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‘Monk’ reunion movie starring Tony Shalhoub sets December premiere date at Peacock

Tony Shalhoub returns as the Defective Detective in Peacock’s “Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie,” premiering on Dec. 8.

— Steve Wilkie/PEACOCK

 

“It’s been twelve years since the world has seen a fresh installment of ‘Monk.’ The world has changed mightily in those intervening years and ‘Monk’ 2023 reflects the changing world,” executive producers Andy Breckman, David Hoberman and Randy Zisk said in a joint statement.

 

The “Monk” reunion movie will see Shalhoub reprise his role as Adrian Monk, a consulting detective with obsessive-compulsive disorder and a wide range of phobias. Per the official logline, the film sees Monk return to solve one last and “very personal case involving his beloved step-daughter Molly, a journalist preparing for her wedding.”

— Traylor Howard, Tony Shalhoub, Jason Gray-Stanford and Ted Levine. By Steve Wilkie/PEACOCK
— Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk. By Steve Wilkie/PEACOCK

 

Original series stars Ted Levine, Traylor Howard, Jason Gray-Stanford, Melora Hardin and Hector Elizondo reprise their roles in “Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie,” with Caitlin McGee and James Purefoy joining as new cast members.

 

Series creator Breckman wrote “Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie.” The film is directed by Zisk, who executive produced and directed episodes of the TV series. Shalhoub is executive producing alongside Breckman, Zisk and Hoberman, executive producer of the original series. UCP is the studio.

— Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk and Melora Hardin as Trudy in “Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie.” By Steve Wilkie/PEACOCK

 

“In coming back, we wanted to do a film that was worthy of our legacy. ‘Mr. Monk’s Last Case’ is a story that is powerful, emotional, funny, heartwarming, and has something to say about the human condition,” Breckman, Hoberman and Zisk continued in their statement.

 

The original series ran for eight seasons and accumulated eight Emmys over the course of its run, with Shalhoub winning best actor in a comedy series three times.

 

 

— Variety

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Latinos had only 10 leading roles across 2022’s top-grossing 100 films, per USC Annenberg Inclusion study

As Hispanic Heritage Month continues in the United States, a new report from the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative assesses the state of Hispanic and Latino representation in Hollywood’s top-grossing films.

 

The full study will be released next month, examining 1,600 top-grossing films released from 2007 to 2022 and more than 69,000 speaking characters, with qualitative data about how those Latino and Hispanic characters are presented in films, including whether they “stereotype or stigmatize” the community. It’s the third study analyzing Hispanic and Latino representation from the Initiative’s researchers, led by founder Dr. Stacy L. Smith.

 

According to the report, Hispanic/Latino actors filled just 10 leading or co-lead roles across last year’s 100 top-grossing films, and eight of those 10 roles went to Hispanic/Latina actors. In the 16-year span studied, just 76 actors filled lead or co-lead roles (across 1,600 top-grossing films); 44 were Hispanic/Latina; and five were Hispanic/Latinas aged 45 and older.

 

Overall, the study showed that there has been no significant change in the prevalence of Latino characters. In 2022, a mere 6% of speaking characters were Hispanic/Latino, which researchers note is not dissimilar to the 3% found in 2007, but vastly underrepresents the largest ethnic group in the country. (According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Hispanic population reached 63.7 million in 2022, representing 19.1% of the population).

 

Of the few Hispanic/Latino characters that appeared on screen in 2022, almost 60% were male-identified. The year saw the release of blockbusters like “Avatar: The Way of Water,” “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” — which, respectively, starred actors Zoe Saldaña, Danny Ramirez and Xochitl Gomez (pictured above) — as well as “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” which featured a number of Hispanic and Latino actors in its ensemble.

 

In addition to instances of on-screen representation, researchers also analyzed roles behind the camera. Their findings: “Hispanic/Latinos continued to be virtually absent from directing and writing among popular films especially by Hispanic women and Latinas.”

 

The study’s lead author Ariana Case states: “Top movies still do not reflect the stories of the Hispanic and Latino communities in this country. Both behind the camera and on screen, the numbers reflect how little opportunity Hispanic and Latino creatives have to share their experiences and see themselves reflected on screen.”

While this report takes a look at 2022 films, the results are indicative of the climate in 2023, where Latinos, as well as other underrepresented and marginalized groups, were greatly affected due to the historic Hollywood strikes. In August, with actors unable to promote projects due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, 27 Latino organizations united to support projects such as DC Studios’ “Blue Beetle,” their first film starring a Latino superhero.

 

The USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative study was produced with support from McDonald’s Spotlight Dorado, an endeavor aimed at empowering Latino and Hispanic voices across industries, beginning with film. Their mission is to increase inclusivity and pave the way for these underrepresented stories and storytellers. McDonald’s USA’s content and culture director Ryan Worthy notes that the Initiative’s research has been ”an integral part of how we’ve been informing our efforts for Spotlight Dorado.”

