Margo Lion News

Today the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities announced the launch of a new artseducation initiative to help turn around low-performing schools, developed in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Education and the White House Domestic Policy Council. The Turnaround Arts initiative is a new public-private partnership designed to narrow the achievement gap and increase student engagement through the arts. Working in some of the nation's lowest-performing elementary and middle schools, this program will test the hypothesis that high-quality and integrated arts education boosts academic achievement, motivates student learning and improves school culture in the context of overall school reform, announced the committee's co-chairs, George Stevens Jr. and Margo Lion. Presidentially-appointed artists Chuck Close, Yo-Yo Ma, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kerry Washington, Forest Whitaker, Damian Woetzel and Alfre Woodard to work with schools in eight states as part of the program.

This week the National Corporate Theatre Fund (NCTF) announced four finalists in its video competition aimed at highlighting the importance of theater education's contribution to crucial skill development needed for the 21st century workforce. Over 5,000 votes were cast on NCTF's Facebook page, which received over 13,000 visits during the competition.

Continuing a season marked by two major national awards and ongoing performances throughout the U.S., in Europe and Asia, the sold-out March 12 Young People's Chorus of New York City (YPC) Gala at Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center, has turned out to be the most successful in the chorus's history. Check out the photos from the gala below!

On February 13, New York Theatre Barn will present NYTB in the D-Lounge, a monthly concert for emerging musical theatre writers, now in its 5th year, at the Daryl Roth Theatre. The February 2012 installment of NYTB in the D-Lounge introduces to New York audiences Illinois-native, singer-songwriter Kevin Fogarty, who will present selections from his full-length musicals, and showcases Jonathan Larson Award-winner J. Oconer Navarro, who will present the world premiere of songs from two new musicals by himself and collaborators. Performers include Charlie Brady, Joaquina Kalukango, Zonya Love, and more. Executive Producers for NYTB in the D-Lounge are Laura Brandel and Jason Najjoum.

With honors ranging from the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame to the Tony Awards, Broadway's best performers gathered last night, February 27, to raise awareness of the rare disease, pulmonary fibrosis, and honor the memory of Associated Press theater critic, Michael Kuchwara (today would have been Kuchwara's 65th Birthday). Hosted by award-winning actress and devoted Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) advocate Julie Halston, Broadway Belts for PFF! returned to Birdland in New York City for a second successful year. The event raised almost $50,000 to benefit the Foundation.

We also have two good friends and co-chairs of the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities who are here: Margo Lions and George Stevens. And I also want to acknowledge one of our honorees who, unfortunately, could not make it. Ever the artist, Andre Watts had a concert to give in Salt Lake City.

From Nick Jonas and Michael Urie to the Ladies of THE VIEW to Adam Pascal, Raul Esparza, Barbra Streisand to Alan Menken, Bernadette Peters to Susan Boyle, Colin Quinn to GLEE and Everything in Between - It's the BroadwayWorld.com 2012 Valentine's Day Special - It's the Biggest Ever!

On February 13, New York Theatre Barn will present NYTB in the D-Lounge, a monthly concert for emerging musical theatre writers, now in its 5th year, at the Daryl Roth Theatre. The February 2012 installment of NYTB in the D-Lounge introduces to New York audiences Illinois-native, singer-songwriter Kevin Fogarty, who will present selections from his full-length musicals, and showcases Jonathan Larson Award-winner J. Oconer Navarro, who will present the world premiere of songs from two new musicals by himself and collaborators. Performers include Charlie Brady, Joaquina Kalukango, Zonya Love, and more. Executive Producers for NYTB in the D-Lounge are Laura Brandel and Jason Najjoum.

The American Voices New Play Institute will hold the first of its three convenings in the 2011/12 season November 4-5, 2011 at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater.

PlayhouseSquare honored Broadway producer Margo Lion with its highest award, the PlayhouseSquare Star Award for Achievement in the Performing Arts, at its annual Chairman's Dinner on Tuesday night.

While Broadway fans know full well of Peter Filichia's prowess as a theatre columnist and critic, some may not be aware that he is one of those cliché-defying gents who can define both the infield fly rule and an 11 o'clock number. So in his terrific new book, Broadway Musical MVPs, he borrows a page from the sports section and picks a Most Valuable Player for the past 50 Broadway seasons.

The American Theatre Wing's 64th Annual Antoinette Perry 'Tony' Awards were held at Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, June 13, 2011 and broadcast on the CBS Television Network. For more information visit tonyawards.com.

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU), The Players Theatre and Back Stage present the industry panel Catch Me If You Can Get the Rights: Adapting Films into Musicals on Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at 7:30pm at The Players Theatre, 3rd Floor Loft Theatre, 115 MacDougal Street (below W. 3rd Street), NYC.

Nominations in 26 competitive categories for the American Theatre Wing's 65th Annual Antoinette Perry 'Tony' Awards were announced May 3, 2011 by Tony Award winning actor Matthew Broderick and Tony Award winning actress Anika Noni Rose, at the Tony Award Nominations Announcement sponsored by IBM.

BroadwayWorld has confirmed that the Tony Awards Administration Committee is set to meet for the third time this season on March 31.

In the midst of a record-breaking 60th Anniversary season and inaugural year in the Mead Center for American Theater, Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith announces 11 selections for the second year in the new venue.

In the midst of a record-breaking 60th Anniversary season and inaugural year in the Mead Center for American Theater, Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith announced 11 selections for the second year in the new venue. Furthering the Mead Center as a national center for the production, presentation, development and study of American theater, year two continues the dynamic, diverse and impressive work from our country's theater artists.

From the Cast of ANYTHING GOES and SPIDER-MAN, to the Ladies of THE VIEW, Raul Esparza, Barbra Streisand, Alan Menken, Bernadette Peters, Susan Boyle, Kelsey Grammer, GLEE and everyone in between...it's the BroadwayWorld.com 2011 Valentine's Day Special! Its Biggest Ever!