Robert Altman News

The world-renowned Imagination Workshop was founded 40 years ago by Margaret Ladd, the award-winning actress and Founding Artistic Director, and her husband Lyle Kessler, the critically-acclaimed playwright, and Co-Founder of the organization. Today, the Imagination Workshop, a unique theatre company comprised of professional theatre artists collaborating with patients recovering from mood disorders and other mental illnesses, is one of the longest running Arts and Social Institutions in the country.

Ravinia Festival Chairperson Pamela B. Strobel and President and CEO Welz Kauffman today announced details of the 2009 season of music theater and dance events.

Producer Margaret South recently announced that 'Pay Attention: ADHD in Hollywood, On the Rocks with a Twist,' Frank South's story of a New York waiter and performance artist who is catapulted into fast track Hollywood TV writing unwittingly unleashing his Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Hypomania, Alcoholism, and Issues with Authority, will have its Mainland debut at The Other Space at Santa Monica Playhouse opening Saturday, May 2nd, 2009.

The world-renowned Imagination Workshop was founded 40 years ago by Margaret Ladd, the award-winning actress and Founding Artistic Director, and her husband Lyle Kessler, the critically-acclaimed playwright, and Co-Founder of the organization. Today, the Imagination Workshop, a unique theatre company comprised of professional theatre artists collaborating with patients recovering from mood disorders and other mental illnesses, is one of the longest running Arts and Social Institutions in the country.

Broadway and film producer Dann Conrad Byck Jr., who stepped down from his family retail business to pursue his lifelong passion for theater, died Tuesday at the Louisville home of his daughter, Amy Byck. He was 72.

An all new cast of celebrities hits the dance floor on ABC's Dancing with the Stars with the highly anticipated two-hour season premiere MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2009 (8:00-10:02 p.m., ET) on ABC. Season Eight introduces viewers to 13 new stars including the youngest competitor to date, an NFL legend, a computer icon, a female rapper, three music artists, and a Wildboy. Additionally press notes state, love is a battlefield, when for the first time three real life couples take the ballroom floor. Husband and wife, Ty Murray and Jewel, compete for bragging rights while newly engaged professional dancers, Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Karina Smirnoff, go head-to-head. To top it off, country crooner, Chuck Wicks teams with girlfriend and two-time Dancing with the Stars champ, Julianne Hough.

The New Group presents Eric Bogosian in DRACULA: The Vampire Play in Three Acts, Dramatized by Hamilton Deane and John L. Balderston adapted from Bram Stoker's classic novel, Dracula. The special reading will take place March 8th, 2009 at The Acorn @ Theatre Row 410 West 42nd Street (between 9th & 10th Avenues) at 7pm.

The New Group presents Eric Bogosian in DRACULA: The Vampire Play in Three Acts, Dramatized by Hamilton Deane and John L. Balderston adapted from Bram Stoker's classic novel, Dracula. The special reading will take place March 8th, 2009 at The Acorn @ Theatre Row 410 West 42nd Street (between 9th & 10th Avenues) at 7pm.

The Independent Film 2009 Spirit Awards were given out last night Saturday, February 21 in Los Angeles and The Wrestler was a big winner, nabbing Best Film and Best Actor for star Mickey Rourke.

Hartford Stage, under the artistic direction of Michael Wilson, announced that acclaimed Emmy-nominated actor Matthew Modine will make his Hartford Stage debut as Atticus Finch in the eagerly anticipated stage adaptation of Harper Lee's classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. Hartford Stage Wilson will direct the production, which will play at the Tony Award-winning theatre February 19 - April 4. To Kill a Mockingbird is a tender portrait of a southern town, brimming with powerful lessons of tolerance, justice and quiet heroism. Scout and Jem are growing up in the Deep South during the 1930s depression. Their idyllic childhood is jolted with the realization that prejudice and bigotry rule in their small town when their father, a lawyer of principle and integrity, is asked to defend a young black man falsely accused of raping a white woman.

One of the most beloved and influential stories of our time is coming to life at Hartford Stage. Emmy-nominated actor Matthew Modine will make his Hartford Stage debut as Atticus Finch in the eagerly anticipated stage adaptation of Harper Lee?s classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird.

