Latest news with #SchoolofRock
American Military News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- American Military News
‘White Lotus' creator Mike White returning to ‘Survivor' for 50th season
CBS has spoken. Mike White, the writer of the hit HBO series 'White Lotus,' is returning to the island for 'Survivor' Season 50. The 54-year-old Emmy winner placed second on the show's 37th season in 2018. He is one of 24 returning players who will compete in the milestone season, which will be filmed in Fiji. 'Mike, after he finished playing, said, 'I want to play again,'' host and executive producer Jeff Probst told CBS Mornings on Wednesday. 'Then 'White Lotus' hit, and I thought, 'Well, he'll never play again.' But he kept texting and saying, 'Look, I'm serious. If you ever do anything where you have returning players, I want to play again.' So we're happy to have Mike. Other returning fan favorites include Cirie Fields, Ozzy Lusth, Colby Donaldson, Jenna Lewis-Dougherty, Aubry Bracco and Benjamin 'Coach' Wade. White, whose other credits include 'School of Rock' and 'Enlightened,' told the New Yorker in a 2021 interview how the show has inspired him. 'I still feel like, even on the most contrived reality show, the people are human and they're more interesting than some of the most well-scripted drama,' he said. 'And for me, as a writer of drama, I aspire to do what reality television already does. To create characters that are surprising and dimensional and do weird s– and capture your attention.' White also competed with his father Mel on two seasons of 'The Amazing Race.' 'The White Lotus' has already been given a Season 4 renewal. 'Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans' will head into production this summer and air in February 2026. ___ © 2025 New York Daily News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Chicago Tribune
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
New Elgin School of Rock to celebrate grand opening with music lessons, concert
It may not be the 'Rock 'n' Roll High School,' but Tommy Evans hopes students who check out Elgin's new School of Rock get the same kick from music that he did when he first heard groups like the Ramones. The music school's newest franchise at 355 S. Randall Road will celebrate its grand opening from 1:30 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 7, by offering a free music lessons and a concert by Elgin School of Rock's 101 program students. Evans, a St. Charles resident who's been playing guitar since he was a teen, opened the school with his mother, Meg. He remembers the thrill he felt when he first got into music, he said. 'My friends introduced me to bands like Nirvana and the Ramones, and I became infatuated with the sound of the guitar and the process of creating music,' Evans said. He went on to get his bachelor's degree in audio production and design from Columbia College in Chicago in 2012 and has played with bands in the Chicago area, including one he formed called Secret Colours. The band's name is a nod to a Beatles song, its sound inspired by '90s Britpop acts like Oasis, Blur and Pulp. 'My (late) father (Jim Evans) listened to a lot of those bands in that scene,' Evans said. 'Something about the sound of that time and place will always make me feel nostalgic. It had such raw energy and aspiration behind it. I think it will always influence my songwriting in one way or another.' Secret Colours' music has been featured in YouTube videos, the 2015 horror movie 'Wind Walkers,' and TV shows including Showtime's 'Shameless' and 'Californication,' CW's 'The Vampire Diaries' and Hulu's 'Difficult People.' Still, like many musicians, Evans needed a full-time job to pay his bills and started working for School of Rock in 2013. Since then he has played various roles with the organization, most recently as general manager of the location in Naperville. After gaining experience, Evans said he realized it was time to open a School of Rock franchise of his own. 'I love the mission of School of Rock,' he said. 'It does so much more than teach music. It helps people learn how to work together, encouraging each other toward a common goal, building confidence and having great experiences in rehearsals and at venues,' Elgin's is the 401st School of Rock in the country; more than 20 of those are located in Illinois. Evans opened and operates the business with his mother, Meg, who lives in Geneva. 'My husband, Jim, passed away unexpectedly in 2021, just six weeks after I retired from a 35-year sales career with Johnson & Johnson,' Meg Evans said. 'When Tommy came to me with the desire to get involved and open his own school, it helped give me some purpose back. Jim would have loved it. He supported Tommy in everything Tommy ever did.' In addition to the free lessons and performance, the grand opening celebration will feature a ribbon-cutting, food, beverages and tours. The students who will be performing are among the 40 who have come on board since the school's soft opening two months ago. They already have eight adult students, and 'as soon as we get six or more adults, we will be able to form a band with them,' Meg Evans said. 'At the end of each three- to four-month term, they will play at a local venue.' School of Rock teaches guitar, bass, keyboard, drums and vocals. Students have a 45-minute, one-on-one lesson every week followed by a 90-minute band rehearsal lesson, Evans said. The school is offering a variety of summer camps as well, she said. They've also has been getting involved in the Elgin community. They offered free lessons earlier this month at the Elgin Public Museum, and will be doing events at Lords Park Zoo and Elgin Downtown Market, conducting a kids interactive musical experience before the June 20 screening of 'Soul' in Wing Park, marching in Elgin's Fourth of July Parade, and sponsoring the summer outdoor concert series at Panton Mill Park in South Elgin. 'And when we have our own house band, we will be out playing wherever the community would need us,' Meg Evans said.
