David Brooks

The Trust for Governors Island and Governors Island Arts has announced the hiring of Lauren Haynes as their new Head Curator and Vice President for Arts and Culture—marking an exciting step forward for one of New York City's most unique cultural destinations.

What is it about a good horror story that draws audiences by the cart load?  Is it the adrenaline surge of danger around every corner, even as the viewer remains safely out of danger? Or is it the exploration of the dark side of man’s psyche, feeding a vicarious blood lust in the deep recesses of our primordial hind brains? Or, is it a bit of schadenfreude, particularly if the victim is “deserving”?  All of things await the anxious theatregoer in Palm Canyon’s Theatre’s latest venture, Steven’s Sondheim’s macabre masterpiece “Sweeney Todd”.

History credits the first modern musical production to the year 1866 and a little-known work called “The Black Crook” that premiered in New York on September 12 of that year.  It was credited as the first play that added dance and original music to help tell the story.  But after seeing Palm Canyon Theatre’s newest production of “Something Rotten”, maybe the historians have it wrong.

A Palm Springs favorite is back… and already selling out fast! Palm Canyon Theatre (PCT) will present Del Shores’ Sordid Lives, January 19-28, 2024. In the tradition of a good “cult classic,” PCT is encouraging audience participation with cues to sing along and get involved in the action (from the comfort of a seat).

Palm Canyon Theatres “Elf” will definitely get you in the holiday spirit! Santa (David Brooks) brought Christmas cheer for all to hear! With his charming smile and stage presence, I almost believed in Santa again!  If you’ve seen the movie “Elf”, you can expect this production to be just as hilariously charming!

Based on the beloved holiday film, this hilarious fish-out-of-water comedy follows Buddy the Elf in his quest to find his true identity. After being raised as an elf at the North Pole, Buddy Hobbs discovers, as a young man, that he is actually human. With Santa’s encouragement, Buddy embarks on an eventful journey through New York City in search of his biological family. Elf, The Musical runs at Palm Canyon Theatre December 1-17.

From September 17th to November 16th, Chicago Humanities will host its annual Fall Festival, a dynamic lineup of over fifty events, presented across the city, from Evanston to the Loop to Hyde Park.

From the creators of My Fair Lady and Camelot, Palm Canyon Theatre presents the classic musical tale of a mythical and magical village located in the Scottish Highlands, BRIGADOON. Americans Jeff and Tommy, while on a hunting trip, stumble upon the town of Brigadoon, which they discover comes alive only once every 100 years. After falling for Fiona, a local woman, Tommy must choose between returning to the life he knows or giving up on the outside world and taking a chance on love in this mysterious place.

Vacation by Nathan Johnson is a jaunt into the wild world of Barrett and James, a pair of filthy rich husbands who've embarked on a romantic get away both unaware that the other has hatched a plot to murder him. It's a quick-witted, queer spy-vs-spy fantasy loaded with twists and turns-just like every relationship.

This female-centric classic is a delight for all audiences as staged by Palm Canyon Theatre.

The Trust for Governors Island has announced the 2023 Organizations in Residence, with nonprofit organizations from all five boroughs set to expand cultural offerings for Governors Island visitors starting this spring.

What did our critic think of THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL at Palm Canyon Theatre? Palm Canyon Theatre has taken some risks this season by offering a season of lesser-known shows, but their decision seems to be paying off. I know that my first-ever viewing of Titanic will last with me a long time, and their current production, The Scarlet Pimpernel, stacks up very close. It is definitely worth seeing - and especially hearing. The voices of the three leads would be comfortable in any concert hall in the world, and hearing them in PCT's relatively small auditorium is a rare treat.

What did our critic think of PALM SPRINGS GETAWAY at Palm Canyon Theatre? Palm Canyon Theatre has revived a new, streamlined version of Palm Springs Getaway, their original 'musical romp' which they premiered last season. I'll start right out by confessing that I was in the original production so I know it well, though I never actually 'saw' it. I'm delighted to report that playwright Cara Van Dijk, aided by Eric Stein-Steele and Se Layne, has kept the best of the first production and replaced a few of the previously weak moments with some very strong scenes. The result is a tuneful, educational, nostalgic and totally enjoyable couple of hours.

Desert Theatreworks (DTW) starts its 2022-23 season with a bang — its production of J. Dietz Osborne's and Nate Eppler's farce, SOUTHERN FRIED NUPTIALS, is a must-see. It is hilariously written, fabulously staged, and brilliantly acted.

Palm Canyon Theatre (PCT) deserves kudos for the fine singing, acting, dancing, and technical achievements in its production of Stephen Sondheim's INTO THE WOODS - the audience was highly enthusiastic the night I attended, for good reason. The show will play through Sunday, May 22, 2022.

The Trust for Governors Island announced today the opening of a  new commissioned artwork by multidisciplinary artist Sam Van Aken within Governors Island’s  award-winning park.

On Saturday, March 19, Marc-André Bougie will conduct the New York premiere of his own Requiem. This premiere is to take place during the first concert for MidAmerica Productions at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage since 2019.

Palm Canyon Theatre's (PCT's) PALM SPRINGS GETAWAY is the world premiere of a handclapping, foot-stomping revue that describes the history of Palm Springs, California in a funny, mostly wholesome way. I enjoyed myself immensely at this high-quality getaway from events in the world. Judging from other audience members, so did they.

Paul Taylor-Mills & Bill Kenwright, in association with Adam Bialow, by special arrangement with LIONSGATE are presenting But I’m A Cheerleader: The Musical, based on the LIONSGATE motion picture, directed and story by Jamie Babbit and screenplay by Brian Wayne Peterson.

 The Trust for Governors Island announced today this year’s participants in its annual Organizations in Residence program. Through the program, the Trust invites arts and cultural organizations to present public programming and artist residencies inside former military homes. 24 organizations presenting visual art, environmental education, and cultural programming were selected for the 2022 program, which will be free and open to the public from May 1 through October 31, 2022.