Dean Taucher Pens New Play on What Goes on Behind the Camera in Hollywood, "Movies TV Mayhem" Runs in New York City April 23 - May 9, 2026. Read Interview With Dean on How This Revealing Play Came to Be

Movies TV Mayhem is a new play coming to New York City April 23rd to May 9th at Theater Row. It's the theatrical review of  production designer now playright Dean Taucher. It stars Jason Donavan Hall, Grant Neal and Oneika Phillips and is directed by Richard Calliban.

Dean wrote the play based on his vast years of  experience in TV and entertainment. And I mean REALLY vast, Dean has worked as a production designer on nearly 500 episodic TV shows, including notable titles like Miami Vice, Law & Order: SVU, New York Undercover, season one of The Sopranos, and more. Earlier in his career, Dean worked at the crew level as a scenic artist on films such as The Blues Brothers, Trading Places, Neighbors, Annie, 9 1/2 Weeks, The Cotton Club, Manhunter, Fatal Attraction, and season five of Saturday Night, among others.

Feel Good Interview Series: Max Burkholder of the Hit Series "Ted" - 10 Things To Know About Him Including What He Just Binged, How He Relaxes and Why He Hates Guitars

By: Markos Papadatos

Max Burkholder is known for his starring role as John Bennett in the live-action fantasy comedy TV series "Ted," which was created and directed by Seth MacFarlane (who voices Ted). Max shared 10 interesting and exciting things about himself. 

Max's Favorite Movies

His favorite movies include the original “Jurassic Park” as well as “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” “Arrival,” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” “I also love any Will Ferrell comedy,” he said.

FREE New York City Event: Axial Theater Presents a Play Reading of Robert Schenkkan's "Building the Wall" with Dan Walworth and Lauren B. Martin

Axial Theater is presenting a play reading of Pulitizer-Prize winning playwright Robert Schennkkan's play "Building the Wall" on April 12, 2026 at 5pm at Michael Howard Studios, 152 West 25th Street, 10th floor in New York City. The play reading is free but donations to the non-profit Axial Theater will go a long way in ensuring future productions. The reading will be by Dan Walworth and Lauren B, Martin directed by John Hickok. See below to RSVP. More info can be found at www.AxialTheater.org. Emmy-winner Cady McClain is Artistic Director of Axial.

Women2Admire: Valerie Bertinelli Comes to Carteret Performing Arts Center for a Conversation about Her Book: "Getting Naked, The Quiet Work of Becoming Perfectly Imperfect" April 9, 2026

The amazing and very, very busy Valerie Bertinelli is coming to NJ, at the Carteret Performing Arts and Events Center on April 9, 2026 at 7:30pm. Billed as a "Conversation with Valerie", this talented actress and bestselling author will talk about  her most vulnerable book yet, Getting Naked: The Quiet Work of Becoming Perfectly Imperfect. Tickets are $58 and can be purchased here. Whether you grew up watching Valerie on One Day at a Time, or you know her from her vast array of TV shows and movies, you will hear her talk about her larger than life life as written in her book; and what she as learned through divorce, menopause, and generational pain, and a powerful message of self-acceptance and embracing the past with compassion.

Feel Good Interview Series: Benjamin Roy of the Hit Series "Heated Rivalry" - 10 Things to Know About Him -Including His Favorite Music, Sports, and What He Might Be if He Was Not Acting

By: Markos Papadatos

Canadian actor Benjamin Roy is known for his starring role in the hit hockey drama series "Heated Rivalry," which has become a global phenomenon. He portrays JJ Dagenais, who is a defenseman and teammate to the heartthrob Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams); they both play as part of the Montreal Metros hockey team. He shared 10 interesting and fun things about himself.

Feel Good Interview Series: Meet Italia Ricci of "Designated Survivor'" and "The Boy with My Son's Face" -10 Things to Know About Her Including Her Love of Old Music and Hockey

By: Markos Papadatos

Italia Ricci is a Canadian-American actress, who is known for her acting work in "Chasing Life," "Supergirl," and "Designated Survivor." She is the wife of actor Robbie Amell. Most recently, she starred in the Lifetime movie "The Boy with My Son's Face." She shared 10 interesting and fun things about herself.

Women2Admire: Meet Jennifer Plotzke - This Award-Winning Actress and Producer Has a Busy Slate - Including a Role in NBC's The Hunting Party

Meet Jenn Plotzke, a multi -hyphenate woman in entertainment that we admire!! Jennifer Plotzke is an award winning actress and producer, appearing on television in The Hunting Party, FBI: Most Wanted, Blue Bloods and The Blacklist. She co-stars with Peter Friedman in the film Fizzle and she starred in the Paradise Lost adaptation, Lost + Found as well as the film Haunted, part of the Return to the Theatre of Terror horror anthology. Jennifer is the founder of Poor Monster Productions and currently has eight feature films in development. 

