Rainn Wilson News

Patti LuPone will step back into the role that led to her Olivier Award, and being cast as the original Fantine in LES MISERABLES, on Monday, May 19 in The Cradle Will Rock at 7pm at Broadway's Bernard Jacobs Theatre, 242 West 45th Street, it was announced today.

his summer, YouTube sensation Robby Novak (aka, Kid President) makes his television debut with the series premiere of 'Kid President: Declaration of Awesome' Saturday, June 7 at 7 p.m. ET/ 4 p.m. PT on the Hub Network, champions of family fun and the only network dedicated to providing kids and their families entertainment they can watch together. The series is executive produced by actor Rainn Wilson ('The Office') and Novak's brother-in-law and show creator, Brad Montague, for SoulPancake Television, LLC. Each episode also features interactions between Kid President and a variety of guest stars, including Kevin Costner ('Draft Day'), Gene Simmons (KISS), Jamie Foxx ('The Amazing Spiderman 2'), Craig Robinson ('Get On Up'), Mario Lopez (Host, 'Extra'), 'Weird Al' Yankovic (Musician), and plenty of other surprises.

The Guthrie Theater and The Acting Company (TAC) reunite for a sixth year, presenting Hamlet, Shakespeare's story of a Danish prince's search for vengeance, justice and truth, in repertory with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, a reworking of the same tragedy from the point of view of two minor characters and their static existence in a world beyond their comprehension. This two-week engagement today, April 22 - May 4, on the McGuire Proscenium Stage, will conclude a successful seven-month 42-city tour, during which time these productions played to thousands of adults and students in large and small markets around the United States. Both Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead will showcase the talents of graduates of the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater B.F.A. Actor Training Program, as well as alumni of A Guthrie Experience for Actors in Training.

An all-new season of 'Super Soul Sunday' kicks off when Oprah sits down with legendary actress Shirley MacLaine to discuss her illustrious career,

The Acting Company will present a staged reading of Nude with Violin, Noel Coward's satire on modern art, criticism, pretension and the value placed on art at 7 pm on Monday, March 24 at the Signature Theatre (Alice Griffin Jewel Box), 480 West 42nd Street (9th-10th Avenues).

An all-new season of 'Super Soul Sunday' kicks off when Oprah sits down with legendary actress Shirley MacLaine to discuss her illustrious career,

Patti LuPone steps back into the role that led to her 1985 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical as Moll in The Cradle Will Rock on Monday, May 19, 7pm at Broadway's Bernard Jacobs Theatre, 242 West 45th Street. The concert staging of Marc Blitzstein's iconic work will benefit The Acting Company, co-founded by John Houseman, Cradle's original producer in 1937, who directed Ms. LuPone and a cast of Acting Company Alumni in a revival almost 50 years later. Lonny Price (Lincoln Center's Sweeney Todd and Company) will direct; Michael Barrett (Caramoor, NY Festival of Song) will again serve as musical director and play the score as he did in the 1980's production. Tickets will go on sale next month; information on benefit tickets including dinner with Ms. LuPone and the cast is available from 212-258-3111.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Taraji P. Henson will join Oscar winner Terrence Howard in Lee Daniels and Danny Strong's upcoming hip-hop drama pilot EMPIRE for Fox. Howard recently starred in the pair's 2013 drama THE BUTLER.

The Guthrie Theater and The Acting Company (TAC) reunite for a sixth year, presenting Hamlet, Shakespeare's story of a Danish prince's search for vengeance, justice and truth, in repertory with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, a reworking of the same tragedy from the point of view of two minor characters and their static existence in a world beyond their comprehension. This two-week engagement April 22 - May 4, on the McGuire Proscenium Stage, will conclude a successful seven-month 42-city tour, during which time these productions played to thousands of adults and students in large and small markets around the United States. Both Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead will showcase the talents of graduates of the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater B.F.A. Actor Training Program, as well as alumni of A Guthrie Experience for Actors in Training.

The Acting Company will present a benefit staged reading of Murderers, a new play by Jeffrey Hatcher (Never Gonna Dance, Tuesdays with Morrie) at 7 pm on Monday, February 24 at the Mainstage Theater (Playwrights Horizons), 416 West 42nd Street (9th-10thAvenues). The performance-starring Acting Company Alumna and Tony-winner Harriet Harris (Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, Encores!Little Me), Marylouise Burke (TV's Alpha House) and Reg Rogers (The Big Knife)-will be followed by a reception with the cast and director, Ian Belknap, Artistic Director of The Acting Company. Tickets @ $35 and $60 (Patron) are available from 212-258-3111.

