Mark Twain News

After a highly successful sold out run at the St. Lou Fringe Festival in June, Highly Distracted Productions is presenting three encore performances of ASPBERGER'S: A HIGH-FUNCTIONING MUSICAL on August 16 and 17 at 8 p.m. and Sunday August 18 at 2 p.m. at the Clayton High School Little Theatre, 2 Mark Twain, Circle, Clayton MO.

WaterTower Theatre Producing Artistic Director Terry Martin has announced the co-production of Red Hot Patriot: the Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins with Stage West, running August 18 -September 29, 2013 in the Studio Theatre at the Addison Theatre Centre. Georgia Clinton reprises her performance as the well-known Texas journalist Molly Ivins.

COMEDY CENTRAL announces its BEST BETS for week of August 4th.

In the wake of critical raves and sold-out houses, Pointless Theatre is proud to announce a remount of "Mark Twain's Riverboat Extravaganza", their production for the 2013 Capital Fringe Festival. Described by MD Theatre Guide as the "down-homiest, eye-catchiest, gee-whizziest show in the Fringe" and named an Editor's Pick by the Washington Post. "Riverboat" is a vaudevillian ride through America's tallest tales hosted by Mark Twain and performed by his iconic characters.

Cambridge House of Maryville, a BMA affordable assisted living community will host a Mark Twain presentation at 2 p.m. today, July 31.

Cambridge House of Maryville, a BMA affordable assisted living community will host a Mark Twain presentation at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31.

La Jolla Playhouse, in association with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, has announced casting for its re-imagining of Henry Krieger (music) and Bill Russell's (book and lyrics) Side Show, produced in association with the Kennedy Center. Helmed by Academy Award-winning director Bill Condon and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast, the production will run in the Playhouse's Mandell Weiss Theatre November 5 - December 15, 2013 and will run in the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater June 14 - July 13, 2014. Tickets for the Playhouse run go on sale September 8 and are available atLaJollaPlayhouse.org or by calling Patron Services at (858) 550-1010.

Scheduled for January 13th through 26th, 2014, The Gilded Age Festival is a collection of new plays celebrating the spirit of work and spirit of the Gilded Age: America from 1875 to 1901. Works adapted from, inspired by, relating to prominent authors' and leaders' works, lives, and spirit are all welcome.

Continuing its 165-year history of offering the Best, the Only and the Unexpected, Hammacher Schlemmer introduces The 100 Greatest Classics Audio Book, a palm-size device that plays 100 of the greatest works of literature, already stored on the device.

The Pasadena Playhouse announced today that it will present Val Kilmer in CITIZEN TWAIN for a five-show limited engagement. Val Kilmer, famous for his portrayals of iconic characters such as Jim Morrison (The Doors), Doc Holliday (Tombstone) and Batman (Batman Forever), inhabits the spirit of yet another legendary figure: Mark Twain. Kilmer continues to develop CITIZEN TWAIN, a solo show about the man considered to be the world's greatest storyteller, with this five performance extension at The Playhouse, August 21 - 24, 2013. The production continues through Sunday, July 28 at the Kirk Douglas Theatre.

As it was first published as a novel by L.M. Montgomery in 1908, "Anne of Green Gables" has long established its place of the shelf of classic literature. Even Mark Twain fell in love with the fiery lead character of 11 year old Anne Shirley, calling her, "the dearest and most lovable child in fiction since the immortal Alice". Shots in the Dark Independent Theatre Company opened its ambitious production of the musical version at the Columbus Performing Arts Center (CPAC)'s Van Fleet Theater for a two week run last evening.

Iconic funny man Bill Cosby, who has been making audiences laugh for decades with his keen insight into everyday existence, brings his signature comedy back to the Treasure Island Theatre tonight, July 19 at 8 p.m.

