Diane Venora News

Today we are talking to DROP DEAD DIVA guest star Sharon Lawrence and discussing her long-awaited return to the series as Bobbie Dobkins in Sunday’s “Mother’s Day” episode as well as taking a look at her long and varied film and theater career with thoughts on everything from CABARET and CHICAGO onstage to DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, LAW & ORDER: SVU, CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM on the small screen and the new Theresa Rebeck play she stars in opening next month at the Mark Taper Forum in LA, POOR BEHAVIOR and much, much more! Over the course of the next several weeks, we are going to be taking an extensive look at the sights and sounds both onscreen and onset of the hit TV dramedy series DROP DEAD DIVA - new episodes airing Sunday nights at 9 PM on Lifetime - featuring exclusive interviews with the leading lady divas and dashing supporting men on the LA-based supernatural legal series. Featuring a memorable collection of musical performances and Broadway guest stars over the years - Paula Abdul, Rosie O‘Donnell, Delta Burke and many more included - DROP DEAD DIVA is the quintessential TV series for Broadway babies looking for some laughs and levity - the latter available in many more ways than one, given the show’s heavenly aspirations. DROP DEAD DIVA centers on a legal eagle named Jane whose body acts as the means for the indomitable spirit of a model, Deb, who loses her life, to make a second chance and how the girl inside must learn to adjust to looking like the woman on the outside that she is now. In other words, a model finds out what it means to look like everyone else, in a delightfully quirky twist of fate - and learns to be a lawyer, too. Season Three picks up with the cliffhanger car crash that closed last season in a dark and shocking way. What will Grayson remember of the conversation he had with Jane pre-crash? What will Jane do to save him? What about his engagement (to somebody else)? What will happen back at the office with Teri, Kim and Parker? What about Stacy and Fred? All these questions and many more will most assuredly be answered come Sunday night! Plus, there’s always a musical number or two not too far off if you stay tuned - such as this week’s BroadwayWorld exclusive world premiere of “Lean On Me” available here! Be sure to check back often because in the following weeks, we will also feature conversations with DROP DEAD DIVA stars Josh Henderson, Jackson Hurst, Ben Feldman and definitely stay tuned for next week‘s exclusive chat with featured guest star and Tony-winner, the one and only Faith Prince! Continuing the BRIDGING TV & THEATRE: DROP DEAD DIVA series, here is my extended conversation with DROP DEAD DIVA guest star Sharon Lawrence in which we discuss her many Broadway credits - CABARET, CHICAGO, ZORBA and FIDDLER ON THE ROOF included - as well as her extensive and varied theater career and acting alongside the likes of Cherry Jones, Marian Seldes and DROP DEAD DIVA guest star and fellow Broadway baby Faith Prince. Additionally, Ms. Lawrence shares her fascinating insights into the art of acting and the role of the actor in society as well as provides detailed insight into her own process and musical theatre versus straight drama - plus, comments on SMASH, GLEE, Weill, Brecht, feminism and much, much more! (more...)

To commemorate the tenth anniversary of 9/11, the play "110 Stories" will be performed by an illustrious cast in NY this September to benefit a related charity. Participating artists include Alec Baldwin, Matt Dillon, Edie Falco, Sam Shepard, James Gandolfini, Patricia Clarkson, Kathleen Turner, Angela Bassett, John Turturro, Andre Braugher, Josh Lucas, John Hawkes, Michael Shannon, Stelio Savante, Daniel Sunjata, and Michael Stuhlbarg, all schedule permitting. (more...)

2010 NYC & Company Foundation Leadership Awards honoree Vogue Editor Anna Wintour attends the The 2010 NYC & Company Foundation Leadership Awards HonGala - Cocktails at The Plaza Hotel on December 1, 2010 in New York City. (more...)

