Robert Redford News

Bucks County Playhouse has announced the initial casting of its much anticipated 2012 holiday production, It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play by Joe Landry. Performances run from Thursday, December 13th through Sunday, December 30th at the Bucks County Playhouse (70 South Main Street).

Producer Charlie Lyons (The Water Horse, The Guardian, Ladder 49), director Jay Russell (The Water Horse, Ladder 49, My Dog Skip) and actor Tim Guinee (NBC's "Revolution", Showtime's "Homeland", "Iron Man I & II") worked for two years to acquire the theatrical stage rights to the most famous and beloved of all noir short stories, "Rear Window" (aka "It Had to be Murder"). This unique producing consortium announced today their plans to mount a Broadway production of the iconic and haunting tale of the wheelchair bound witness to a possible murder in his neighboring New York City apartment. Although the Broadway rights in this story have been repeatedly sought over the years from the Sheldon Abend Revocable Trust and its predecessors, this is the first option ever granted.

Sundance Institute today announced that it has established a first-of-its-kind Tennessee Williams Award to honor emerging playwrights who have participated in its Theatre Program Labs. Permission was given by The University of the South, the beneficiary of the Williams' estate.

Bucks County Playhouse announced a special two day engagement of A.R. Gurney's Love Letters, starring theatre, television and film legends Tyne Daly and James Earl Jones. Love Letters will be performed tonight, October 20th at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, October 21st at 2:00 p.m. at the Bucks County Playhouse (70 South Main Street). Following the Saturday evening performance, there will be a benefit reception underwritten by The Inn at Barley Sheaf Farm (barleysheaf.com) to honor the cast and raise money for the Playhouse.

As the latest initiative of National YoungArts Foundation's (YoungArts) ongoing work to help increase arts education and awareness, YoungArts has begun distributing copies of Pursuing Your Passion: Lessons from YoungArts MasterClass, a study guide booklet and 2-DVD set, free of charge to middle and high schools nationwide.

Sundance Institute today announced the four documentary film projects and composers that have been paired together for the tenth Composers + Documentary Lab, October 26 through November 1 at Sundance Resort in Sundance, Utah. The Lab is a joint initiative of the Institute's Documentary Film Program and Fund (DFP) and Film Music Program.

RESTLESS, Sundance Channel's riveting original miniseries, will premiere December 7th at 9 pm et/pt with part two premiering on December 14th at 9pm et/pt, it was announced today.

Robert Redford , renowned actor, film director, environmentalist, and founder of the Sundance Film Festival, will join the 2012 Houston Cinema Arts Festival (HCAF) to participate in a 90-minute conversation at Sundance Cinemas Houston on two facets of his multi-faceted career -- his creative work as film director and as Founder and President of the Sundance Institute.

The Flea Theater in association with Four Arts Media will present a groundbreaking new dramatic series comprised of original plays for radio and mobile media. Each of the 13 one-hour-long episodes will explore American life decade by decade from the early 20th century to the present. Says series creator, Arthur Yorinks, 'Each stand-alone play will be modern, edgy, raw and compelling.'

Soprano prodigy Jackie Evancho includes a stop in Denver in her national tour across North America coinciding with the release of her recent album Songs from the Silver Screen. Her one-night-only performance with the Colorado Symphony is Monday, November 5 at 7:30 pm at Boettcher Concert Hall in the Denver Performing Arts Complex.

The Flea Theater in association with Four Arts Media will present a groundbreaking new dramatic series comprised of original plays for radio and mobile media. Each of the 13 one-hour-long episodes will explore American life decade by decade from the early 20th century to the present. Says series creator, Arthur Yorinks, 'Each stand-alone play will be modern, edgy, raw and compelling.'

The Sundance Institute Theatre Program today announced that it will return to the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) for its Fall Lab, which provides creative support and direction for innovative musical theatre and ensemble-generated projects. Also announced today were the three projects that have been selected to participate.

Bucks County Playhouse (BCP) (Jed Bernstein, Producing Director) has announced a Halloween Festival on Saturday, October 27th beginning at 1:30 p.m. in front of the Bucks County Playhouse (70 South Main Street) followed immediately by a screening of the classic MGM movie: The Wizard of Oz, with an audience Sing-A-Long at 3:00 p.m.

Sundance Institute today announced the six projects selected for the New Frontier Story Lab that will take place from October 21-26 at the Sundance Resort in Utah. Inspired by New Frontier at the Sundance Film Festival and built on the Sundance Institute Lab model, the Lab is supporting projects that use technology to deepen story and engage audiences.

Bacardi U.S.A., Inc. (Bacardi USA) announced today that National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts) , a non-profit organization, has acquired the iconic landmark Bacardi Tower and Museum building complex in Miami, Florida. In an act of civic and cultural philanthropy, Bacardi has conveyed the property to YoungArts at a significant reduction of its market value, ensuring that an important part of Miami's architecture, social and cultural fabric will be preserved and honored. Bacardi has always maintained a core philosophy that design, art and architecture reflect a quality of life and the quality of the superior spirits brands produced and marketed by the company.

Academy Award-nominated actors Matt Dillon ('Crash') and Diane Lane ('Unfaithful') will be honored with Outstanding Achievement in Cinema Awards at the 15th annual Savannah Film Festival,Oct. 27 - Nov. 3.

Sundance Institute today announced that its President & Founder Robert Redford will present journalist and film critic Roger Ebert with the Vanguard Leadership Award in recognition of his advocacy of independent cinema. The award presentation will take place at the third annual 'Celebrate Sundance Institute' benefit, chaired by Institute Trustee Lyn Lear and her husband, Norman, on June 5, 2013 in Los Angeles.

Tony Award-winner Scarlett Johansson returns to Broadway to star as Maggie, with Ciaran Hinds as Big Daddy, Benjamin Walker as Brick and Tony and Emmy Award-winner Debra Monk as Big Mama in Tennessee Williams' Pulitzer Prize-winning classic CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF. Directed by Tony and Emmy Award-winner Rob Ashford, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF will begin preview performances Tuesday, December 18 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 West 46th Street). Opening night is Thursday, January 17.

The Trustees of the National Theatre Corporation (NTC), in Washington, D.C., are announcing that they have entered into an arrangement with Chicago-based JAM Theatricals, Ltd. and Philadelphia area-based SMG that will expand the presentations at the historic National Theatre to include an annual Broadway series, concerts, leading classical artists and other attractions. JAM and SMG are combining to provide booking, advertising, marketing and promotional services, venue management and operational support for the Theatre.

The Trustees of the National Theatre Corporation (NTC), in Washington, D.C., are announcing that they have entered into an arrangement with Chicago-based JAM Theatricals, Ltd. and Philadelphia area-based SMG that will expand the presentations at the historic National Theatre to include an annual Broadway series, concerts, leading classical artists and other attractions. JAM and SMG are combining to provide booking, advertising, marketing and promotional services, venue management and operational support for the Theatre.