 

Worthy adds: “We’re excited to take our partnership to the next level to continue on our shared mission of shining a light on the underrepresentation of Hispanics and Latinos, while doing our part to give the community a voice and drive much-needed change in the industry.”

 

In 2022, McDonald’s launched the Spotlight Dorado short film contest, which aims to bridge the gap for budding filmmakers. The contest is free to enter and the selected filmmakers are awarded a $75,000 production budget and provided mentorship from industry leaders — including Anthony Ramos, Al Madrigal, Danay Garcia, Carlos López Estrada and Nancy C. Mejía — as they shoot their own projects. The 2023 finalists are Marissa Díaz (director of “Fancy Florez’s Summer Staycation”), Kryzz Gautier (“Chimera”) and Pablo Riesgo (“Cuando Volvimos a la Tierra”). Their shorts will premiere in November, and the public will vote for their favorite.

 

 

— Variety (EXCLUSIVE)

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Olivia Rodrigo to do intimate one-off performance of ‘Guts’ songs in L.A. this week

Tickets for the Monday show at Theatre at Ace Hotel went on sale to AmEx cardholders Sunday with just an hour’s notice. The filmed concert to stream on YouTube Tuesday.

 

Olivia Rodrigo spilled just a little more of her guts at a one-off performance in downtown Los Angeles this week, as American Express announced Sunday morning that the singer-songwriter was set to do an intimate show for its cardholders at the Theatre at Ace Hotel on Monday night.

 

Said cardholders had to be quick on the draw. Following the 9 a.m. Sunday announcement, tickets for “An Evening With Olivia Rodrigo” went on sale to AmEx members just an hour later, at 10 a.m. PT Sunday, via AXS, at this link. Tickets at $25 and will benefit Fund 4 Good, the singer’s new nonprofit.

 

All is not lost for fans who don’t nab tickets for the show in the 1,600-seat former movie palace. The performance will be filmed and made available to the public as a stream that will go up on Rodrigo’s YouTube channel, beginning Tuesday night at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, staying up on the platform through Thursday.

 

Rodrigo will perform numbers from her recent “Guts” album and share stories behind the writing of the songs. Although AmEx has not confirmed other details of her performance, it’s expected to be a solo show — a la a fuller version of the three-song set that Rodrigo performed accompanying herself on piano or guitar at the Grammy Museum last week.

 

AmEx is describing the show at the ornate Theatre at Ace Hotel (formerly the United Artists Theatre, in its 1930s-forward heyday) as an “immersive concert experience” that will “bring some of ‘Guts’ most iconic moments to life” with Instagram-ready photo opportunities, including a representation of the “Bad Idea Right?” music video.

 

The event is part of AmEx’s Member Week, akin to the Jack Harlow performance produced under that umbrella in New York last year.

 

The start of Rodrigo’s world tour with her band remains months away. It’s slated to kick off at the Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs on Feb. 23, 2024, and wrap up with a four-night stand at the Kia Forum in L.A. Aug. 13-14 and 16-17. Eighteen additional shows were added five days after the initial Sept. 13 tour announcement, including the doubling of her L.A. Forum run. All tour dates quickly sold out.

 

Read Variety‘s report about her visit this past week to the Grammy Museum (where she was interviewed by Linda Perry) and see a clip of her performance of “Lacy” here.

 

“Guts” currently sits at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 in its third chart week, after debuting in September with a strong 302,000 units. It’s expected to be among the front-runners for the 2024 Grammys. Reviews have been enthusiastic across the board, with Variety writing, 

 

“Two years of maturation have not done anything to put a dent in how much accomplished and rocking fun her music was right out of the gate. Is it one of the year’s canniest, most delightful albums, again? Of course it is.”

 

 

— Variety

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Sri Lankan economic crisis is potent backdrop for Prasanna Vithanage’s Busan competition title, ‘Paradise’

Sri Lankan auteur Prasanna Vithanage is back at the Busan International Film Festival with thriller “Paradise,” which is in the Jiseok competition.

 

The film follows Indian couple – streaming content producer Kesav (Roshan Mathew, Sundance 2023 series “Poacher)” and blogger Amritha (Darshana Rajendran, “Hridayam)” – who are on vacation in Sri Lanka during the country’s ongoing economic crisis. They are the victims of a robbery and find themselves in the thick of the agitations.

 

The economic crisis in Sri Lanka began in 2019 and was exacerbated during the Rajapaksa family’s regime, leading to a state of near-total collapse and bankruptcy by mid-2022. The crisis had a knock-on effect on the film and TV industry as well.

 

“The thought behind the story was formed by two factors. The people’s uprising against the Rajapaksa family. There was shortages of essentials. People were in the streets demanding gas, electricity, fuel,” Vithanage told Variety. “Same time, after working on a historical film, “Gaadi – Children of the Sun” [Busan 2019], I wanted to make a film on relationships in the present day. I believe how we behave in a relationship defines us. I thought that combining these two factors would give me an opportunity to probe facets in both.”

