City Center News

Seth Rudetsky's Broadway Concert Series at the Parker Playhouse produced by Mark Cortale will welcome Audra McDonald -- the historic six-time Tony winner and star of Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, Porgy and Bess, Ragtime, and Master Class as well as TV's Private Practice, tonight, January 8, 2015.

Founded in 2007, Los Angeles-based BODYTRAFFIC was named one of Dance Magazine's “25 to Watch” in 2013 and was praised by the Los Angeles Times for its “most hopeful combination of choreographic and performing excellence.” LA Weekly applauded the company for its “confident, hard-hitting” execution in a wide range of styles. This exciting dance ensemble continues to break new ground in the field of dance and its evening performance at Harris Center for the Arts will display their distinctive style.

LA MaMa Experimental Theatre Club and Sheryl Lee Ralph and The D.I.V.A. Foundation present MAMA ROSE (A Solo Musical). This show gives a glimpse of Mr. Waits' life growing up in Buffalo, New York with his own MAMA ROSE, Rose Waits. In this dark comedy you'll find out that this 'southern belle' could have ruled the world...if they had only let her.

Rehearsals begin today, January 6, for Manhattan Theatre Club's world premiere of The World of Extreme Happiness, the new play by Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig, directed by Eric Ting. This co-production with Chicago's Goodman Theatre will begin previews Tuesday, February 3, 2015 for a Tuesday, February 24, 2015 opening night at MTC's New York City Center - Stage I (131 West 55th Street).

The Merce Cunningham Trust (MCT), founded to preserve and extend the artistic legacy of the choreographer Merce Cunningham, announces major gifts to two significant arts organizations. The Trust has awarded the Foundation for Contemporary Arts (FCA) $375,000 to establish and endow the Merce Cunningham Award, and the Baryshnikov Art Center (BAC) $250,000 to support the establishment of The John Cage and Merce Cunningham Studio, as well as the creation of a Cage Cunningham Fellowship.

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Jessica Vosk in "I Came From JERSEY For This!" on February 27th at 9:30pm.

Calvin Berger, a modern, musical comedy about a boy, a girl...and a nose, based loosely on the timeless classic Cyrano de Bergerac and set in high school, makes its area premiere in a Minneapolis Musical Theatre (MMT) production running January 23-February 15, 2015 at Hennepin Theatre Trust's New Century Theatre. With book, music and lyrics by the award-winning Barry Wyner, Calvin Berger is directed by Joshua James Campbell working with MMT's new artistic director, Christian Unser. Local actor Gregory Adam stars as Calvin, returning to MMT after his scene-stealing turn as the sexy and conniving Raoul in the recent production of Eating Raoul.

FOTOfusion, the popular five-day festival for amateur and professional photographers that will be held January 20-24 in downtown West Palm Beach, is being dedicated to female photographers and will include Women of Vision: National Geographic Photographers on Assignment, a National Geographic traveling exhibition. The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC) is the presenting national tour sponsor of the exhibit that highlights the influential photography of 11 award-winning female journalists.

It's that time of year, and everyone is making their lists. For me, this task is always harder than it probably should be. I wrestle with myself and debate the merits of everything. I worry about who might get their feelings hurt, and whom I may accidentally overlook. So, for 2014, I promised myself to make a simple list of the 10 albums from 2014 that I simply couldn't get enough of. Naturally, that list is actually 15 items long. (Surprise!)

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's special holiday engagement features matinee and evening performances on both Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. The New Year's Eve Celebration (tonight, Dec. 31 at 7pm) ringing in 2015 with beloved Ailey stars of the past and present.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, beloved as one of the world's most popular dance companies, returns to the New York City Center stage from December 3, 2014 – January 4, 2014. Led by Artistic Director Robert Battle, The Company will present premieres, new productions and exciting performances by Ailey's acclaimed dancers that have become a joyous holiday tradition.

There are only 8 performances left in Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's holiday season at New York City Center through January 4th. Audiences have just a few more chances to be inspired by Ailey's extraordinary dancers, including matinee and evening performances on New Year's Eve.

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Elena Shaddow in 'Always Better: The New Golden Age of Broadway' on January 3, 2015. Possessing one of the most beautiful voices in theater today, Elena has had the good fortune to perform the works-on Broadway and regionally- of her favorite contemporary composers, to whom she pays tribute in this show Always Better: The New Golden Age of Broadway.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com or call (646) 476-3551.

Please mark your calendars for the next Steps Beyond's Artists Talk: 'Hear It From The Pros,' a discussion on working in the business of Broadway with three stars who have enjoyed successful and long-term careers. DONNA McKECHNIE, GROVER DALE, and RANDY SKINNER will share fascinating stories and information about their years on Broadway, TV, film, and cabaret, discussing how to thrive, survive, and stay relevant in a competitive and ever-changing business. The artists will also take questions, and a reception will follow. Saturday January 24, 7 PM, at Steps on Broadway, 2121 Broadway.

Fatima NeJame, president and chief executive officer of the world-renowned Palm Beach Photographic Centre (PBPC), today announced that the nonprofit organization is dedicating the 20th annual FOTOfusion to women in photography. The popular five-day festival for amateur and professional photographers will be held January 20-24 in downtown West Palm Beach, and will include several FREE events for the public.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's special holiday engagement features matinee and evening performances on both Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. The New Year's Eve Celebration (Dec. 31 at 7pm) ringing in 2015 with beloved Ailey stars of the past and present. Former company membersDesmond Richardson, Dwana Smallwood, Andre Tyson and Sarita Allen will join Ailey's extraordinary dancers for an exceptional one night-only performance of the always inspiring Revelations.

This January and February 54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54thStreet. For a detailed schedule of upcoming performances at 54 Below and to purchase tickets, visit www.54Below.com.

Producers Scott Landis and Philip Morgaman have confirmed that 4-time Grammy Award winner Renee Fleming will make her Broadway debut this spring in the new comedy Living on Love by two-time Tony Award winner Joe DiPietro, based on the play Peccadillo by Garson Kanin, directed by three-time Tony Award winner Kathleen Marshall. The production begins performances on Wednesday, April 1, 2015 and will open on Monday, April 20, 2015 at the Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street). Living on Love will play an 18-week engagement through Sunday, August 2, 2015.Tickets go on sale to the general public on Monday, December 29, 2014.

The feature film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's beloved fairy tale musical INTO THE WOODS is coming to movie theaters nationwide on Christmas Day and BroadwayWorld celebrates the man behind the music and lyrics with a new series highlighting the work of the iconic composer and lyricist, finishing today with a look at his work in the 1990s and 2000s.