Impressionist Jim Meskimen, whose appearances on America's Got Talent earned him a standing ovation at Radio City Music Hall in 2013, stars in The Impression Guys, a new YouTube original half hour series from Soul Pancake productions and Rainn Wilson.

Atlas Distribution Company announced today that 'Atlas Shrugged: Who is John Galt?' went into production on Monday, January 20th. The movie's release is slated for September 2014.

The Acting Company will present a benefit staged reading of The Real Inspector Hound by Tom Stoppard at 7 pm on Monday, January 13 at the Pearl Theatre, 555 West 42nd Street (9th-10th Avenues). The performance--starring John Glover (Macbeth), Francesca Faridany (Macbeth), Julia Coffey, Lee Aaron Rosen Acting Company Members Sam Tsoutsouvas, Michele Tauber, Andy Weems, Stephen Pilkington (The Winslow Boy) and Andy Nagosky--will be followed by a reception with the cast and director, Ian Belknap, Artistic Director of The Acting Company.

After 27 years, Tom Stoppard's seminal work, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead returns to the New York stage directed by Tony-winner John Rando (Urinetown, A Christmas Story). Presented by The Acting Company in rotating repertory with Hamlet, directed by Ian Belknap, performances begin tonight, January 9 and run through February 1 at the Pearl Theater, 555 West 42nd Street, NYC.

The multi-award-winning NoHo Arts Center Ensemble (NoHo ACE), Independent Shakespeare Co. and Efficiency Studios announced today an extraordinary array of talk-back guest speakers following select performances of the world premiere play, THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THOMAS JEFFERSON, CHARLES DICKENS AND COUNT LEO TOLSTOY: DISCORD, written by Scott Carter (Executive Producer/Writer - "Real Time with Bill Maher") and directed by Matt August. THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THOMAS JEFFERSON, CHARLES DICKENS AND COUNT LEO TOLSTOY: DISCORD will begin previews on Saturday, January 11 at 8pm; will open on Friday, January 17 at 8pm and run for six weeks through Sunday, February 23, 2014 at the NoHo Arts Center, 11136 Magnolia Blvd. (at Lankershim) in North Hollywood.

Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX) has given a 13-episode series order to BACKSTROM, a one-hour drama from 20thCentury Fox Television, based on renowned Swedish criminologist and novelist Leif G.W. Persson's hit series of books of the same name. Created and executive-produced by Hart Hanson (BONES, “The Finder”), the series centers on Detective EVERETT BACKSTROM (three-time Emmy Award nominee Rainn Wilson, “The Office”), an offensive, irascible detective, as he tries, and fails, to change his self-destructive behavior. Throughout the series, Backstrom leads his team, the Serious Crimes Unit, as they navigate Portland's most sensitive cases.

After 27 years, Tom Stoppard's seminal work, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead returns to the New York stage directed by Tony-winner John Rando (Urinetown, A Christmas Story). Presented by The Acting Company in rotating repertory with Hamlet, directed by Ian Belknap, performances begin January 9 and run through February 1 at the Pearl Theater, 555 West 42nd Street, NYC.

The Acting Company presents a benefit staged reading of Holiday by Philip Barry at 7 pm tonight, Monday, December 16 at the Mainstage Theater (at Playwrights Horizons), 416 West 42nd Street (9th-10th Avenues).

The Pasadena Playhouse announced Academy Award and Emmy nominee Taraji P. Henson (Starred on "Person of Interest" on CBS, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and new "No Good Deed" oppsite Idris Elba) to star as "Jane" in the World Premiere of ABOVE THE FOLD, the fourth production of its 2013 - 2014 Season. Written by Bernard Weinraub and directed by Steven Robman, ABOVE THE FOLD plays January 28 - February 23, 2014. Opening night is February 2, 2014.

The Acting Company will present a benefit staged reading of Holiday by Philip Barry at 7 pm on Monday, December 16 at the Mainstage Theater (at Playwrights Horizons), 416 West 42nd Street (9th-10th Avenues). The performance-starring Acting Company Founding Member David Schramm (Finian's Rainbow, TV's Wings), Carson Elrod (Peter and the Starcatcher, Noises Off), Andrew Hovelson (Lucky Guy, Enemy of the People), Liv Rooth (Venus in Fur, Born Yesterday, Is He Dead?), Danielle Skraastad (All My Sons), Brendan Titley (Macbeth), Finn Wittrock (Death of a Salesman), Acting Company Alum Georgia Cohen, David Quay and Victoria Mack-will be followed by a reception with the cast and director,Janet Zarish, Head of Acting, Graduate Acting Program at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and an Acting Company Alumna. Tickets @ $35 and $60 (Patron) are available from 212-258-3111.