Arts & Culture

NEW YORK (AP) - A new theater prize inspired by Fairport native Philip Seymour Hoffman is seeking submissions that ``exhibit fearlessness.'' 

The Relentless Award is the largest annual cash prize in American theater awarded to a playwright in recognition of a new play. It has been launched with an annual prize of $45,000 and the promise of workshops. 

Submissions will be taken starting Friday. This cycle's deadline is July 10, and the winner and three finalists will be announced Oct. 2. 

Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra held their annual meeting Thursday night where they reflected on the fiscal year and looked toward the future.

The RPO is still not breaking even, despite recent budget cuts and their employee's voluntary salary freeze. According to fiscal reports released at the meeting, revenues were up thanks to their first trip to Carnegie Hall in 30 years, but ticket sales were down. They measured an operational deficit of over $250,000. They are able to operate at a loss, temporarily, thanks to endowments.

An event commemorating Doctor Martin Luther King Junior’s Legacy will feature award-winning journalist, Soledad O’Brien.

O’Brien’s talk entitled “Diversity on TV, Behind the Scenes and in our Lives,” kicks off the event at RIT at noon Thursday.

The reporter best known for the documentary film series “Black in America” explained the news media played a role in shedding light on the abuse of civil rights leaders in the south during the 1960s.

A medical student at the University of Rochester is among those interviewed in an episode of the PBS series 'Secrets of the Dead' which will be seen Wednesday night at 10:00 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

Melissa Hewson is on the segment called "Ben Franklin's Bones” because one of her ancestors is an 18th century physician.

Fire caused extensive damage to a vacant building on North Goodman Street early Tuesday morning. The building was in the process of  being renovated into offices.

It's located near the Memorial Art Gallery, and although the "MAG"  was not damaged,  officials there are taking some precautionary steps, including closing the Gallery both Tuesday and Wednesday.

NEW YORK (AP) A pioneering New York City radio and TV host who gave breaks to Al Pacino and Bill Cosby long before they became famous and boasted he never missed a broadcast in decades has died. Joe Franklin was 88.

Longtime producer Steven Garrin says Franklin died Saturday of cancer.

Franklin often is credited with developing the standard TV talk show format, sitting behind a desk interviewing wanna-be celebrities, minor celebrities and the occasional bona fide celebrity.

 When you tune into Downton Abbey on WXXI-TV Sunday night, take a good look at the costumes. Specifically, the hats.

There's a Rochester-area connection.

A Wayne County native says it was a dream come true when he was commissioned to design hats worn by the leading ladies at Downton.

Zebulon Hounslea grew up in Ontario, New York. He is a graduate of Wayne Central High School and the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Click on the audio link above to hear him talk about how he landed this assignment for the iconic PBS show.

Several thousand people crowded downtown Rochester on Sunday night as part of a national Pepsi sweepstakes competition. The campaign had asked participants to post videos and photos promoting the “Most Hyped Hometown in America.”  The free concert, featuring the pop duo Nico & Vinz performed after a local fan won the competition.

Pepsi also put up a dozen free soda vending machines around the downtown area, along with some other mini outdoor concerts over the weekend.

There was also an appearance Sunday by new Bills’ coach Rex Ryan and star player Sammy Watkins.

The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra is launching a new mobile app.

Available at the iTunes store for Apple devices and Google Play for Android phones and tablets, the app allows users to view the RPO concert calendar, purchase tickets, watch videos, get program notes and other material about orchestra members.

The app is provided through a provide of mobile technology to the performing arts called InstantEncore.