Michelle Obama News

Baltimore, Md. (November 22, 2013) – The White House today announced that the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra's OrchKids program is one of 12 recipients of the 2013 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards, the signature program of the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. The BSO's flagship community engagement program is recognized for its effectiveness in developing learning and life skills in young people by fostering arts and arts education in their communities. Later today in a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, First Lady Michelle Obama will present the award to OrchKids Artistic Director Dan Trahey and eighth grader Asia Palmer, who has participated in OrchKids since 2008. OrchKids is a year-round after-school music program designed to create social change and nurture promising futures for youth in Baltimore neighborhoods. In partnership with the Baltimore City Public School system, OrchKids serves more than 750 students spanning pre-kindergarten through eighth grades across five Title I schools in West and East Baltimore.

First Lady Michelle Obama is a huge style icon and role model for women today. When she cuts her hair into bangs it makes headlines! She also is a major supporter of American fashion designers and have helped put many on the map.

Today, President Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts: Stephanie Cutter - Member, President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities; Caroline "Kim" Taylor - Member, President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities; Margaret Russell - General Trustee, Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; Mary Menell Zients - Chair, President's Commission on White House Fellowships.

As part of ABC's annual "Home for the Holidays" campaign, ABC will honor our military veterans by premiering five short films written, directed, and produced by U.S. Veterans highlighting the creative work from our military servicemen and women.

About Face Theatre Company will kick off its new OUT FRONT SERIES, a year-round collection of free public readings and developmental workshops. This month, AFT presents BILLIE AND BILLY by AFT Artistic Associate Paul Oakley Stovall, with original music by Brad Simmons and directed by Krissy Vanderwarker, playing today, November 16 and tomorrow the 17th, 2013 at American Theater Company, 1909 W. Byron St. in Chicago.

About Face Theatre Company will kick off its new OUT FRONT SERIES, a year-round collection of free public readings and developmental workshops. This month, AFT presents BILLIE AND BILLY by AFT Artistic Associate Paul Oakley Stovall, with original music by Brad Simmons and directed by Krissy Vanderwarker, playing November 16 and 17, 2013 at American Theater Company, 1909 W. Byron St. in Chicago.

With thousands of American combat troops about to spend another holiday season far from their families, COME HOME AMERICA has been crafted by acclaimed New York singer-songwriter MARCUS GOLDHABER as a new patriotic standard aimed at launching a movement to repair our increasingly damaged connections with those who've sacrificed during our decade at war.

Few Americans are aware that only 1% of our citizens serve in the Armed Forces. It's time for 100% of the remaining 99% to say thank you and learn more about the veterans who continue to give back through service. With Veterans Day fast approaching, HISTORY? announces a continuation of 'Mission to Honor,' its nationwide, multi-platform public affairs campaign dedicated to recognizing American veterans. Expanding each year, 'Mission to Honor' in 2013 will be the Network's biggest year yet, with high visibility on-air, online, in schools, in businesses and local communities. HISTORY will continue past successes, like Take A Veteran to School Day and Thank A Veteran At Work Day, which will incorporate a new PSA from First Lady Michelle Obama and Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden. Also new to 'Mission to Honor' in 2013 will be HISTORY's partnership with Team Rubicon, a veterans service group, and an enhanced #THANKAVET social media campaign.

The Bob Woodruff Foundation and the New York Comedy Festival presented Stand Up for Heroes last night in New York City. The event, funded in part by the generosity of Veterans on Wall Street (VOWS) and supported by founding sponsor GFI Group, Inc., brought together celebrities, military, business and government leaders, service members and their families for a night of laughter and performances from A-list musicians and comedians, as well as wounded veterans, to raise funds for programs that the Bob Woodruff Foundation supports. The amount raised last night was more than $5 million -- a new record for the Stand Up for Heroes Event, now in its seventh year. The funds raised will benefit organizations across the country vetted by the Bob Woodruff Foundation for their effectiveness and success. To date, $21 million has been raised by the Stand Up for Heroes events.

Season 14's popular kid ambassadors Biingo, Lindsay and Sunny return to the ranch to help White House nutrition expert Sam Kass judge a lively cooking challenge on the next episode of “The Biggest Loser” airing Tuesday, November 12 (8-9 p.m. ET) on NBC.

American Masters Season 28lLineup through April 2014 begins with a milestone: the series' 200th episode on PBS!

TV One announced today that News One Now, the first morning news program in history to focus on news and analysis of politics, entertainment, sports, and culture from an explicitly African American perspective, will premiere on TV One Today, November 4, 9AM/ET.

Host Kerry Washington and Saturday Night Live directly addressed the show's recent criticisms for featuring no black women in its current regular cast on last night's Nov 2 episode, in which Washington played Michelle Obama, Oprah and Beyonce in one scene.

Sidewalk/Curb recording artist Morgan Frazier announces that her debut music video, 'Hey Bully' world premieres on act.mtv.com.

Queen Latifah stopped by last night's CONAN on TBS to chat about her new talk show. The singer called her new studio 'Big Sexy' and even has a section called the Michelle Obama Lounge. )Hint-hint, Madame First Lady.)

TV One announced today that News One Now, the first morning news program in history to focus on news and analysis of politics, entertainment, sports, and culture from an explicitly African American perspective, will premiere on TV One Monday, November 4, 9AM/ET.

Steve Silver's Beach Blanket Babylon, the world's longest running musical revue, rings in the new year with two special performances on Tuesday, December 31, 2013. Tickets for these performances range in price from $65 - $190 and are available starting Monday, November 4 at 10 a.m. online at beachblanketbabylon.com, by phone at 415-421-4222, or in person at the Beach Blanket Babylon Box Office (678 Green Street, San Francisco).

Laura Benanti - the Tony Award-winning actress and singer, also known for her TV roles on 'Go On,' 'The Playboy Club' and 'Law & Order: SVU' - will follow the recent release of her debut album, In Constant Search of the Right Kind of Attention with a slate of projects through the next year.