Rick Smith News

MASTERS OF ILLUSION, produced by Associated Television International and hosted by Dean Cain, now celebrating its fifth anniversary The CW returns for Week Three with two 30-minute episodes airing back to back on Friday, July 13, 2018 at 8:00 p.m./7:00 p.m. Central.

MASTERS OF ILLUSION, produced by Associated Television International and hosted by Dean Cain, now celebrating its fifth anniversary The CW returns for Week Two with two 30-minute episodes airing back to back on Friday, July 6, 2018 at 8:00 p.m./7:00 p.m. Central.

MASTERS OF ILLUSION, produced by Associated Television International and hosted byDean Cain, will celebrate its fifth anniversary season premiering on The CW with two 30-minute episodes airing back to back onFriday, June 29, 2018 at 8:00 p.m./7:00 p.m. Central.

Two River Theater (Artistic Director John Dias, Managing Director Michael Hurst) presents Songbird, based on Chekhov's The Seagull, written by Michael Kimmel, with music and lyrics by Lauren Pritchard, directed by Gaye Taylor Upchurch. The choreography is by Marc Kimelman. Music direction and arrangements and orchestrations are by Kristopher Kukul. The press opening is Friday, June 15 at 7pmand performances will continue through Sunday, July 1 in Two River's Rechnitz Theater, 21 Bridge Avenue, Red Bank, NJ.  Tickets are available from 732.345.1400 or tworivertheater.org.

MASTERS OF ILLUSION, produced by Associated Television International and hosted by Dean Cain, will return for a fifth anniversary season on The CW with two 30-minute episodes airing back to back on Friday, June 29, 2018 at 8:00 p.m./7:00 p.m. Central.

Beginning with small talk near a white picket fence, and dramatically escalating as the Keller family's skeletons reveal themselves, Arthur Miller examines the aftermath of the war within the home front. Currently running at The City Theatre, ALL MY SONS tackles the moral code of a small family and the ability to look the other way. Joe Keller (played by Rick Smith), the patriarch of the family, reads his newspaper and drinks his coffee, examining the fallen tree in his front yard - the memorial tree planted for his 'missing' son, Larry. The audience meets Kate Keller (played by Tracy Hurd), Joe's stubborn wife holding onto the hope her son Larry, who has been missing in action for three years after fighting in WWII, will come home any minute. Despite Kate's pining for her son Larry, Chris Keller (played by Sean Gordon), the surviving son from the war, has arrived home and invited a guest. Originally Larry's girlfriend, Ann Deever (played by Katrin Otterness) arrives with different intentions than Kate Keller would approve of. Given the domestic drama of Ann's love fitting within the Keller clan, the audience learns Joe Keller worked with Ann's father Steve Deever at their manufacturing plant during the war. As the drama unfolds between the moral love triangle of brothers, the moral conundrum between good and evil is examined with Steve's current imprisonment and Joe's delightful morning coffees free to brew on his current freedom. Initially, peering into the lives of the Kellers reveals a content family with friendly neighbors and patriotic, hard-working values. However, as Arthur Miller shines a critical light on their moral denial, the part the Kellers collectively played in the death of 21 World War II pilots becomes shockingly more apparent.

Coming in May, City Theatre Austin proudly presents the critically-acclaimed stage drama All My Sons, Arthur Miller's masterpiece about one man search for the American dream - and the ultimate destruction in his pursuit. This gripping portrait of a life and family won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award and Antoinette Perry Award when it first opened in 1947 and, with its relevance, is still being produced in theatres today. It plays May 11 - June 3 and is directed by City Theatre guest director Tracy Arnold.

Coming in May, City Theatre Austin proudly presents the critically-acclaimed stage drama All My Sons, Arthur Miller's masterpiece about one man search for the American dream - and the ultimate destruction in his pursuit. This gripping portrait of a life and family won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award and Antoinette Perry Award when it first opened in 1947 and, with its relevance, is still being produced in theatres today. It plays May 11 - June 3 and is directed by City Theatre guest director Tracy Arnold.

