Michael Korie News

Kaufman Center and New York Festival Of Song (NYFOS, www.nyfos.org), acclaimed by New York Magazine as 'The best classical music programming in New York,' will present an all-new program on May 4 and 6 at 8 PM of American composers, including the premiere of Beautiful Ohio, a song cycle by 2009 Pulitzer Prize- finalist Harold Meltzer, with texts of poet James Arlington Wright and composed specifically for the young American tenor Paul Appleby.

Signature Theatre, the current recipient of the Tony Award® for Regional Theatre, presents the world premiere musical Sycamore Trees by Ricky Ian Gordon, composer of the acclaimed opera The Grapes of Wrath and the OBIE Award-winning Orpheus and Euridice, as well as the musicals My Life with Albertine and Dream True.

Playwrights Horizons, under the leadership of Artistic Director Tim Sanford and Managing Director Leslie Marcus, is proud to announce four additional productions for its 2010/2011 40th Anniversary Season. The three World Premieres and one New York premiere join the previously-announced New York premiere of Edward Albee's ME, MYSELF & I.

Take Flight, a new musical with music by Academy Award winner David Shire, lyrics by Tony Award winner Richard Maltby Jr. with a book by Tony Award winner John Weidman will have its American premiere on the Berlind stage of McCarter Theatre in Princeton, April 30 through June 6. (Press Opening: Thursday, May 13 at 7:30pm)

What would Edgar Allan Poe be writing if he were alive today? In honor of the 200th Anniversary of Poe's birth, this is the question we asked of three composers and three librettists last year as part of The Composer Librettist Development Program. Under the mentorship of librettist Michael Korie and Producing Artistic Director Lawrence Edelson, these six gifted artists have been developing THE POE PROJECT, a trilogy of one-act psychological thrillers inspired by Poe's short stories. Thanks to a commissioning grant from the New York State Council on the Arts, along with additional support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and The ASCAP Foundation: Joseph and Rosalie Myer Fund, ALT has commissioned the completion of this exciting and haunting new trilogy.

ALT is now accepting applications for the 2010-2011 Composer Librettist Development Program. The CLDP is a tuition free initiative, open to artists selected through a competitive application process.

The Collegiate Chorale, led by Music Director James Bagwell, presented the World Premiere Two Act Concert Version of Ricky Ian Gordon and Michael Korie's musical version of Nobel Prize-winner John Steinbeck's epic Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Grapes of Wrath, on March 22, 2010 at Carnegie Hall. Conducted by Ted Sperling, the performance featured Jane Fonda as the narrator.

In conjunction with the 150th anniversary of the start of the American Civil War, a new musical work by composer Ricky Ian Gordon and librettist Mark Campbell will have its world premiere performances beginning April 12, 2011 the same day that Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter in 1861.

The Collegiate Chorale, led by Music Director James Bagwell, presents the World Premiere Two Act Concert Version of Ricky Ian Gordon and Michael Korie's musical version of Nobel Prize-winner John Steinbeck's epic Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Grapes of Wrath, on March 22, 2010 at 8pm at Carnegie Hall, conducted by Ted Sperling with Jane Fonda as the narrator.

Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) will end its production of the World Premiere of CLYBOURNE PARK, a new play by Bruce Norris on March 21st.

Acclaimed Off-Broadway theater company Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) will hold its annual Spring Gala Benefit on Monday evening, May 3rd at Guastavino's (409 East 59th Street).

The Collegiate Chorale, led by Music Director James Bagwell, presents the World Premiere Two Act Concert Version of Ricky Ian Gordon and Michael Korie's musical version of Nobel Prize-winner John Steinbeck's epic Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Grapes of Wrath, on March 22, 2010 at 8pm at Carnegie Hall, conducted by Ted Sperling with Jane Fonda as the narrator.

New York Festival Of Song (NYFOS, www.nyfos.org), recently acclaimed by TimeOut New York for its 'A-list artistry,' will present its 2010 Gala, Let Yourself Go, a celebration of the rich musical legacy of America's foremost composer/lyricist, Irving Berlin, on Monday April 12 at 7 PM at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, 154 West 57th Street, New York City.

Kaufman Center and New York Festival Of Song (NYFOS, www.nyfos.org) present a special non-subscription program, The Sweetest Path, on Tuesday, March 16 at 8 PM at Kaufman Center's Merkin Concert Hall.

CLARE BURT - the acclaimed West End stage star who helped introduce London audiences to shows like Nine, Into The Woods, Sunday In The Park With George, and Passion - will make her New York performance debut next month.

The American Theatre Wing Presented the 2010 Jonathan Larson® Grants on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at the American Airlines Theatre in New York City. This year, Peter Lerman, Daniel Maté, and songwriting team Michael Kooman (music) and Christopher Dimond (book & lyrics) were selected to receive the prestigious grants, totaling $10,000. The evening included special performances of the recipients' work by Brian d'Arcy James and Kerry Butler. Brad Bass, John Eric Parker, and Ephraim Sykes from Memphis performed a rarely heard Jonathan Larson song. BroadwayWorld was there for the ceremony.

CLARE BURT - the acclaimed West End stage star who helped introduce London audiences to shows like Nine, Into The Woods, Sunday In The Park With George, and Passion - will make her New York performance debut next month.

The American Theatre Wing announced today that the 2010 Jonathan Larson® Grants will be presented on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at the American Airlines Theatre (227 W 42nd Street, 5th Floor) in New York City. This year, Peter Lerman, Daniel Mate, and songwriting team Michael Kooman (music) and Christopher Dimond (book & lyrics) were selected to receive the prestigious grants, totaling $10,000. The evening will include special performances of the recipients' work by Brian d'Arcy James, Kerry Butler and Brad Bass, John Eric Parker, and Ephraim Sykes from Memphis will perform a rarely heard Jonathan Larson song.

Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) is now accepting entries for its popular LIVEforFIVE online lottery for $5 tickets to the World Premiere of A COOL DIP IN THE BARREN SAHARAN CRICK, a new play by Kia Corthron (Breath, Boom at Playwrights Horizons/PH, Force Continuum).

Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) continues its 2009/2010 Season with the World Premiere of A COOL DIP IN THE BARREN SAHARAN CRICK, a new play by Kia Corthron (Breath, Boom at Playwrights Horizons/PH, Force Continuum), directed by Obie Award winner Chay Yew (Durango at The Public).