Latest news with #AmericanAcademyofDramaticArts
Scotsman
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Fringe debut for LA-based playwright turning her prison romance into a one-woman show
American playwright and performer Laurie Magers brings her gripping solo theatre show 'Do You Accept These Charges?' to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer, marking its European premiere at the Pleasance Courtyard Below from the 30th of July to the 24th of August (excluding the 12th and 18th). Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A powerful and darkly humorous exploration of obsession, coercion, and personal reckoning, the piece pulls back the curtain on an intense real-life relationship between Magers and a man serving time in prison. Written and performed by Magers, the show opens on a prison visitation day in 2014 and spirals into a deeply personal account of a young woman who falls for—and stays with—a man she later discovers is a convicted multi-felon. What begins as a misguided romance unravels into a harrowing narrative of control, trauma, and transformation, told through a mixture of dramatic monologue, reflection, and brutal honesty. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Do You Accept These Charges? is not simply a confessional—it is an unflinching theatrical examination of intimacy under pressure. Through candid storytelling and moments of dark absurdity, Magers brings the audience into the hidden emotional terrain of someone who willingly enters a toxic dynamic and stays long after the damage becomes clear. It's a story of how desire, denial, and addiction to chaos can shape the course of a life. (c) KIM NEWMONEY The production delves into themes of love addiction, physical abuse, female sexuality, and the American prison system with both gravity and unexpected levity. From prison letters and restraining orders to stories of smuggled contraband and misplaced hope, Magers holds nothing back. The result is a raw and confrontational piece of theatre that doesn't seek redemption, but truth. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area and now based in Los Angeles, Laurie Magers trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and Upright Citizens Brigade. A former competitive poet, she's brought her writing to television through projects with Netflix, Comedy Central, and Disney+, but Do You Accept These Charges? marks her most personal and theatrical work to date. Her writing draws deeply from her upbringing as the daughter of a Filipina political activist and refugee, a background that informs her understanding of power, survival, and rebellion. Magers' stage presence is as fearless as her material, commanding the space with vulnerability and fire. In a festival known for showcasing new theatrical voices, this debut stands out for its unvarnished emotional intelligence and refusal to sanitise the truth. Do You Accept These Charges? Will be at the Pleasance Courtyard Below at 3.10pm for the month of August for tickets go to
American Military News
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- American Military News
Loretta Swit, who played libido-driven Maj. ‘Hot Lips' Houlihan on ‘M.A.S.H.,' dies at 87
Loretta Swit, the Emmy-winning actor best known for her time as Maj. Margaret 'Hot Lips' Houlihan on the TV version of 'M.A.S.H.,' died Friday in her New York City apartment, her representative confirmed to The Times. She was 87. Swit was found by her housekeeper around 10 a.m., according to publicist Harlan Boll, who said he had been on the phone with her at 11 p.m. local time Thursday night — 2 a.m. Friday in New York. Her doorman saw her drop something in the mail at 4 a.m. Friday, New York time, Boll said, and six hours later, she was gone. The actor — born Loretta Jane Szwed on Nov. 4, 1937, in Passaic, New Jersey — loved playing Hot Lips so much that she was the only performer other than Alan Alda who stayed on the series from its pilot in 1972 through its much-watched finale in 1983. 'M.A.S.H.,' set during the Korean War, was a sitcom but also more than that to Swit. 'There is, I think, an intelligence behind the humor,' she told The Times in 1977. 'The audience is huge, and they deserve to be entertained on the highest level we can achieve.' Though her portrayal of the libido-driven blond in fatigues and Army boots catapulted Swit to household-name status, she had been in acting since before her eighth birthday in stage productions and musicals in New York. She left home at 17 to work in the theater, temping at secretarial jobs while studying at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. A confessed workaholic, Swit moved easily from comedy to drama, acting in 'Same Time, Next Year,' 'Mame' and 'The Odd Couple' before moving to Los Angeles to star in 'M.A.S.H.' She appeared in iconic series such as 'Hawaii Five-O,' 'Mission: Impossible' and 'Mannix,' and had a productive television career until very recently. Her most recent TV appearance was as herself in the 2024 Fox tribute special 'M.A.S.H.: The Comedy That Changed Television.' Her theater work was plentiful, and in addition to Broadway, off-Broadway, regional and national work, included shows in Southern California. She joined Harry Hamlin in 'One November Yankee' at the NoHo Arts Center in 2012, three years after doing a reading of the play with a different actor at the Pasadena Playhouse. 