Mark Twain News

Dorset Theatre Festival is about to kick off its fourth annual Jean E. Miller Young Playwrights Competition, which provides free playwriting instruction to area schools, and invites students to submit their work to be judged by a panel of nationally recognized playwrights. This year, with new underwriting of the educational programming, DTF will offer a cash prize for the winners, as well as a staged reading of the winning plays performed at the Dorset Playhouse and open to the public. Interested educators should contact Ashley Connell (ashley@dorsettheatrefestival.org) to get involved with the program. Submissions will open for student work in the late spring and winners will be announced at the end of the summer. Entries are accepted in middle school (grades 5-8) and high school (grades 9-12) categories.

Hal Holbrook's legendary - and possibly longest running - one-man show, Hal Holbrook in Mark Twain Tonight!, brings the beloved author to life with irreverent humor and astonishing authenticity. Millions have enjoyed the show since its original Tony- and Emmy-winning performances on Broadway and on television, and Holbrook continues to perfect it, drawing upon his vast experience on the stage and screen. Hal Holbrook in Mark Twain Tonight! plays a limited engagement at the National Theatre April 4 and 5 at 8 p.m.

Lehmann Maupin has announced RIVERS, an exhibition of collaborative paintings by the Bronx, New York-based artists Tim Rollins and K.O.S. (Kids of Survival) at the SCAD Museum of Art opening February 1, 2014. Founded by Rollins more than 30 years ago, the K.O.S. group has created paintings inspired by classic works of literature and music that can be found in the permanent collections of more than 95 museums worldwide.

Circle Theatre's 33rd season opens with Venus in Fur by David Ives. A celebrated Broadway hit, this 'hot' new play runs tonight, January 30th through March 8th

THE ADVENTURES OF Tom Sawyer plays WaterTower Theatre through February 16, 2014. The show officially opens tomorrow, January 27 at 7:30 pm. Check out a first look below!

Parson's Nose Theater (PNT), the acclaimed classical comedic theater company led by Artistic Director, Lance Davis, begins the second half of their 2013-14 Season with a Readers' Theater Series production of 'As You Were: Stories for American GIs in WWII'.

One of America's most beloved comedians of all time, Bill Cosby, whose comedy transcends age, gender, and cultural barriers, is making a rare appearance at the Aronoff Center, Saturday, June 14 at 8:00 PM. Cosby has captivated generations of fans with his comedy routines, iconic albums, and best-selling books, including Fatherhood, TimeFlies, and his current bestseller, I Didn't Ask to Be Born, (But I'm Glad I Was).

THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER will play WaterTower Theatre, tonight, January 24- February 16, 2014.

The Smith Center for the Performing Arts has added an additional week of performances for the world premiere of a reimagined version of "THE TEMPEST" due to popular ticket demand, which will now play April 6-20. The Smith Center's first ever co-production, "THE TEMPEST" is produced by the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.), adapted and directed by Aaron Posner and Teller from the play by William Shakespeare, with magic by Teller, music by Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan and movement by Matt Kent of Pilobolus. "THE TEMPEST" performances will take place at The Smith Center's Donald W. Reynolds Symphony Park in a 500-seat climate-controlled tent, where no seat is more than 60 feet from the stage. Performances are scheduled Tuesday-Sunday at 8 p.m. with additional matinees at 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets for all performances begin at $35 and are on sale now at The Smith Center box office, online at www.TheSmithCenter.com or by phone at (702) 749-2000.

Inukshuk Production Company and the Portland Q Center have announced their joint entry for the 2014 Fertile Ground Festival: Tennessee in Key West, an original play by Robert Lee Gaynor; directed by Marybeth Bielawski-DeLeo. In this fictional piece inspired by the life of Tennessee Williams, a young reporter travels to Key West to interview the illustrious playwright, and soon realizes he is in over his head when the playwright imposes unusual requirements in exchange for answers to questions.

Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Founder & Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director) announces their 30th Anniversary Season (2014-2015). In their upcoming season, the award-winning company will present three new premieres.

PBS today announced at the Television Critics Association a new addition to the Ken Burns pipeline, COUNTRY MUSIC. The film will air in 2018.

Celebrate the madness and music of the one, the only...Groucho…in a one-time performance at BPA today, January 18. Award-winning actor/director/playwright Frank Ferrante recreates his PBS, New York and London acclaimed portrayal of legendary comedian Groucho Marx in this fast paced 90 minutes of hilarity.

Circle Theatre's 33rd season opens with Venus in Fur by David Ives. A celebrated Broadway hit, this 'hot' new play runs January 30th through March 8th.

A young painter must reconcile his remarkable artistic gifts with the austerity and singular devotion required by his faith. Stephen Sachs directs the Los Angeles premiere of Aaron Posner's award-winning stage adaptation of Chaim Potok's acclaimed novel, My Name is Asher Lev, opening Feb. 22 at the Fountain Theatre.

THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER will play WaterTower Theatre, January 24- February 16, 2014.

Blue Note Entertainment Group has announced its first-annual NEW YORK BRASS AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL, a celebration of New Orleans music and culture today, January 7-12, 2014.

Parson's Nose Theater (PNT), the acclaimed classical comedic theater company led by Artistic Director, Lance Davis, begins the second half of their 2013-14 Season with a Readers' Theater Series production of 'As You Were: Stories for American GIs in WWII'.

The Smith Center for the Performing Arts presents the world premiere of THE TEMPEST, produced by the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at The Smith Center in Las Vegas April 5-13, 2014. The Smith Center's first ever co-production, THE TEMPEST is adapted and directed by Aaron Posner and Teller from the play by William Shakespeare, with magic by Teller, music by Tom Waits and movement by Matt Kent of Pilobolus. THE TEMPEST will perform at The Smith Center's Donald W. Reynolds Symphony Park in a 500-seat climate controlled tent before moving to Cambridge, MA to begin performances at A.R.T. Tickets start at $35.00 and go on sale Friday, Jan. 10, 2014 at The Smith Center box office, online at www.TheSmithCenter.com or by phone at (702) 749-2000.

Huntington Theatre Company kicks off 2014 with David Ives' sexy Broadway smash hit Venus in Fur, deemed '90 minutes of good, kinky fun,' by The New York Times. Daniel Goldstein (God of Carnage) returns to the Huntington to the direct the 2012 Tony Award nominee for Best Play. Performances will begin tonight, January 3 at the Avenue of the Arts / BU Theatre.