Hope Clarke News

From training to combat, experience the anguish, fears and triumphs of a brotherhood who fought for freedom abroad -- and at home. FLY, directed by Ricardo Khan, co-founder and former artistic director of Crossroads Theatre Company, and choreographed by Hope Clarke (A Free Man of Color; Jelly's Last Jam; Caroline, or Change) and Omar Edwards (Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk), tells the heroic tale of the Tuskegee Airmen through the eyes of four courageous young men.

The legendary Andre de Shields stopped by to visit the cast of Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope, now in performance through Sunday, March 6 at The York Theatre Company.  He was joined by original Broadway cast member Hope Clarke, with guestsKecia Lewis and Natasha Yvette Williams.

From training to combat, experience the anguish, fears and triumphs of a brotherhood who fought for freedom abroad -- and at home. FLY, directed by Ricardo Khan, co-founder and former artistic director of Crossroads Theatre Company, and choreographed by Hope Clarke (A Free Man of Color; Jelly's Last Jam; Caroline, or Change) and Omar Edwards (Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk), tells the heroic tale of the Tuskegee Airmen through the eyes of four courageous young men.

On November 2, the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF) celebrated the 2014-2015 season's Joe A. Callaway Award winners for Direction and Choreography.

Dancers Over 40 celebrates diversity in dance with Can't Stop the Music! Can't Stop the Dance! Diversity All Around Us! – featuring DO40 Advisory Board member Jerry Mitchell's new musical comedy, Gotta Dance – the incredible true story of ten determined dreamers who have three things in common:  they love to dance, they have something to prove and they are all over 60.  They battle pain, prejudice, self-doubt and each other for a chance to bust a move at center court in front of 20,000 screaming fans at a national basketball team's half time show. That panel will be moderated by Broadway World's Richie Ridge. Also featured, a celebration of African-American, Hispanic and Asian artists including DO40 member Gus Solomon jr's dance company Paradigm, and members of his company, Carmen de Lavallade, Sarita Allen, Hope Clarke and Karen Brown (Dance Theater of Harlem, Complexions, Ailey, Dunham Companies), as well as Dr. Mel A. Tomlinson (Dance Theater of Harlem, Ailey, NYCB), Gemze de Lappe (Agnes de Mille) Gail Reese (Ailey, Donald McKayle, Talley Beatty, Agnes de Mille) Fernando Carrillo (Ailey II, Ballet Hispanico),  Lillian Colon (RCMH's first Puerto Rican Rockette) Solomon Dumas (Garth Fagan, Ronald K. Brown, Ailey II), Jill Williams (The Clark Center), Complexions Ballet, Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company and Baayork Lee and the National Asian Arts Project.

Dancers Over 40 celebrates diversity in dance with Can't Stop the Music! Can't Stop the Dance! Diversity All Around Us! – featuring DO40 Advisory Board member Jerry Mitchell's new musical comedy, Gotta Dance – the incredible true story of ten determined dreamers who have three things in common:  they love to dance, they have something to prove and they are all over 60.  They battle pain, prejudice, self-doubt and each other for a chance to bust a move at center court in front of 20,000 screaming fans at a national basketball team's half time show. That panel will be moderated by Broadway World's Richie Ridge. Also featured, a celebration of African-American, Hispanic and Asian artists including DO40 member Gus Solomon jr's dance company Paradigm, and members of his company, Carmen de Lavallade, Sarita Allen, Hope Clarke and Karen Brown (Dance Theater of Harlem, Complexions, Ailey, Dunham Companies), as well as Dr. Mel A. Tomlinson (Dance Theater of Harlem, Ailey, NYCB), Gemze de Lappe (Agnes de Mille) Gail Reese (Ailey, Donald McKayle, Talley Beatty, Agnes de Mille) Fernando Carrillo (Ailey II, Ballet Hispanico),  Lillian Colon (RCMH's first Puerto Rican Rockette) Solomon Dumas (Garth Fagan, Ronald K. Brown, Ailey II), Jill Williams (The Clark Center), Complexions Ballet, Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company and Baayork Lee and the National Asian Arts Project.

Dancers Over 40 celebrates diversity in dance with Can't Stop the Music! Can't Stop the Dance! Diversity All Around Us! - featuring DO40 Advisory Board member Jerry Mitchell's new musical comedy, Gotta Dance - the incredible true story of ten determined dreamers who have three things in common:  they love to dance, they have something to prove and they are all over 60.  They battle pain, prejudice, self-doubt and each other for a chance to bust a move at center court in front of 20,000 screaming fans at a national basketball team's half time show. That panel will be moderated by BroadwayWorld's Richie Ridge. Also featured, a celebration of African-American, Hispanic and Asian artists including DO40 member Gus Solomon jr's dance company Paradigm, and members of his company, Carmen de Lavallade, Sarita Allen, Hope Clarke and Karen Brown (Dance Theater of Harlem, Complexions, Ailey, Dunham Companies), as well as Dr. Mel A. Tomlinson (Dance Theater of Harlem, Ailey, NYCB), Gemze de Lappe (Agnes de Mille) Gail Reese (Ailey, Donald McKayle, Talley Beatty, Agnes de Mille) Fernando Carrillo (Ailey II, Ballet Hispanico),  Solomon Dumas (Garth Fagan, Ronald K. Brown, Ailey II), Jill Williams (The Clark Center), Complexions Ballet, Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company and Baayork Lee and the National Asian Arts Project.

