Tom Wilson News

The world's largest youth empowerment event, WE Day, is returning to southern California on April 19, 2018 at The “Fabulous” Forum. An unparalleled celebration of young people committed to making a difference, WE Day California will bring together over 16,000 students and educators from across the state for a powerful, life-changing experience featuring renowned speakers, innovative thought leaders and celebrity performers. WE Day California will be filmed for a one-hour national televised broadcast special airing on ABC on August 17, 2018 at 8P ET/7P CT.

Pegasus Theatre Chicago, in association with ShPIeL Performing Identity, announce the Chicago premiere of The Green Book, inspired by Victor Green's historical, "The Negro Motorist Green Book," March 1 - April 1 at Pegasus's resident home Chicago Dramatists, 765 N. Aberdeen. The Green Book is written by Calvin A. Ramsey, and directed by Pegasus' Producing Artistic Director Ilesa Duncan. Previews are Thursday, March 1 and Friday, March 2 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, March 3 at 7:30 p.m. Opening performance is Sunday, March 4 at 3 p.m. The performance schedule is Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. with added Sunday 6 p.m. performances. Tickets are $18 - $30 and are available at PegasusTheatreChicago.org. Discounts available for groups of ten or more at Group Theater Tix, 312-423-6612. 

Pegasus Theatre Chicago, in association with ShPIeL Performing Identity, announce the Chicago premiere of The Green Book, inspired by Victor Green's historical, "The Negro Motorist Green Book," March 1 - April 1 at Pegasus's resident home Chicago Dramatists, 765 N. Aberdeen. 

The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles (SCLA), under the artistic direction of Ben Donenberg, returns to The Japanese Garden on the West Los Angeles VA Campus with a new production - 'Henry IV' - condensing two of Shakespeare's plays and staged by Tony Award winning director Daniel Sullivan.  The world-class acting company includes Tom Hanks as Falstaff and Rita Wilson; with additional cast members to be announced shortly, as confirmed.  Tom Ware is the executive producer.

 The wackiest beach party in town continues! Pasadena Playhouse, the State Theatre of California, announces a one-week extension of Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance, as reimagined by the Chicago theatre hooligans The Hypocrites, now through February 25, due to high demand.  Tickets are now on sale at pasadenaplayhouse.org or by calling 626-356-7529.

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) is proud to announce this year's recipients of the Spelman Award: Arnold Simonsen and Ronda Montminy. Named in honor of FST's founding Artistic Director, Jon Spelman, the Spelman Award is presented to an individual or corporate sponsor who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership by providing FST with spiritual, financial, and/or in-kind support.

More than 200 arts advocates, business leaders, patrons, artists and nominees will be at the Herberger Theater Center Tuesday evening for the announcement of the finalists for 2018 Governor's Arts Awards. 3 finalists will be announced in 7 categories as well as the honoree for the 2018 Philanthropy Award. The 2018 Shelley Award winner will be introduced. Presenting Sponsors Billie Jo and Judd Herberger will announce the Philanthropy Award winner. APS also is sponsoring the event. Winners will be announced at the 37th annual Governor's Arts Awards dinner and celebration on March 22 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort.

It is eighty years since Thornton Wilder's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, Our Town first tread the boards of the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, NJ. The work was groundbreaking in its day for the way in which Wilder eschewed theatrical conventions and sought to create a new kind of play within a play. Eight decades later, the play retains its innovative feeling - not because of its metatheatre style, but rather because, in a modern digital age where audiences are consistently bombarded with noise, sensation, and spectacular fast-paced effects, Our Town continues to speak in a quiet voice that is all the more meaningful if one stops to listen.

Art of Time Ensemble presents A Singer Must Die, a concert in tribute to the legendary literary and musical icon Leonard Cohen. Running February 22 - 24 at Harbourfront Centre Theatre, this sublime concert features a range of acclaimed singers, authors and musicians in a program that focuses on both Cohen's music and his writings. Readings, anecdotes, and arrangements of his music in the signature Art of Time Ensemble style will make for an evening to remember.

Promethean Theatre Ensemble will continue its twelfth season with Jean Giraudoux's THE MADWOMAN OF CHAILLOT. First produced in 1945, Giraudoux's satiric comedy reveals a plot by a group of corrupt business executives to dig up the streets of Paris, so they can pump oil that they believe lies beneath. Their plot is challenged by the titular Madwoman, the eccentric Countess Aurelia, an idealist who resolves to fight back and rescue humanityfrom the scheming and corrupt developers with the help of her fellow outcasts and her fellow madwomen.

In what is now a tradition, the acclaimed Art of Time Ensemble presents its popular holiday concert, To All a Good Night 3, at Harbourfront Centre Theatre from December 14 - December 16. The third annual edition of the show includes wintery tunes, holiday songs, fresh new material, extraordinary musicianship and lots of surprises for audiences with a broader range of styles than at any other seasonal concert.

120 Diner proudly present the return of Guelph-based silken-voiced jazz, roots and soul vocalist Brenda Lewis, joined by longtime music partner, gifted Toronto jazz guitarist, producer / engineer Margaret Stowe.

Need a good laugh? Head to the Upper West Side (that's not the joke). The neighborhood is about to become a comedy haven as West Side Comedy Club (201 West 75th Street) is set to open on October 6th. Located just around the corner from the Beacon Theatre, the comedy club is actually just below the beach-chic restaurant, Playa Betty's.

Olympia Entertainment (OEI) and Palace Sports & Entertainment (PS&E) today officially launched 313 PRESENTS, a joint venture combining each organization's entertainment businesses into a single company that will manage concerts and other entertainment events at six venues throughout Metro Detroit.

Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks hosted The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles (SCLA) 27th Annual Simply Shakespeare benefit September 18, 2017, at the Freud Playhouse, on the UCLA Campus. BroadwayWorld has photos from the evening below!

Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks host The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles (SCLA) 27th Annual Simply Shakespeare benefit September 18, 2017 at the Freud Playhouse, on the UCLA Campus.

Olympia Entertainment, in partnership with Live Nation, named Kid Rock as the kickoff artist for the grand opening of Detroit's world-class, innovative Little Caesars Arena. Speaking live from the new 20,000+ seat arena floor, Kid Rock today announced he will open the building with four concerts September 12, 13, 15 and 16.

Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks host The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles (SCLA) 27th Annual Simply Shakespeare benefit Monday, September 18, 2017 at 8:00 pm at the Freud Playhouse, on the UCLA Campus.

Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks host The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles (SCLA) 27th Annual Simply Shakespeare benefit Monday, September 18, 2017 at 8:00pm at the Freud Playhouse, on the UCLA Campus. 

Simply Shakespeare, hosted by Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks, featuring a star-studded cast to be announced. The Shakespeare Center Los Angeles celebrates its 27th Annual Simply Shakespeare, an improvised evening of  Shakespeare and song at the intimate 500 seat Freud Playhouse, on the UCLA Campus.