Lee Smith News

AIR FARCE, one of the most acclaimed homegrown comedy troupes, is turning 45. The Farce will be celebrating this landmark anniversary skewering the biggest news stories, events, people, and pop culture phenomena of the year with its longstanding year-end ritual AIR FARCE NEW YEAR'S EVE, premiering Monday, December 31 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC, with an encore broadcast later the same evening at 12:10 a.m. (12:40 NT).

Lakewood Theatre Company continues its 66th season of live theatre with Dial M for Murder, a bone-chilling thriller by Frederick Knott about a marriage gone wrong. When tennis player Tony Wendice discovers his rich wife's affair, he decides to have her taken out - for good. Made famous by Alfred Hitchcock's classic film adaptation, this psychological thriller will leave you on the edge of your seat.

Tony Award-nominated actress Jeanne Paulsen (The Kentucky Cycle) is regaling audiences in a charm-laden and intimate solo as Erma Bombeck in Arizona Theatre Company's production of AT WIT'S END, directed by Casey Stangl. Runs through December 2nd at Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix.

University Press of Kentucky author Carol Boggess has been named the recipient of a 2018 Kentucky History Award given by the Kentucky Historical Society for her book, James Still: A Life. The Kentucky History Awards recognize outstanding achievements by historians, public history professionals, volunteers, business and civic leaders, communities, and historical organizations throughout the Commonwealth, promoting the history of state and local history. The awards were presented at the Kentucky History Awards Ceremony on Friday, November 9, at the Old State Capitol in Frankfort.

Australians in Film announced an exciting lineup of presenters set to take the stage at the organization's 7th Annual Awards Gala, which will take place at Paramount Pictures Studio, on October 24th at 6pm. This year's roster includes social activist and Vanity Fair contributing editor Monica Lewinsky, actress and producer Amy Adams, producer, director and writer Simon Kinberg and industry executive, Debra Richards.

Critically acclaimed detective drama Frankie Drake Mysteries continues to enthrall viewers worldwide as Ovation, America's only arts network, signs U.S. broadcast rights to two seasons (21 x 60'). Ovation joins a host of international broadcasters that have signed the brand new second season - which debuts at MIPCOM 2018 as part of leading global distributor Kew Media Distribution's new drama slate.

Australians in Film (AiF) has announced the 2018 honorees for the Australians in Film Awards, an annual gala fundraising event celebrating Australian talent in the entertainment industry. This year's event will take place at Paramount Pictures Studios on October 24.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women and the statistics further reveal that African American women are disproportionately affected by breast cancer. According to Susan G. Komen Foundation, African-American women are almost 40 percent more likely to die of breast cancer than white women in the U.S. and in some cities, that number is as high as 74 percent*. Today, BET Networks announces its national, multi-platform call-to-action campaign, BET GOES PINK, dedicated to raising awareness, encouraging early detection and initiating dialogue about the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the black community. The Network's integrated approach includes BET Her's first original film “HER ONLY CHOICE”, the second annual “BET HER FIGHTS BREAST CANCER” hosted by comedian and talk show host Loni Love, original PSAs and more.

ReFrameTM (ReFrameProject.org), a coalition of industry professionals and partner companies founded In Film and Sundance Institute-whose mission is to increase the and IMDbPro (imdbpro.com/)- the essential information resource for the entertainment industry-announced today the second round of feature films that qualify for the ReFrame Stamp to recognize standout, gender-balanced films. The complete list of stamp recipients can be found at ReFrameProject.org/stamp and imdb.com/reframe. The ReFrame Stamp program launched on June 8, 2018 with the announcement of 12 films that earned the stamp out of 100 films surveyed. We then expanded the program by inviting studio and independent films that have secured U.S. domestic theatrical or streaming distribution to submit their films for stamp consideration.

Boston Court Pasadena presents the world premiere of Everything That Never Happened written by Sarah B. Mantell and directed by Jessica Kubzansky, September 27 - November 4 (press opening October 6).  The production stars Leo Marks (Shylock), Erika Soto (Jessica), Paul Culos (Lorenzo) and Dylan Saunders (Gobbo).