 

The “Paradise” shoot was a stimulus for the ailing Sri Lankan film industry. “The Sri Lankan film industry was paralyzed by the economic crisis. This investment was a godsend. Many people in the industry got job opportunities because of the film. But, during the production, the country’s inflation rate hit 65%. The prices of vegetables and other essentials were soaring. Fuel was rationed. But we were able to make the film within the budget estimate,” Vithanage said.

 

The film is written by Anushka Senanayake and Vithanage and the cast also includes Mahendra Perera and Shyam Fernando. It is produced by Anto Chittilappilly for Newton Cinema, the outfit behind Don Palathara’s “Family,” which won much acclaim when it premiered at Rotterdam earlier this year.

 

“We founded Newton Cinema with a philanthropic vision in mind. Our mission is to support films that can serve as catalysts for positive social change and to back immensely talented filmmakers whose stories demand to be told. This commitment makes us exceptionally selective about the films we choose to produce,” Chittilappilly told Variety. Chittilappilly met Vithanage in Sri Lanka in 2020 when he visited the country for the production work related to another film.

 

“I was deeply impressed by his filmmaking style and finesse. Above all, he is a dream director to collaborate with, embodying the very best of what a production house like Newton Cinema seeks,” Chittilappilly said. “Upon reading the script of ‘Paradise,’ we were instantly captivated by it. We foresaw a riveting, fast-paced film that would keep audiences on the edge of their seats, their eyes transfixed to the theater screen. The film delves into various facets of human nature and is not only supremely entertaining but also boasts a high level of aesthetic excellence.”

 

The film has found some high level support. Revered Indian filmmaker Mani Ratnam has boarded “Paradise” as a presenter. Next up for the film is a theatrical and streaming release for which Chittilappilly is seeking buyers. Plans for a 2025 Oscar campaign for the film are also underway.

 

Meanwhile, Vithanage is working on an adaptation of Dostoevsky’s 1866 short novel “The Gambler.” The filmmaker had earlier adapted Dostoevsky’s 1876 short story “The Meek One” as “With You, Without You” (2012). “I am fascinated by his characters and how he reveals the human psyche,” Vithanage said.

 

 

— Variety

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‘Davos 1917’ head writer Adrian Illien talks real-life inspirations behind Swiss spy drama: ‘Neutral Countries Were Hotspots for Espionage’

World War I spy drama “Davos 1917” was inspired by real stories, says head writer and creative producer Adrian Illien. As well as real women.

 

“There were all these Swiss nurses who would go abroad during the war. When you read their diaries, there is a sense of adventure. They could finally get away. I don’t think these female characters have been portrayed before. Until now.”

 

In the six-part show, unmarried nurse Johanna Gabathuler (“Sisi” star Dominique Devenport) gives birth to her daughter. When the child is taken away, Johanna finds herself stuck in the resort town of Davos. But soon, the German secret service comes knocking.

 

“Women actually held prominent positions there. With my co-writers [Julia Penner, Thomas Hess and Michael Sauter] we stumbled across one who was a handler of Mata Hari. We always talk about Mata Hari, but I found the spy behind her much more interesting,” he says.

 

World premiering at the Zurich Film Festival, “Davos 1917” was produced by Contrast Film, Letterbox Filmproduktion, Amalia Film, SRF and ARD Degeto. Global Screen handles sales.

 

Complex female relationships remain at the core of the show, with Johanna forced to join forces with a spying countess who quickly spots her potential (Jeanette Hain).

 

“When you think about spy stories, you always have mentors. Usually, it’s older guys teaching other guys or younger women, like in ‘Nikita.’ But you hardly ever see a woman mentoring another woman,” says Illien.

 

“We have one episode called ‘Women of War’ and we show that because so many men were away at that time, women could finally become leaders.”

 

Including his protagonist, who turns into “a rebel in a nurse uniform.”

 

“She is much more talented than most men give her credit for. That’s why she connects with the countess, because as manipulative as she is, at least she appreciates her.”

 

“They become close, but you never know if they are friends or enemies, or lovers. There is so much power in this ambiguity. We wanted to show that you can still respect someone, even if you don’t think alike.”

 

While the amount of research that went into the period-set show was “exciting and exhausting,” the writers allowed themselves some leeway.

 

“The way I approach period stories, not everything needs to be 100% accurate. But I have to know when it isn’t. We talk about spies, war and medicine, and surely enough we had all these experts on set. There are some boundaries you need to respect and if you deviate from them, you must have a good reason.”

 

As famously neutral Switzerland becomes a playground for spies and freedom fighters, tensions rise. Even in the idyllic Davos.

 

“All neutral countries were hotspots for espionage. We found out there were even espionage rings of nurses! Some of them were executed because of that. As the war went on, they even came up with these posters: ‘Beware of the female spies.’ Implying they might look innocent, but you shouldn’t trust them,” he says.

 

Although “Davos” – directed by Jan-Eric Mack, Anca Miruna Lăzărescu and Christian Theede – is SRF’s biggest series to date, set to make its debut in December, its budget wasn’t on Illien’s mind.