Cabaret patroness Madame Mathieu has selected Zachary Piser (Wicked), and MiMi Scardulla (Gigantic) as guests of honor at the November 9 edition of the Bistro Awards Critics' Pick Madame Mathieu's Soiree. It will be the final soiree of 2017, with 2018 dates announced at the event.

Continuing the fall 2017 season, City Theatre Austin presents the Austin premiere play THE SEAFAER, written by celebrated playwright Conor McPherson. The production runs three weeks at City Theatre, November 8th 26th. City Theatre will also be presenting FREE NIGHT OF THEATRE with the Wednesday, November 15th performance. The show information and dates are below.

THE SEAFARER is a 2006 play by Irish playwright Conor McPherson. Set on Christmas Eve in Baldoyle, a coastal suburb north of Dublin city, the play centers on James 'Sharky' Harkin (Steve Wright), an alcoholic who has recently returned to live with his blind, aging brother, Richard Harkin (Rick Felkins). Sharky's attempts to stay off the bottle are sorely tested by the hard-drinking, irascible Richard. Tension between them is evident from the start and exists mostly from Richard's constant sniping and excessive demands on his younger brother. A source of early conflict stems from Richard's inviting Nicky Gilbin (Scot Friedman) to join the men, along with Ivan (Rick Smith), for a game of poker. Nicky, as romantic rival of Sharky's, unexpectedly arrives for the card game with the mysterious Mr. Lockhart (Garry Peters). The play was nominated for multiple Tony Awards as well as the Olivier Award and Evening Standard Award for Best Play.

Acclaimed Irish playwright Conon McPherson takes us to mystical and haunting land of Ireland as The City Theatre Company continue its 12th season with the Austin premiere of The Seafarer, running November 3 26.

Acclaimed Irish playwright Conon McPherson takes us to mystical and haunting land of Ireland as The City Theatre Company continue its 12th season with the Austin premiere of The Seafarer, running November 3 26.

Cabaret patroness Madame Mathieu has selected Zachary Piser (Wicked), and MiMi Scardulla (Gigantic) as guests of honor at the November 9 edition of the Bistro Awards Critics' Pick Madame Mathieu's Soiree. It will be the final soiree of 2017, with 2018 dates announced at the event.

National Alliance for Musical Theatre (Betsy King Militello, Executive Director) is thrilled to announce this year's line-up for the MIDDAY CABARETS and SONGWRITERS SHOWCASE hosted byCome From Away's Caesar Samayoa, which are part of the 29th annual FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS. The Festival will take place on Thursday, October 19 and Friday, October 20, 2017 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues).

On Saturday, October 14, the 18th annual Woodstock Film Festival Maverick Awards Ceremony took place at Backstage Studio Productions in Kingston, NY. More than 500 filmmakers, film industry members, community leaders, and audience members attended the event held in the heart of Kingston's Uptown Historic District.

The Who & The What stars Rep newcomers Brian Abraham (Broadway's Harry Potter and the Cursed Child opening Spring 2018) as Afzal,Soraya Broukhim (Petrol Station at BAM) as Zarina, Ben Kahre (MTC The Commons of Pensacola) as Eli, and Nikita Tewani (ACT's A Thousand Splendid Suns) as Mahwish.

Miami noise rock/alt metal powerhouse WRONG have just completed their sophomore full-length entitled Feel Great. The album was self-produced by the band and recorded at various studios / locations around Miami and was mixed with Jonathan Nunez of Torche at Cabana East in Los Angeles

Cabaret patroness Madame Mathieu has selected Spongebob himself, Ethan Slater (The Spongebob Musical), and actress Katie LaMark (RENT, Mr. Robot) as guests of honor at the September edition of the Bistro Awards Critics' Pick Madame Mathieu's Soiree.

Hosted by five-time MAC Award nominee Drew Fornarola (off-Broadway's STRAIGHT) and directed by Tyler Spicer, this edition of the soiree will also feature poet Kirkwood Adams, dancer Ali Dietz, writer Eric Tipler, comedian John Griswold, actors Rachel Towne and Priyanka Krishnan, drag personality Chelsea Piers and singer Joseph Townsend. This is the 11th edition of the show, which has already featured over 150 individual artists and 25 Broadway guests.