Mel C. News

The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts announces programming for the 2016-17 season featuring internationally-acclaimed superstars in rock, dance, comedy, and jazz; family shows as part of the Family Discovery Series, returning favorites, the best of touring Broadway, and more!

21C MEDIA GROUP just released its season preview of opera, vocal and choral music for 2016-17. Scroll down for details!

The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia is pleased to announce the appointment of William "Bill" Rhoads as its new Executive Director, following a nationwide search. Rhoads comes to the COP from the prestigious Orchestra of St. Luke's in NYC, where he has served as Vice President of Marketing & Communications since 2006. At COP, Philadelphia's world-renowned chamber orchestra, he will oversee the management of the organization and guide its future direction. 

The Philly POPS Festival Brass will perform at the Union League steps for the final day of the Democratic National Convention as part of the DNC Host Committee's Avenue of the Arts performance series on Thursday, July 28 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

FRIGID New York @ Horse Trade in association with Hard Sparks will present the World Premiere of J.Stephen Brantley's THE JAMB, directed by David Drake, September 1-17 at The Kraine Theater (85 East 4th Street between 2nd Avenue and Bowery) with performances Thursday through Saturday at 7pm.

Battery Dance, in association with Battery Park City Authority, announces the 35th Annual Battery Dance Festival (formerly the Downtown Dance Festival), with free performances on August 14-19, 2016, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm against the breathtaking backdrop of the New York Harbor at Robert F. Wagner Jr. Park in Battery Park City, culminating in a closing event and reception on August 20, 2016, from 6pm to 8:30pm at The Schimmel Center at Pace University.

For the third annual Christmas in July, the Philly POPS, in coordination with Comcast NBCUniversal, Amazon, L'Oreal, National HR and a number of private donors, will give over 300 bicycles and helmets to children of members of the military, Philadelphia police and fire departments at Comcast Center, simultaneously at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey, and again at Christmastime at the Kimmel Center.

For its 20th anniversary season tour, the orchestra is joined by the heralded Chorgemeinschaft Neubeuern Chorus for performances in Canada and the USA. On Tuesday, October 25 at 8 p.m., they will perform in Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia.

David Holveck, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Kimmel Center, Inc., announces the contract extension of Anne Ewers, President & CEO of Kimmel Center Inc., through the 2019-20 season. The Board unanimously voted to extend Ewers' contract crediting her creative artistic leadership and the Center's strong financial stability throughout her tenure.

VIVIAN REED - the two-time Tony Award-nominated Broadway star and concert artist called "remarkable and ferocious" by The New York Times and "a force of nature" by The New York Post - will return with her acclaimed concert "Standards and More" at The Metropolitan Room on Thursday,July 21 at 7:00 PM. Special guests for this show will be soprano Andrea Jones-Sojola, who appeared on Broadway in The Gershwins' Porgy & Bess, and theater and nightclub star Raun Ruffin, who appeared in The Civil War. The show was recently extended through this fall and Reed will also perform at The Metropolitan Room on September 26 and November 10, backed by a four-piece band led by Billy McDaniel. The evening includes unique arrangements of classic standards by Duke Ellington, Rodgers & Hart, Cole Porter and George Gershwin in a dazzling blend of pop, jazz, soul and R&B. A recent rave review from BroadwayWorld.com praises "the profound originality of Reed's arrangements and interpretations. Reed dives headlong into the songs and emerges with something entirely new, fresh and hers."

Unexpected Stage Company's Friday, July 29 performance (7:30p) of 8 STOPS will benefit Red Wiggler Community Farm, with half of all ticket sales for that evening going to support this local non-profit.

Boardwalk Entertainment, the presenter of POPS in Wildwood on July 2, has canceled the show.

?On Independence Day Weekend, the Philly POPS will perform its annual free July 3 concert on Independence Mall, at the City of Philadelphia's July 4 Celebration of Freedom ceremony and parade on Independence Mall, and as part of the city's July 4 concert and fireworks show on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Battery Dance, in association with Battery Park City Authority, announces the 35th Annual Battery Dance Festival (formerly the Downtown Dance Festival), with free performances on August 14-19, 2016, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm against the breathtaking backdrop of the New York Harbor at Robert F. Wagner Jr. Park in Battery Park City, culminating in a closing event and reception on August 20, 2016, from 6pm to 8:30pm at The Schimmel Center at Pace University. For more information visit http://batterydance.org/battery-dance-festival/

THE EXPLORERS CLUB at Theatre Downtown is an Alabama premiere that takes you away from the ordinary and whisks you to 1879 London. Set in the bar and meeting room of an all male club, you quickly forget the world you live in and are transported away.

The full cast for the London premiere of the smash hit musical ELF has been announced.  The company is led by Ben Forster as Buddy, Kimberley Walsh as Jovie, Joe McGann as Walter Hobbs and Jessica Martin as Emily Hobbs, with Jennie Dale as Deb, Mark McKerracher as Santa and Graham Lappin as Store Manager.  Also in the cast are Katie Bradley, Charlie Bull, Nicola Coates, Alex Fobbester, Anton Fosh, Charlotte Gale, Francis Haugen, Matt Holland, Tash Holway, Paul Hutton, Mark Iles, Ceili O'Connor, Debbie Paul, Joanna Rennie, Barnaby Thompson and Ed White.  Harry Collett, Ilan Galkoff, Noah Key and Ewan Rutherford will alternate the role of Michael.  BroadwayWorld has a first look at the opening night below!

Melissa's Choice, a new play by award-winning playwright Steven Somkin opens tonight, May 5 for a limited run at Theatre Row's Lion Theatre, 410 West 42nd St.

he Kennebunkport Festival- an annual celebration of the best food, wine and art that Maine has to offer - has announced it still has some tickets left to select events. Now in its 11th year, the festival will take place from June 7 - June 13 in the seaside village of Kennebunkport, Maine.

?Casting for Melissa's Choice, a new play by award-winning playwright Steven Somkin, is now complete. The production opens May 5 for a limited run at Theatre Row's Lion Theatre, 410 West 42nd St.