Louella Parsons News

Now onstage at Brentwood's Towne Centre Theatre, Ludwig's Shakespeare in Hollywood (not to be confused with the musical Shakespeare in Love, which is based on an Oscar-winning film) once again takes audiences to 1934 to tell the story of the mirthful hijinks surrounding Austrian stage director Max Reinhardt's efforts to film an adaptation of his Hollywood Bowl production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Reinhardt's film treatment of the work is, perhaps, more critically acclaimed now than when it was first released back during the heady days of Hollywood's golden era and the director has been lauded with praise for his one and only film that starred several silver screen legends in roles that went creatively against type, presenting the actors with tremendous challenges.

Michael Oblowitz focuses on the torrid relationship of Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner in FRANK & AVA, and in so doing has also profiled a turbulent crossroads in American history. Featuring stunning performances by Rico Simonini and Emily Elicia Low. One of the features at this year's Sedona International Film Festival.

Arizona Broadway Theatre's thirteenth season as the Valley's leading producer of musical theatre begins on October 13 with the acclaimed Broadway hit Man of La Mancha, which will run through November 11.

Last summer, a group form the Ohio Humanities Council visited Piqua to consider it as one of their Ohio Chautauqua sites for 2017.  Unfortunately, they were not selected, but they did encourage the group to develop their own Chautauqua event.  Well, give folks from Piqua a challenge and they deliver.  So a dedicated committee officially began working on Piqua Chautauqua! The dates for this event will be September 19, 20 & 21, 2017 from 6 to 8 p.m. and will take place at Hance Pavilion, located in Fountain Park in Piqua.

Last summer, a group form the Ohio Humanities Council visited Piqua to consider it as one of their Ohio Chautauqua sites for 2017.  Unfortunately, they were not selected, but they did encourage the group to develop their own Chautauqua event.  Well, give folks from Piqua a challenge and they deliver.  So a dedicated committee officially began working on Piqua Chautauqua! The dates for this event will be September 19, 20 & 21, 2017 from 6 to 8 p.m. and will take place at Hance Pavilion, located in Fountain Park in Piqua.

After a successful workshop, Table 8 Productions and Velveteen Rabbit are excited to announce the return engagement of THE CAT'S MEOW.

In November 1924, a mysterious Hollywood death occurred aboard media mogul William Randolph Hearst's yacht. Included among the famous guests that weekend were Charlie Chaplin; Hearst's mistress, starlet Marion Davies; the studio system creator, producer Thomas Ince; and feared gossip columnist, Louella Parsons...

Truckin' on to the Barn Theatre stage is Rex Smith starring in HANDS ON A HARDBODY! Playing tonight, August 11, through August 23.

Truckin' on to the Barn Theatre stage is Rex Smith starring in HANDS ON A HARDBODY! Playing August 11 - 23.

Neo Ensemble Theatre's acclaimed witty and quirky comedy "Shakespeare In Hollywood," directed by Joe Ochman, will open April 10 for a six-week run at Studio Stage in Hollywood. Commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, and winner of The Helen Hayes Award for Best New Play of the Year, the play takes place in 1934.

Shakespeare is in Hollywood? Well, he certainly is in Augusta at the Barn Theatre today, June 10 - 22!

Shakespeare is in Hollywood? Well, he certainly is in Augusta at the Barn Theatre June 10 - 22!

Shakespeare is in Hollywood? Well, he certainly is in Augusta at the Barn Theatre June 10 - 22!

Theatre Southwest presents 'Shakespeare in Hollywood' by Ken Ludwig directed by Kathy Drum. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast below!

Theatre Southwest presents 'Shakespeare in Hollywood' by Ken Ludwig directed by Kathy Drum. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast below!

The York Theatre Company will present a developmental lab of two short operas, Mardi Gras and The Last Word both composed by Mildred Kayden. Directed by Bill Castellino and with music direction by Christopher McGovern, the 3-member company features Jason Mills, Rebecca Pitcher and Tom Souhrada. Performances are set for today, February 2 at 2:30pm & 8:00pm and February 3 at 2:30pm at The York Theatre Company in Saint Peter's (Entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue).

The York Theatre Company will present a developmental lab of two short operas, Mardi Gras and The Last Word both composed by Mildred Kayden. Directed by Bill Castellino and with music direction by Christopher McGovern, the 3-member company features Jason Mills, Rebecca Pitcher and Tom Souhrada. Performances are set for February 2 at 2:30pm & 8:00pm and February 3 at 2:30pm at The York Theatre Company in Saint Peter's (Entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue).

Wow! My first BroadwayWorld.com Blog! I had every intention to blog from the point of view of an average, 'normal' working actress in the throes of helping create a brand new Broadway show, thru rehearsals, previews and opening. Then, Hurricane Sandy (are we still calling it that- or is it 'SuperStorm Sandy'?) came, and I realize - there is no more 'normal' for all of us, at least not any time soon.

Chicago's St. Augustine College has announced that it is hosting a gala evening with a reception, dinner and dancing, today, October 6, 2012, at which a 'historic structures report/preservation and reuse plan' will be unveiled for its historic Essanay Studios buildings. These two structures, at 1333 and 1345 W. Argyle Street in Chicago, housed an early, influential motion picture studio from 1907-1917, and represent an important part of the history of the film industry in the United States.