Ben Taylor News

IFC and UK's Channel 4 are returning to Victorian London for a second outing of Year of the Rabbit. The six-episode second season, written by Emmy® and WGA Award winners Andy Riley and Kevin Cecil (Veep, Black Books) and co-written by and starring Matt Berry (Toast of London, What We Do In The Shadows), will once again focus on tough booze-hound Detective Inspector Rabbit (Berry), his hapless partner Strauss (Freddie Fox) and the country's first female police officer Mabel (Susan Wokoma) as they fight crime in London's east end. The renewal news comes just days before Year of the Rabbit premieres Wednesday, February 19th at 10:30pm ET/PT on IFC.

On Monday, January 27th the Broadway's Future Songbook series at Lincoln Center, presented by Arts and Artists of Tomorrow showcased the music and lyrics of Ben Caplan. Performers included  Nicholas Barasch (She Loves Me), Ashley Blanchet (Frozen), Jake Boyd (Wicked), Harrison Chad (Caroline, or Change), Alexis Field (50 Shades! The Musical), Damon J. Gillespie (NBC's Rise), Tony winner James Monroe Iglehart (Aladdin, Hamilton), Danté Jeanfelix (Balls), Taylor Iman Jones (Head Over Heels), Charlotte Maltby (The Sound of Music), Michael Ryan (Newsies), Monet Sabel (Sweeney Todd), Heath Saunders (The Great Comet), Ben Schrager (Ms. Estrada), Ari McKay Willford (Once), and Brynn Williams (SpongeBob SquarePants).

AMC Networks announced today from the Television Critics' Association (TCA) Press Tour spring premiere dates for several new and returning original series, including the highly anticipated debuts of AMC's The Walking Dead: World Beyond and three-part series Quiz, a third season of BBC AMERICA's award-winning Killing Eve, the fourth and final season of IFC's acclaimed series Brockmire and the return of SundanceTV's psychological thriller Liar. As previously announced, AMC's Better Call Saul season five debuts with a special two-night premiere event on Sunday, February 23 at 10:00 p.m. ET/9c and Monday, February 24 at 9:00 p.m. ET/8c and the new anthology series Dispatches From Elsewhere premieres Sunday, March 1 at 10:00 p.m. ET/9c. In addition, the next series in BBC AMERICA's Emmy® Award-winning Planet franchise, Seven Worlds, One Planet will air as a multi-network event across BBC AMERICA, AMC, IFC and SundanceTV this Saturday, January 18 at 9:00 p.m. ET/8c.

Today the first half of the line-up made up of family and friends was announced which includes: Cyndi Lauper, Livingston Taylor, Indigo Girls, Michael McDonald, Rachael Price of Lake Street Dive, Ben Taylor and Sally Taylor, John Forte, Resistance Revival Chorus, Darlene Love, Ken Burns, and Linda Perry.   More artists to be named in the near future. Tickets are on sale now at musicof.org

Sex Education is about Otis Milburn, a socially awkward high school student who lives with his sex therapist mother, Jean. In season 1 Otis and his friend Maeve Wiley set-up a sex clinic at school to capitalise on his intuitive talent for sex advice. In season 2, as a late bloomer Otis must master his newly discovered sexual urges in order to progress with his girlfriend Ola whilst also dealing with his now strained relationship with Maeve. Meanwhile, Moordale Secondary is in the throes of a chlamydia outbreak, highlighting the need for better sex education at the school and new kids come to town who will challenge the status quo.

IFC's new original series Year of the Rabbit follows Detective Inspector Rabbit (Berry), a hardened booze-hound who's seen it all, and his hapless, new, by-the-books partner Strauss (Freddie Fox; Cucumber, Banana). While they're investigating a local murder, the lewd but insightful adoptive daughter (Susan Wokoma; Chewing Gum, Crazyhead) of the chief of police joins them, becoming the country's first female officer. Together, the trio must fight crime while rubbing shoulders with street gangs, crooked politicians, spiritualists, music hall stars and more.

Sex Education is about Otis Milburn (Asa Butterfield), a socially awkward high school student who lives with his sex therapist mother, Jean (Gillian Anderson). In season 1 Otis and friend Maeve Wiley (Emma Mackey) set-up a sex clinic at school to capitalize on his intuitive talent for sex advice...

 DOC NYC, America's largest documentary festival, announced the full lineup for its expanded tenth anniversary edition, running November 6-15 at the IFC Center in Greenwich Village and Chelsea's SVA Theatre and Cinépolis Chelsea. The 2019 festival includes 136 feature-length documentaries among over 300 films and events overall, making this landmark year DOC NYC's biggest edition yet. Included are 28 world premieres 27 US or North American premieres and 59 NYC premieres, with more than 500 doc makers and special guests expected in person to present their films or participate on panels. 

Atlantic Records has announced the release of FALLING, the eagerly anticipated debut EP from Nashville-based rock band Betcha. The seven-track compilation includes such fan favorites as “Lucy Lucy,” “Coincidental,” and the ebullient title track, in addition to previously unreleased highlights “Swim Naked” and “I Don't Wanna Die.” FALLING is available now via all digital music retailers and streaming services.

It's a marvelous production of a so-so musical.

On Friday, May 17th Feinstein's/54 Below hosted the return of composer Ben Caplan with his song cycle,  I Don't Want to Talk About It. 

FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, will present The Music of Ben Caplan: I Don't Want to Talk About It on May 17th, 2019, at 9:30pm.

Pittsburgh Opera returns to the Benedum Center with Puccini's La boheme, opera's biggest tear-jerker, March 30-April 7.

Based on a book by Tom Philpott, Glory Denied tells the true story of US Army Colonel Jim Thompson, who was held captive as a prisoner of war longer than any other American in history. The opera deals not only with Thompson's suffering in the jungle of southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, but also with the tragic aftermath that followed his liberation.

Boyfriends Ben Levi Ross and Taylor Trensch have both played Evan Hansen - on tour and on Broadway respectively, in addition to playing opposite each other on Broadway (with Ross as Jared.) Today, in honor of Valentine's Day, the show has released a special duet version of 'Only Us.' Check out the video below!

Four women of color breaking boundaries at Mabou Mines as part of the 2019 SUITE/Space program - Cinthia Chen, Marcelle Davies-Lashley, Cristina Pitter and Edisa Weeks.

This January, viewers across the globe fell in love with Sex Education and the students of Moordale High School, with the series tracking to be a huge hit (estimated over 40 million households watching the title within the first 4 weeks). Following high fan demand for a second season, Netflix announced that the series has been renewed for 8 new episodes of the frank, heartfelt, honest and hilariously awkward series.

Four women of color breaking boundaries at Mabou Mines as part of the 2019 SUITE/Space program - Cinthia Chen, Marcelle Davies-Lashley, Cristina Pitter and Edisa Weeks.

'Bring it On' meets 'Dreamgirls' in the girl-group musical, 'Betty and the Belrays' by William Electric Black aka Ian Ellis James, which will be presented by Theater for the New City January 31 to February 17. The piece tells the story of three white female singers from Detroit who struggle to change a racially divided society by singing for a black record label. Book and lyrics are by William Electric Black. Music is by Black, Valerie Ghent (arranger/keyboards for Ashford & Simpson) and Gary Schreiner. Choreography is by Jeremy Lardieri. Director is Mr. Black.

Four women of color breaking boundaries at Mabou Mines as part of the 2019 SUITE/Space program - Cinthia Chen, Marcelle Davies-Lashley, Cristina Pitter and Edisa Weeks.