Mark Twain News

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will present the 20th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor to David Letterman on Sunday, October 22, 2017 in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. The Prize, which is named to honor one of the world's greatest humorists, will be given at a gala performance featuring some of the biggest names in comedy.

Blue Panther Productions presents award winning humorist Dylan Brody in his new solo show Dylan Brody's Driving Hollywood coming to London's Canal Cafe Theatre June 9 thru 17. Nancy Carlin directs. The show's international tour which debuted at Chicago's Apollo Theater at the beginning of May will continue at Barcelona's Teatro Tinta Roja thru May 27 and move to New York in July at The PIT Underground following the London run.

TRH Productions will present Natalie Dormer and David Oakes in the West End premiere of David Ives' hit Broadway play Venus in Fur this autumn for a strictly limited nine week engagement at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. This critically-acclaimed two-hander will run from 6 October to 9 December with opening night for press on 17 October.

Centenary Stage Company's Young Performers work tirelessly to perfect their dance moves, learn all of their lines, and get their vocal harmonies just right for the culmination of their training session and this spring is no exception. These talented young thespians between the ages of 8 and 18 fill the Little Theater with musical theatre favorites for their annual Spring Festival of Shows May 26 through June 4.   Hailed as a "state treasure" by Peter Filichia of the Star Ledger and bringing in youth from Morris, Warren, Hunterdon and Sussex counties, Centenary Stage Company's Young Performance Workshop is one of the few young actor training programs in the country that combines formal training with practical application.

Fringe Management (Michael Blaha) and Combined Artform (Matthew Quinn) proudly present a new play, PLEDGE, by Paul Shoulberg ('Synthesis', 'Walter'), directed by Stan Zimmerman ('Meet and Greet', 'Yes, Virginia'). 

Thanks to a $4,000 grant  from the Lincoln Financial Foundation, Pontine Theatre is presenting scenes from its original staging of The Story of a Bad Boy at assisted living communities and senior centers throughout New Hampshire.

Recipient of the Mark Twain Award for Comic Playwriting from the Kennedy Center, the show has garnered a 'TOP TEN" spot from Stage Raw critics and is now 'Ovation Recommended."

Hartford Stage and The Mark Twain House & Museum will co-host a free discussion, From Avarice to Apathy - An Exploration of the Political Satire of George Bernard Shaw and Mark Twain, on Monday, May 15, at 7:30 p.m.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater's 2017/18 Season is filled with timeless classics, award-winning contemporary works and full-scale musicals spanning 13 productions in four theaters. While casting is heavily underway for all shows, here is a first glimpse into what audiences can look forward to next season.  Complete casting and creative teams to be announced soon.

The 9th American Natya Festival (ANF) will be celebrated in conjunction with World Dance Day in St. Louis, April 28-30 at Clayton High School's Auditorium. ANF is the only Indian dance drama festival in the United States and is organized by St. Louis-based Soorya Performing Arts. The festival's director, Guru Prasanna Kasthuri, enjoys the efforts to make this dream happen each year, allowing the opportunity to perform and project their ideas beyond the city of St. Louis. "It's a challenge to invite groups of dance drama troupes from across the country to a city of our size. Yet we believe in the art-loving nature of the Indian community and feel they will support this unique venture".

Paper Mill Playhouse, recipient of the 2016 Regional Theatre Tony Award, has announced casting for the hit Broadway musical Mary Poppins based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney Film with original music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, book by Julian Fellowes, new songs and additional music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, and co-created by Cameron Mackintosh. Bank of America is the Major Sponsor of Mary Poppins.

Meanwhile, you can cast your eyes toward today's photogenic cover models, the lovely and talented Cooper and his human, Nashville actress/designer Ashley Wolfe - both of them are pretty swell, in our estimation (even deserving of a Tony Award), and while we worry about them taking selfies while driving and while catching up on the theatrical news every morning, we are assured they were at a full stop when this photo was snapped. In fact, according to the human member of the duo she hadn't yet turned her key to the on position.

Once again, Custom Made Theatre brings a Kurt Vonnegut novel to the stage with the world premiere of Brian Katz's adaptation of Vonnegut's third and highly celebrated novel, Mother Night.

The 29th Annual Colleagues Spring Luncheon and Oscar de la Renta will present award-winning actress and best-selling author Carol Burnett with The Colleagues Champion of Children Award, which honors those who have made a lasting impact on the lives of children.

Laguna Playhouse is thrilled to announce the fifth show in the Laguna Playhouse 2016-2017 season, a world premiere musical KING OF THE ROAD: THE ROGER MILLER STORY, written by Cort Casady & Mary Arnold Miller, music by Roger Miller, musical direction by Omar D. Brancato and directed by Andrew Barnicle.

A Mark Twain classic with a theatrical twist is New Britain Youth Theater's next production on stage.

Today Michael Gennaro, Goodspeed's Executive Director, announced the six sensational shows set for next season. Gennaro explained, '2017 is going to be an exciting year at Goodspeed.  We're producing a classic musical comedy, bold new musicals, a completely reinvented musical from some of the finest creative minds in musical theatre and holiday show for all ages.  Goodspeed's rich history is filled with spectacular seasons, and this is one that will stand out.  Our audiences expect only the best from Goodspeed, and we plan to give them exactly what they want: interesting, entertaining and inspiring stories along with plenty of song and dance.'

A new collaboration between actor Bill Murray and cellist Jan Vogler comes to Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage on Monday, October 16, 2017 at 8pm, presented by Dorn Music.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater has named Associate Artist May Adrales as a new Associate Artistic Director for the 2017/18 Season beginning this Fall.