Sherman Howard News

Great news! Playwright David Adjmi has won his legal battle with DLT Entertainment. The writer was accused of copyright infringement for his play '3C', a dark parody of THREE'S COMPANY, which originally ran off-Broadway at Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre in 2012.

Tony Award-winning actor and clown Bill Irwin opens Philadelphia Theatre Company's new Theatre Masters Series on February 16 at 7:00 PM at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets). Irwin will be joined in his conversation by arts consultant and former Executive Director of the American Theatre Wing Howard Sherman.

The Music Center named 108 of some of Southern California's most talented high school students as semifinalists* in the 27th annual The Music Center Presents Spotlight program, a free nationally-acclaimed scholarship and arts training program for teens. An important part of The Music Center's fundamental support for arts education, Spotlight provides opportunities for Southern California high school students to acquire the skills they need to pursue their artistic dreams in the performing arts.

Blogger Howard Sherman spoke this morning play's writer, Eve Ensler who shared her reaction to the news, and the still evolving situation. She shared 'This is my perspective on it: The Vagina Monologues is a play. It's one play. It was never meant to speak for all women and it was never a play about what it means to be a woman. It was a play about what it means to have a vagina. It was very specific. I don't I ever said that the definition of a woman - that a woman is defined by having a vagina. I think we have to be able to live in a world where talking about our vaginas is legitimate, due to that three and half billion women have them.'

The Dramatists Guild of America has announced the recipients of their annual awards, which will be presented at an awards ceremony hosted by David Henry Hwang on Monday, February 23, 2015, at The Harvard Club in New York.

Earlier today, theatre administrator and former Executive Director of the American Theatre Wing, Howard Sherman kicked off a Twitter topic aimed at the most creative theatre fans online. Sherman, known for his creative social media presence started the fun with the tweet below:

This fall, the Maiden High School's production of John Cariani's 'Almost, Maine' was canceled because of one scene in which two young men realize they have feelings for each other. Now students are producing the play off-campus with the help of former local elementary school teacher, Carmen Eckard.

High schools in Connecticut and Pennsylvania made national news this year when their principals canceled productions of 'controversial' musicals Rent and Spamalot. Now the National Coalition Against Censorship is honoring those who stood up for the shows' performances on their list of Top 40 Free Speech Defenders of 2014.

As previously reported, Maiden High School in Maiden, North Carolina, recently canceled its upcoming production of ALMOST, MAINE due to controversial content, specifically, a single scene, 'titled The Fell,' in which two male characters realize their feelings for one another. The Maiden High School principal made the decision to cancel the romantic comedy soon after rehearsals began, after receiving complaints from both parents and churches in the area, despite permission slips being signed. Now, Maiden's ALMOST, MAINE has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund that effort. It has already met (and surpassed) its $1,000 goal, with 41 backers, $1,363 donated, and 13 days to go. Watch their Kickstarter video below!

As previously reported, Maiden High School in Maiden, North Carolina recently canceled its upcoming production of ALMOST, MAINE due to controversial content, specifically, a single scene, 'titled The Fell,' in which two male characters realize their feelings for one another.

Premium entertainment network EPIX announced today that Forgotten Four: The Integration of Pro Football, an EPIX Original Documentary, will make its World Premiere tonight, September 23, 2014, at 8PM ET.

The school district has recently heard from the Educational Theatre Association, and Dramatists Guild, amongst other organizations and industry professionals. Last night, the American Critics Association wrote in to address the controversy:

The school district has recently heard from the Educational Theatre Association, and Dramatists Guild, amongst other organizations and industry professionals. Last night, the American Critics Association wrote in to address the controversy:

As BroadwayWorld reported earlier this summer, via blogger and industry professional Howard Sherman, South Williamsport, a high school in Lycoming County, PA, had been forced to cancel their spring production of Monty Python's Spamalot due to 'controversial content,' which includes a homosexual marriage. Following the decision, Principal Jesse Smith made a statement to the local paper, saying: 'When we have extracurricular activities, we do not ask the students to make a choice as to what they might deem controversial material,' and 'I don't want kids to feel like they had to choose between performing and what they felt was controversial material. They should be able to sign up for a play and know that it's school-sponsored and they won't have to make a moral or ethical decision.' Today, Educational Theatre Association Executive Director Julie Woffington wrote to the school district:

As BroadwayWorld reported earlier this summer, via blogger and industry professional Howard Sherman, South Williamsport, a high school in Lycoming County, PA, had been forced to cancel their spring production of Monty Python's Spamalot due to 'controversial content,' which includes a homosexual marriage. Today, the Dramatists Guild of America issued the following statement...

59E59 Theaters presents the second show in the inaugural 5A Season with the New York premiere of BAUER, written by Lauren Gunderson and directed by Bill English. Produced by the San Francisco Playhouse, BAUER begins performances on Tuesday, September 2 for a limited engagement through Sunday, October 12. Opening Night is tonight, September 9 at 7 PM.

Smith elaborated that he doesn't want students to feel compromised....

As BroadwayWorld reported earlier this Summer. South Williamsport, a high school in Lycoming County, PA, had been forced to cancel their spring production of Monty Python's Spamalot due to 'controversial content,' which includes a homosexual marriage. According to WNEP, the school administrators thought that the musical's subject matter was too inappropriate for students.

Since then, emails have been revealed uncovering the nature of the conversation between school Principal Jesse Smith and Superintendent Dr. Mark Stamm, according to a blog by industry professional Howard Sherman. After seeking access to their correspondence through Pennsylvania's 'Right to Know Law,' Sherman just now received further information regarding the decision to cancel the show.