Town Hall presents Broadway Rising Stars, a national showcase that introduces New York audiences to the next generation of up-and-coming talent as chosen by a panel of discerning judges from among the most outstanding new graduates from schools such as the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, The American Musical and Dramatic Academy, CAP21, Circle in the Square Theatre School, Marymount Manhattan College, The New School, NYU's Steinhardt Department of Music and Performing Arts, NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and other acclaimed institutions. The 2018 Rising Stars is spearheaded by Scott Siegel, creator/writer/host of Town Hall's beloved Broadway by the Year series.

Town Hall presents Broadway Rising Stars, a national showcase that introduces New York audiences to the next generation of up-and-coming talent as chosen by a panel of discerning judges from among the most outstanding new graduates from schools such as the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, The American Musical and Dramatic Academy, CAP21, Circle in the Square Theatre School, Marymount Manhattan College, The New School, NYU's Steinhardt Department of Music and Performing Arts, NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and other acclaimed institutions. The 2018 Rising Stars is spearheaded by Scott Siegel, creator/writer/host of Town Hall's beloved Broadway by the Year series.

Audiences will set sail on the journey of a lifetime, complete with cutthroat pirates, a treasure map and a courageous boy entangled in a dangerous swashbuckling expedition, when Ken Ludwig's TREASURE ISLAND arrives at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park April 21. This epic theatrical adaptation runs through May 19 (Opening Night is April 26).

Audiences will set sail on the journey of a lifetime, complete with cutthroat pirates, a treasure map and a courageous boy entangled in a dangerous swashbuckling expedition, when Ken Ludwig's TREASURE ISLAND arrives at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park April 21. This epic theatrical adaptation runs through May 19 (Opening Night is April 26).

Playwright Amy Freed has always been a Shakespeare fan. Her breakout hit, The Beard of Avon (SCR-commissioned and premiered, 2001), was a smart, funny look at the controversy surrounding the authorship of Shakespeare's plays. Now comes SHREW! (March 24-April 21, Segerstrom Stage), in which Freed has re-imagined The Bard's play, The Taming of the Shrew, as a wickedly funny love story of two people who find their way to true, deep and mutual love. Art Manke directs SHREW!, which is an anchor production of the 2018 Pacific Playwrights Festival. Tickets are available at www.scr.org.

From the underground dance clubs of 1950's Memphis, Tennessee, comes the Tony and Olivier Award-winning musical that bursts off the stage with explosive dancing, irresistible songs and a thrilling tale of fame and forbidden love. Inspired by actual events, Memphis is about a white radio DJ who wants to change the world and a black club singer who is ready for her big break. Come along on their incredible journey to the ends of the airwaves - filled with laughter, soaring emotion and roof-raising rock 'n' roll. Winner of four 2010 Tony Awards including Best Musical and two 2015 Olivier Awards, Memphis features a Tony-winning book by Joe DiPietro and a Tony-winning original score with music by Bon Jovi founding member David Bryan. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 6th.

It's Hollywood's biggest night! Who will go home with Oscar gold tonight? It's anyone's guess!

It's almost Oscars time! Before you fill out your ballot, catch up on how this year's nominees have been doing throughout the 2018 awards season!

The Cinema Audio Society Award for Outstanding Sound Mixing Motion Picture - Live Action was presented to the sound mixing team from “Dunkirk” of Mark Weingarten CAS, Gregg Landaker, Gary Rizzo CAS, Alan Meyerson CAS, Thomas J. O'Connell and Scott Curtis.

Witty, enchanting, and joyously self-referential, the original film version of SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE fantasizes a story involving a young, virile William Shakespeare in his prime, who quells a bout of writer's block by secretly romancing an engaged lady named Viola---which apparently becomes the inspiration for the Bard's infamous star-crossed tragedy 'Romeo and Juliet.' The plot of the film remains fairly intact in Lee Hall's mostly delightful if slightly diluted stage adaptation, now continuing performances in a gorgeous-looking new regional production at Orange County's Tony Award-winning theater South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa through February 10, 2018. This spunky love letter to the theater is chockfull of stagecraft-insider amusements and fun-to-find Shakespearean Easter Eggs that both aficionados and casual fans will appreciate. But, shockingly, despite the spectacular production values and the beguiling, gusto-bathed performances of its large ensemble cast, this stage adaptation somehow loses some of the inescapable romanticism that is so much more prevalent in the original film.