapbook-Updated Edition. He is also Abby Books' founder. Jake Lenburg is author of the Great Silent Comedians Movie Poster Book, Charlie Chaplin Movie Poster Book, Great Silent Comedians Poster Art Book and Great Silent Comedians Movie Poster Book - Revised Edition. Abby Books new webstore is at www.classicmovieposterbooks.com.

The Public Theater presents the New York premiere of HEAD OF PASSES, written by TarellAlvin McCraney and directed by Tina Landau. Part of Oskar Eustis' 10th anniversary season, HEAD OF PASSES officially opens tonight, March 28, in the Newman Theater and runs through Sunday, April 17, 2016.

Launched as a 99-seat production at the Lillian Theatre, where it played to SRO houses and critical acclaim including a Los Angeles Times "Critic's Choice" review, Recorded in Hollywood, the new musical chronicling the story of black businessman, record label owner and music producer John Dolphin, will receive a commercial run as a guest production at the 317-seat Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City.

 Jami Gertz in Association with Homeboy Industries and The Rosenthal Theater at Inner-City Arts are thrilled to present the world premiere of a new play with music, FIGHTING SHADOWS, co-written and performed by 2015 Emmy nominee Richard Cabral ("American Crime"), with musical collaboration by Rocio Mendoza and directed and co-written by Robert Egan.  FIGHTING SHADOWS will preview on Friday, April 15 at 8pm and will open on Saturday, April 16 at 7pm and run through Sunday, May 8 at the Rosenthal Theater at Inner City Arts, 720 Kohler Street in Los Angeles, 90021.

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle named the multi-nominated Hit the Wall and Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles as 2015's Outstanding Productions at the organization's 47th annual awards event, held on Monday evening, March 14 at the Moss Theatre of New Roads School in Santa Monica.

The Public Theater presents the New York premiere of HEAD OF PASSES, written by TarellAlvin McCraney and directed by Tina Landau. Part of Oskar Eustis' 10th anniversary season, HEAD OF PASSES begins previews tonight, March 17, in the Newman Theater and runs through Sunday, April 17, with an official press opening on Monday, March 28.

The West Coast premiere of Sheila Callaghan's madcap new play WOMEN LAUGHING ALONE WITH SALAD opened Sunday, March 13, 2016, at 6:30 p.m. at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre. Directed by Neel Keller, with musical staging by Ken Roht, performances for WOMEN LAUGHING ALONE WITH SALAD continue through April 3. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening festivities below!

The battle between the sexes has always been a favorite topic for all types of literary works. With the onslaught in today's media of how women should look to attract men rather than being true to who they really are, playwright Sheila Callaghan has taken a very personal stand in her madcap new play WOMEN LAUGHING ALONE WITH SALAD, now presented in its West Coast premiere at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. Directed by Neel Keller, with musical staging by Ken Roht, performances continue through April 3. The gender-bending cast includes Lisa Banes, Nora Kirkpatrick, David Clayton Rogers and Dinora Z. Walcott, all of whom plays both female and male characters!

Victory Gardens Theater announces casting for the next show of its 41st season, the world premiere of Hillary and Clinton by Lucas Hnath, directed by Artistic Director Chay Yew. Hillary and Clinton runs April 1 - May 1, 2016, with the press performance on Friday, April 8, 2016, at 7:30 pm at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Marin Theatre Company's artistic director Jasson Minadakis and managing director Michael Barker are thrilled to announce the 50th anniversary season for the North Bay's leading non-profit professional theatre.

The West Coast premiere of Sheila Callaghan's madcap new play "Women Laughing Alone With Salad" opens Sunday, March 13, 2016, at 6:30 p.m. at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre. Directed by Neel Keller, with musical staging by Ken Roht, performances for "Women Laughing Alone With Salad" continue through April 3. (Previews began on March 6.)

Peggy King, one of the last of the great Golden Age singers still performing today, will return to Feinstein's/54 Below for a special appearance on Saturday, March 5 at 9:30 PM, accompanied by the acclaimed All-Star Jazz Trio.  She will be celebrating the release of her first new recording in 36 years, "Songs a La King" on Fresh Sound Records.

Further casting has been announced for Samuel Beckett's masterful ENDGAME, directed by one of Beckett's most celebrated interpreters Alan Mandell at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre, April 24 through May 22, 2016. The opening is scheduled for May 1.

?Gallery Players announces the much anticipated production of the award-winning play, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest based on the novel by Ken Kesey, and adapted for the stage by Dale Wasserman.  Cuckoo's Nest continues Gallery's 49th Season of operation.  This production will be directed by Mark Harborth, with an opening night on March 12th at 8:00 pm.      

Abingdon Theatre Company continues its Master Class Series with THE STORY WORKSHOP, a three-day intensive workshop with award-winning  writer and actor James Lecesne, whose work includes the Off-Broadway hits The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey and Word of Mouth. The master class is set for March 18-20 at Abingdon Theatre Company (312 West 36th Street).

Robert Falls' and Seth Bockley's world premiere adaptation of Roberto Bolaño's famed novel, 2666, which has received extraordinary audience enthusiasm during previews, officially opens tonight, February 16, 2016.

Robert Falls' and Seth Bockley's world premiere adaptation of Roberto Bolaño's famed novel, 2666-which has received extraordinary audience enthusiasm during previews and officially opens tomorrow, February 16-has been extended. Four additional performances include March 17, 18 and 19 at 6:30pm and March 20 at 1pm. The 15-member all-Chicago ensemble cast remains unchanged during the added performances.