The Play That Changed My Life contributing playwrights, including Pulitzer Prize winner Doug Wright (I Am My Own Wife), David Ives (Venus in Fur), Diana Son (Stop Kiss) book editor Ben Hodges and Howard Sherman, Executive Director of the American Theatre Wing were at a book signing at the Lincoln Triangle Barnes and Noble Wednesday, February 24th. The event was moderated by Howard Sherman, about the American Theatre Wing's new book, The Play That Changed My Life: America's Foremost Playwrights on the Plays that Influenced Them. (more...)

The Play That Changed My Life contributing playwrights, including Pulitzer Prize winner Doug Wright (I Am My Own Wife), David Ives (Venus in Fur), Diana Son (Stop Kiss) book editor Ben Hodges and Howard Sherman, Executive Director of the American Theatre Wing will be at the Lincoln Triangle Barnes and Noble Wednesday, February 24th at 7:30pm. The Lincoln Triangle Barnes and Noble is located at 1972 Broadway at 66th Street. (more...)

An all-star cast has joined together in Los Angeles for a special benefit reading of 110 Stories, at 8pm on February 22nd at The Geffen Playhouse (10886 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles 90024). Proceeds go to the RED CROSS of Greater Los Angeles. (more...)

An all-star cast has joined together in Los Angeles for a special benefit reading of 110 Stories, at 8pm on February 22nd at The Geffen Playhouse (10886 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles 90024). Proceeds go to the RED CROSS of Greater Los Angeles. (more...)

BWW celebrates the launch of The American Theatre Wing's new book, 'The Play That Changed My Life' by bringing you excerpts of the book from noted playwrights who discuss the play that influenced them and had a lasting impact on their career and personal lives. (more...)

BWW celebrates the launch of 'The Play That Changed My Life' by bringing you excerpts of the book from noted playwrights who discuss the play that influenced them and had a lasting impact on their career and personal lives. (more...)

BWW celebrates the launch of The American Theatre Wing's new book, 'The Play That Changed My Life' by bringing you excerpts of the book from noted playwrights who discuss the play that influenced them and had a lasting impact on their career and personal lives. (more...)

BWW celebrates the launch of The American Theatre Wing's new book, 'The Play That Changed My Life' by bringing you excerpts of the book from noted playwrights who discuss the play that influenced them and had a lasting impact on their career and personal lives. (more...)

BWW celebrates the launch of The American Theatre Wing's new book, 'The Play That Changed My Life' by bringing you excerpts of the book from noted playwrights who discuss the play that influenced them and had a lasting impact on their career and personal lives. (more...)

The American Theatre Wing is pleased to present its original book, The Play That Changed My Life: America's Foremost Playwrights on the Plays that Influenced Them, now on shelves. (more...)

The Drama Book Shop is offers free discussion with Howard Sherman, Executive Director of the American Theater Wing and Ben Hodges (editor), followed by a signing of The Play That Changed My Life: America's Foremost Playwrights on the Plays that Influenced Them on Tuesday, December 15 at 5:30 p.m. (more...)

The American Theatre Wing Presents The Play That Changed My Life America's Foremost Playwrights on the Plays That Influenced Them (more...)

The Drama Book Shop will host a talkback in conjunction with The American Theatre Wing's just released and highly praised new book, The American Theatre Wing presents The Play That Changed My Life: America's Foremost Playwrights on the Plays that Influenced Them (more...)

The American Theatre Wing Presents The Play That Changed My Life America's Foremost Playwrights on the Plays That Influenced Them (more...)

The American Theatre Wing has announced an online essay contest in conjunction with the release of its original book, The American Theatre Wing presents The Play That Changed My Life: America's Foremost Playwrights on the Plays that Influenced Them, available December 1. (more...)

The American Theatre Wing has announced that Applause Theatre & Cinema Books will publish its original book, The American Theatre Wing presents The Play That Changed My Life: America's Foremost Playwrights on the Plays that Influenced Them. (more...)

A noteable, benefit staged reading of the new play COFFEE STAINS from playwright Scott Damian, will be presented September 27th and 28th at 7:30 p.m. at the Zephyr Theatre, 7456 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, California, 90046. (more...)