Sally Kellerman, who has of the most recognizable voices in film and television, will appear at the Rrazz Room in the Hotel Nikko Monday, Feb 16 and Tues, Feb 17th. She will be celebrating the release of her new jazz and standards CD, Sally Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at www.therrazzroom.com or directly through ticketweb.com or at 866 468 3399. Sally Kellerman starred as the infamous Hot Lips Houlihan in Robert Altman's M*A*S*H, for which she was nominated for both an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award. She has amassed an impressive resume of memorable feature film, television and theater credits that total in the hundreds and continues to grow each year. As with many of the great song stylists who have long inspired her, Sally Kellerman has the unique ability to make a song her own. Blessed with a thriving film and voice-over career that spans more than three decades, Sally proves once again the unlimited range of her talent as she maintains her signature sound while shifting effortlessly from the big screen to the recording studio. The CD, Sally is a fitting and contemporary mix of jazzy blues and adult standards with a touch of soulful rock. Under contract with Verve Records at the age of 18, Sally has had the opportunity to sing in numerous film and television productions. She has sung at Carnegie Hall and the Los Angeles Music Center and has appeared regularly on the concert club circuit, performing at such popular venues as The Roxy and Catalina Bar & Grill in Los Angeles and The Metropolitan Room in New York. With the release of this long awaited album, Sally has come full circle The seductive combination of words and music shine through on Sally and fans will undeniably agree that what makes the album even more special is the unmistakable presence of the voice.

An all new cast of celebrities hits the dance floor on ABC's Dancing with the Stars with the highly anticipated two-hour season premiere MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2009 (8:00-10:02 p.m., ET) on ABC. Season Eight introduces viewers to 13 new stars including the youngest competitor to date, an NFL legend, a computer icon, a female rapper, three music artists, and a Wildboy. Additionally press notes state, love is a battlefield, when for the first time three real life couples take the ballroom floor. Husband and wife, Ty Murray and Jewel, compete for bragging rights while newly engaged professional dancers, Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Karina Smirnoff, go head-to-head. To top it off, country crooner, Chuck Wicks teams with girlfriend and two-time Dancing with the Stars champ, Julianne Hough.

The Siegels brought their acceptance-speechless awards ceremony back to Town Hall for a delightful sampling of the best nightlife New York has to offer.

It was announced today that the award-winning comedienne Judy Gold would, for the first time, host the Nightlife Awards, which takes place on Monday, January 26th at 7 PM at The Town Hall. Also announced was Nightlife Legend Honoree Karen Akers who will, as trumpeted by the Nightlife Awards, make no acceptance speech but, instead, perform! And yet another winner has been found and agreed to come to Town Hall to perform: Steven Bernstein's Millennial Territory Orchestra (Outstanding Jazz Combo). Also announced today were guest stars Keith Carradine and Jim Caruso. So far, eleven of the thirteen award categories will be represented with a performance by their winners! Among those previously announced winners slated to perform are Christine Ebersole & Billy Stritch, Marilyn Maye, Mike Birbiglia, Freddy Cole, Helen Baldassare, Allan Harris, Baby Jane Dexter, Brandon Cutrell, The Improvised Shakespeare Company, Daryl Glenn and Jo Lynn Burks. Among the previously announced guest stars that will be performing are Stephanie J. Block, Larry Gatlin, Euan Morton, Noah Racey and The New York Tap Ensemble. And more soon to be announced!

On Monday, January 26 at 7 PM, the 7th Annual Nightlife Awards Concert, hailed as 'The Nightclub World's Equivalent of the Tony's' by Stephen Holden of the New York Times, returns once again with the most -- and the best -- entertainment of any awards show in the world. The reason is simple: there are no acceptance speeches at The Nightlife Awards.

