Hedda Hopper News

Just in time for our 50th Anniversary of The Stonewall Riots that started the Gay Liberation Movement leading to the LGBTQIAA Community and countless numbers of PRIDE festivities happening all over the world, my podcast would like to take a moment and throw some love to some of the out and open performers working in theater today that have stopped by for a chat with me.

In 1936, producer David O. Selznick began a 2-year search to find an unknown to play Scarlett O'Hara in his soon-to-be film masterpiece Gone with the Wind. At this year's Hollywood Fringe Festival, Kick Boom Theater Company is re-telling the (mostly true) story in its inaugural production of the innovative and totally entertaining SCARLETT FEVER, created and directedchoreographed by John Wuchte, with original music by John Wuchte and award-winning composer Michael Teoli which adds percussive accompaniment as a perfect complement to Wuchte's signature Tribal Acting style.

Kick Boom Theater Company launches its inaugural production Scarlett Fever, created and directed by John Wuchte. Original music by John Wuchte and award-winning composer Michael Teoli.

The regional premiere of Chaplin has announced its principal casting. Zane Hadish will step into the shoes of Charlie Chaplin. Hadish steps into the role after his recent work on (9 to 5 and Sunday in the Park with George with RTC.) Loralee Songer will play Hannah Chaplin (Parade with RTC), Greg Smith as Mack Sennet (Pippin with RTC) and Mia Fryvecind Gimenez makes her Revival debut as Hedda Harper.

Desert Rose Playhouse's latest production, CHRISTMAS WITH THE CRAWFORDS, is a juke box musical drag show, with an uproarious combination of fine singing, acting and dancing; ridiculous jokes; sarcasm; over-the-top costumes; and sophisticated set design that itself becomes the butt of humor.

The Desert Rose Playhouse, the Coachella Valley's LGBTQIA theatre, has a winner in THE SUGAR WITCH, one of its first productions since Robbie Wayne became producing artistic director and Kam Sisco managing director.

On Thursday, September 6, (5:30pm EST) BroadwayWorld's Steve Schonberg is getting up close and personal with Jenn Colella and Chilina Kennedy, who will head to Birdland on September 10 to perform a song cycle, Call It Love! Don't forget to tune in to our official Facebook page to submit your questions live or send us questions in advance on Twitter @BroadwayWorld with #AskJennandChilinaBWW.

On Thursday, September 6, (5:30pm EST) BroadwayWorld's Steve Schonberg is getting up close and personal with Jenn Colella and Chilina Kennedy, who will head to Birdland on September 10 to perform a song cycle, Call It Love! Don't forget to tune in to our official Facebook page to submit your questions live or send us questions in advance on Twitter @BroadwayWorld with #AskJennandChilinaBWW.

Birdland Theater is proud to announce that Broadway leading ladies Jenn Colella and Chilina Kennedy will perform a song cycle written and composed by Ms. Kennedy on Monday, September 10 at 8:30pm. This one-night-only event will be presented by Eclipse Theater Company.

The first of four extraordinary hour-long performances produced by New York City Opera in Bryant Park this summer, watch passions flare in this adaptation of Carmen, one of the world's most beloved operas. The innkeeper Lillas Pastia narrates the tempestuous story of the irresistible seductress Carmen and her hapless lover Don José in this hour-long presentation of highlights from Carmen, Bizet's beloved opera, from New York City Opera. Offered to the New York public free-of-charge, this presentation is a perfect introduction to opera for newcomers of any age.

The first of four extraordinary hour-long performances produced by New York City Opera in Bryant Park this summer, watch passions flare in this adaptation of Carmen, one of the world's most beloved operas. The innkeeper Lillas Pastia narrates the tempestuous story of the irresistible seductress Carmen and her hapless lover Don Jose in this hour-long presentation of highlights from Carmen, Bizet's beloved opera, from New York City Opera. Offered to the New York public free-of-charge, this presentation is a perfect introduction to opera for newcomers of any age.

Michael Oblowitz focuses on the torrid relationship of Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner in FRANK & AVA, and in so doing has also profiled a turbulent crossroads in American history. Featuring stunning performances by Rico Simonini and Emily Elicia Low. One of the features at this year's Sedona International Film Festival.

FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Jordan Fisher, Jenn Colella, and David Friedman alongside Red Mountain Theatre Company's Conservatory on Sunday, March 25, 2018 at 9:30 p.m.

Olivia de Havilland, golden age silver screen star may be 101 years old but she's still around and keeping an eye on pop culture. The New York Times reports that Ms. de Havilland has filed suit against Ryan Murphy, accusing him of falsely representing her on his series FEUD: BETTE AND JOAN. 

GOOD MORNING, THEATERATI for May 2, 2017 - we hope you're ready for the Tony Awards nominations being announced this morning at 7:30 a.m. God's time (which is also Nashville's time, aka daylight saving time) and pondering the musical question: What the hell goes into picking a season's worth of shows for local theatre companies? Sure, we presume it has something to do with selling tickets, enlightening their audiences and testing their artistic limits, but we sometimes fear it's for reason for too pedestrian for us to consider and far too plebeian for our tender psyches to even ponder…

On the next episode of FEUD: BETTE AND JOAN on FX titled 'Mommie Dearest' as the production of Baby Jane reaches its climax, the feud becomes physical.

FEUD: Bette and Joan, the critically-acclaimed new limited series, debuted as FX's most-watched new program premiere since The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story.

FX announced today that is has already placed a 10-episode order for the second installment of the FEUD franchise, FEUD: Charles and Diana, which is scheduled to debut in 2018.

FX Networks has set the premiere dates for Ryan Murphy's highly anticipated, star-studded limited series FEUD: Bette and Joan, the new season of the critically-acclaimed and award-winning drama series The Americans, and the eighth season of the Emmy(R) Award Winning animated comedy series Archer.

Batter up! Just in time for the thick of baseball season comes the muscular musical about baseball super-fan Joe Boyd. Joe is transformed into a star slugger after he makes a deal with the devil and his sexy associate, Lola, for a chance to lead his home team to victory in the pennant race against the New York Yankees.