Thomas Jefferson News

Capital Stage continues its annual new work festival, PLAYWRIGHTS' REVOLUTION 2013 with staged readings of three new plays today, August 15-17, 2013.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) is pleased to offer an open captioned performance ofTony Award-winning director Frank Galati's triumphant new staging of the musical 1776 on Thursday, October 3 at 8 p.m., at A.C.T.'s Geary Theater (415 Geary Street, San Francisco). Special seats have been reserved for hearing-impaired audience members who would like an optimal view of the digital screen. These tickets (located in the Orchestra section) are $40 per person and available by visiting at act-sf.org/1776 (select the "caption" tab) or by calling A.C.T. at 415.749.2228.

Capital Stage continues its annual new work festival, PLAYWRIGHTS' REVOLUTION 2013 with staged readings of three new plays August 15-17, 2013.

The U.S. Supreme Court's recent decisions on voting rights and Proposition 8 have sparked conversations and debates throughout the country. Warren Lee Grant's new book, 'A Constitutional Crisis: The Role of the Federal Judiciary in the Transformation and Secularization of America' (published by WestBow Press), focuses on the root of what Grant decries are the problems with U.S. Supreme Court and how to solve them.

It is said that blood is thicker than water, but for the talented writers in the Link family, the ink in their pens matches the thickness of the blood in their veins. In 'Family Voices,' author George L. Spaeth maps out his family tree by tracing both their bloodlines and their literary works, presenting a diverse collection of prose and poetry from four generations of writers, poets and storytellers.

Everybody knows a lawyer joke or two, but what's not as well known is the effect of the legal mind on the U.S. presidency. That's a problem, author Albert Lebowitz points out in his new book, because 27 of the 44 presidents since the nation's founding have been lawyers. For instance, although hundreds of books and articles have been written about Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, little emphasis has been placed on both of them earning degrees from Ivy League law schools, being constitutional law professors and having wives who also graduated from Ivy League law schools and practiced law.

It's only fitting that while we're celebrating Independence Day there's a production of the musical 1776 being staged by a local theatre group. After all, it's not has-been bands at local fairs and fireworks displays that we're supposed to be honoring on this particular occasion, but rather the principles which this country was founded upon. And, 1776 is an entertaining and informative show (book by Peter Stone, and music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards) that attempts to set this historical event to music. Although it's often uneven in tone, it's an engaging ride nonetheless, and Insight Theatre Company's current production is a solid interpretation driven by some fine performances.

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va., July 3, 2013 - Visit Fairfax, the destination marketing organization representing Fairfax County, Virginia, has launched "Historical Figures," an innovative cross-platform promotional campaign targeting Smartphone users. Wild postings and transit posters featuring some of our nation's most prominent historical figures will be positioned in high-traffic urban areas. Smartphone users can then transform these static posters into an interactive experience with just a few clicks.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) kicks off its 2013-14 season with passionate (and patriotic) fireworks with the West Coast premiere of Tony Award-winning director Frank Galati's triumphant new staging of the musical 1776. A.C.T.'s production of 1776 runs September 11-October 6, 2013, at The Geary Theater (415 Geary Street, San Francisco). Tickets starting at $20, and are on sale now and may be purchased online at act-sf.org or by calling 415.749.2228.

Audiences will be mesmerized by the classic score in Kopit & Yeston's Phantom tonight, June 21- 30 at the Benedum Center. Phantom is back by popular demand and will feature an incredible cast comprised of Broadway stars and Pittsburgh CLO veterans.

The Cyrus Cylinder—a 2,600-year-old inscribed clay document from Babylon in ancient Iraq and one of the most famous surviving icons from the ancient world—is the centerpiece of the traveling exhibition The Cyrus Cylinder and Ancient Persia: Charting a New Empire, on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art beginning June 20. The Cylinder is relevant to millions of people across the world.

Sony Movie Channel (SMC) is filling the screen with outlaws, horse thieves and cowboys as the channel brands July with some of the best Western films ever made.

Audiences will be mesmerized by the classic score in Kopit & Yeston's Phantom June 21- 30 at the Benedum Center. Phantom is back by popular demand and will feature an incredible cast comprised of Broadway stars and Pittsburgh CLO veterans.

Fentress Global Challenge is an international competition created to stimulate students worldwide in the exploration of future design possibilities in public architecture. In its third annual competition, students are invited to envision Fentress Architects' concept, “Upcycled Architecture.”

Come on along and listen to the lullaby of Broadway at the Barn Theatre! The glamour, spectacle, and fashion of 1930s Broadway comes to the Barn in 42ND STREET tonight, June 11 through 23.

Capturing the spirit of the United States through two centuries of artistic expression, From Colony to Nation: 200 Years of American Painting features more than eighty works dating from 1720 to 1918, drawn from the New-York Historical Society's large holdings of American paintings. On view June 7 through September 8, 2013, the exhibition interweaves art history and American history into a richly textured visual panorama, with subjects ranging from early Colonial portraits to urban Impressionism. The exhibition also highlights the story of the artists, patrons, and collectors whose contributions informed the history of New-York Historical.

Come on along and listen to the lullaby of Broadway at the Barn Theatre! The glamour, spectacle, and fashion of 1930s Broadway comes to the Barn in 42ND STREET June 11 through 23.

Profiles in History, run by Joe Maddalena, has announced the high sale results of their auction, 'The Property Of A Distinguished American Collector Part II' in Los Angeles. High selling items are detailed below.

After the six million dollar sale of part I, Profiles in History, run by Joe Maddalena, is proud to announce the auction of The Property of a Distinguished American Private Collector Part II today, May 30th. This collection of letters and manuscripts is one of the greatest collections ever amassed. In the first sale a letter by Vincent van Gogh sold for $336,000 and a Thomas Jefferson letter sold for $300,000, Part II promises to be even bigger.

Hennepin Theatre Trust today announced the new spring 2013 honorees from Minnesota high schools recognizing musical theatre accomplishments by school and category for the 2012-13 SpotLight Musical Theatre Program. Now in its eighth successful year, SpotLight is Hennepin Theatre Trust's flagship educational initiative which honors and supports Minnesota high school musical theatre students and programs. This year, 56 schools, including nine from greater Minnesota, are presenting musicals made possible by the collaboration of almost 5,000 students and annually seen by an estimated 105,000 audience members.