 

“From the story’s point of view, I don’t care. From the production’s point of view, sometimes you have more freedom when it’s not that expensive. Take ‘The Office,’ which didn’t cost much and is an absolute masterpiece,” he says.

 

 

“There is an additional pressure that comes with money sometimes. You think: ‘Okay, I guess we really need to blow something up.’ We knew these characters won’t be sitting around, that they will fight, because we are talking about spies. But as a writer, I just hoped we would have enough money to do this story justice.”

 

A return for the second season is still “in discussion.”

 

“I think there is potential for these relationships to continue, also because our show talks about what we are going through now. There are so many parallels between our reality and what was happening back in 1917,” he says.

 

“We have a war in Europe, people are questioning the establishment, we had COVID. In 1917, it was the Spanish Flu. We went from Wilson’s campaign slogan ‘America First’ to Trump. I really think it can resonate.”

 

 

— Variety

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LA Kings announce Mercury Insurance as team’s first-ever Jersey patch partner and continue more than decade-long historic partnership

Multi-Year Renewal Agreement Continues Mercury’s Status as the NHL Team’s Official Partner and Builds on 16 Consecutive Years of Successful Collaboration and Positive Community Impacts Made Across Southern California

 

LOS ANGELES — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Mercury Insurance (NYSE: MCY) and National Hockey League (NHL) franchise, the LA Kings, are proud to announce a landmark, expanded renewal agreement.

 

As part of the expansive multi-year partnership, brokered by AEG Global Partnerships, Mercury will continue as an official partner of the LA Kings in addition to becoming the team’s first-ever jersey patch partner.

 

This groundbreaking agreement extends a relationship that began in 2008 for another exciting new chapter and marks a significant milestone for the insurance company as its longest running partnership to date. This is also Mercury’s first-ever jersey sponsorship, underscoring the company’s commitment to Los Angeles and the importance of hockey across the Southern California market.

 

Beginning with the upcoming 2023-24 NHL season, Mercury’s logo will be featured on the team’s on-ice home jerseys for all pre-season, regular season and playoff games taking place at Crypto.com Arena. As the official jersey partner of the LA Kings, fans will get their first look at the new jerseys with the new Mercury patch beginning with the team’s first two pre-season home games on Tuesday, October 3 when the Kings host the Anaheim Ducks at Crypto.com Arena, and Saturday, October 7 when the Kings take on the Vegas Golden Knights. This will be followed by the official debut at the team’s regular season opener on Wednesday, October 11, when the Kings host the Colorado Avalanche. Both pre-season games will be broadcast on Bally Sports SoCal and the regular season opener will be broadcast live on national television from Crypto.com Arena on TNT and is set to begin at 7:00 p.m. (PDT).

 

“We’re extremely excited and honored to be chosen as the first jersey patch partner in the team’s history,” said Erik Thompson, vice president and chief marketing officer at Mercury Insurance. “Both organizations were ‘born and raised’ in Los Angeles and we share a deep commitment to the City of Angels and the amazing people that live here. Mercury and the Kings are truly part of the fabric of Los Angeles, and nowhere is this better illustrated than on the jerseys of LA’s hockey heroes.”

 

Now in the 16th consecutive season of partnership, this expanded agreement represents two deeply rooted, Southern California-based organizations furthering their relationship for the benefit of the local fans and policyholders they both represent and serve in the region. Much like the LA Kings who played their first season in LA in 1967, Mercury also has more than 60 years of experience providing exceptional service to the Southern California market and its residents. Founded in 1961 and headquartered in Los Angeles, Mercury offers a wide variety of insurance products, including auto, home, personal liability (umbrella) business, commercial, and mechanical breakdown.

 

For close to two decades, Mercury and the LA Kings have forged an extraordinary partnership that has greatly enhanced the fan experience and helped create countless memorable moments for thousands of Angelenos. As an example, Mercury’s presenting sponsorship of the “My First Game” program brought Make A Wish youth and their families to Kings games and featured heartwarming videos of Kings players’ first experiences with the sport of hockey. Additionally, Mercury’s unique activations on game days coupled with its ongoing sponsorship of LA Kings’ community-focused initiatives have deeply enriched the fan experience and continue to help make a positive community impact all year round.

 

Going forward, the partnership will continue to incorporate significant community and fan-focused touchpoints including engaging surprise and delight activations. Among the new in-arena promotions will be “Where’s Bailey?” an augmented reality, first-of-its-kind experience that will challenge fans to search for team mascot Bailey throughout the arena and amongst some of LA’s most iconic landmarks. Everyone who finds Bailey will be entered to win a Kings prize package that includes an authentic jersey and autographed memorabilia.

 

The two organizations will also partner with LA Kings superstar, Kevin Fiala, to celebrate and honor local community heroes who are making significant impacts in their local communities. Each honoree will be inducted into the Hockeywood Community Walk of Fame art installation the two organizations are creating at Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo, California. Honorees will have the chance to meet with Fiala, be integrated into the art installation and be celebrated in-arena on the videoboard, in addition to receiving a Kings jersey, tickets to a game, and an American Express gift card to help them continue their very important work.

