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Yale Ex!t Players
The Yale Ex!t Players, or the Exit Players, is an improvisational comedy group at Yale University in New Haven, CT, United States. The Exit Players was founded in 1984, making it the oldest improv group on Yale's campus. History The Yale Ex!t Players was co-founded in 1984 by Paul Hayslett, ’85, and Steven Florsheim, ’87. It is Yale’s oldest improv group, followed by The Purple Crayon, The Viola Question, Just Add Water, and Lux Improvitas. The Exit Players derives its name from its original, longer title "Experimental Improvisational Theater," which was later shortened to "Exit." The exclamation point became part of the name when a new logo was designed for the group in 1988. Performances The Exit Players perform both on and off the Yale University campus, for a total of over twenty-five shows per year. On-Campus Shows The Exit Players perform every three or four weeks during the school term, totaling ten on-campus show per year. Shows alternate between annual t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe (; Edgar Poe; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is widely regarded as a central figure of Romanticism in the United States, and of American literature. Poe was one of the country's earliest practitioners of the short story, and considered to be the inventor of the detective fiction genre, as well as a significant contributor to the emerging genre of science fiction. Poe is the first well-known American writer to earn a living through writing alone, resulting in a financially difficult life and career. Poe was born in Boston, the second child of actors David and Elizabeth "Eliza" Poe. His father abandoned the family in 1810, and when his mother died the following year, Poe was taken in by John and Frances Allan of Richmond, Virginia. They never formally adopted him, but he was with them well ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Office (U
''The Office'' is a mockumentary sitcom created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, first made in the United Kingdom, then Germany, and subsequently the United States. It has since been remade in ten other countries. The original series of ''The Office'' also starred Gervais as the boss and main character of the show. The two seasons were broadcast on BBC Two in 2001 and 2002, totalling 12 episodes, with two special episodes in 2003, and an extra short spectacular ten years later. A German version titled '' Stromberg'' ran for 46 episodes over five seasons, starting in 2004, and the follow-up film ''Stromberg - Der Film'' was released in German cinemas in 2014. The longest-running version of the series, the US adaptation, ran for nine seasons on the NBC Television Network from 2005 to 2013 for a total of 201 episodes. The total overall viewership is in the hundreds of millions worldwide. According to Nielsen Ratings as of April 2019, the US version of ''The Office'' was th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Modern Family
''Modern Family'' is an American family sitcom television series created by Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan for the American Broadcasting Company. It ran for 11 seasons, from September 23, 2009, to April 8, 2020. It follows the lives of three diverse family set-ups in suburban Los Angeles, linked by patriarch Jay Pritchett. Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan conceived the series while sharing stories of their own "modern families." ''Modern Family'' employs an ensemble cast and is presented in a mockumentary style, with the characters frequently speaking directly to the camera in confessional interview segments. The series was renewed for an eleventh and final season on February 5, 2019, which premiered on September 25, 2019. The series finale aired on April 8, 2020. ''Modern Family'' was acclaimed by critics throughout its first few seasons. Its critical reception became more mixed as it progressed, but it maintained a loyal fan base throughout its 11 seasons and was ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Horrible Bosses
''Horrible Bosses'' is a 2011 American black comedy film directed by Seth Gordon, written by Michael Markowitz, John Francis Daley, and Jonathan Goldstein, from a story by Markowitz. It stars Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell, Kevin Spacey, and Jamie Foxx. The plot follows three friends, played by Bateman, Day, and Sudeikis, who decide to murder their respective overbearing, abusive bosses, portrayed by Spacey, Aniston, and Farrell. Markowitz's script was bought by New Line Cinema in 2005 and the film spent six years in various states of pre-production, with a variety of actors attached to different roles. By 2010, Goldstein and Daley had rewritten the script, and the film finally went into production. The film premiered in Los Angeles on June 30, 2011, and was released on July 8, 2011. The film exceeded financial expectations, accruing over $28 million in the first three days, making it the number two film in the United S ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Four Christmases
''Four Christmases'' is a 2008 American Christmas comedy film about a couple visiting all four of their divorced parents' homes on Christmas Day. It stars Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon with Robert Duvall, Jon Favreau, Mary Steenburgen, Dwight Yoakam, Tim McGraw, Kristin Chenoweth, Jon Voight, and Sissy Spacek in supporting roles. The film is director Seth Gordon's first studio feature film. It tells the story of a couple who must travel to four family parties after their vacation plans get cancelled due to a dense fog. The film is produced by New Line Cinema and Spyglass Entertainment and released by Warner Bros. Pictures on November 26, 2008. It received generally negative reviews from critics but earned $163 million worldwide. Plot Brad and Kate are an upscale San Francisco couple. Both come from dysfunctional families: divorced parents and obnoxious siblings with out-of-control kids so they disdain the idea of getting married or having kids. They try to avoid their famili ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The King Of Kong
