Sam Jackson News

Crackle Plus, a Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment (Nasdaq: CSSE) company and one of the largest operators of streaming advertising-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) networks, today announced the upcoming content releases planned for September.

The annual Association of British Orchestras (ABO) Conference, the UK's leading classical music forum takes place in venues across Manchester and Salford this week (29-31 January).

Four-time Obie Award-winner Caryl Churchill is the pre-eminent writer of feminist themes involving sexual politics, abuses of power and gender equality. There's no better metaphor of these themes than the witch hunts of 17th century England which provide the backstory of Vinegar Tom, an allegory that rings so true today. The play, which includes a modern score by Diana Lawrence sung by a Greek chorus dressed as street walkers, bridges time to illustrate the continuity of women's struggle against shaming, disempowerment and inequality. In director Ariel Craft's skillful hands, Churchill's sad satire blazes anew with a remarkable cast and technical crew that conjure both history and the present in vivid detail.

If witches have so much power, then why are they always poverty-stricken? Vinegar Tom is a wild mash-up of desperate women living in 17th century society with modern musical numbers connecting the tale to our own troubled times. This is Churchill at her best: raw, satirical, political, and mad as hell! Vinegar Tom begins previews on Friday, December 6, 2019; opens on Friday, December 13, 2019; and runs through Sunday, January 5, 2020, at the Ashby Stage.

Variety reports that actor Samuel L. Jackson will provide a new voice option for Amazon Alexa. He will be the first celebrity to do so, with more guest voices being added starting in 2020.

Aurora Theatre Company opens its dynamic 28th season with the Bay Area Premiere of Ike Holter's  EXIT STRATEGY. Aurora's new Artistic Director Josh Costello will direct this powerful examination of the Chicago public school system. 

New member of congress, Sydney Millsap, sees how money corrupts politics, and she's on a mission to do something about it. Just imagine how a career senator and two ambitious lobbyists react to her efforts! Kings is a whip-smart political satire that will inspire you to change the system. And vote. Kings begins previews on Thursday, May 16; opens on Thursday, May 23; and runs through Sunday, June 16, 2019, at the Ashby Stage.

Celebrate Halloween with the Village Playwrights today, October 31, 7 pm to 9 pm, with Queer Scare V, staged readings of 7 ten-minute plays at the LGBT Community Center, Room 310, 208 W. 13th St., NYC. Suggested donation $10. Reservations recommended. Email villageplaywrights@gmail.com or call 614-285-2515.

Celebrate Halloween with the Village Playwrights on today, October 31, 7 pm to 9 pm, with Queer Scare V, staged readings of 7 ten-minute plays at the LGBT Community Center, Room 310, 208 W. 13th St., NYC. Suggested donation $10. Reservations recommended. Email villageplaywrights@gmail.com or call 614-285-2515.

The world's most iconic dance brand Ministry of Sound have announced The Annual Classical, an orchestral tour which celebrates and reimagines their legendary dance music compilation The Annual.

Join the Village Playwrights Wednesday, October 31, from 7 pm to 9 pm, for a celebration of with Queer Scare V, staged readings of 7 ten-minute plays at the LGBT Community Center, Room 310, 208 W. 13th St., NYC. Suggested donation $10.   Reservations are recommended.  Email villageplaywrights@gmail.com or call 614-285-2515.

San Francisco Playhouse will celebrate the opening of the 10th Season of its Sandbox Series with the original production of graveyard shift, written by Korde Arrington Tuttle. Melissa Crespo will direct.

San Francisco Playhouse will celebrate the opening of the 10th Season of its Sandbox Series with the original production of graveyard shift, written by Korde Arrington Tuttle. Melissa Crespo will direct.

San Francisco Playhouse (Artistic Director Bill English; Producing Director Susi Damilano) announced casting for the second show of its 2017-18 Sandbox Series-the world premiere of In Braunau, written by Dipika Guha. Susannah Martin will direct.

Aurora Theatre Company closes its 25th season with the Bay Area Premiere of SPLENDOUR, Abi Morgan's (Suffragette, The Iron Lady, Shame, The Hour) riveting play about the fragility of power and the unreliability of language. Barbara Damashek (American Buffalo) returns to Aurora to helm this drama, featuring Lorri Holt (The Aspern Papers), Denmo Ibrahim (Betrayed), Mia Tagano, and Sam Jackson. SPLENDOUR plays June 23 through July 23 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

Aurora Theatre Company closes its 25th season with the Bay Area Premiere of SPLENDOUR, Abi Morgan's (Suffragette, The Iron Lady, Shame, The Hour) riveting play about the fragility of power and the unreliability of language. Barbara Damashek (American Buffalo) returns to Aurora to helm this drama, featuring Lorri Holt (The Aspern Papers), Denmo Ibrahim (Betrayed), Mia Tagano, and Sam Jackson. SPLENDOUR plays June 23 through July 23 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

Aurora Theatre Company closes its 25th season with the Bay Area Premiere of SPLENDOUR, Abi Morgan's (Suffragette, The Iron Lady, Shame, The Hour) riveting play about the fragility of power and the unreliability of language. In the dripping-with-wealth drawing room of a presidential palace, a Western photojournalist awaits the return of a dictator. She is there to take his picture only the dictator in question is running very, very late. The sounds of gunfire from the streets and rumors of revolution swirling in the air reveal that something has also gone very, very wrong. The dictator's wife, her best friend, and an interpreter wait with her. They talk films and Prada shoes as their fingers lightly tap out the time. All four women harbor secrets and suspicions. All four are in danger. In a fascinating, non-linear structure, this lush piece returns over and over to earlier scenes, each time with the knowledge of what has been uncovered since. Compassionate, dispassionate, and icily probing, SPLENDOUR allows a devastating glimpse into the minds of four women as their world turns.

This season welcomed the very first Broadway production of the August Wilson drama, Jitney. Based on the real-life cab services of the 1970's which would service clients of color when regular taxi cabs would not, the story examines the relationships of the community in and around a jitney station in Pittsburgh's Hill District. Being the last play of Wilson's American Century Cycle to reach the Main Stem, the production adds the final jewel to the crown of August Wilson's sterling Broadway legacy.

This December, NCTC brings the holiday cheer with everyone's favorite foul-mouthed, feel-good musical: the return of NCTC's award-winning production of Avenue Q, with music, lyrics and original concept by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marxand book by Jeff Whitty. Proclaimed by San Francisco Travel Magazine as "a local tradition," this "year-in, year-out hilarious, high-energy, and heart-warming production" (Theatre Eddys) won over critics and audiences alike in its previous engagements in NCTC's intimate Decker Theatre. Declares the San Francisco Examiner, "only the Grinch could prevent the laughter-filled show from selling out night after night."

Berkeley Playhouse is proud to present the world premiere of Bridges: A New Musical Lyricist & Author CHERYL L. DAVIS Composer DOUGLAS J. COHEN Based on an original concept by ELIZABETH McKOY