Pam McKinnon News

Last season, playwright Richard Nelson invited us to spend election night 2010 at the Rhinebeck home of schoolteacher Barbara Apple and her aging uncle, Benjamin as her left-leaning sisters and brother gathered for dinner and conversation about family matters and the country's political climate. Titled That Hopey Changey Thing after a sarcastic post-election quip Sarah Palin once directed at Obama voters, Nelson referred to it as a 'disposable' play, written quickly and heavily steeped in the national conversation of its time.

I've heard of some directors who, as soon as they've taken on a new play, grab a black marker and scratch out every stage direction the playwright wrote into the script, as though the author's only business was to write dialogue and allow each individual stager to create the rest.

LAByrinth Theater Company (Co-Artistic Directors Stephen Adly Guirgis, Mimi O'Donnell, Yul Vázquez, and Managing Director Danny Feldman) has announced the creative team for The Atmosphere of Memory by David Bar Katz.

Today we are talking to the multi-talented actress/writer/producer of the hit indie romantic comedies KISSING JESSICA STEIN and IRA & ABBY, who is now adding director to her list of abilities with her new feature film FRIENDS WITH KIDS, co-starring her real-life husband Jon Hamm - the delightfully sweet and talented Jennifer Westfeldt. Both Jennifer and Jon can be seen - and heard - later this week in an exciting radio adaptation of the Anton Chekhov classic THE THREE SISTERS, in a new translation by Christopher Hampton, also co-starring Tessa Thompson, Sarah Zimmerman and Reid Scott, which will also be recorded and broadcast online. Tickets to the performances live on stage are also available at the link below. In this candid conversation Jennifer and I cover everything from 24 to GREY'S ANATOMY; to Bernstein on Broadway in her Tony-nominated turn in WONDERFUL TOWN co-starring Donna Murphy; to her onscreen and off-screen partnership with Hamm and the formation of their new production company; as well as their new feature film together - FRIENDS WITH KIDS - and much more. Plus, what is her and Jon's favorite LA pizza joint? Further information on the live performances and the online and radio broadcasts of THE THREE SISTERS can be found here (http://www.latw.org/live/boxoffice/boxofficehomeindex.html).

Strap on your moon boots for LAIKA DOG IN SPACE, opening Saturday, February 5, 2011 at The Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland.

Strap on your moon boots for LAIKA DOG IN SPACE, opening Saturday, February 5, 2011 at The Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland.

Strap on your moon boots for LAIKA DOG IN SPACE, opening Saturday, February 5, 2011 at The Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland.

Strap on your moon boots for LAIKA DOG IN SPACE, opening Saturday, February 5, 2011 at The Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland.

Strap on your moon boots for LAIKA DOG IN SPACE, opening Saturday, February 5, 2011 at The Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland.

The Drama Desk, the organization of professional writers, critics and columnists who cover all sectors of New York theater, will present its first Panel Discussion of the 2009-2010 theater season on Thursday, February 25, 2010, from 5:30 - 7:30 PM in the BMI offices at 320 West 57th Street, it was announced by William Wolf, President of the organization.

A Drama Desk panel titled 'Women at Work: Directing and Writing for the Theater' will welcome Playwrights Annie Baker and Sheila Callaghan, and Directors Karen Carpenter, Pam McKinnon, and Susan H. Schulman, for a frank discussion on women in the theatre industry. The event will take place on February 25, 2010.

Arena Stage presents The Quality of Life, written by playwright and Emmy Award-winner Jane Anderson and directed by Lisa Peterson (Arena's The Rainmaker). In this 'magnetic work of theater' (San Francisco Chronicle) filled with compassion, honesty and humor, we find two couples dealing very differently with devastation.

Arena Stage presents The Quality of Life, written by playwright and Emmy Award-winner Jane Anderson and directed by Lisa Peterson (Arena's The Rainmaker). In this 'magnetic work of theater' (San Francisco Chronicle) filled with compassion, honesty and humor, we find two couples dealing very differently with devastation.

Arena Stage presents The Quality of Life, written by playwright and Emmy Award-winner Jane Anderson and directed by Lisa Peterson (Arena's The Rainmaker). In this 'magnetic work of theater' (San Francisco Chronicle) filled with compassion, honesty and humor, we find two couples dealing very differently with devastation.

Mackinnon, the four-member cast features Jennifer Westfeldt as Emma with Raul Castillo as Alejandro, Isabel Keating as Lydia, and Christina Kirk as Tess. Performances began Tuesday, July 28, 2009 for a limited run through Saturday, September 5, 2009 at Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues).