William Faulkner News

For certain xenophobic East Coast opera lovers, the words 'St.Louis' and 'Opera' could seem like an oxymoron. However, this would be an invalid assumption.

This summer, Aubade Publishing is scheduled to release three books: 'Sadie in Love' (ISBN: 978-0984549412), a novel by Rochelle Distelheim; 'Paricutin: The Miracle of Daniel Pulido' (ISBN: 978-0984549436), a novel by Jerome John Dobson; and 'The Annotated Murder of One' (ISBN: 978-0984549450), a collection of poems by Jared Pearce.

The Tenement Museum's 2018 Gala held raised over $1 million, money that will be used to support the Museum's ambitious new strategic direction aimed at defining the Museum's role at a time when immigration is a front page issue.

Virginia-based band of brothers Sons of Bill will release their fourth album Oh God Ma'am on June 29th. Today they have shared their new single 'Believer / Pretender,' an opening salvo that encapsulates the approach the group takes on their latest record - blending their lyrical Americana roots with a polished, driving set of songs punctuated by crystalline guitar riffs and tasteful synth flourishes. The track is currently streaming via Brightest Young Things who declares the track to be '...an absolute stunner, a sweeping piece of '80s-tinged guitar rock that recalls the sounds of New Order, The War on Drugs, and even The Gin Blossoms, while still being unmistakably Sons of Bill.'

The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation has announced that Allston James' drama The Tree Talk is the recipient of the 2018 LT William Broyles Award presented annually for Distinguished Stage or Screen Play. James received the award earlier in 2015 for his play Suribachi, which won the British Theatre Challenge's Audience Appreciation Award later that year in London.

The 49th Annual Nashville Film Festival continues its expansion of film screenings with an international roster of twenty-eight Special Presentations, Animated Feature, Spectrum and Spectrum Q films including the world premiere of BENCHED, produced by Robert Deaton and George Flanigen, ON CHESIL BEACH, starring Saoirse Ronan, fresh off her award winning role in Lady Bird, HOT SUMMER NIGHTS, starring Timothée Chalamet, whose role in Call Me By Your Name was critically acclaimed, BRAMPTON'S OWN, starring Rose McIver, Spencer Grammer and Jean Smart, as well as the 50th anniversary screening of ROSEMARY'S BABY, starring Mia Farrow, and a special screening of JURASSIC PARK, starring Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, BD Wong and Samuel L. Jackson. Other leading talent include Daveed Diggs, Alexander McQueen, John C. McGinley and many more.

We Southerners take our literary history seriously, whether it's a book, a poem, a novel or a play - no matter the genre, we are proud to read about our way of life and the things that we believe make us so very special. Such is the case with Robert Harling's Steel Magnolias, which debuted in 1987 to near unanimous acclaim only to gain in popularity and adulation in the intervening three decades. Whether it's a feature film, a made-for-TV movie or live onstage, Harling's tale of six Louisiana women and their shared experiences captured in a series of snapshots from their lives is beloved and somewhat revered.

Perhaps it is coincidental that the collaboration between Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman has grown in popularity since its 1990 Off-Broadway debut as the rise of mass shootings in America has increased its grip on the American psyche.  Whether one has anything to do with the other matters little. It cannot be ignored that the nation has a preoccupation with violence and the ideal of the "American Dream."

Theatre Smith-Gilmour presents the world premiere of a new theatrical adaptation of the Victor Hugo classic, LES MISERABLES. The company returns to The Theatre Centre, 38 years after performing their first show, Just Married, with their most ambitious work to date. LES MISERABLES will run from March 16 to April 1, 2018 in the Franco Boni Theatre.

As a versatile artist whose styles encompass a wide range of musical genres, Philip Fortenberry is a performer with an equally expansive career. Philip is making a stop at the Marcus Center's Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall for one night only in The Hands of Liberace.

La MaMa Experimental Theater Club is thrilled to announce that its one-night-only anniversary performance of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Yusef Komunyakaa and Global Soul Music creator Tom s Doncker's 2007 collaboration, The Mercy Suite, will feature performances by acclaimed actor Khalil Kain ( Girlfriends ) and playwright Ise Lyfe. In addition to Mr. Kain and Mr. Lyfe, who are currently working together on the Off-Broadway debut of Lyfe's new play Agnus, the evening will feature performances by select cast members of The Pill by Marla Mase, which features original music by Mr. Doncker.

In late 2007, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Yusef Komunyakaa came together with his close friend, no wave guitar hero and Global Soul Music creator Tom s Doncker, to create an original musical masterpiece titled The Mercy Suite. In celebration of the work's 10th Anniversary, La MaMa Experimental Theater Club will present a one-night-only presentation of The Mercy Suite at the Ellen Stewart Theatre (66 East 4th Street, second floor) on Tuesday, January 30, 2018 at 7:00pm.

Miller-Coffman Productions Proudly Presents The Cover of Life. The Cover of Life will make way to the Gene Frankel Theater in March! Directed by Stephen S. Miller.

Picturing Mississippi, 1817 2017: Land of Plenty, Pain, and Promise, the landmark exhibition exploring Mississippi identity, commemorates the 200th anniversary of Mississippi's statehood. Illuminating the perception and depiction of Mississippi over more than 200 years, the exhibition showcases 175 works by 100 artists who either resided in the state, visited, or lived elsewhere and were compelled to respond to a multiplicity of subjects. From Choctaw objects and sweeping landscapes to portraiture and contemporary work, the exhibition reveals that Mississippi has continuously resonated with artists in powerful ways as lived experience, memory, and imagination.

We're a Mexican American band, and no word describes America like immigrant. Most of us are children of immigrants, so it's perhaps natural that the songs we create celebrate America in this way. So says Louie Perez, the poet laureate and primary wordsmith of Los Lobos, when describing the songs on the band's new album, Gates of Gold.

Tickets are now on sale for THE COVER OF LIFE, opening March 8, 2018 at the Gene Frankel Theater, 24 Bond Street, NY.

Picturing Mississippi, 1817 2017: Land of Plenty, Pain, and Promise, the landmark exhibition exploring Mississippi identity, commemorates the 200th anniversary of Mississippi's statehood. Illuminating the perception and depiction of Mississippi over more than 200 years, the exhibition showcases 175 works by 100 artists who either resided in the state, visited, or lived elsewhere and were compelled to respond to a multiplicity of subjects. From Choctaw objects and sweeping landscapes to portraiture and contemporary work, the exhibition reveals that Mississippi has continuously resonated with artists in powerful ways as lived experience, memory, and imagination.

WP Theater, by special arrangement with Segal NYC Productions, presents the Off-Broadway premiere of What We're Up Against, written by Pulitzer Prize nominee Theresa Rebeck (Mauritius, Seminar, NBC's 'Smash'), directed by Adrienne Campbell-Holt (Dry Land, Empathitrax).

Broadwayworld.com had the pleasure of interviewing Tyler Mercer, the Executive Artistic Director of Live Source Theatre Group, about his career, Live Source and the show, SOLSTICE PARTY!

WP Theater, by special arrangement with Segal NYC Productions, presents the Off-Broadway premiere of What We're Up Against, written by Pulitzer Prize nominee Theresa Rebeck (Mauritius, Seminar, NBC's 'Smash'), directed by Adrienne Campbell-Holt (Dry Land, Empathitrax).