''The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters'' is a 2007 American documentary film about competitive arcade gaming directed by Seth Gordon. It follows Steve Wiebe in his attempts to take the high score record for the 1981 arcade game ''Donkey Kong'' from Billy Mitchell. The film premiered at the 2007 Slamdance Film Festival and was released in U.S. theaters in August 2007. It received positive reviews. Summary Walter Day is the founder of Twin Galaxies, an organization dedicated to tracking high scores in arcade games, especially those from the golden age of arcade games of the early 1980s. Restaurateur Billy Mitchell holds the high score for several arcade games, including the original 1981 release of ''Donkey Kong''. In Redmond, Washington, out-of-work engineer Steve Wiebe has purchased a ''Donkey Kong'' cabinet in hopes of achieving the world record. Using his mathematical knowledge to identify exploitable patterns in the game, Wiebe sets a new record of 947,200 points in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Seth Gordon
Seth Lewis Gordon (born July 15, 1974) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and film editor. He has produced and directed for film and television, including for PBS, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the United Nations Staff 1% for Development Fund. His films have screened at the Sundance Film Festival and Slamdance Film Festival. He has directed the films '' The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters'' (2007), ''Four Christmases'' (2008), ''Horrible Bosses'' (2011), ''Identity Thief'' (2013), and ''Baywatch'' (2017). He has also directed several episodes of television series like ''The Office'', ''Parks and Recreation'', ''Modern Family'', ''Atypical'', and '' For All Mankind''. Life and career Gordon grew up in Evanston, Illinois. He attended Yale University, where he studied architecture until leaving in 1997 to teach high school for six months in the small village of Shimanyiro, Kenya. While there he helped secure United Nations financing to finish constru ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Cabin In The Woods
''The Cabin in the Woods'' is a 2011 science fiction horror comedy film directed by Drew Goddard in his directorial debut, produced by Joss Whedon, and written by Whedon and Goddard. It stars Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz, Jesse Williams, Richard Jenkins, and Bradley Whitford. The plot follows a group of college students who retreat to a remote forest cabin where they fall victim to a variety of monsters while technicians manipulate events from an underground facility. Goddard and Whedon, having worked together previously on ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' and ''Angel'', wrote the screenplay in three days, describing it as an attempt to "revitalize" the slasher film genre and as a critical satire on torture porn. The special effects, monster costumes, special makeup, and prosthetic makeup for the film were done by AFX Studio. Filming took place in Vancouver, British Columbia from March to May 2009 on an estimated budget of $30 million. The film was o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dollhouse (TV Series)
''Dollhouse'' is an American science fiction television series created by writer and director Joss Whedon under Mutant Enemy Productions. It premiered on February 13, 2009, on the Fox network and was canceled on November 11, 2009. The final episode aired on January 29, 2010. Production wrapped in December 2009, with a total of 27 episodes produced including the original pilot. The show revolves around a corporation running numerous underground establishments (known as "Dollhouses") around the globe that program individuals referred to as Actives (or Dolls) with temporary personalities and skills. Wealthy clients hire Actives from Dollhouses at great expense for various purposes, including heists, sexual encounters, assassinations, expert counsel, and all manner of unique experiences. The series primarily follows the Active known as Echo, played by Eliza Dushku, on her journey toward self-awareness. Dushku also served as series producer. ''Dollhouse'' initially received mixed ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Village (2004 Film)
''The Village'' is a 2004 American period thriller film written, produced, and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. It stars Bryce Dallas Howard, Joaquin Phoenix, Adrien Brody, William Hurt, Sigourney Weaver, and Brendan Gleeson. The film is about a village whose population lives in fear of creatures inhabiting the woods beyond it, referred to as "Those We Don't Speak Of." ''The Village'' received mixed reviews, with many critics expressing disappointment with the twist ending. James Newton Howard was nominated for Best Original Score at the 77th Academy Awards. The film was a financial success as it grossed $257 million worldwide against a $60 million production budget. Plot Residents of the small, isolated, 19th-century, Pennsylvania village of Covington live in fear of "Those We Don't Speak Of," nameless humanoid creatures living within the surrounding woods. The villagers have constructed a large barrier of oil lanterns and watchtowers that are constantly staffed. After the fun ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fran Kranz
Francis Elliott Kranz (born July 13, 1981) is an American actor and film director. He is known for his portrayal of Topher Brink in the science fiction drama series ''Dollhouse''. He had prominent roles in the films ''The Cabin in the Woods'' and ''Much Ado About Nothing''. In 2012, he played Bernard in ''Death of a Salesman'', beginning a career on Broadway that continued with 2014's '' You Can't Take It with You''. Kranz made his feature directorial debut with ''Mass'' (2021), which premiered at Sundance Film Festival to critical acclaim. Personal life Kranz was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. He started acting in third and fourth grade, and knew from a very young age that he wanted to become an actor. He graduated from Harvard-Westlake School in 2000 and from Yale University in 2004, where he was a member of the improv comedy group The Ex!t Players. In 2015, Kranz married actress Spencer Margaret Richmond, daughter of '' Charlie's Angels'' actress Jaclyn Smith ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