2026 Oscars Special Interviews: Chatting with Oscar Winners Amy Madigan, Autumn Durald Arkapaw, Kate Hawley and Andy Jurgensen - They Talk about Challenges, Relationships, Opportunities and Luck

 

By: Markos Papadatos

Editor's Note: Our Senior Contributor Markos Papadatos was in the press room at the 2026 Oscars. Here's what he heard from Amy Madigan, winner of this year's Oscar for "Best Supporting Actress" Autumn Durald Arkapaw of "Sinners," Kate Hawley of "Frankenstein," and Andy Jurgensen for "One Battle After Another."

Amy Madigan: Winner of Best Supporting Actress

Amy Madigan set a new record for an actress with the longest gap between a first nomination and a first victory at the Oscars — her 2026 win is 40 years and 1 month after her first Oscar nomination, which she received for “Twice In A Lifetime” at the 58th Academy Awards.

North to Shore 2026 Music and Arts Festival in Newark, Asbury Park and Atlantic City Features Sublime, Iliza Shlesinger, Janelle Monáe, The Black Crowes, Alison Krause and so Many Acts Across NJ: Includes Some Free Events

Another summer of great music is coming to New Jersey!

North to Shore returns this June with another extraordinary season of world-class performances, comedy acts, film screenings, community events, and artistic collaborations at venues across Newark and Asbury Park. North to Shore, a summer arts festival celebrating all of the Garden State's creativity, diversity and passion for innovation, is produced by the Newark-based New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC).

Feel Good Interview Series: Emily Alatalo Of "Workin' Moms", "Crossroad Springs" and Many Christmas Movies - 10 Things To Know About Her - Including Her Very Positive Favorite Motto finsih

By: Markos Papadatos

Emily Alatalo is a Canadian actress and from Ontario, who is known for her portrayal of Ginnie McMillan in "Workin' Moms" and Cate Martin in "Christmas Plus One." She is known for her acting work in rom-coms on Hallmark, Lifetime, and Great American Family.

Feel Good Interview Series: Donna Lynne Champlin of "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" - 10 Things to Know About Her - Including the Power of "No" and a Very Selfless Answer to Having a Superpower

By Markos Papadatos

Donna Lynn Champlin is an actress, singer, and dancer. She is known for playing Paula Proctor in the hit comedy series "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" on The CW. Most recently, she starred as Bernie in the Off-Broadway production of "Pen Pals" opposite Emily Skinner as Mags, who ironically enough are real-life best friends.

New York Women in Film and Television Holds 46th Annual MUSE Awards: UPDATED WITH PHOTOS EVENT - Honorees Are: Jamie Brewer, Gwyneth Paltrow, Patricia Cardoso, Audra McDonald, Jane Raab and Joy Reid to Be Honored at Annual Gala with Nancy Giles to Host - Also Izzy Harrison To Receive First Sports and Media Award

The prestigious organization New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT) is proud to announce the honorees for the 46th annual NYWIFT Muse Awards. For more than 40 years, NYWIFT has presented the Muse Awards to celebrate and illuminate women of outstanding vision and achievement both in front of and behind the camera in film, television, music, and media. This year’s awards celebration will be held Friday, March 20, 2026 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. Tickets are available to the general public.

UPDATE: FULL COVERAGE: PHOTS FROM The 2026 NYWIFT MUSE AWARDS BELOW

The Socially Relevant Film Festival Begins March 11, 2026 at Lensfest Center in New York City with film "The Last Wish" - See Many other Important Films, Meet Filmmakers and Network at a Reasonable Cost

The 13th annual edition of SR Socially Relevant™ Film Festival NY opens on Wednesday, March 11, at the iconic LenFest Center for the Arts at Columbia University, with the feature film The Last Wish by Rax Rinnekangas. The Last Wish, a Finnish-Spanish co-produced feature, starring Eric Francés (Madrid) and Nora Armani (New York), was shot entirely in Northern Spain, in Santo Domingo de Silos, and celebrates literature and literacy. The film is in Spanish and Western Armenian with English subtitles. Q&A with the artists follows.