'M.A.S.H.' filmed its outdoor scenes at Malibu Creek State Park, where the set was re-created for fans' enjoyment in 2008. 'It's thrilling to be honored in this way,' Swit told The Times that year. 'I think if I had to sum it up, what we're most proud of is that we made everybody come together. And I think this will also bring people together.' Swit was nominated for five Emmys for her Hot Lips role and won for supporting actress in a comedy, variety or music series in 1980 and 1982. She garnered four Golden Globe nominations for her work on 'M.A.S.H.,' in the lead and supporting actress categories, but did not win. She was given a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame in 1989, near what is now the home of Amoeba Music. An animal lover, Swit set up the SwitHeart Animal Alliance to prevent cruelty and end animal suffering. The alliance worked with numerous nonprofit organizations and programs to protect, rescue, train and care for animals and preserve their habitat, while raising public awareness about issues that concern domestic, farm, exotic, wild and native animals. She created an art book, 'SwitHeart: The Watercolour Artistry & Animal Activism of Loretta Swit,' which includes 65 of her full-color paintings and drawings and 22 of her photographs. Proceeds went to animal causes, and the 2016 Betty White Award from the group Actors and Others for Animals was but one of the many honors she received for her philanthropic work. ___ © 2025 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Mint
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
MASH actor Loretta Swit dies at 87: Who was she?
Actor Loretta Swit, best known for playing Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan on the hit TV show MASH, died at the age of 87, reported The Hollywood Reporter citing her publicist. Her death, at her home in Manhattan, was announced by her publicist, who said she was believed to have died of natural causes. Loretta Swit's publicist, Harlan Boll, said the actress passed away just after midnight on Friday at her home in New York City. The cause is believed to be natural, according to a police report. Born Loretta Jane Szwed on November 4, 1937, in Passaic, New Jersey, she studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. She moved to Los Angeles in 1970, where she began landing television roles. In her later years, she focused on animal rights and returned to the screen in 2019 in a faith-based film Play the Flute. She was married to actor Dennis Holahan, whom she met on MASH*, from 1983 to 1995. Actress Loretta Swit attends the 2018 Farm Sanctuary on the Hudson Gala at Pier 60 on October 4, 2018 in New York City. Swit was a key part of the seminal Korean War comedy series "M*A*S*H" from the beginning to the end, appearing in 240 out of 251 episodes during its sensational 11-season run. For her role, Swit was nominated for an Emmy 10 times and won twice. Only Alan Alda, who played Hawkeye Pierce, shared the honour of appearing in both the pilot and the final episode of the series. The show sprang from an Oscar-winning 1970 film. It was aired initially in 1972 and was a hit until it finished in 1983. The comedy was set in a field hospital for the US Army during the Korean War, and starred Alan Alda as Benjamin "Hawkeye" Pierce. According to Reuters, the series tackled a range of issues from the tragic to the light-hearted, and was sometimes seen as a satire on US involvement in Vietnam -- a war that was still happening when it first began airing. Loretta Swit presents a tribute to "Mr. Rogers" at the 45th annual Daytime Emmy Awards on April 29, 2018, in Pasadena, Calif. The finale episode of MASH, which was aired on February 28, 1983, remains one of the most-watched television episodes in history, with nearly 106 million viewers. A kiss between Swit and Alda during that episode is often called the most expensive in TV history, due to how much ad space cost during the broadcast, as per The Hollywood Reporter. Loretta Swit also worked in films like Freebie and the Bean (1974), Race With the Devil (1975), and S.O.B. (1981). She was also known for her work on stage, including performances in The Odd Couple, Any Wednesday, and Same Time, Next Year on Broadway. Swit played a lead role in the original Cagney & Lacey pilot in 1981. However, because of her MASH* contract, she could not continue in the role when the series was picked up by CBS, as per the publication. Other movies during Swit's career included "Race With the Devil," a 1975 horror starring Peter Fonda, and 1972's "Stand Up and Be Counted" with Jacqueline Bisset.