Year 2015 is the sweet 16th year for the MITF. Prolific producer John Chatterton's brainchild, The Midtown International Theatre Festival - presenting powerful plays and musicals from around the world - is steadily marching toward 20 years as one of the best reasons to come to New York in the summer. This year, the diverse Midtown International will present quality live theater PLUS a series of cutting-edge short works, children's theater, dance productions, one-person shows, cabaret, vaudeville & burlesque style entertainment.

Bay Street Theater has announced that Tony Award winner Betty Buckley and Drama Desk Award winner Rachel York will star as Big Edie and Little Edie Bouvier Beale in GREY GARDENS, the musical, August 4 – 30; with book by Doug Wright, music by Scott Frankel, and lyrics by Michael Korie. Michael Wilson directs.

?The Tony Awards Administration Committee announced the Nominating Committee for the 2015-2016 Broadway season, which includes Theatre Aspen's Executive Artistic Director Paige Price.

The Tony Awards Administration Committee announced today the Nominating Committee for the 2015-2016 Broadway season.  The Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing. 

In a quaint studio theater at 74th Street and Broadway, Steps Beyond hosted a legendary affair, likened to the historic backdrop that inspired The Look of Feeling. Gaudy uptown apartments spilled light into the stripped down set as artistic director Bradley Shelver greeted guests with palms clasped, smiling genuinely. The intimate air was as welcoming as a friend hosting new guests.

Hartford Stage will intensify the magic and merriment of A Christmas Carol - A Ghost Story of Christmas with dazzling new costumes and awe-inspiring special effects for its 17th annual production of Charles Dickens' masterpiece from November 28 to December 28.

Acclaimed dancer/choreographer Francesca Harper will perform her solo dance/theater work, 'The Look of Feeling,' a tribute to her mother, American dance pioneer Denise Jefferson, November 16, 7:30 PM, at Steps on Broadway. The very personal work will be narrated by Hope Clarke, noted dancer/actress/Broadway and film performer, Outer Circle Critics Award and Tony Award winner. Harper recounts her family's flight from Coffeeville, Mississippi, to her mother's legacy as founding Director of The Ailey School at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and a major figure on the New York dance scene.

Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF) has announced the 2014-2015 Committee for the Joe A. Callaway Award, the only peer-given award for excellence in direction and choreography. The Committee, which will oversee the award for the theatre season, is Sue Lawless, William Martin, Barry McNabb, Leslie (Hoban) Blake, Linda Burson, Jonathan Cerullo, Edie Cowan, Clinton Turner Davis, John Going, Richard Hamburger, Bruce Heath, Michael Montel, DJ Salisbury, and Amy Saltz. Sue Lawless will serve as Committee Chair.

Award winning actress, singer and artistic activist Suzzanne Douglas and Nehassaiu deGannes star in a benefit reading of Stay With Me by Belgium playwright Olivier Coyette at Luna Stage on Sunday, March 16th at 7pm.

Hartford Stage will intensify the magic and merriment of A Christmas Carol - A Ghost Story of Christmas with state-of-the-art lighting, new costumes, and awe-inspiring special effects for its 16th annual production of the Charles Dickens' masterpiece, for only four weeks, from November 29 to December 28.

The Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF) proudly reveals this season's Joe A. Callaway Award winners for Direction and Choreography from more than 200 eligible productions in the 2012 - 2013 New York City theatre season. This year's awards will be presented to Ruben Santiago-Hudson for his direction of The Piano Lesson produced by Signature Theatre and Marlo Hunter for her choreography of Unlock'd produced by Prospect Theater Company. The winners join previous Joe A. Callaway Award Winners including Susan Stroman (1991), Harold Prince (1993), Julie Taymor (1996), Jack O'Brien (2001), Bartlett Sher (2002), Daniel Sullivan (2004), John Tiffany (2012) and Steven Hoggett (2012).

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) presents the inspiring playFly by Trey Ellis and Ricardo Khan and directed by Ricardo Khan. This extraordinary and uplifting production will be performed on the Browning Mainstage of the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts, 130 Edgar Road (on the campus of Webster University), Webster Groves, October 16-November 10, 2013.

The inspiring story of World War II's heroic Tuskegee Airmen is brought to vivid life in FLY by Trey Ellis and Ricardo Khan. The play opens the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park's Robert S. Marx Theatre season from Sept. 7 through Oct. 5.