 

“Mercury Insurance has become both a trusted and highly valued partner of our team over the years and we are honored to be making history as we welcome them as our very first jersey partner,” said LA Kings President and Hall of Famer Luc Robitaille. “Together we have grown, evolved, and most importantly given back to the diverse communities of people who support us and help make our organizations great. We look forward to creating even more cherished memories for our fans as our players step out on the ice for the very first time this season wearing the Mercury brand with pride.”

 

The long-term partnership between the LA Kings and Mercury is also highlighted by many significant milestones achieved together over the years and is testament to the strength of the growing relationship. In 2012, the Kings took home their very first Stanley Cup while Mercury celebrated its 50th anniversary, two momentous occasions the partners had the privilege of enjoying alongside each other. Just two years later in 2014, the Kings won their second Stanley Cup, followed by the team’s 50th anniversary celebrated in 2017 – additional historic moments that Mercury was a part of and helped make possible.

 

“We are extremely proud to expand this longstanding and meaningful partnership which is committed first and foremost to the fans and community. We look forward to the continued positive impact for many more years to come with our great friends at Mercury,” said Nick Baker, COO of AEG Global Partnerships.

 

ABOUT MERCURY INSURANCE

Mercury Insurance (NYSE: MCY) is a multiple-line insurance carrier predominantly offering personal auto, homeowners and renters insurance through a network of independent agents in Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia, as well as auto insurance in Florida. Mercury writes other lines of insurance in various states, including commercial, business owners and business auto, landlord, home-sharing, ride-hailing and mechanical protection insurance.

 

Since 1962, Mercury has provided customers with tremendous value for their insurance dollar by pairing ultracompetitive rates with excellent customer service. Mercury has earned “A” ratings from A.M. Best and Fitch, as well as “Best Auto Insurance Company” designations from Forbes and Insure.com. For more information visit www.MercuryInsurance.com or follow the company on Twitter or Facebook.

 

ABOUT AEG

Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, AEG is the world’s leading sports and live entertainment company. The company operates in the following business segments: Facilities, which through its affiliation with ASM Global, owns, manages or consults with more than 350 preeminent arenas, stadiums, convention centers and performing arts venues around the world; Music through AEG Presents, which is dedicated to all aspects of live contemporary music performances, including producing and promoting global and regional concert tours, music and special events and world-renowned festivals such as the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival; Real Estate, which develops world-class venues, as well as major sports and entertainment districts like Crypto.com Arena and L.A. LIVE, Mercedes Platz in Berlin and The O2 in London; Sports, as the world’s largest operator of high-profile sporting events and sports franchises including the LA Kings, LA Galaxy and Eisbären Berlin; and Global Partnerships, which oversees worldwide sales and servicing of sponsorships including naming rights, premium seating and other strategic partnerships. Through its worldwide network of venues, portfolio of powerful sports and music brands and its integrated entertainment districts, AEG entertains more than 160 million guests annually. More information about AEG can be found at www.aegworldwide.com.

Contacts

AEG GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS
Shannon Donnelly

Shannon.Donnelly@beckmedia.com

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‘The Pianist:’ A new play with music based on a memoir to be presented at the George Street Playhouse

George Street Playhouse  presents THE PIANIST, a play with music, based on the memoir “The Pianist” by Wladyslaw Szpilman and directed and adapted for the stage by Emily Mann, begins previews on Sept. 26, with an official opening night set for Sept. 29. The play runs through Oct. 22.

Presented in association with producers Michael Wolk, Kumiko Yoshii and Robin de Levita, THE PIANIST is a new stage adaptation of Wladyslaw Szpilman’s harrowing account of the annihilation of Jewish life in Warsaw during World War II and his remarkable survival through the transcendent power of music.​ Szpilman was the most acclaimed young musician of his time until his promising career was interrupted by the onset of World War II. He played the last live music heard over Polish radio airwaves before Nazi artillery hit. Though he escaped deportation, Szpilman was forced to live in the heart of the Warsaw ghetto. The play follows Szpilman’s heroic and inspirational journey of survival with the unlikely help of a sympathetic German officer.

Szpilman’s memoir inspired the 2002 Oscar-winning film starring Adrien Brody.

THE PIANIST stars Ukrainian-Russian Jewish actor Daniel Donskoy (A Small Light; The Crown) as Wladyslaw Szpilman in his American stage debut and features Claire Beckman (The Torch-Bearers) as Mother, Austin Pendleton (Between Riverside and Crazy; The Minutes; The Little Foxes) as Father, Paul Spera (On The Basis of Sex) as Henryk, Arielle Goldman (The How and the Why) as Regina, Georgia Warner(Broadway: All My Sons) as Halina/Woman, Charlotte Ewing (Law and Order: SVU) as Magda/Boy, Tina Benko (Broadway: The Rose Tattoo) as Janina and others, Robert David Grant (Succession) as Majorek and others, and Jordan Lage (Broadway: Glengarry Glenross) as Jaworski.

