Paul Ford News

Chris Stapleton reveled in a celebratory night in Nashville as he took home three wins at "The 52nd Annual CMA Awards," while Keith Urban warmed hearts with his gracious acceptance of the coveted Entertainer of the Year trophy. Country Music's Biggest Night was hosted for the 11th consecutive year by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood and aired live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Wednesday, Nov. 14 on the ABC Television Network.

Two-time CMA Awards winner and a three-time CMA Awards nominee this year, Jason Aldean surprised radio stations and broadcast personalities this morning to reveal news of their 2018 CMA Broadcast Awards wins, announced in advance of the award show and presentation. 

The Country Music Association has announced the final nominees for “The 52nd Annual CMA Awards,” as Chris Stapleton tops the list of finalists with five nominations. Producer and musician Dann Huff receives four nominations, the second most nominations this year, while nine artists garner three each—Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Chris Janson, Miranda Lambert, Midland, Thomas Rhett and Keith Urban. 

Chaos reigns supreme in this hilarious reinvention of the classic American family drama. When Isaac returns home from Afghanistan to help take care of his ailing father, he discovers a household in revolt. His mother, Paige, has been liberated from an oppressive marriage, and with the help of her newly "out" transgender teen is passionately dismantling the patriarchy. But in Taylor Mac's shocking and subversive comedy, even the most radical changes can't always free you from the past.

Picture if you will, the classic American family. A son in the military, a tomboyish daughter, a typical housewife mom, a Joe-the-Plumber father.  But in Taylor Mac's subversive and outrageous comedy, HIR, this archetypal group gets completely turned inside-out in a 5-week regional premiere run at Stage West beginning Thursday, May 17.

Picture if you will, the classic American family. A son in the military, a tomboyish daughter, a typical housewife mom, a Joe-the-Plumber father.  But in Taylor Mac's subversive and outrageous comedy, HIR, this archetypal group gets completely turned inside-out in a 5-week regional premiere run at Stage West beginning Today, May 17.

Picture if you will, the classic American family. A son in the military, a tomboyish daughter, a typical housewife mom, a Joe-the-Plumber father.  But in Taylor Mac's subversive and outrageous comedy, HIR, this archetypal group gets completely turned inside-out in a 5-week regional premiere run at Stage West beginning Thursday, May 17.

Elliot Martin, renowned Broadway producer and Tony Award winner passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 21st, in Connecticut, surrounded by his family. He was 93.

Casting is announced today for the UK premiere of Hir, written by Taylor Mac (24-Decade History of Popular Music) and directed by Nadia Fall (Disgraced). Arthur Darvill (Doctor Who, Broadchurch, Once) will play Isaac, Griffyn Gilligan (Teddy Ferrara) plays younger sibling Max, Ashley McGuire (Shopping and F***ing, The Suicide) will play their mom Paige and Andy Williams (The 39 Steps, War Horse) plays her husband Arnold.

On Her Shoulders will present a special event on Monday, April 3, 2017 celebrating its theatrical heritage as agents of change.

Columbia University and Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith have announced that A 24-Decade History of Popular Music: A Radical Fairy Realness Ritual by Taylor Mac and Matt Ray is the 2017 winner of the Edward M. Kennedy Prize for Drama Inspired by American History.

The Bush Theatre will reopen after a year-long £4.3m redevelopment, the largest capital project in the theatre's history, with a bold new season kicked off by the European Premiere of Guards at the Taj by Pulitzer Prize finalist Rajiv Joseph, directed by Jamie Lloyd (from 7 April). A brand new Studio space opens with the premiere of Barney Norris play While We're Here directed by Alice Hamilton (from 26 April).

SPACE on Ryder Farm will present Taylor Mac's A 24-Decade History of Popular Music: 1986-2016, August 6 & 7 at 7 PM. Music Director Matt Ray will join Mac for the work-in-progress performances, which span three decades from Mac's wildly ambitious, multi-year effort to chart the history of popular music in America, from the nation's founding in 1776 to the present day. Tickets are available for $35 through July 15, and $40 after, at www.spaceonryderfarm.org/calendar/taylor-mac.

SPACE on Ryder Farm will present Taylor Mac's A 24-Decade History of Popular Music: 1986-2016, August 6 & 7 at 7 PM. Music Director Matt Ray will join Mac for the work-in-progress performances, which span three decades from Mac's wildly ambitious, multi-year effort to chart the history of popular music in America, from the nation's founding in 1776 to the present day. Tickets are available for $35 through July 15, and $40 after, at www.spaceonryderfarm.org/calendar/taylor-mac.

The New Museum and Rhizome are pleased to announce the artist and technologist pairs anchoring the 2016 edition of its celebrated Seven on Seven conference, an annual event bringing together leaders of art and technology and challenging them to build new projects in creative collaboration.

The New Museum and Rhizome are pleased to announce the artist and technologist pairs anchoring the 2016 edition of its celebrated Seven on Seven conference, an annual event bringing together leaders of art and technology and challenging them to build new projects in creative collaboration.

Due to critical acclaim and popular demand, Playwrights Horizons has announced a second extension of their New York premiere production of HIR, a new play by Obie Award-winning theater artist Taylor Mac (A 24-Decade History of Popular Music, The Lily's Revenge, The Walk Across America for Mother Earth, The Be(a)st of Taylor Mac, The Young Ladies Of).

In the famous 1960s hit 'Is That All There Is?' by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, Peggy Lee croons the melancholy lyric, 'If that's all there is, my friend, then, let's keep dancing. Let's break out the booze and have a ball, if that's all there is.' While this song ironically doesn't make it into the eclectic catalog of tunes that fuel THE LAST TWO PEOPLE ON EARTH: AN APOCALYPTIC VAUDEVILLE, currently in its world premiere at the A.R.T. in Cambridge, it could easily have become the show's theme song. When a flood of epic proportions wipes out all but two scraggly survivors, played as a pair of Estragon and Vladimir-style hobos by Mandy Patinkin and Taylor Mac, there is very little left for them to do but sing and dance.

Today we are talking to a terrifically talented triple-threat who made a major mark on Broadway with her star turns in GYPSY and WICKED before appearing this season in the brand new Shakespeare-themed musical comedy SOMETHING ROTTEN!, the effortlessly cute and convivial Kate Reinders. Discussing her hilarious role in the fresh Broadway musical, Reinders praises her starry assortment of co-stars - including Brian D'Arcy James, Christian Borle and John Cariani - in addition to analyzing all the details about putting a brand new musical on its feet directly before the eyes of Broadway. Additionally, Reinders shares some of her favorite moments in the show and touches upon some of the changes that have been implemented to the new Shakespeare-themed musical as it was refined over the course of previews, having opened straight in NYC without an out-of-town tryout. Besides all about her fabulously jocular turn in SOMETHING ROTTEN!, Reinders also reflects on some of her most familiar performances to date on the Great White Way and beyond, including her star-making performance in the 2003 revival of GYPSY, starring Bernadette Peters and directed by Sam Mendes, in addition to her notable run in mega-hit Oz musical WICKED. All of that, INTO THE WOODS revival memories, A YEAR WITH FROG & TOAD and much, much more!

Mother Road Theatre Company presents the modern masterpiece AMERICAN BUFFALO. During one long day in a run-down junk shop, three men of great ambition and low morals plan a heist of a customer's valuable coin collection. When the con goes awry, it's every man for himself. This fast paced drama is all aggression and testosterone, with characters wielding words like weapons to intimidate, cajole and manipulate each other. The results are hilarious, powerful and ultimately tragic in a play that won the 1976 Obie Award for Best New Play, the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play and was nominated for two Tony Awards.