Mike Johnson News

Last week, an attempt to cut funding to the National Endowment for the Arts was voted down.

To be or not to be......if you are talking about being at the Twin Lakes Playhouse, 600 West Sixth Street, in Mountain Home, then the answer is a definite YES. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S HAMLET is playing this weekend and you don’t want to miss it. The cast will blow you away as you get caught up in the theatrical magic that this community theatre has created.  

The Audio Publishers Association has announced finalists for the 2023 Audie Awards®, the premier awards program recognizing distinction in audiobooks and spoken-word entertainment. Winners across 26 competitive categories will be revealed at the Audie Awards Gala on March 28. The ceremony will be streamed to the public from Chelsea Piers’ Pier Sixty in NYC. 

What did our critic think of THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK at TWIN LAKES PLAYHOUSE?

Western Piedmont Symphony (WPS), the professional orchestra of the western foothills of North Carolina, will present FOOTHILLS POPS: HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR on Friday, December 2, 2022, at 7:30 p.m. at the J.E. Broyhill Civic Center in Lenoir.

TV and theater actor Derrick Monasterio donned the costume of one of his favorite theater roles, The Phantom, in Gaston Leroux and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 'The Phantom of the Opera' at the recent 'The Sparkle Spell: Ghosting Made Fun' Halloween party. Fellow actor Elle Villanueva joined Mr. Monasterio on the 'blood' carpet as The Phantom’s ingenue, Christine Daae.

 Today, GLAAD, the world's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, announced participants wearing purple or going purple online for Spirit Day in a united stand against bullying and show of support for LGBTQ youth.

This year, the CAT Awards is recognizing productions that took place over the past two theatre seasons (July 2020 through June 2022). During this time there were a total of 34 productions from 14 different community theatre member companies, and 21 of these productions from 10 companies received nominations.

The Season 19 American Idol alum offers up a 10-track kick in the pants breath of fresh air with ballads, barn burners … and a few surprises. This well-paced project is helmed by award-winning songwriter and respected industry veteran Jerry Salley. Pre-order the new album now!

Michelle Young of “The Bachelorette” will co-host “Bachelor Happy Hour,” the official recap podcast for behind-the-scenes exclusives on “The Bachelor,” “The Bachelorette,” and “Bachelor in Paradise,” alongside long-standing host and former “Bachelorette” Becca Kufrin.

Inspired by people, places and events relevant to Appalachia, the album features 12 original songs about the impact of coal, faith, family, the opioid crisis, and the call of the mountains.

Inspired by the hundreds of food and beverage holidays throughout the year, THAT LOOKS GOOD is here to help make sure the true meaning of the holiday does not get lost. Host Mike Johnson will celebrate select culinary holidays with viewers by sharing the history of the food and some fun facts, all while eating great meals.

British vocalist RUMER has unveiled a sensual lullaby with 4th instant grat track, 'The Fate of Fireflies,' from NASHVILLE TEARS, her upcoming album of songs by Hugh Prestwood (Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame). The song is available now with album pre-order and accompanied by a night-sky themed lyric video - https://youtu.be/XCrBH_zrpMQ.

British vocalist RUMER's take on “The Song Remembers When,” is out now. The country ballad, previously a hit single for Trisha Yearwood, is the latest from Nashville Tears, which features the songs of Hugh Prestwood, a Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee. It is the 3rd advance track, after “Bristlecone Pine” and “Hard Times For Lovers,” available early with album pre-order before the release of Nashville Tears on April 24 with Cooking Vinyl.  

As claims of innocence ring in prison cells across America, families of prisoners can be tormented by the questionable guilt of their loved ones. Driven by a desire to get to the truth, retired homicide detective Chris Anderson and criminal defense attorney Fatima Silva team up once again for a third season of REASONABLE DOUBT to help families who are convinced that their loved ones were wrongfully convicted of murder. With their parallel expertise of the law, Chris Anderson and Fatima Silva know that the system doesn't always get it right. Each episode of REASONABLE DOUBT begins with the loved ones of the convicted presenting evidence of their innocence. Anderson and Silva then set out on the intense process of re-examining a murder case, poring over evidence, interviewing witnesses and consulting experts previously overlooked by police or barred by the court. Each episode culminates with the gut-wrenching reveal to the family that either brings hope for an appeal, or clarity to accept the guilty verdict. With 10 powerful episodes examining whether justice was served, season three of REASONABLE DOUBT returns to Investigation Discovery on Tuesday, March 3 at 10/9c.

The phrase “Never Say Never” can be quite the over-used cliche. However, for Pittsburgh-area country singer, Ashley Puckett, it was the perfect phrase to describe her lifelong love affair with music.

Nashville Ballet will give away 2,500 tickets to Artistic Director Paul Vasterling's production of Nashville's Nutcracker through the Ballet's Holiday Magic initiative for a thirtieth consecutive year.

Littleglobe will present composer/improvisor/guitarist Janet Feder at Littleglobe on Sunday, December 8, 7pm. Janet will be playing solo pieces demonstrating her incredible extended techniques on the guitar as well as her very personal songwriting, as well as work within a local ensemble that includes Chris Jonas on saxes, Paul Brown on bass and Dave Wayne on drums.