Directed and adapted by Mann, the play features an original score by Iris Hond(headliner at the Royal Concert Hall in Amsterdam and New Church in The Hague) and choreography and assistant direction by Terry Berliner (The Lion King resident director; The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife). THE PIANIST has scenic design by Tony Award Winner Beowulf Boritt (New York, New York; Come From Away), lighting design by Japhy Weideman (Dear Evan Hansen; Shucked), costume design by Tony Award Winner Linda Cho (A Gentlemen’s Guide…; POTUS), co-sound design by Mark Bennett (The Coast of Utopia; Vanya and Sonia…) & Charles Coes (Sing Street; Golden Child), and video and projection design by S. Katy Tucker (Letters From Max; Elektra directed by Francesca Zambello).

THE PIANIST began its development at The McCarter Theatre Center, where Emily Mann served as Artistic Director and Resident Playwright from 1990–2020, and which was honored by the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre during her tenure. The play was first presented in 2017 as a reading. It was decided to augment the innate power of the piece with an original score, and in 2018, Iris Hond was retained as composer. That same year, THE PIANIST received a music and sound design workshop, where the score was integrated with beginnings of the complex, layered sound effects that Emily calls “a key character in the drama.” In 2020, Tony-winner Santino Fontana portrayed Wladyslaw Szpilman in a Zoom reading, which demonstrated the impact of the material even in a virtual setting. In June 2022, THE PIANIST had an intensive workshop at Manhattan’s Open Jar Studios to polish the script, create a distinctive “movement language” for the piece, and enhance the integration of the score and sound design with cutting edge immersive surround-sound technology.

“THE PIANIST is the most important story I’ve been entrusted with as a theater maker,” said Emily Mann. “Not only is it a stunning story about the tenacity of the human spirit and the power of art, but it is also deeply personal. Since I was a child, I’ve been haunted by my mother’s family murdered in occupied Poland during The Holocaust. When I went to Warsaw to research THE PIANIST, I visited the Jewish Cemetery and placed a stone on my great grandmother’s grave. At that moment, I realized I, too, was a Warsaw Jew, and I had to tell this story. Seeing fascism on the rise again both in the United States and around the world gives even greater urgency to this play. We must bring to powerful life the call to action ‘never again’.”

“We’re thrilled to welcome Emily Mann in her debut at George Street Playhouse,” said Artistic Director David Saint. “This powerful world premiere production will surely be a highlight of our 50th anniversary season.”

Emily Mann (Playwright and Director)

Emily Mann has previously brought two impactful and influential documentary dramas to Broadway – Execution of Justice, and Having Our Say (Tony-nominated Best Play and Best Director). Also on Broadway, Emily directed A Streetcar Named Desire and Anna in the Tropics. Plays written by Mann include: Still Life; Annulla: An Autobiography; Greensboro (A Requiem); and Mrs. Packard. In 2020, her play Gloria: A Life was presented by Great Performances on PBS. From 1990-2020, Emily was the Artistic Director and Resident Playwright of McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, New Jersey, which was honored with the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theater under her leadership. The new biography by Alexis Greene, Emily Mann: Rebel Artist of the American Theater, celebrates her many contributions and innovations, highlighting her groundbreaking work in “the theater of testimony:” constructing a play based on the verbatim speech surrounding real life events. Awards include: Tony, Drama Desk, 8 Obies, Peabody, Hull Warriner, NAACP, Guggenheim, two Tony nominations, Outer Critics Circle nominations; a Princeton University Honorary Doctorate of Arts, a Helen Merrill Distinguished Playwrights’ Award, Margo Jones Award, TCG Visionary Leadership Award, Lilly Lifetime Achievement Award, and The Gordon Davidson Award. In 2019, Mann was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame, and this fall, she will be inducted into The American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Daniel Donskoy (Wladyslaw Szpilman)

Daniel made his theatrical debut in London’s Camden Fringe Festival in 2014, and since then has performed at The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation Theatre, the Arcola Theatre, the Arts Theatre in the West End, the Garrick Theatre and the St James Theatre. He played the role of Jim O’Connor in The Glass Menagerie at the Nottingham Playhouse, and he also worked in London as a theater director, theater producer, and playwright. He played leading and guest roles in the British series “Detectorists, “Casualty,” and “Victoria.” From 2018 to 2020, Donskoy played the petty criminal and reluctant priest Maik Schäfer in the RTL series “Sankt Maik,” for which he was nominated for the Bavarian Television Award for Best Actor. In 2019, he played Israeli gangster Danny Dahan in the HBO series “Strike Back,” and in 2020, he played Princess Diana’s lover James Hewitt in the Netflix series “The Crown.” He released his first single “Cry By the River” and his debut EP “Didn’t I Say So,” in 2019, and played his first club tour through Germany. He is the host and moderator of the talk show “Freitagnacht Jews” (Friday Night Jews) which was awarded the German Television Prize 2021 and The Grimme Prize 2022. In 2021, he was the moderator of the German Film Prize. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, he tried to counter Russian war propaganda with the Russian song Net Vojne (“No to War”). He was the winner of season 7 of “The Masked Singer” in Germany and was the first Jewish entertainer to host the German Film Awards. The Pianist marks his American stage debut.

