Allan Miller News

Playwrights Horizons and Symphony Space will present a panel discussion previewing the theater company's new season on Monday evening, September 23 at 7:30 PM at Symphony Space's Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theater (2537 Broadway at 95th Street). Moderated by The Washington Post's Chief Theater Critic Peter Marks, joined by Playwrights Horizons Artistic Director Tim Sanford, the 6th annual panel discussion will feature artists representing the six productions of the theater company's 2013/2014 Season.

Symphony Space's In the Salon series gets underway on Friday, October 18 (7:30 pm) in the Leonard Nimoy Thalia with a program devoted to Benjamin Britten's music, in celebration of the composer's centenary year. Tenor Rufus Müller and guitarist David Leisnerjoin forces to present a rare performance of Britten's complete oeuvre for the combination. This ravishing and often profound body of work was written for Britten's life partner, Peter Pears, and their friend, guitarist Julian Bream. It comprises Folk Song Arrangements (Vol. 6),Songs from the Chinese, and The Second Lute Song of the Earl of Essex from Gloriana. The program also includes Nocturnal for solo guitar (1963), an acknowledged masterpiece of the genre. It is presented in collaboration with Guitar Plus

On Wednesday, September 25, for one night only, Sierra Stages and Miners Foundry Cultural Center present THE EFFECT OF GAMMA RAYS ON MAN-IN-THE-MOON MARIGOLDS, the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama by Paul Zindel, as the fourth in it series of informal play readings titled 'Theater by the Book'. The reading is directed by Diane Fetterly and takes place at the Miners Foundry in Nevada City at 7:30 PM.

Symphony Space will open its 2013-14 Music season with 'Kurt Weill on Broadway,' Monday, October 7 (8 pm) at the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre. The show takes place on the 70th anniversary of the Broadway opening of Weill's One Touch of Venus. Ted Chapin hosts a stellar cast featuring Melissa Errico, Brent Barrett, Judy Blazer, and Ron Raines, plus winners of the international Lotte Lenya Competition.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts & McCoy Rigby Entertainment will present the first production in its 2013-1014 season of shows, the Tony Award-winning play, BROADWAY BOUND, written by Neil Simon and directed by Jeff Maynard. BROADWAY BOUND will preview on Friday, September 20, 2013 (with a press opening on Saturday, September 21) and run through Sunday, October 13, 2013 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.

Symphony Space announces its 2013-2014 season of film under the helm of Symphony Space Artistic Director, Laura Kaminsky and Director of Film Programming, Ed Budz. Throughout the season, the Leonard Nimoy Thalia houses the staple series Thalia Docs and Thalia Film Club and the recent co-presented additions, National Theatre Live and the Iron Mule Short Comedy Screening Series.

Symphony Space, New York's home for innovative and diverse cultural programming on the Upper West Side, celebrates its 35th season of Music programs in 2013-14 with a stellar array of artists in imaginative, thought-provoking presentations. Curated by Artistic Director Laura Kaminsky, the offerings range from marathon celebrations to intimate recitals, encompassing a rich variety of musical styles. Highlights include a visit from Krzysztof Penderecki, October 25; the fifth THE MUSIC OF NOW MARATHON, with the dream-inspired theme of 'REM: Rapid Ear Movement,' February 1; and appearances by Dar Williams, Tom Paxton, Christine Lavin, and other icons of folk/acoustic music. Capping the season is SLEEPING AROUND, a multidisciplinary festival celebrating the culture, history, art, scene, and scandal of New York's most famous hotels, highlighted by WALL TO WALL SLEEPING AROUND on May 3.

The Harlem Resonance Festival (tonight, April 2 - May 11) is Symphony Space's second annual multi-disciplinary thematic spring festival, following last year's celebration of Gertrude Stein's Paris.

Tonight, March 9 (7 pm), as part of Symphony Space's The Music of Now Series, pianist Anthony de Mare returns to the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre for the second installment of Liaisons: Reimagining Sondheim from the Piano. Marrying his reputation as a champion of contemporary classical music with his deep respect for legendary musical theater composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim, de Mare is building a unique piano repertory by commissioning 36 leading contemporary composers from the classical, jazz, theater, and film worlds to write short solo piano pieces inspired by Sondheim's music.

The Harlem Resonance Festival (April 2 - May 11) is Symphony Space's second annual multi-disciplinary thematic spring festival, following last year's celebration of Gertrude Stein's Paris.

On Saturday, March 9 (7 pm), as part of Symphony Space's The Music of Now Series, pianist Anthony de Mare returns to the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre for the second installment of Liaisons: Reimagining Sondheim from the Piano. Marrying his reputation as a champion of contemporary classical music with his deep respect for legendary musical theater composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim, de Mare is building a unique piano repertory by commissioning 36 leading contemporary composers from the classical, jazz, theater, and film worlds to write short solo piano pieces inspired by Sondheim's music.

It is with both heavy hearts and deep gratitude that the staff, board, and community of artists of Symphony Space honor the memory of Founding Artistic Director Isaiah Sheffer, who died on Thursday evening of last week from complications after a stroke. He was 76 years old.

Tonight, October 25 marks the return of THALIA FOLLIES, NYC's only political cabaret series, coming back for its ninth season of songs, sketches, and satire on all the issues New Yorkers hold dear. Always funny, definitely pointed, and often moving, these original evenings created by Symphony Space's founding Artistic Director Isaiah Sheffer and Martin Sage are guaranteed to get you talking and laughing.

Tonight, October 16 brings one of Symphony Space's starriest presentations of the season: "Crazy for…Gershwin!," headlined by violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg and pianist Anne-Marie McDermott. They're accompanied by one of New York's most dynamic young music collectives: Le Train Bleu, conducted by Ransom Wilson. It all takes place at Symphony Space's Peter Jay Sharpe Theatre.

Tonight, Saturday, October 13 (7:30 pm), Symphony Space's Leonard Nimoy Thalia hosts Parallel Exit in EXIT, STAGE LEFT, the story of a theatre performance that just can't seem to go right. Thursday, October 25 marks the return of THALIA FOLLIES, NYC's only political cabaret series, coming back for its ninth season of songs, sketches, and satire on all the issues New Yorkers hold dear.

On Saturday, October 13 (7:30 pm), Symphony Space's Leonard Nimoy Thalia hosts Parallel Exit in EXIT, STAGE LEFT, the story of a theatre performance that just can't seem to go right. Thursday, October 25 marks the return of THALIA FOLLIES, NYC's only political cabaret series, coming back for its ninth season of songs, sketches, and satire on all the issues New Yorkers hold dear.

Tuesday, October 16 brings one of Symphony Space's starriest presentations of the season: "Crazy for…Gershwin!," headlined by violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg and pianist Anne-Marie McDermott. They're accompanied by one of New York's most dynamic young music collectives: Le Train Bleu, conducted by Ransom Wilson. It all takes place at Symphony Space's Peter Jay Sharpe Theatre.