President Obama News

Academy Award Winner for Best Original Screenplay Dustin Lance Black was interviewed backstage at the Oscars, here is his full Q&A to share with you here on BWW.

Academy Award Winner for Best Original Screenplay Dustin Lance Black was interviewed backstage at the Oscars, here is a brief snippet that we wanted to share with you here on BWW.

CNN, among various other news services, reports that President Obama used that most unthinkable of all 'M' words, considered nearly fatal to us theatre folk, yes, we can only mean, well...you know! While on a visit to Ford's Theater, site of President Lincoln's assassination, the President paid tribute to the 16th president's ability to recall passages of Shakespeare's Hamlet and Macbeth. And so by using that 'simple' reference, he, we are sure quite unwittingly, stepped into what is considered to be quite dangerous territory.

Shakespeare's Globe celebrates Valentine's Day, Saturday 14 February, with the launch of public booking for its 2009 theatre season Young Hearts. The season opens on Shakespeare's birthday, Thursday 23 April, and will include four Shakespeare plays and three pieces of new writing that explore the great expanse of the heart - from purity to wild passion, and from the rekindling of old love to an evergreen love of life.

As producer, co-writer, director and star of Yentl, Barbra Streisand brought her legendary talents to the acclaimed film about a young woman who risks everything for her insatiable passion to learn. The Yentl Extended Director's Edition Two-Disc DVD set is released today, Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009. The long awaited release includes never before seen bonus features such as Barbra Streisand's Original Concept Reel, rehearsal/final film comparisons, storyboard montages for musical numbers, deleted scenes, and much more, Streisand spoke to the Associated Press about the film, her upcoming CD and President Obama.

The New York Times has reported that the House has approved $50 million in recovery funds for the National Endowment for the Arts. The help for the NEA came today Wednesday, January 28th as part of the U.S. economic stimulus bill.

Taproot Theatre Company opens its 2009 Mainstage season in January with the regional premiere of Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder's celebrated play, Gee's Bend. A story of courage and hope spanning over 60 years in the African American community of Gee's Bend, Alabama, Gee's Bend, directed by Karen Lund, opens on January 30 and runs through February 28, with low-price previews on January 28 & 29, plus a Pay-What-You-Can performance on February 4. Taproot Theatre is hosting a series of special events during the run of Gee's Bend, including a special appearance by several quilters from Gee's Bend, Alabama, at the post-play discussion on February 18; behind-the-scenes preview events at the Greenwood library (January 17) and the Northwest African American Museum (January 24); and post-play appearances by the Pacific Northwest African American Quilters (Wednesdays, February 4-25), who built a quilt that will be seen at Taproot Theatre. That association is also providing several other quilts to be displayed and auctioned off during the run of Gee's Bend. Corresponding with Black History Month, Gee's Bend captures the rich story of the women of Gee's Bend, Alabama, where discarded rags, scraps and bits of thread are pieced into works of art. Their compelling stories, like the spirituals they sing and the quilts they create, form a striking patchwork of the African American journey of the past century.

2009 promises to be a historical and exciting year filled with lots of hope, change and community service. To encourage ever greater levels of service throughout the country, MySpace and Katalyst Media, a production company co-founded by Ashton Kutcher and Jason Goldberg, teamed up with celebrities to record their personal pledges of service.

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Monday, January 19, 2009.

Taproot Theatre Company opens its 2009 Mainstage season in January with the regional premiere of Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder's celebrated play, Gee's Bend. A story of courage and hope spanning over 60 years in the African American community of Gee's Bend, Alabama, Gee's Bend, directed by Karen Lund, opens on January 30 and runs through February 28, with low-price previews on January 28 & 29, plus a Pay-What-You-Can performance on February 4. Taproot Theatre is hosting a series of special events during the run of Gee's Bend, including a special appearance by several quilters from Gee's Bend, Alabama, at the post-play discussion on February 18; behind-the-scenes preview events at the Greenwood library (January 17) and the Northwest African American Museum (January 24); and post-play appearances by the Pacific Northwest African American Quilters (Wednesdays, February 4-25), who built a quilt that will be seen at Taproot Theatre. That association is also providing several other quilts to be displayed and auctioned off during the run of Gee's Bend. Corresponding with Black History Month, Gee's Bend captures the rich story of the women of Gee's Bend, Alabama, where discarded rags, scraps and bits of thread are pieced into works of art. Their compelling stories, like the spirituals they sing and the quilts they create, form a striking patchwork of the African American journey of the past century.

Recipient (and noted liberal activist) Barbra Streisand released the following statement on her web site about receiving the award from President George W. Bush.