Feel-Good Interview Series: Tony-Award Winner Actress Carmen Cusack - 11 Things to Know About This Broadway Star Including What Network She Binges On

By Markos Papadatos

Tony-winning actress Carmen Cusack recently starred as Bernie in the Off-Broadway production of "Pen Pals" opposite Gina Torres. Carmen is a multiple-award winner and is known for her acting and singing work in such musicals as "Bright Star" and "Flying Over Sunset." Did you know? She is the wife of Emmy award-winning actor Paul Telfer of "Days of Our Lives." She shared 11 things with us.

Jane Fonda, Robin Morgan, and Gloria Steinem – The Co-Founders of The WOMEN’S MEDIA CENTER – Announce the Honorees for the Women’s Media Center’s 21st Anniversary Women’s Media Awards to be held on Thursday, March 5th in TriBeca, NYC

Jane Fonda, Robin Morgan, and Gloria Steinem – the Co-Founders of The WOMEN’S MEDIA CENTER – have announced the honorees for the Women’s Media Center’s 21st Anniversary Women’s Media Awards to be held on Thursday, March 5th, at the Tribeca Rooftop in New York City. The WMC AWARDS are presented to outstanding leaders and champions for women in media.

The Women’s Media Center’s 21st Anniversary Women’s Media Awards Honorees are: Margot Wallström, Maribel Pérez Wadsworth, Barbara Kopple,Paola Ramos, Christine Neumann-Ortiz, Julie F. Kay and Chandra Childers. Here's why:

• Margot Wallström, Sweden’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the first United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, will be honored with the WMC Robin Morgan Sisterhood is Powerful Award.
• Maribel Pérez Wadsworth, President & CEO, Knight Foundation, will be honored with the WMC Pat Mitchell Lifetime Achievement Award.

Grammy Winner & Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee to Serve as Guest Speaker and Be Honored at BergenPAC Annual Event Celebrating Women's History Month

Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC) is proud to announce that legendary Grammy winner and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee DARLENE LOVE will be honored and serve as the distinguished guest speaker at the annual Women's Spring Luncheon, taking place on March 24, 2026 at 11:30 a.m. on the bergenPAC Taub Stage at 30 North Van Brunt Street in Englewood. Tickets to attend are $200.00 and sponsorships are available by visiting bergenpac.org/springlunch.

This highly anticipated event with limited seating recognizes Women's History Month, highlighting Darlene Love's outstanding contributions to music and her enduring impact on the community.

"Beth in Paris!" - A Women in Mid-Life Starts Her Journey in Paris - Can She Live the Life of Emily? Part 1 French Lessons

By Beth Abramson Brier

Editor's Note - Beth is a frequent contributor to SuzeeBehindtheScenes. Due to certain circumstances, she has left the stability of New Jersey to live in Paris for a bit.

Paris.  

No, that’s not quite right.  
Paris!  (Yes, that’s better).  
Paris!  The mere mention of the city* conjures up Emily’s adventures of glamour, fashion, amor, and that certain, yet elusive,  “je ne sais quoi”.  So when my husband and I had an opportunity to live in Paris we were packed and ready. But really, were we ready? 

Feel Good Interview Series: Accomplished Actor Penelope Ann Miller Most Recently of the Film "After All" — 9 Things to Know About Her

By Markos Papadatos

Golden Globe-nominated actress Penelope Ann Miller is known for her acting work in such feature films as "Carlito's Way," "The Artist," and "Kindergarten Cop." A few years ago, she played First Lady Nancy Reagan in the biopic movie "Reagan" opposite Dennis Quaid as President Ronald Reagan.  Most recently, she stars as the matriarch Verna in the film "After All." She shared 9 facts about herself.

Feel Good Interview Series: Get to Know the Young Actor Calista Craig of "Stranger Things"— 10 Things to Know About Her Including What She Watches

By Markos Papadatos

Calista Craig is known for playing Mary in the fifth and final season of "Stranger Things" on Netflix. She shared 10 interesting and exciting things about herself.

Her Favorite Movies

“I watched ‘The Notebook’ for the first time in the summer and I loved it,” she admitted. “I love any rom-coms. I would watch anything like that!”

Feel Good Interview Series: Brayan Nicoletti of "The Bold and The Beautiful" - 10 Things to Know About Him Including the Favorite Movies of this Cinema Fan

By Markos Papadatos

Brayan Nicoletti stars as the new R.J. Forrester in the CBS daytime drama "The Bold and the Beautiful," which is the most popular soap opera in the world. In the 2024 horror film "Woodbridge," he played the role of Anthony.

Nicoletti shared 10 interesting and exciting things about himself. 

Bryan's Favorite movies

His favorite movies include David Fincher’s “Seven,” as well as “Inception,” and “The Prestige.” “I am a big Christopher Nolan fan,” he admitted. “I also love Martin Scorsese and ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’.” “While my favorite movies tend to change, I'm just a fan of cinema in general,” he admitted.

