The Black Eyed News

San Diego REPertory Theatre (San Diego REP) announces casting of 'A Hammer, a Bell and a Song to Sing: the Music of Pete Seeger.' Three actors portray the legendary activist and songwriter in the workshop production written and directed by Todd Salovey, associate artistic director, San Diego REPertory Theatre. Previews for 'A Hammer, a Bell and a Song to Sing: the Music of Pete Seeger' begin Jan. 7, 2012. Opening night is Sat., Jan 14 and the production runs through Jan. 29, 2012 on the Lyceum Stage.

CNN, the worldwide leader in news, announced new show details and additions to the line-up for CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute. Hosted by Anderson Cooper, the show honors everyday people doing extraordinary things, and will air live from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, CA, globally on CNN's networks including CNN/U.S., HLN, CNN International and CNN en Espanol. Additionally Dr. Sanjay Gupta, the multiple Emmy(R)-award winning chief medical correspondent for CNN, will conduct exclusive backstage interviews streamed live on CNN.com during the show with bonus content available on CNN's mobile apps for iPad, iPhone and Android.

In MAPLE AND VINE, Katha (Marin Ireland) and Ryu (Peter Kim) have become allergic to their 21st-century lives. After they meet a charismatic man from a community of 1950s re-enactors, they forsake cell phones and sushi for cigarettes and Tupperware parties. In this compulsively authentic world, Katha and Ryu are surprised by what their new neighbors - and they themselves - are willing to sacrifice for happiness. Check out production shots from the show below!

MADONNA, a multi Grammy Award-winning Universal Records recording artist, will perform in the BRIDGESTONE SUPER BOWL XLVI HALFTIME SHOW on NBC at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Sunday, February 5, the NFL and NBC announced during tonight's Sunday Night Football game between the New Orleans Saints and Detroit Lions. Madonna's performance will be imagined by CIRQUE DU SOLEIL and JAMIE KING.

Pitbull and Hot Chelle Rae will join previously announced Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber as performers, live from New York, on 'Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2012.'

MCC Theater has announced the complete cast for the newly reworked and fully re-imagined production of Carrie, the musical. Carrie features music by Michael Gore, lyrics by Dean Pitchford (Academy Award winning composer and lyricist for the original film Fame) and a book by Lawrence D. Cohen (who also adapted the 1974 novel by Stephen King for the 1976 Brian DePalma film). Directed by Stafford Arima, performances for Carrie begin January 31, 2012, at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC). The official opening night is set for March 1, 2012.

mun2, the leading bilingual and bicultural cable network, wraps up 2011 and welcomes 2012 with an unprecedented, star-studded music programming line-up of Cristian Castro, Joe Jonas, Paulina Rubio, Romeo Santos, Mac Miller, Jenni Rivera and coverage of the 2011 Latin Grammy awards.

mun2, the leading bilingual and bicultural cable network, wraps up 2011 and welcomes 2012 with an unprecedented, star-studded music programming line-up of Cristian Castro, Joe Jonas, Paulina Rubio, Romeo Santos, Mac Miller, Jenni Rivera and coverage of the 2011 Latin Grammy awards.

Noor Theatre's second-annual HIGHLIGHT reading series continues with The Strangest by Betty Shamieh and directed by May Adrales on Monday, November 14th at 7:30pm at The Fourth Street Theatre in New York City.

The Winter Play Season at [Inside] the Ford kicks off with Lonnie Carter's OBIE award-winning The Romance of Magno Rubio in English - plus the world premiere of Ang Romansa ni Magno Rubio, a new translation into Tagalog. PAE Live! presents five performances each week, three in English and two in Tagalog, with both versions directed by translator Bernardo Bernardo. The Romance of Magno Rubio opens on November 4, and Ang Romansa ni Magno Rubio follows on November 5.

Noor Theatre's second-annual HIGHLIGHT reading series continues with The Strangest by Betty Shamieh and directed by May Adrales on Monday, November 14th at 7:30pm at The Fourth Street Theatre in New York City.

Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) begins accepting entries today, Wednesday, November 9, for its popular LIVEforFIVE online lottery for $5 tickets to the New York premiere of MAPLE AND VINE, a new play by Jordan Harrison (Doris to Darlene at Playwrights Horizons, Amazons and Their Men, Kid-Simple), directed by Obie Award winner Anne Kauffman (The Thugs, Stunning, Naked Angels' This Wide Night, Mr. Harrison's Act a Lady).

Cristian Castro, Gustavo Dudamel, Sean Kingston, and La Orquesta Sinfónica Simón Bolívar de Venezuela are the latest artists added to the lineup for the 12th Annual Latin GRAMMY® Awards (www.latingrammy.com) telecast, it was announced today by The Latin Recording Academy®.

Are the Black Eyed Peas in the midst of finding a new female lead? According to a report from MediaTakeOut.com, the Black Eyed Peas intend to replace singer Fergie with R & B singer Ashanti.

In MAPLE AND VINE, Katha (Marin Ireland) and Ryu (Peter Kim) have become allergic to their 21st-century lives. After they meet a charismatic man from a community of 1950s re-enactors, they forsake cell phones and sushi for cigarettes and Tupperware parties. In this compulsively authentic world, Katha and Ryu are surprised by what their new neighbors - and they themselves - are willing to sacrifice for happiness.

Halloween comes a night early this year when FOX airs frightfully funny all-new episodes of THE SIMPSONS (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT), FAMILY GUY (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT) and THE CLEVELAND SHOW (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT) on Sunday, Oct. 30. Also, don't miss the series premiere of ALLEN GREGORY (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT), the latest addition to Sunday's Animation Domination comedy block.

Broadway star and award-winning singer and actress Lillias White will perform in concert for the first time at Aaron Davis Hall 7 p.m. Friday, November 4. This concert starts the cavalcade of stars appearing at CCNY for the year-long season of activities billed 'All That's City.'

Gene & Shelley Enlow Recital Hall at Kean University presents a rare opportunity to hear nine-time Grammy® Award-winning singer / songwriter John Legend in an intimate evening of performance and storytelling with audience interaction. As a special event of the 2011-12 Season, An Evening with John Legend will be at 7:00 pm on Sunday, October 23.

Halloween comes a night early this year when FOX airs frightfully funny all-new episodes of THE SIMPSONS (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT), FAMILY GUY (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT) and THE CLEVELAND SHOW (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT) on Sunday, Oct. 30. Also, don't miss the series premiere of ALLEN GREGORY (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT), the latest addition to Sunday's Animation Domination comedy block.

Film and television star Jerry O'Connell, now in rehearsals to make his Broadway debut in the World Premiere of Alan Rickman starring in the new comedy SEMINAR by Theresa Rebeck, will co-host 'Live! with Regis and Kelly' this Thursday morning, October 13.