Eugene Lovendusky News

On the eve of their 30th anniversary season, the New York City Gay Men's Chorus (NYCGMC) announced that it is in jeopardy of having its voice silenced permanently due to severe financial problems.

On Wednesday June 24 at 7:30PM, civic and religious leaders will host Spirit of Pride: A Service of Thanksgiving and Celebration, a special interfaith event at The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, in support of equal rights for LGBT citizens to commemorate 'through words and music' the 40th anniversary of Stonewall. Performances from Jose Llana, Jackie Hoffman & NYC Gay Mens Chorus.

From the Obie Award-winning author Lynn Nottage comes RUINED, 'a haunting, probing work about the resilience of the human spirit during times of war,' and the front-runner for a Pulitzer nomination. Set in the war-torn Congo, RUINED follows the everyday exploits of Mama Nadi (Saidah Arrika Ekulona), a businesswoman doing whatever she can to ensure her survival... and the survival of the women she shelters. Amidst the blood and lust is Christian (Russell Gebert Jones), a poetic man who yearns for something truer than the senseless gun-shots and mindless profiteering.

The New York City Gay Men's Chorus will share some of their best uber-gay numbers at gay karaoke hotspots all over the city in preparation for the NYCGMC's upcoming sing-a-long extravaganza, THE BIG GAY SING! From Monday, March 16 through Monday March 23

Mercedes Ruehl is no stranger to the high-stakes of mother/daughter on-stage drama. In her 1991 Tony Award-winning performance as the intriguing 'special' daughter Bella in Neil Simon's Lost in Yonkers, she stood-up to her stern mother on more than one occasion. Only now, the tables have turned! Ms. Ruehl finds herself on Broadway as the mighty matriarch in Richard Greenberg's family-feud 'The American Plan.'

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company concludes its American trilogy with the West Coast Premiere of BETRAYED, winner of the 2008 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Play. Filled with dignity, humor, and defiance, this provocative theatrical adaptation of journalist George Packer's eye-opening 2007 essay in The New Yorker follows three Iraqi translators who risk their lives to aid the American war effort. BETRAYED plays at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley January 23 through March 1. Robin Stanton (Permanent Collection, The Busy World is Hushed) helms this astonishing play, featuring Bobak Cyrus Bakhtiari, Keith Burkland, Denmo Ibrahim, Alex Moggridge, Amir Sharafeh, Khalid Shayota, and James Wagner. For tickets and information ($28-50) the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

Tickets are on-sale now for THE BIG GAY SING! A Sing-A-Long Extravaganza presented The New York City Gay Men's Chorus and Dr. Charles Beale (Artistic Director), with special guest host Scott Nevins, on March 27, 8:00PM at Skirball Center

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company concludes its American trilogy with the West Coast Premiere of BETRAYED, winner of the 2008 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Play. Filled with dignity, humor, and defiance, this provocative theatrical adaptation of journalist George Packer's eye-opening 2007 essay in The New Yorker follows three Iraqi translators who risk their lives to aid the American war effort. BETRAYED plays at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley January 23 through March 1. Robin Stanton (Permanent Collection, The Busy World is Hushed) helms this astonishing play, featuring Bobak Cyrus Bakhtiari, Keith Burkland, Denmo Ibrahim, Alex Moggridge, Amir Sharafeh, Khalid Shayota, and James Wagner. For tickets and information ($28-50) the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

Come celebrate the season with members of the New York City Gay Men's Chorus as they carol throughout the Village, Chelsea and Hell's Kitchen tonight, December 16 and tomorrow, December 17 in a festive bar-hop - as only a group of merry and gay singers can!

NYC Gay Men's Chorus' annual Holiday Spectacular is one of the most anticipated highlights of the holiday season in New York City. This year, with 'Celebrate Me Home,' NYCGMC gathers with friends and family to share the holiday spirit, while continuing its steadfast efforts to celebrate the LGBT community through song. Hop a sleigh ride around the world as NYCGMC offers a program including carols from the Basque country, South Africa, Cuba and the Dominican Republic as well as traditional favorites like 'Sleigh Ride,' 'Silent Night' and 'Joy to the World.' There will be laughter, tears and inspiring messages of hope. It's the most fabulous holiday party in town.