Bookends in NJ is Brimming with Fabulous Female Authors and More - See and Meet Susan Lucci, Lisa Rinna, Valerie Bertinelli, Jennie Garth, McKenzie Mitchell, Gina Gershon, Sasha E. Sloan, Corinne Baily Rae and Others

Bookends in NJ offers the opportunity to get your book signed, meet the author and get a pic with some of the best and most popular authors in the US. The lineup coming up is tremendous, there are so many astounding and accomplished females coming with books to help inspire, inform and entertain you.

In addition to the females, there are also the likes of Andrew Yang and Steve Shirripa also coming.

The store, located on the main  street in Ridgewood NJ at 211 East Ridgewood Ave, offers ample parking, close proximity to the train station and a welcoming environment. It's also about a 45 minute drive from the city.

Feel Good Interview Series: Morgan Fairchild - 10 Things To Know About This Accomplished Actress - And What She Might Have Been Had Acting Not Been Her Success

By: Markos Papadatos

Acclaimed actress Morgan Fairchild is known for her acting work in the primetime soap operas "Dallas," "Flamingo Road," as well as "Paper Dolls" and "Falcon Crest." She also guest starred in "Murphy Brown," "Two and a Half Men," "Roseanne," "Cybill," and "Friends" (where she played the on-screen mother of the late Matthew Perry.) Most recently, she returned to the CBS soap opera "The Bold and The Beautiful" as Dorothy "Dottie" Bright after a 17-year absence. Fairchild shared 10 interesting and exciting things about herself.

The Creative Coalition Hosted its 19th Annual Spotlight Initiative Awards at 2026 Sundance Film Festival Honoring Rosanna Arquette, Anthony Bregman, Giancarlo Esposito, Rob Lowe, Iliza Shlesinger and Benedict Wong - PHOTOS

On January 24, The Creative Coalition hosted its 19th Annual Spotlight Initiative Awards at Buona Vita in Park City, Utah, honoring Rob Lowe, Gemma Chan, Rosanna Arquette, Anthony Bregman, Giancarlo Esposito, Iliza Shlesinger and Benedict Wong. Additional attendees included Alex Borstein, Yvette Nicole Brown, Katherine McNamara, Tom Welling, Jimmy O. Yang and Aasif Mandvi. The event convenes the Festival’s most notable filmmakers, talent and industry leaders for an evening celebrating independent film’s power to provoke, challenge, and inspire. The Spotlight Initiative Awards honors artists and storytellers show work embodies creative risk, originality and social impact with this year's Honorees representing a dynamic cross-section of talent.

"Freedom for a Night" - The Untold Stories of the Real Housewives of Greek Mythology by Caytha Jentis Runs Feb 19-22, 2026 at the Theater for the New City - A Feminist Circus Stage Play with Amazing Aerialists

Freedom for a Night, a fun feminist, genre-bending circus stage play written by Caytha Jentis and choreographed by Maia Ramnath, will have four performances February 19–22, 2026 at Theater for the New City.

Through aerial performance, spoken word, song, and dance, the iconic “dangerous” women of ancient Greek mythology step out of the shadows and reclaim their narratives. Characters including Medea, Medusa, and Circe tell their stories in their own words, challenging the myths that defined them and the systems that silenced them.

“Tonight, every myth will be unmade. Every woman will rise again,” declares the show’s host Artemis, played by Kendall Rileigh*.

The cast features some of New York City’s top aerialists and performance artists, including Troy Lingelbach (Dionysus), Caytha Jentis (Agave), Caitlin Borek* (Thelxiepeia), Maia Ramnath (Medea), Elena Delgado (Circe), Amara (Medusa), and Summer Lacy (Hecate).

"Hollywood East" is Booming - New Studios are Popping up all over NJ and the Tri-state Area - A Sampling of What's Coming to NJ - Like Netflix. 1888 (Paramount), Lionsgate and What's Here,

By Allyson Schiller

No one can say that the motion picture industry has had it easy these past few years. After the boom of work post- Covid, we fell into a time of oversaturation of the market. Productions that had been paused got back on their feet, regularly slated work continued and many studios tried to push out as much new content as possible. The industry then went into contract negotiations with various unions such as SAG-AFTRA, the Writer’s Guild, and IATSE, leading to months-long strikes and work stoppages. On top of this, there were fires in LA that paused production, studios decided they wanted to make less content overall, and the threat of AI became imminent. (Photo Left - Lionsgate/Great Point in Newark rendering)

Review of the Bruce Movie "Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere" - An Exceptional Portrayal of the Nebraska Album Slice of Springsteen's Life Which Will Resonate with Many Non-Fans as Well - Now Streaming

By Suzee
As a Jersey girl, I want to see "the Bruce movie" -  the day after it came out. (It's streaming now). A total super fan of The Boss, our friend Kevin decided to get a bunch of people - a good crowd of over 30, to see it opening weekend, at a theater down the shore near where Bruce lives. Because where else would we see it?