 

Wladyslaw Szpilman (original source material)

Wladyslaw Szpilman was a Polish pianist and classical composer of Jewish descent. Szpilman is widely known as the central figure in the 2002 Academy Award-winning film The Pianist, which was based on Szpilman’s autobiographical account of how he survived the German occupation of Warsaw and the Holocaust. Szpilman studied piano at music academies in Berlin and Warsaw. He became a popular performer on Polish radio and in concert. Confined within the Warsaw Ghetto after the German invasion of Poland, Szpilman spent two years in hiding. Towards the end of his concealment, he was helped by Wilm Hosenfeld, a German officer who detested Nazi policies. After World War II, Szpilman resumed his career on Polish radio. Szpilman was also a prolific composer; his work included hundreds of songs and many orchestral pieces.

George Street Playhouse

Under the leadership of Artistic Director David Saint since 1997, the Playhouse produces groundbreaking new works, inspiring productions of the classics, and hit Broadway plays and musicals that speak to the heart and mind, with an unwavering commitment to producing new work. As New Brunswick’s first producing theatre, George Street Playhouse became the cornerstone of the revitalization of the City’s arts and cultural landscape. Entering its 50th season, the organization has a rich history of producing nationally renowned theatre. The Playhouse continues to fill a unique theatre and arts education role in the city, state and greater metropolitan region. George Street Playhouse recently announced the appointment of Edgar Herrera as Managing Director, effective June 1, 2023. Beginning with the 2019-20 Season, George Street Playhouse moved to the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center in downtown New Brunswick. Featuring two state-of-the-art theatres — The Arthur Laurents Theater with 253 seats and The Elizabeth Ross Johnson Theater which seats 465– and myriad amenities, the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center marks a new era in the esteemed history of George Street Playhouse. Founded by Eric Krebs, George Street Playhouse, originally located in an abandoned supermarket on the corner of George and Albany Streets, was the first professional theatre in New Brunswick. In 1984, the Playhouse moved to a renovated YMCA on Livingston Avenue, and in 2017 took temporary residence in the former Agricultural Museum at Rutgers University during construction of its new home. The Playhouse has been well represented by numerous productions both on and off-Broadway. In 2018, George Street Playhouse was represented on Broadway with Gettin’ the Band Back Together which premiered on the Playhouse mainstage in 2013. American Son, produced by George Street Playhouse in 2017, opened on Broadway in 2018 starring Kerry Washington and Stephen Pasquale, and was seen on Netflix. Other productions include the Outer Critics’ Circle Best Musical Award-winner The Toxic Avenger. In 2015, It Shoulda Been You opened on Broadway and Joe DiPietro’s Clever Little Lies opened off-Broadway. Both shows received their premieres at the Playhouse. Others include the Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk and Drama League nominated production of The Spitfire Grill; and the Broadway hit and Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning play Proof by David Auburn, which was developed at the Playhouse during the 1999 Next Stage Series of new plays. George Street Playhouse programming is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Grant funding has been provided by the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Commissioners through a grant award from the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund.

Tickets for THE PIANIST at George Street Playhouse, priced for $25-$70, are available at www.GeorgeStreetPlayhouse.org

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New music video for Houston music artist DOM goes viral

Houston based music artist, DOM recently releases music video for new single, and it has garnered a phenomenal number of views.

 

Singer, producer, and rapper, DOM is the alter ego of Houston, Texas based music artist Dominique Side. She has become known for her fierce voice and unstoppable energy.
DOM recently released a wild music video for her latest single and it’s already received well over 300K  views, thus quickly becoming a viral visual sensation.

 

Born originally in Biloxi, Mississippi, Dominique had been a part of several R&B outfits until forming VgnBae Music Group in 2019. After producing and singing on different recordings at their studios, in 2021 she stepped into the spotlight, creating music as the force named DOM. Her first EP “IRL” was a full concept album following the journey of a woman pushed to the edge by a cheating partner. Critics called it  a “deliciously deranged, dark and sexy rollercoaster ride”, songs from the EP were featured on the radio, soundtracks, and in fashion retail stores.

 

Dominique has stayed busy in the 2 years since her last release came out creating her own luxury vegan clothing line, “Nikki Green”. and working on numerous projects with artists at VgnBae Music Group where she is the co-owner. Returning to the studio this summer DOM delivered a new, super twerk-able single entitled “SDA” featuring Erica Banks and a “Missy Elliot-esque” vibe.

 
Her latest single, abbreviated from “Shake Dat Ass”, gives fans a mouthwatering taste of DOM’s contagious songwriting and versatility in hip-hop and rap. Continuing her uncompromising views on female empowerment of sexuality and success, the accompanying music video has been called “gloriously bootylicious” and “shows that DOM will have her cake and eat it too.”

With a brand new EP on the way set for later this year, it would appear fans can continue looking forward to DOM releasing songs featuring her many different sides and undeniable boss energy.