I recently caught up with Joe Bishara, who while currently performing as a featured actor in the sell-out production of CATCO's "Forbidden Broadway's Greatest Hits: Vol. 1" down at the Riffe Center, is also the Associate Producing Director of CATCO. Bishara manages the day-to-day operations of the Columbus Performing Arts Center (CPAC) at 548 Franklin Ave as well, which is home to amongst many other projects, the ever-expanding CATCO Is Kids program. There is still some miscommunication out there as to what Catco Is Kids is about and what you offer. Can you clear that up for anyone who may still be confused, please? "In early 2010, CATCO merged with Steven C. Anderson's children's theatre group, The Phoenix Theatre for Children, creating our current evolution entitled CATCO is Kids. This new moniker allows us to bundle ourselves into a single brand. It's still the same imaginative and captivating programming." As of this Fall, the CATCO IS Kids school-year, weekend children's theater education class offerings are changing this year as well, correct? "Yes. I am really excited about that! We had begun the Saturday morning Musical Theater School 4 years ago, and what we noticed, after this 4th year, was that it was time for a change. We are still going to be teaching the same core principles in acting, singing, and dancing, but it's going to culminate in a weekend of performances, 3 times a year, of an actual junior version of a musical. Starting this fall, we'll have 9 weeks of camp (from 9am-12pm on Saturdays), with the conclusion being a weekend of performances that 9th week (2:30 matinees on Saturdays and Sundays), open to the general public, for the ticket charge of $5 per ticket." (For additional information of Saturday Morning school-year classes, go to: http://www.catco.org/www/dcms/files/pdf/catcokids1314class.pdf ) Less than a trip to a movie! "Very reasonably priced. In the Fall, we're going to start with "Aladdin, Jr.". In the Winter, the session will work the same way, but it will be the musical, "Snoopy", and then, in the Spring, it will be the junior version of "Suessical". For 9 weeks of instruction each session, the fee is $200 (27 hours of instruction)." This is not the extent of the Catco Is Kids season, however. You also have a full season of shows for children. "We do. We are actually starting our first show of the Catco Is Kids 2013-14 season as a camp- an all kids camp- that culminates in a weekend of performances of a show called "The Rude Mechanicals", which is adaptation of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream", written specifically for kids by Ed Graczyk. Our next show will be "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer", a 3 person adaptation including the perspective of Mark Twain as a character. After that, we will be launching the Ohio premiere of a new adaptation of "The Cat In the Hat". We are really excited about that! There will be 2 children's roles available in that show, and we will also be offering a week-long audition prep class for any local children who would like to get ready for that audition. The next show on the books is a World Premiere of Steven C. Anderson's (who has written over 50 shows) new play called "The Wolf Tales", which involves all of the fairytales that contain a wolf told from the wolf's perspective." Educators will love that one, as it's much like the children's book favorite entitled, "The True Story of The Three Little Pigs"… "Yes, and then last, but not least, our 2013-14 season for kids concludes with an all-kids production that is an adaptation of "The Wizard of Oz", called "Dorothy and The Wizard of Oz", but it's an audience participation version. So, when Dorothy first meets the scarecrow, for instance, the kids are going to be able to come up and help Scarecrow put his stuffing back in on stage." Catco is Kids is known for its large degree of audience participation, which the entire audience, especially the younger folks, adore. "It's loads of fun. Our Education director, Heather Burley, will be directing that production. She has taught in many of our school-year classes and our at-risk school based program as well, but this will be her directorial debut." There are all sorts of "firsts" going on at Catco Is Kids this year! "We're really offering 8 productions a season now, if you include the Saturday morning productions, which will be great shows, in addition to the traditional season. Our actual season can still be viewed as individual show tickets, or purchased as a 5-show package. For that 5 show package, 1 adult and 1 child can come see every one of those 5 shows for under $100 total. We try to keep our pricing reasonable, so that it can be accessible to families." There are half-price preview shows of "Tom Sawyer", "The Cat In the Hat", and "The Wolf Tales' available, and you also offer school matinee performances as well. (Interested parties should visit: http://www.catco.org/education/school-matinee-performances for additionl information on dates/times/pricing). I love that there is an opportunity for a budding performer of any experience level to learn and grow here at Catco Is Kids. "That's truly what we want to have here. It's really, really important for us to be offering those types of opportunities for all children. Whether or not a child chooses to pursue theater as their profession moving forward, what we are trying to do is instill confidence in them that can transcend the stage. One of our old taglines from our Phoenix days was, "Light the spark of imagination.", and it still rings true today in everything that we do. That's what we aim to do, whether it's in a child seeing the show, a parent, or a future theater performer. We're very proud of the program." The CATCO Is Kids ticket price may be one of the best deals in the city for quality, family-friendly live theater these days, so be sure to check out the Catco Is Kids 2013-14 season, as well as the offerings available for children of all ages in its theater education program by going to : http://catco.org/catco-is-kids/

American Stage Theatre Company announces the second play of our 2012-2013 Summer Series on our Mainstage: MY NAME IS ASHER LEV a new play by Aaron Posner, adapted from the best-selling novel by Chaim Potok. This production is an area premiere and winner of the 2013 Outer Critics Circle Award for 'Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play'. Previews tonight, July 17 and the 18th. Opening Night is July 19 and the production runs through August 25.

In his debut book, author Harold K. Gruver tenders poetry enthusiasts a riveting set of poems, high spotting limericks. Titled Limericks for the Ladies, he expresses his views, inspirations and affection through succinct words and rhymes which entertains as much as it inspires. Featuring a stream of short-versed poetry, he sensationally puts forward the art of poetry with stunning ingenuity.

Carol Burnett, America's beloved comedienne, is teaming up with legendary mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne at the Music Academy of the West this month for coaching sessions with the young vocalists who will headline this year's Cabaret gala on August 8, which benefits the Music Academy's full-scholarship program. Ms. Burnett, as the Academy's Cabaret Creative Contributor, and Ms. Horne, Voice Program Director, will instruct Music Academy Voice Fellows in the art of musical comedy, both in private classes and individually. The renowned Summer School and Festival, now in its 66th season, runs through August 10 in scenic Santa Barbara.

Bill Cosby's first television concert special in 30 years, 'Far From Finished,' will air on COMEDY CENTRAL November 24, 2013. Robert Townsend directed the show, which will be compiled from material that Cosby performed at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center earlier this summer.

The Jewish Community Center of San Francisco (JCCSF) takes pride in announcing the2013-14 Arts and Ideas Season: an exciting line-up of today's acclaimed writers, renowned scientists and thinkers, and fascinating entertainers. Theatrical and musical highlights include popular actor John Goodman talking about his career, the world premiere of Brenda Wong Aoki's MU, soprano Patricia Racette with her program Diva on Detour,and Isabella Rosellini live on stage with Green Porn.

Unbound Productions Co-Artistic Directors Jonathan Josephson, Paul Millet, and Jeff G. Rack have announced a special WICKED LIT installation of Edgar Allan Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart which will be staged exclusively at LA Mart in conjunction with ScareLA,during the first annual Los Angeles Halloween Convention (August 10-11, 2013). The limited-seating eight-performance run will be staged throughout one of the vacant floors of the 14-story warehouse style building, and feature the full array of theatrical effects and creative artistry that fans of WICKED LIT have come to expect.

Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) previously announced that Tina Fey and her husband Jeff Richmond, will be the featured guests on an upcoming installment of SiriusXM's 'Town Hall' series.