And Kevin made it an event. We had a tailgate for it. Yes, we had a tailgate at a movie theater parking lot. Kevin's daughter, who is also a fan, because his reach spans generations, made a meme out of the tailgating pic.

Feel Good Interview Series: The Versatile Actress Kathleen Chalfant Of "Familiar Touch", "Pen Pals", "The Copenhagen Test" and More - 10 Things to Know About Her

By: Markos Papadatos

Acclaimed actress Kathleen Chalfant's role in "Familiar Touch,"  has earned her critical acclaim and Oscar buzz from movie critics. She also starred in the Off-Broadway show "Pen Pals" last year, and she will be starring in the Off-Broadway play "The Dinosaurs." Most recently, she played the role of St. George in the espionage thriller series "The Copenhagen Test" opposite Simu Liu. Her character was the Boss in charge of the Orphanage. 

New York Women in Film and Television (NYWIFT) Congratulates 10 Members with Projects at Sundance Film Festival - Online Streaming Available

New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT) is pleased to announce that 10 projects from 10 members have been officially selected for the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. The festival will take place in person in Park City, Utah, from January 22 – February 1. Online festival screenings will be available January 29 – February 1.

NYWIFT is a vibrant community of approximately 2,000 media professionals working across every facet of the entertainment industry. The NYWIFT member projects premiering at Sundance are:

Review: Pen Pals Off Broadway is A Delightful, Engaging Look at the Lives Of Two Very Strong Women - Running through March 15, 2026 with A New Cast Every 2 Weeks

By Suzanne Ordas Curry

I might be a little partial to the story in Pen Pals because I am a Jersey Girl, and I live near Secaucus. And I had a pen pal when I was in grade school.

But even if I wasn't, I think anyone - especially women - would be engrossed in the correspondence between the two ladies in Pen Pals, playing at the  DR2 Theatre, 103 East 15th Street at Union Square East in New York City through March 15th, 2026. When I went to see Pen Pals, Maureen McCormick (aka Marcia Brady) played the American "Bernie" and Sharon Lawrence played British "Mags". 

Meet Actress/Producer Mikaela Phillips of Series, Films and Podcasts - What Zavier and the Nightkeeper is About - and Why She Kept Her Australian Accent

Mikaela Phillips started her journey in entertainment at the age of 6, This is a woman who knew what she wanted to do in life, and now she is a successful actor and producer. She has produced films and series independently and for the likes of Netflix, ViacomCBS, MTV and more. 

An Australian native, she started her career as a host on Afterbuzz TV USA. She then became well-known for starring as Faith Morgan in the TV Drama Series Counter Play (2016–2018), which she also executive produced alongside her mother, writer/director Chrys Phillips. 

Mikaela tells us about her inspiration, her words for others and about new newest film.

Feel Good Interview Series: Three Time Daytime Emmy Winner Rick Hearst of General Hospital and So Much More Shares 10 Things About Himself

By Markos Papadatos

Rick Hearst is a three-time Emmy award-winning actor. He is known for playing Scott "Scotty" Banning in "Days of Our Lives," Alan-Michael Spaulding in "Guiding Light," Matt Clark in "The Young and The Restless," Whip Jones in "The Bold and The Beautiful," and more recently, Ric Lansing in "General Hospital."

Rick's Favorite Movies

His favorite movies include “The Godfather I and II” and “Jaws.” “I have a very diverse section of films that I am enjoy,” he said.

Feel Good Interview Series: Meet Broadway Star Emily Skinner Recently in Pen Pals - 11 Things To Know About Her

By Markos Papadatos

Broadway performer and Tony Award-nominated Emily Skinner is known for starring in the Off-Broadway show "House of McQueen," opposite Luke Newton of "Bridgerton" as the title character, where she played fashion designer Alexander McQueen's mother Joyce, and her performance earned her rave reviews from fans and critics alike.

Most recently, she starred in the Off-Broadway show "Pen Pals," where she played the role of Bernie opposite her real-life best friend Donna Lynne Champlin. Skinner shared 10 interesting and fun things about herself.