Simmons News

Long-time Pioneer Theatre Company Managing Director Chris Lino has announced that he will retire at the conclusion of the 2018-19 season, after 28 years at the theatre.

The 28th Annual LA Stage Alliance Ovation Awards, celebrating theatrical excellence and achievement throughout Los Angeles, were presented on Monday, January 29, at the Theatre at Ace Hotel in downtown LA.

Palm Beach Opera presented its second Lunch & Learn series with special guest speaker Nina Bernstein Simmons, daughter of legendary composer Leonard Bernstein, for an insightful and intimate portrait of Candide, the company's upcoming production.

Bravo Media's Emmy and James Beard Award-winning “Top Chef” will call Kentucky home for season 16. The state's “Unbridled Spirit” will reign supreme as a new batch of cheftestants enter the kitchen to battle it out for the coveted title across the thriving culinary scenes in Louisville, Lexington and Lake Cumberland. With Bourbon, horses and Bluegrass music setting the scene, the culinary competition series will explore this unique region of the country, rising through the ranks as a top destination for foodies and chefs. Production will begin in the spring of 2018 with the season set to premiere later this year. The announcement was made today in partnership with the Kentucky Department of Tourism.

Comedian, actor, director and producer Martin Lawrence will return to the stage as the host of 2018's hottest comedy event: the "LIT AF Tour" at the Mandalay Bay Events Center Saturday, April 7 at 7:30 p.m. Coming off the 20th anniversary of Def Comedy Jam, where he is known as the legendary host, Lawrence has made a triumphant return to the stand-up stage wowing audiences with his signature style of hilarious stories, social commentary and more. The "LIT AF Tour" stars Lawrence as the high-powered host who will present a lineup of comedians including Deon Cole, Rickey Smiley, Bruce Bruce and Benji Brown.

Theatre Under the Stars presents MEMPHIS! The 2010 Tony Awards Best Musical winner, featuring a book by Joe DiPietro and music by David Bryan, is set in the 1950s. It follows DJ Huey Calhoun, who breaks convention when he becomes one of the first white DJs to play black music on his radio station. MEMPHIS is set to open February 20th, and will run through March 4th.

Hopeful pups in Glasgow today lined up at Theatre Royal to audition for the role of Brusier in Legally Blonde the Musical which will run at the King's Theatre in April.

The Skivvies are back at Joe's Pub for an exciting line up on March 5 at 9:30. Joining them are some of Broadway's biggest stars. Guests include: Laura Benanti, Andrew Keenan Bolger, Nick Adams, Paige Davis, Mike Viruet, Emma Hunton, Kissy Simmons, and Ray Lee.

CBS All Access Renews NO ACTIVITY For Season 2

Phil LaMarr has been delivering incredibly rich characters to animation, film and the stage for the past thirty years. If you are not familiar with his name, you are sure to know his voice.

FotoFocus, the nonprofit arts organization that champions photography and lens-based art, is pleased to announce that internationally acclaimed artist Zoe Leonard will join FotoFocus Artistic Director Kevin Moore in conversation on March 29, 2018, as part of the organization's Lecture and Visiting Artist Series. 

Mazel Tov! The Jule Styne Celebration Continues! The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Evans Haile, Executive Director), dedicated to the development of new musicals and the preservation of musical gems from the past, presents the rarely-seen musical Bar Mitzvah Boy, with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Tony and Oscar winner Don Black (Sunset Boulevard), and book by Jack Rosenthal (Yentl), as adapted by David Thompson (The Scottsboro Boys), the second of three shows in the Winter 2018 Musicals in Mufti Series celebrating the work of composer Jule Styne. Performances began February 10, 2018 for 11 performances only through Sunday, February 18, 2018 at the York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue). Opening Night was Sunday evening, February 11, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. Check out photos from the night below!

The Los Angeles Police Memorial Foundation (LAPMF) will hold a special benefit concert on Tuesday March 6 at Avalon Hollywood. The evening will begin with a performance by LA-based rock musicians Heaven & Earth. Steven Tyler and the Loving Mary Band will close the evening out.

NOTHING - THE MOD MUSICAL stars Carol Harrison as Kay Marriott and Chris Simmons as Steve Marriott, as well as Samuel Pope as Young Steve Marriott, Stefan Edwards as Kenney Jones, Stanton Wright as Ronnie Lane, Alexander Gold as Ian McLagan, Edward Elgood as Jimmy Winston, Karis Anderson as P.P. Arnold and Russell Floyd as Don Arden. Also in the cast are Daniel Beales, Alfie Harrison-Foreman, Dani Acors and Emily Daniels. David Shute and Danielle Johnson will play Steve Marriott and Kay Marriott at certain performances. ALL OR NOTHING's limited season will run at the Arts Theatre, London from 6 February to 11 March.

 "C'mon babe! Why don't we paint the town?" Entertainment Weekly calls CHICAGO "Broadway's Most Electrifying Show!" Now for 8-performances only, Thursday, March 1st through Sunday, March 11th, the Barn Players bring this modern musical classic to their new home at downtown's Arts Asylum: 1000 East 9th Street, (off Harrison Street), Kansas City, MO 64106.

Drag Sensation Lady Bunny, Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh, and poet Caridad de la Luz / La Bruja will make special guest appearances in RIOT, the award-winning Irish theatrical extravaganza having its American premiere at NYU Skirball, February 15 - 17 at 7:30 pm. Each guest will bring their own "piece de resistance"  to RIOT'S mix of high art and trash culture, and will be introduced by Panti Bliss, Ireland's most famous Drag Queen and international gay rights activist.

NBC News begins coverage of the XXIII Olympic Winter Games from Pyeongchang, South Korea today, February 8, one day before the Opening Ceremony.

NEW YORK, Feb. 7, 2018 /PRNewswire/ The Trustees of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation have elected Elizabeth Alexander to be the Foundation's next President, effective March 2018. Alexander will succeed Earl Lewis, who has served as President since 2013.

Seattle Musical Theatre (SMT) is proud to announce its upcoming production of AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'.