Deborah Wicks La Puma News

Kimmel Cultural Campus has announced the much-anticipated return of in-person performing arts across their venues: the Kimmel Center, the Academy of Music, and the Merriam Theater. On September 18, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., Kimmel Cultural Campus will host a grand reopening event in Commonwealth Plaza to celebrate the start of the 2021-22 season.

SLAC's 50th Season, dedicated to its patrons and supporters with the theme, 'Community Over Everything,' opens with the long-awaited world premiere of Elaine Jarvik's Four Women Talking About the Man Under the Sheet. A 2020 Kilroys Honoree, the meta, semi-historical piece was originally set to open March 13, 2020, but instead shut down on March 12th due to the pandemic.

Magik Theatre has announced the 2021-2022 season, featuring six inspiring and courageous productions: Maddi’s Fridge, Snow White, Ella Enchanted: The Musical, The Snowy Day & Other Stories by Ezra Jack Keats, as well as the world premiere productions of Selena Maria Sings and Junie B. Jones: Toothless Wonder at its downtown theatre at Hemisfair. 

Millbrook Playhouse will present their first live musical indoors in more than a year; Elephant & Piggie's 'We Are in a Play!' based on author Mo Willems' best-selling, beloved, and award-winning children's books. This charming entertainment is perfect for the whole family. Running weekends from June 19 through June 22.

The Fine Arts Center Theatre Company has announced its line up for the 2021–2022 season. The FAC will produce a season of diverse and exciting plays and musicals, including “By the Way, Meet Vera Stark,” by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage and the Tony Award-winning musical “La Cage aux Folles.”

The second offering in First Stage's new Amplify - BIPOC Virtual Short Plays Series will be UNMUTED, a lively new musical by First Stage Playwright in Residence Alvaro Saar Rios, with Music and Lyrics by composer Deborah Wicks La Puma and directed by Anna Skidis Vargas, Producing Artistic Director for Theatre Nuevo in St. Louis.

The Hangar Theatre Company presents its KIDDSTUFF lineup, the lively summer theatre TYA (Theatre for Young Audiences) series, from June 25 to July 31, 2021.

First Stage has announced the creation of Amplify - First Stage's BIPOC Virtual Short Play Series, to be developed and produced throughout Spring 2021. In this new series, three short plays will be created by BIPOC playwrights that center on the young person's point or view, amplifying the voices of these artists and young people.

Atlantic for Kids has announced a virtual production of She Persisted, The Musical, a musical with script and lyrics by Adam Tobin, music by Deborah Wicks La Puma, adapted from the book written by Chelsea Clinton and illustrated by Alexandra Boiger, and published by Philomel Books.

Artisan Children's Theater has announced auditions for ELLA ENCHANTED, by Karen Zacarias with music by Deborah Wicks La Puma, adapted from the book by Gail Carson Levine.

Florida Repertory Theatre's Education Department has announced in-person classes for September and October featuring limited class sizes and enhanced safety measures. In addition to the safety measures, the classes will be held outdoors in order to keep both the instructors and students safe and healthy.

Atlanta's Alliance Theatre has announced the productions of the Alliance's 52nd season. This season, the Alliance is reimagining how to gather, where to take the stage, and how a story comes to life.

Florida Repertory Theatre is pleased to announce that one of its 2019-2020 Touring Theatre for Young Audiences productions, William Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night,' is now available for online streaming and on-demand in-home viewing. Adapted and directed by Bill Kincaid, the production played to middle and high school audiences for three months before being cut short by COVID-19 closures.

On Tuesday, May 19, presenters Charles Bush and Julie Halston, along with OBA President Peter Breger, announced the 10th Annual Off Broadway Alliance. The Off Broadway Alliance plans on celebrating this year's winners with a reception this Fall.

Charles Busch and Julie Halston will announce the winners of the 10th Annual Off Broadway Alliance Awards on Tuesday, May 19 at 11:30 am. The winners will be announced via streaming on Facebook and YouTube.

Karen Zacarias's hilarious play Destiny of Desire was set to end Milwaukee Rep's 2019/20 Season in the Quadracci Powerhouse. While the hope was to delay the production to June, that option is no longer possible.

Idaho State University's School of Performing Arts has announced its new 2020-2021 show season to start this upcoming fall.

TYA/USA, the national organization for Theatre for Young Audiences, will present the 2020 TYA/USA Virtual Festival & Conference May 14-16, 2020. Keynote speakers will include Chelsea Clinton, author of She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World, now a new musical developed and originally produced by Bay Area Children's Theatre and more.

Michael Musto, joined the Off Broadway Alliance's Nominating Committee this morning and announced this season's Off Broadway Alliance Award nominees.

Alliance Theatre has released the following statement about watching their production online: