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Nell Benjamin
Nell Benjamin is a lyricist, writer, and composer noted for her work in musical theatre. With her husband and frequent collaborator Laurence O'Keefe, she won the Laurence Olivier Award for writing ''Legally Blonde'' in 2011. And in 2007, she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Original Score for ''Legally Blonde'', and then again in 2018 for her lyrics for ''Mean Girls''. Early life and education Benjamin grew up in New York City and attended Harvard University, where she met future husband Laurence O'Keefe. She earned a master's degree in women's studies from Trinity College Dublin. After graduating, she moved to Los Angeles and, with O'Keefe, worked as a writer for television and film. Theatre career Benjamin and O'Keefe collaborated on a number of original musicals which ran Off-Broadway, including ''The Mice'' (2000), an adaptation of '' Sarah, Plain and Tall'' (2002), and ''Cam Jansen And The Curse Of The Emerald Elephant'' (2004), based on the Cam Jansen mystery se ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Harvard University
Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyman John Harvard (clergyman), John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Its influence, wealth, and rankings have made it one of the most prestigious universities in the world. Harvard was founded and authorized by the Massachusetts General Court, the governing legislature of Colonial history of the United States, colonial-era Massachusetts Bay Colony. While never formally affiliated with any Religious denomination, denomination, Harvard trained Congregationalism in the United States, Congregational clergy until its curriculum and student body were gradually secularized in the 18th century. By the 19th century, Harvard emerged as the most prominent academic and cultural institution among the Boston B ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
West End Theatre
West End theatre is mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres in and near the West End of London.Christopher Innes"West End"in ''The Cambridge Guide to Theatre'' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998), pp. 1194–1195, Along with New York City's Broadway theatre, West End theatre represents the highest level of Theatre of the United Kingdom, commercial theatre in the English-speaking world. Seeing a West End show is a common tourist activity in London. Prominent screen actors, Cinema of the United Kingdom, British and World cinema, international alike, frequently appear on the London stage. There are approximately 40 theatres in the West End, with the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, opened in May 1663, the oldest theatre in London. The Savoy Theatre—built as a showcase for the popular series of comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan—was entirely lit by electricity in 1881. Society of London Theatre, The Society of London Theatre (SOLT) announced that 201 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Because Of Winn-Dixie
''Because of Winn-Dixie'' is a 2000 children's novel written by American author Kate DiCamillo. It was adapted as a 2005 family film directed by Wayne Wang, produced by Walden Media and Twentieth Century Fox, and starring AnnaSophia Robb as Opal Buloni. Plot A 10-year-old girl named India Opal Buloni has just moved to a trailer park in the small town of Naomi, Florida, with her father, who is known as The Preacher because he preaches at the local church. Her mother, Benjean-Megan, abandoned them when Opal was three. She describes The Preacher as a turtle, always sticking his head into his shell, and never wanting to come out into the real world. This is most likely because of how sad he is about her mother, with whom he is still in love. While in the supermarket, Opal sees a scruffy dog wrecking the store and decides to take him home, naming him Winn-Dixie after the supermarket chain. Miss Franny Block, a librarian, shares great stories about her past, including one about he ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Thomas Meehan (writer)
Thomas Edward Meehan (August 14, 1929 – August 21, 2017) was an American playwright. He wrote the Musical theatre#Book musicals, books for the musicals ''Annie (musical), Annie'', ''The Producers (musical), The Producers'', ''Hairspray (musical), Hairspray'', ''Young Frankenstein (musical), Young Frankenstein'' and ''Cry-Baby (musical), Cry-Baby''. He co-wrote the books for ''Elf: The Musical'' and ''Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin''. He received the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical three times—in 1977 for ''Annie'', in 2001 for ''The Producers'' (shared with Mel Brooks), and in 2003 for ''Hairspray'' (shared with Mark O'Donnell). Early life Meehan was born in Ossining (town), New York, Ossining, New York, but grew up in Suffern, New York, Suffern, New York. His father, Thomas, was a businessman, and his mother, Helen Cecilia O'Neill, was an emergency department nurse. He graduated from Hamilton College (New York), Hamilton College. [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dave (film)
''Dave'' is a 1993 American political comedy film directed by Ivan Reitman, written by Gary Ross, and starring Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver. Frank Langella, Kevin Dunn, Laura Linney, Ving Rhames, Charles Grodin, and Ben Kingsley appear in supporting roles. Kline plays a dual role: a presidential lookalike is hired by the United States Secret Service, Secret Service to be a stand-in for the U.S. president, but the stand-in becomes stuck in the role indefinitely after the president suffers a major stroke that his corrupt White House Chief of Staff (Langella) wants to keep secret from the First Lady of the United States, First Lady (Weaver) and the general public. ''Dave'' was a box office success, and was met with critical acclaim. Plot Dave Kovic runs a Temporary work, temporary employment agency in Georgetown (Washington, D.C.), Georgetown, Washington, D.C., and, as a side job, capitalizes on his remarkable resemblance to President of the United States, President Bill Mit ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dave (musical)