Boston Globe
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Mike White to return to ‘Survivor' for its 50th season
White first appeared on 'Survivor' in 2018, during the show's 37th season, and lasted on the island for 39 days, finishing in second place. Although 'The White Lotus' wouldn't premiere until three years later (White has said the show, an acerbic anthology series set at an exotic hotel chain, was partly inspired by his observations while on 'Survivor'), he was already a well-regarded filmmaker, having written the film 'School of Rock' and created the HBO series 'Enlightened.' Advertisement Conceived of and filmed during the COVID pandemic, 'The White Lotus' became a breakout hit for HBO and catapulted White to a new level of fame. He won Emmy Awards for both writing and directing in the limited series or anthology categories for the show's first season. The finale of the third season -- which aired this spring and starred Parker Posey, Carrie Coon and Walton Goggins -- was watched by more than 6 million viewers. Before 'Survivor,' White competed on 'The Amazing Race' with his father in 2009 and again in 2011. In a 2021 interview with The New Yorker, he attributed his love of reality television to its ability to distill real human behavior and conflict. 'For me, as a writer of drama, I aspire to do what reality television already does,' he said. 'To create characters that are surprising and dimensional and do weird' stuff and 'capture your attention.' Advertisement The landmark 50th season of 'Survivor,' which is scheduled to air in 2026, will feature several returning cast members, including a Season 1 contestant, Jenna Lewis-Dougherty, and five-time competitors Cirie Fields and Ozzy Lusth. Filming is scheduled to take place this summer. This article originally appeared in .
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Hollywood star Adria Arjona: Acting school save me
Adria Arjona feels she's been "saved" by acting school. The 33-year-old actress studied at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York City during her teenage years, and Adria relished the experience, as she learned to "express" herself through acting. The film star told Collider: "Acting school kind of saved me. "I had a pretty rough upbringing. There were parts there that were not the happiest, and acting really came in and saved me and taught me how to express myself through what I do." Adria was initially unsure what she wanted to do in her career. However, her dad thought she was perfectly suited to acting. The Hollywood star shared: "Every movie made me want to be something else or learn a new task. One day, my dad was like, 'I don't know exactly what you think you're going to be, but I think you might be an actor.'" Adria has starred in a host of high-profile projects in recent years, including 'Hit Man', 'Blink Twice' and 'Pacific Rim Uprising'. And the actress has always embraced the opportunity to "play different characters" on screen. She explained: "Every job you take, you're telling a story to the world of the kind of artist that you are, so you have to stick to your guns and be really truthful to what you believe in. "It's mostly, also, for me, to not be bored, right? To play different characters and to show the world that I'm more than just one thing." Despite this, Adria previously admitted that she'd like to be more "strategic" in her career decisions. She told Empire: "I wish I was more of a strategic actor when it comes to making choices. But I'm just more excited by the women that I get to embody." Adria starred alongside Glen Powell in the 2023 rom-com 'Hit Man', and the actress recalled quickly developing a strong "chemistry" with her co-star. Speaking about her initial meeting with Glen, Adria told Empire: "It was supposed to be a one-hour meeting. We ended up talking for five hours. "Chemistry comes from trust, and I think from our first meeting I just knew I could trust [Glen]. We created a space for us to play and be weird and sexy and funny." 'Hit Man' was directed by acclaimed filmmaker Richard Linklater, whose previous directing credits include 'Boyhood', 'School of Rock', and 'Everybody Wants Some!!'. And Adria still remembers feeling anxious about meeting the filmmaker for the first time. Recalling details of their first-ever Zoom call, the movie star shared: "My hands were sweaty. I was really trying to play it cool and that lasted for about ten minutes."
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
The White Lotus creator Mike White's net worth revealed as he eyes Survivor 50's prize money
Mike White, the award-winning creator of HBO's The White Lotus, is heading back to the island. The acclaimed screenwriter, director, and actor, known for films like Chuck & Buck and School of Rock, is returning to compete in Survivor 50, marking a comeback to the hit reality series. Also Read: Hoda Kotb reveals heartbreaking reason behind her exit from the Today show: 'It was non-negotiable' According to Celebrity Net Worth, the White Lotus creator's net worth is estimated to be $20 million. White has built his wealth through a multifaceted career in film and television. In addition to his written projects, he has directed films like Year of the Dog and Brad's Status, and created acclaimed series such as Enlightened and The White Lotus. Beyond Hollywood, he also competed on The Amazing Race and finished as runner-up on Survivor: David vs. Goliath in 2018. White has also been acknowledged for his work via various accolades, including winning three Primetime Emmy Awards. He has also been nominated for multiple awards across the Emmys, Writers Guild Awards, and Golden Globes. He is also known for blending satire, emotional depth, and social commentary in his work seamlessly. Also Read: Who is Alastair Stout? The fresh face cast as Ron Weasley in Harry Potter television series After his memorable run in Season 37, White is back at returning to the show in its 50th edition. At 54, Mike White is once again embracing the rugged challenges of Survivor, joining 23 other returning players for the show's landmark 50th season. No stranger to the game. On Wednesday, host and executive producer Jeff Probst told CBS Mornings, 'Mike, after he finished playing, said, 'I want to play again''. He added, 'When White Lotus hit, and I thought, 'Well, he'll never play again.' But he kept texting and saying, 'Look, I'm serious. If you ever do anything where you have returning players, I want to play again.' So we're happy to have Mike," as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. White will be competing with others for an attractive prize of $1 million.