This Veteran's Day, as America takes a moment to remember those brave men and women who have served our country, Roundabout Theatre Company opens David Rabe's award-winning and stirring play, STREAMERS. Brad Fleischer stars as Billy, a wide-eyed and sentimental young man, struggling to understand his new army-life as the Vietnam conflict escalates. Tensions rise over race, sexuality and class, culminating in an explosive act that changes them forever...

An all-star benefit concert performance of DRIFT, with music and lyrics by Jeremy Schonfeld and directed by Lauren Kennedy, will be presented at BB King Blues Club & Grill on Monday, November 3 at 8PM. The rock-musical weaves raw and gracefully honest songs together to tell the story of one man's divorce and reconciliation. DRIFT - In Concert boasts the talents of Adam Pascal, Adam Kantor, Terrence Mann, Jarrod Emick and Julia Murney.

Fresh on the heels of Columbus Day... and a breath before Thanksgiving... 'Don't Quit Your Night Job' returns to New York City for another year of mayhem! BroadwayWorld had the entertaining opportunity to chat with the fantastic foursome- Steve Rosen, David Rossmer, Sarah Saltzberg and Dan Lipton - at The Zipper Factory in anticipation of their 3rd rompous season, opening Thursday October 30!

Most soldiers go off to war to defend their country with guns... Kahlil Ashanti defended with his humor in BASIC TRAINING, now playing at the Barrow Street Theatre. As a member of the elite US Air Force troupe Tops In Blue, Kahlil served his country in Iraq by entertaining the troops on the front-line. Often hysterical and many times dangerous, Ashanti knows true fear... but nothing was quite as scary as turning his focus back home to face the childhood he tried to forget.

Stage 13 (Artistic Directors: Dan Fogler, Sarah Saltzberg, Bjorn Thorstad) will host a party this Monday, October 20 at 8:00PM at Bar 13 (35 East 13th St) to benefit their fall production, the New York Premiere of The Rise and Fall of Annie Hall by Sam Foreman.

Monsters, Witches and Ogres... OH MY! What better place to celebrate the spooks and creeps of HALLOWEEN than The Great Fright Way? In the spirit of good fun and festivities, BroadwayWorld asked some of New York's finest Broadway and Off-Broadway actors to share their craziest MEMORIES of Halloween... with PHOTOS!

'Monty Python's Spamalot' recently welcomed Michael Siberry to the Broadway company after originating the role of King Arthur in the national tour and performing it for two years. Between hunts for the Holy Grail and calculating the distance a swallow can fly whilst carrying a coconut, Michael Siberry found a moment to chat with BroadwayWorld about his time performing the gilded role in the hyperbolic (and supremely comical) Kingdom of Camelot...

'Broadway In South Africa: The Concert' is a star-studded evening featuring world-premiere songs created by award-winning Broadway composers, performed by Broadway stars on Monday, October 6, 2008 at Symphony Space. This benefit concert will raise money for the January 2009 South African initiative of Broadway in South Africa (BSA), a new, not-for-profit organization. Participating artists Kate Shindle, Adam Kantor, Stanley Bahorek, Sean Bradford, Lisa Nicole Wilkerson and director Jen Bender chatted with BroadwayWorld about their ambitious project!

Celebrating their Platinum 70th Anniversary, the beloved Paper Mill Playhouse kick-started their season with a hoot-n-hollerin' production of an American classic: Rodgers and Hammerstein's 'Oklahoma!' Following a rousing Opening Night, stars Brynn O'Malley (Laurey), Megan Sikora (Ado Annie), Adam Monley (Curly), Jonathan Brody (Ali Hakim) and Brian Sears (Will Parker) toasted the occasion by chatting with BroadwayWorld!

Paper Mill Playhouse is proud to announce the opening of the theatre's 70th Season with Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! Created by the team of director, James Brennan, and choreographer, Peggy Hickey, Oklahoma! will run at the Millburn theatre from September 17 through October 19, 2008. Press Opening is Sunday, September 21st at 7:30pm