S. Thompson News

TACT/The Actors Company Theatre presents Natural Affection by William Inge, the first production of the company's 21st Season. Directed by TACT Co-Artistic Director Jenn Thompson, performances begin at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre (410 West 42nd Street - between 9th & 10th Avenues) tonight, September 17, 2013. Opening night is set for Thursday, September 26 at 7:30pm. Performances will continue through October 26, 2013.

Whether you're struggling with addiction-the National Institutes of Health says 15 percent of the people living in the U.S. are considered 'problem drinkers'-or any other difficulty, this real-life account describes one man's path, the dynamics of how one lands in a place of disarray, and how to overcome what may seem impossible obstacles. Raby's relentless honesty, unflinching self-scrutiny, odd luck, and writing style-making the personal universal-all come together to make A Circus of One an unforgettable book.

A lineup of top entertainers including, Julie Andrews, Lucie Arnaz, Tony Bennett, Tim Conway, Tina Fey, Rashida Jones, Vicki Lawrence, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Martin Short, Rosemary Watson and others will salute Carol Burnett at the 16th Annual Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor on Sunday, October 20, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. The evening will pay tribute the humor and accomplishments of Carol Burnett, and will be taped by WETA Washington, D.C. as Carol Burnett: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize. The program will air on PBS stations nationwide November 24, 2013 (check local listings). Artists are subject to change.

On Wednesday, August 21, The Charlie Parker Jazz Festival at SummerStage presents 'Beacons of Jazz' - A Full Length Film Screening. The FREE SHOW will take place at The New School for Jazz & Contemporary Music, located at 55 W. 13th Street, 5th floor. Showtime: 6:30PM - 8:30PM - Seating is First Come, First Served.

City Parks Foundation proudly announces the 21st edition of the beloved late summer jazz favorite, the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival. In the world of modern music, few figures loom as large or cast as long a shadow as saxophonist Charlie Parker, best known as "Bird" (short for "Yardbird") to generations of musicians. He was born in 1920, and almost sixty years since his death in 1955, he is universally celebrated for single-handedly inventing bebop and bringing jazz into the modern era.

The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park will host a free reading of a new play about Cincinnati music pioneer Syd Nathan and King Records. CINCINNATI KING, a "theatrical album" of stories about the history of Cincinnati music, racial equality and the legendary rhythm and blues label, will be presented in the Playhouse's Thompson Shelterhouse on Saturday, Aug. 31, at 7:00 p.m.

TACT/The Actors Company Theatre, the critically-acclaimed company 'dedicated to presenting neglected or rarely produced plays of literary merit,' has announced the cast and creative team for Natural Affection by William Inge, the first production of the company's 21st Season. Directed by TACT Co-Artistic Director Jenn Thompson, performances begin at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre (410 West 42nd Street - between 9th & 10th Avenues) on Tuesday, September 17, 2013. Opening night is set for Thursday, September 26 at 7:30pm. Performances will continue through October 26, 2013.

Producers Daryl Roth and Eva Price announced today that Sebastian Arcelus, Fred Dalton Thompson (in his Broadway debut), and John Douglas Thompson will star in the new Broadway courtroom drama A Time to Kill, Tony Award-winning playwright Rupert Holmes' stage adaptation of John Grisham's best-selling novel. This new Broadway play holds the distinction of being the first-ever John Grisham property to be adapted for the stage. A Time to Kill is set to open on Broadway on October 20, 2013 at the John Golden Theatre (252 West 45th Street). Previews begin September 28th. Ethan McSweeny will direct. The remainder of the high-powered ensemble cast of 13 will be announced shortly. For more information, visit www.ATimeToKillOnBroadway.com.

Sandra Bernhard, Lea DeLaria, & Scott Thompson are set to star in SO OVER THE RAINBOW, for one night only tonight, June 29th at 8:00PM, at Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker Street.

Three world premieres, seven productions in all, are scheduled for the 10th season at the Douglas. The works range from a new rock musical to a sweeping new drama to a masterful interpretation of the works of Beckett, plus the bonus option of The Second City's one-of-a-kind Christmas show. In addition, three Los Angeles solo artists will be presented in the popular DouglasPlus program, and will represent CTG in the Radar L.A. festival.

Sandra Bernhard, Lea DeLaria, & Scott Thompson are set to star in SO OVER THE RAINBOW, for one night only on Saturday, June 29th at 8:00PM, at Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker Street. To purchase tickets: http://www.lepoissonrouge.com Tickets: $45-$35

SUMMERWORKS 2013 - the annual season of new plays presented by the four-time Obie Award-winning theater company Clubbed Thumb, will be presented tonight, May 24 to June 29 at The Wild Project (195 E. 3rd St.) in Manhattan.

Thanks to loyal fans and Netflix, Arrested Development is back! Fans of Arrested Development are as gung-ho about the music as they are about the show. Composer David Schwartz (Deadwood, Northern Exposure), who composed the music for the entire series, is back for a fourth season, and a movie to follow. Schwartz composes both the original score and songs for the series.

Academy Award-winning actor Benicio Del Toro has agreed to appear alongside Joaquin Phoenix in Paul Thomas Anderson's new feature film INHERENT VICE according to a new report.

Complete casting is set for SUMMERWORKS 2013 - the annual season of new plays presented by the four-time Obie Award-winning theater company Clubbed Thumb -- it has been announced by Maria Striar, Clubbed Thumb's Producing Artistic Director. SUMMERWORKS 2013 will be presented May 24 to June 29 at The Wild Project (195 E. 3rd St.) in Manhattan.

Parents will be able to ensure their students with interest in various performing arts mediums are engaged this summer with camps from Drama Learning Center. The drama fun will run from July 8 - August 2, 2013. Tuition for DLC Baltimore summer camps is $295 per week per child. Refer-a-friend discounts are available for students who register for camp together.

Today we are talking to a uniquely gifted talent who has found a featured spotlight of late with some of his most celebrated tunes being included on NBC's musical drama series SMASH just as his new album project and series of 54 Below shows kick off this month - songwriter Joe Iconis. Illuminating the composition of, inspiration behind and depiction on SMASH of both the memorable “Broadway, Here I Come” as well as the forthcoming emotional coda “The Goodbye Song”, Iconis reveals facets of the moving melodies only the creator himself could possibly hope to provide. Additionally, Iconis explores many of the standout songs on the brand new Ghostlight album THE JOE ICONIS ROCK N ROLL JAMBOREE and the sterling host of talents involved with it. Also, Iconis shares details about what we can expect from his string of upcoming shows at cabaret venue 54 Below beginning April 15 through May 5 and the story behind his storied Family, including NEW NORMAL star Andrew Rannells (who appears at the April 15 54 Below show) and SMASH standout Krysta Rodriguez (who appears on the album. Plus, Iconis opens up about his many theatre projects, new and old, including an upcoming solo musical written expressly for Annie Golden and a Hunter S. Thompson biomusical, as well as reveals first news about a new production of THE BLACK SUITS. All of that and much, much more awaits!

Irondale presents Tueurs en Serie, a new opera composed in real time using the Soundpainting live composing sign language incorporating imagery and sound inspired by the acts of serial killers. This unique piece, a new collaboration of The Walter Thompson Orchestra and the Tours Soundpainting Orchestra (Tours, France), unfolds in an impressionistic non-linear fashion. The opera will be Soundpainted live by Walter Thompson and Angelique Cormier.

The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel welcomeed the elegant and sophisticated pianist/singer, Ms. Jo Thompson, for its new 'Second Act, A Late Night Series of Fun and Entertainment' at the Cafe Carlyle from March 21st-23rd, and continuing on March 28th and 30th. Ms. Thompson plays piano and vamps, purrs and romps her way through jazz and standards from the 1930s through the present, along with her own original material in her new program, 'Slender, Tender and Tall - An Evening With Ms. Jo Thompson'. She is joined by bassist, Calvin Hill, and drummer, Mike Campenni. BroadwayWorld was there for her first performance and brings you photos below!

THE BOOK CLUB PLAY, a comedy about books and the people who love them, continues the Playhouse's Thompson Shelterhouse Theatre season. This engaging and hilarious play by Karen Zacarias begins previews tonight, March 23 and will continue through April 28.