''Dave'' is a musical with music by Tom Kitt, lyrics by Nell Benjamin, and a book by Benjamin and Thomas Meehan. Based on the 1993 American political comedy film of the same name written by Gary Ross, the musical made its world premiere try-out at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. in July 2018. The musical centers on Dave Kovic, a high school teacher (and presidential look-alike) who is hired by the Secret Service when the President falls ill. Background The musical is based on the 1993 film '' Dave''. The film itself starred Kevin Kline as Dave Kovic and President Bill Mitchell and Sigourney Weaver as First Lady Ellen Mitchell and featured a number of prominent actors in supporting roles including Frank Langella, Kevin Dunn, Ving Rhames Irving Rameses Rhames ( ; born May 12, 1959) is an American actor. He is best known for portraying IMF Agent Luther Stickell in the Mission: Impossible (film series), ''Mission: Impossible'' film series (1996–2025) and crime boss ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tina Fey
Elizabeth Stamatina "Tina" Fey (; born May 18, 1970) is an American actress, comedian, writer, and producer. Known for her comedic roles in sketch comedy, television and film, Fey has received List of awards and nominations received by Tina Fey, numerous accolades, including nine Primetime Emmy Awards and three Golden Globe Awards as well as nominations for a Grammy Award and a Tony Award. She appeared on the Time 100, ''Time'' 100 list of the 100 most influential people in the world in both 2007 and 2009 and was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2010. Fey broke into comedy as a featured player in the Chicago-based Improvisational theatre, improvisational comedy group The Second City. She joined the NBC sketch comedy series ''Saturday Night Live'' from 1997 to 2006 where she served as a head writer, a performer, and co-anchor of ''Weekend Update''. She later returned to the show portraying a Saturday Night Live parodies of Sarah Palin, satirical version of 2008 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jeff Richmond
Jeffrey Wayne Richmond (born January 7, 1961) is an American composer, comedian, producer, and director. He composed the music for, and directed multiple episodes of ''30 Rock'', a sitcom created by and starring his wife, Tina Fey. He also executive produced and composed the music for '' Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt'', another sitcom created by his wife. Richmond has won three Emmy awards for his production of the first three seasons of ''30 Rock''. He has also been nominated for an Emmy for his composition of ''30 Rock''s theme song. He was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Original Score in 2018 for ''Mean Girls''. Early life Richmond grew up in Portage County, Ohio, and graduated in 1979 from James A. Garfield High School in Garrettsville, where he won the John Philip Sousa award and where his mother still lives. He also played a key part in the creation of the Garrettsville Community Players, directing, choreographing, and lending his creative and artistic vision to many of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mean Girls
''Mean Girls'' is a 2004 American teen comedy film directed by Mark Waters and written by Tina Fey. It stars Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Tim Meadows, Ana Gasteyer, Amy Poehler, and Fey. The film follows Cady Heron (Lohan), a naïve teenager who transfers to an American high school after years of homeschooling in Africa. Cady quickly befriends outcasts Janis and Damian ( Lizzy Caplan and Daniel Franzese), with the trio forming a plan to exact revenge on Regina George (McAdams), the leader of an envied clique known as "the Plastics". Fey conceived the idea for ''Mean Girls'' after reading the self-help book '' Queen Bees and Wannabes''. The book describes female high school social cliques, school bullying, and the resulting damaging effect on teenagers. Fey also drew from her own experience at Upper Darby High School, in Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania, as an inspiration for some of the film's concepts. ''Saturday Night Live'' creator Lorne Michaels served as a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Outer Critics Circle Award
The Outer Critics Circle Awards are presented annually for theatrical achievements both on Broadway and Off-Broadway. They are presented by the Outer Critics Circle (OCC), the official organization of New York theater writers for out-of-town newspapers, digital and national publications, and other media beyond Broadway. The awards were first presented during the 1949–50 theater season. History The Outer Critics Circle was founded as the Outer Circle during the Broadway season of 1949–50 by an assortment of theater critics led by John Gassner, a reviewer, essayist, dramaturg, and professor of theater. These critics were writing for academic publications, special interest journals, monthlies, quarterlies, and weekly publications outside the New York metro area, and were looking for a forum where they could discuss the theater in general, particularly the current New York season. The creation of the OCC was also a reaction to the New York Drama Critics Circle, which did not all ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Farce
Farce is a comedy that seeks to entertain an audience through situations that are highly exaggerated, extravagant, ridiculous, absurd, and improbable. Farce is also characterized by heavy use of physical comedy, physical humor; the use of deliberate absurdity or nonsense; satire, parody, and mockery of real-life situations, people, events, and interactions; unlikely and humorous instances of miscommunication; ludicrous, improbable, and exaggerated characters; and broadly stylized performances. Genre Despite involving absurd situations and characters, the genre generally maintains at least a slight degree of realism and narrative continuity within the context of the irrational or ludicrous situations, often distinguishing it from completely absurdist or fantastical genres. Farces are often episodic or short in duration, often being set in one specific location where all events occur. Farces have historically been performed for the theatre, stage and film. Historical context T ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