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Graham Nash to be honored and will perform at the 43rd Annual John Lennon Tribute Benefit Concert for Theatre Within

Benefit Concert for Theatre Within

NEW YORK, N.Y. — Theatre Within, the non-profit behind the Annual John Lennon Tribute since 1981, will honor two-time Rock And Roll Hall of Famer Graham Nash as the ninth recipient of the “John Lennon Real Love Award” at its 43rd Annual John Lennon Tribute on Saturday, Dec. 2 at Town Hall.

Graham Nash, whose remarkable career spans from the British invasion with the Hollies, to the legendary Laurel Canyon scene with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, to his still vibrant solo concerts and recordings, will play some of his favorite John Lennon/Beatles classics and be joined by a lineup of acclaimed artists.

Folk legend Judy Collins will make her first Tribute appearance in over a decade; Rosanne Cash will perform for the third time, the first since she was chosen as 2018’s John Lennon Real Love Award honoree; Grammy award-winner Rita Coolidge will make a rare live appearance, her first-ever at the long-running benefit concert; and drummer/percussionist Rich Pagano, a founding member of the Fab Faux, will serve as Music Director for the 15th consecutive year.

Upon hearing that he had been chosen as this year’s honoree, Graham Nash said, “This is a very special award. I thank Yoko and the Theatre Within for thinking of me. Over many years, I watched John and Yoko ‘fight the good fight’ for many whose voices were not being heard, a fight that Yoko continues to this day. I’m proud to be associated with the many fine artists who were previously honored with the John Lennon Real Love Award.”

In a statement Yoko Ono said, “With its joyful Annual John Lennon Tribute and John Lennon Real Love Project, Theatre Within is furthering the vision that John and I shared for a better world.”

“Few artists have combined music and positive social activism with the seismic impact that Graham Nash has,” said Theatre Within Artistic Director and longtime Tribute producer/host, Joe Raiola. “It’s fitting that Graham is being joined by so many music greats.”

Previous recipients of the prized award include Natalie Merchant, Patti Smith, Ani DiFranco and Donovan.

Proceeds from the Tribute support Theatre Within’s ongoing free workshops in creative expression and mindfulness, including the John Lennon Real Love Project songwriting program, for the cancer community, elementary and middle schools, and youth in crisis.

In 2023, for the fourth consecutive year, Theatre Within is providing 200 free workshops for children and adults impacted by cancer through the Red Door Community (formerly Gilda’s Club NYC) and other regional cancer support communities.

Since the John Lennon Real Love Project elementary and middle school program launched in the spring of 2021, Theatre Within has brought the program to 17 schools. Students write new lyrics to “Real Love” and then record their own version of the song accompanied by John Lennon’s original vocal and piano track.

Tickets for Theatre Within’s 43rd Annual John Lennon Tribute are on sale starting July 22 at 12pm at LennonTribute.org. (Town Hall  is located at 123 W. 43rd Street).

John Lennon and Beatles fans are invited to join “Friends of the Annual John Lennon Tribute” at LennonTribute.org/join-friends, where VIP packages are available.

The Annual John Lennon Tribute is produced in association with Music Without Borders. It remains the only John Lennon tribute concert in the world to be sanctioned by Yoko Ono.

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Passage Theatre Company presents a Hip Hop summer camp: Vision & Voice

In partnership with the Trenton Free Library, Passage Theatre Company is producing “Vision & Voice” a FREE Theatre Arts summer camp for children ages 10-17 based on the theme of Hip Hop.The camp will take place from 8:30 a.m. — 12:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays starting July 24th through August 31st.

 

Three, one-hour classes will take place each day, teaching students skills linked to improvisation, performance, poetry, dramatic writing, and Hip Hop dance. The skills acquired throughout the camp will be showcased in a final performance for friends and family in the Mill Hill Park Amphitheater at 6 p.m. on August 31st. Free breakfasts and lunches will be provided before and after each camp session, provided by the Capital Area YMCA.

 

Students may arrive at the Mill Hill Playhouse (located at 205 East Front Street in Trenton) as early as 8 a.m. to eat breakfast and must arrive no later than 8:30 a.m. each morning. Lunch and pick-ups begin at the Trenton Free Library (located at 120 Academy Street in Trenton) at 12:30 p.m. and end strictly at 1 p.m. each afternoon. Students must be picked up no later than 1pm. After 1 p.m., students may stay at the library, but Passage Theatre will no longer have staff on hand and cannot be liable for the safety or whereabouts of the students.

 

Potentially interested students may join us for a FREE Open House at the Mill Hill Playhouse on July 17th from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. to meet teachers and get a taste of the camp programming. Reservation for the Open House is not required to attend.

 

While there is no charge to participate in the six-week camp, there is a $20 registration fee. Scholarships to cover this fee are available by contacting Managing Director Brishen Miller at Brishen@passagetheatre.org or by calling (609) 392-0766, extension 104.

 

Questions about the camp can be directed towards Camp Coordinator Johanna Tolentino at johanna@passagetheatre.org.