Sally Kellerman, who has of the most recognizable voices in film and television, will appear at the Rrazz Room in the Hotel Nikko Monday, Feb 16 and Tues, Feb 17th. She will be celebrating the release of her new jazz and standards CD, Sally Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at www.therrazzroom.com or directly through ticketweb.com or at 866 468 3399. Sally Kellerman starred as the infamous Hot Lips Houlihan in Robert Altman's M*A*S*H, for which she was nominated for both an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award. She has amassed an impressive resume of memorable feature film, television and theater credits that total in the hundreds and continues to grow each year. As with many of the great song stylists who have long inspired her, Sally Kellerman has the unique ability to make a song her own. Blessed with a thriving film and voice-over career that spans more than three decades, Sally proves once again the unlimited range of her talent as she maintains her signature sound while shifting effortlessly from the big screen to the recording studio. The CD, Sally is a fitting and contemporary mix of jazzy blues and adult standards with a touch of soulful rock. Under contract with Verve Records at the age of 18, Sally has had the opportunity to sing in numerous film and television productions. She has sung at Carnegie Hall and the Los Angeles Music Center and has appeared regularly on the concert club circuit, performing at such popular venues as The Roxy and Catalina Bar & Grill in Los Angeles and The Metropolitan Room in New York. With the release of this long awaited album, Sally has come full circle The seductive combination of words and music shine through on Sally and fans will undeniably agree that what makes the album even more special is the unmistakable presence of the voice.

Hartford Stage, under the artistic direction of Michael Wilson, announced that acclaimed Emmy-nominated actor Matthew Modine will make his Hartford Stage debut as Atticus Finch in the eagerly anticipated stage adaptation of Harper Lee's classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. Hartford Stage Wilson will direct the production, which will play at the Tony Award-winning theatre February 19 - April 4. To Kill a Mockingbird is a tender portrait of a southern town, brimming with powerful lessons of tolerance, justice and quiet heroism. Scout and Jem are growing up in the Deep South during the 1930s depression. Their idyllic childhood is jolted with the realization that prejudice and bigotry rule in their small town when their father, a lawyer of principle and integrity, is asked to defend a young black man falsely accused of raping a white woman.

Academy and Tony Award-winning actor Joel Grey returns to television in a new episode of ABC's 'Private Practice.' Grey, whose recent TV credits include 'Brothers & Sisters' and a critically acclaimed appearance on FOX's hit drama 'House,' will guest star as Dr. Alexander Ball in the January 22, 2009 episode titled 'Nothing to Fear.' In 'Nothing to Fear,' Violet finds out she's pregnant but isn't sure who the father is; Addison struggles with her own guilty conscience after her kiss with Wyatt; and Sam and Pete clash when an old friend and colleague (Grey) asks them to help him die. Meanwhile Charlotte proposes marriage to Cooper. 'Private Practice' stars Kate Walsh as Dr. Addison Forbes Montgomery, Tim Daly as Dr. Pete Wilder, Audra McDonald as Dr. Naomi Bennett, Paul Adelstein as Dr. Cooper Freedman, KaDee Strickland as Dr. Charlotte King, Chris Lowell as William Dell Parker, with Taye Diggs as Dr. Sam Bennett and Amy Brenneman as Dr. Violet Turner. 'Private Practice' airs on ABC-TV from 10:01 - 11:00 p.m. For more information, visit http://abc.go.com/primetime/privatepractice.

The Broadway company of CHICAGO is pleased to announce additional offerings for its expanded 'Talkback Tuesdays' program, the new series offering a post-show discussion and audience Q&A session with members of the Broadway company of the record-breaking hit musical. Designed to provide theatergoers with an exclusive, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world of CHICAGO, the nlast 'Talkback Tuesdays' on Tuesday, January 20, 2009 offered a chat with Tony Award winner and the revival's original Amos Hart, Joel Grey. BroadwayWorld's cameras were there to capture the post show razzle dazzle! Tickets for performances are available by calling Telecharge.com at 212-239-6200. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the Ambassador Theatre Box Office, located at 219 W. 49th St. Regular Box Office hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and Noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. Now celebrating twelve glorious years of girls, glitz and glamour on the Great White Way, the record-breaking smash hit musical CHICAGO is currently the eighth longest-running production in Broadway history, as well as Broadway's longest-running musical revival...and it shows no sign of ever slowing down!