Express Tribune
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
MASH star Loretta Swit passes away at age 87
Loretta Swit, best known for her iconic role as Major Margaret 'Hot Lips' Houlihan on the classic TV series MASH, passed away at her New York City home on May 30 at age 87. Her representative, Harlan Boll, confirmed her time of death as 12:01 p.m., citing suspected natural causes. Swit earned critical acclaim during her 11-year run on MASH, receiving Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy from 1974 to 1983 and winning twice in 1980 and 1982. Over the series, her character evolved from a harsh antagonist to a complex, respected figure, notably highlighted in episodes like 'The Nurses' and 'Bug Out.' Born Loretta Jane Szwed in Passaic, New Jersey, Swit began performing at age seven. She trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and made her TV debut in 1969. Before MASH, she appeared in popular shows including Hawaii Five-O, Mission: Impossible, and Bonanza. Her film credits include Freebie and the Bean (1974) and Race With the Devil (1975). After MASH ended, Swit continued her acting career with TV movies such as The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and guest roles in Murder, She Wrote and Diagnosis Murder. She was also active in theater and Broadway, appearing in productions like Same Time, Next Year and The Mystery of Edwin Drood. A passionate animal rights advocate, Swit founded the SwitHeart Animal Alliance and was honored by multiple animal welfare organizations. Donations in her memory can be made to Actors & Others For Animals or the SwitHeart Animal Alliance.
Los Angeles Times
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Loretta Swit, who played libido-driven Maj. ‘Hot Lips' Houlihan on ‘M*A*S*H,' dies at 87
Loretta Swit, the Emmy-winning actor best known for her time as Maj. Margaret 'Hot Lips' Houlihan on the TV version of 'M*A*S*H,' died Friday in her New York City apartment, her representative confirmed to The Times. She was 87. Swit was found by her housekeeper around 10 a.m., according to publicist Harlan Boll, who said he had been on the phone with her at 11 p.m. local time Thursday night — 2 a.m. Friday in New York. Her doorman saw her drop something in the mail at 4 a.m. Friday, New York time, Boll said, and six hours later, she was gone. The actor — born Loretta Jane Szwed on Nov. 4, 1937, in Passaic, N.J. — loved playing Hot Lips so much that she was the only performer other than Alan Alda who stayed on the series from its pilot in 1972 through its much-watched finale in 1983. 'M*A*S*H,' set during the Korean War, was a sitcom but also more than that to Swit. 'There is, I think, an intelligence behind the humor,' she told The Times in 1977. 'The audience is huge, and they deserve to be entertained on the highest level we can achieve.' Though her portrayal of the libido-driven blond in fatigues and Army boots catapulted Swit to household-name status, she had been in acting since before her 8th birthday in stage productions and musicals in New York. She left home at 17 to work in the theater, temping at secretarial jobs while studying at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. A confessed workaholic, Swit moved easily from comedy to drama, acting in 'Same Time, Next Year,' 'Mame' and 'The Odd Couple' before moving to Los Angeles to star in 'M*A*S*H.' She appeared in iconic series such as 'Hawaii Five-O,' 'Mission: Impossible' and 'Mannix,' and had a productive television career until very recently. Her most recent TV appearance was as herself in the 2024 Fox tribute special 'M*A*S*H: The Comedy That Changed Television.' Her theater work was plentiful, and in addition to Broadway, off-Broadway, regional and national work, included shows in Southern California. She joined Harry Hamlin in 'One November Yankee' at the NoHo Arts Center in 2012, three years after doing a reading of the play with a different actor at the Pasadena Playhouse. 'M*A*S*H' filmed its outdoor scenes at Malibu Creek State Park, where the set was re-created for fans' enjoyment in 2008. 'It's thrilling to be honored in this way,' Swit told The Times that year. 'I think if I had to sum it up, what we're most proud of is that we made everybody come together. And I think this will also bring people together.' Swit was nominated for five Emmys for her Hot Lips role and won for supporting actress in a comedy, variety or music series in 1980 and 1982. She garnered four Golden Globe nominations for her work on 'M*A*S*H,' in the lead and supporting actress categories, but did not win. She was given a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame in 1989, near what is now the home of Amoeba Music. An animal lover, Swit set up the SwitHeart Animal Alliance to prevent cruelty and end animal suffering. The alliance worked with numerous nonprofit organizations and programs to protect, rescue, train and care for animals and preserve their habitat, while raising public awareness about issues that concern domestic, farm, exotic, wild and native animals. She created an art book, 'SwitHeart: The Watercolour Artistry & Animal Activism of Loretta Swit,' which includes 65 of her full-color paintings and drawings and 22 of her photographs. Proceeds went to animal causes, and the 2016 Betty White Award from the group Actors and Others for Animals was but one of the many honors she received for her philanthropic work. Former freelance writer T.L. Stanley contributed to this report.
