Patricia Birch News

The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc. announced today that in celebration of the Statue of Liberty's upcoming 125th Anniversary on October 28th, Macy's has committed the proceeds from the sale of its newly recorded song 'Gift of Light' to benefit the Foundation's non-profit mission for projects at Liberty and Ellis Islands, working in partnership with the National Park Service.

Hurricane Irene may have frightened most theater venues into closing its doors this evening, but play-goers can still catch a showing of the fringe-favorite Channeling Kevin Spacey. The show will play tonight at the St. Luke's Theatre at 7 p.m.

Channeling Kevin Spacey, the irreverent, whirlwind comedy currently playing Off-Broadway, has added a performance and revamped its schedule. The play, which began previews April 17 and opened May 15 at the St. Luke's Theatre, will begin shows on Friday evenings at 8 pm in addition to its Saturday and Sunday evening performances.

Channeling Kevin Spacey, the irreverent, whirlwind comedy currently playing Off-Broadway, has added a performance and revamped its schedule.

This summer, Broadway actors Darlene Love, Julia Murney, Anthony Rapp and Matt Dengler star in 'Free to Dream: New Songs for the American Journey,' a concert specially adapted for Colonial Williamsburg. Television personality Willard Scott also lends his recorded voice to the program, which showcases the people and places that make up the fabric of America with musical styles from country, rock and pop to swing and the blues. It is a compilation of pieces by Grammy-winning composer Doug Katsaros and two-time Emmy-nominated lyricist William Schermerhorn. A nine-piece band accompanies the singers.

Channeling Kevin Spacey, the hilarious two-person tour de force comedy which began its Off Broadway run on April 17 after three "Best of Fest" wins at the Toronto, Edmonton and Winnipeg Fringe Festivals, has released a new block of tickets for sale for performances through December 31, 2011.

This summer, Broadway actors Darlene Love, Julia Murney, Anthony Rapp and Matt Dengler star in 'Free to Dream: New Songs for the American Journey,' a concert specially adapted for Colonial Williamsburg. Television personality Willard Scott also lends his recorded voice to the program, which showcases the people and places that make up the fabric of America with musical styles from country, rock and pop to swing and the blues. It is a compilation of pieces by Grammy-winning composer Doug Katsaros and two-time Emmy-nominated lyricist William Schermerhorn. A nine-piece band accompanies the singers.

The 29th Annual Fred & Adele Astaire Awards, hosted by Bebe Neuwirth and Lee Roy Reams at the magnificent Skirball Center for The Performing Arts at NYU once again honored excellence in dance and choreography on Broadway and in film. Susan Stroman took top honors for Best Choreographer on Broadway in a field of nine nominees for her stunning work in 'The Scottsboro Boys'. It was a record breaking 5th Astaire Award for the 5 time Tony Award and 5 time Drama Desk winner. Two time Tony Award Winner Bebe Neuwirth presented the award to Ms. Stroman. Sutton Foster star of 'Anything Goes' took home her second Astaire for Best Female Dancer on Broadway for her rousing performance as 'Reno Sweeney'. Her first Astaire was for 'Thoroughly Modern Millie'. Desmond Richardson, Tony nominee for 'Fosse' and co-founder and co-artistic director of Complexions Contemporary Ballet presented the award to Ms. Sutton. First timer Norbert Leo Butz star of 'Catch Me if You Can' took the prize for Best Male Dancer on Broadway presented by Tony and Drama Desk winner Karen Ziemba . Australia's Graeme Murphy and Janet Vernon won the Astaire for Excellence in Choreography in Film for their breathtaking dances in 'Mao's Last Dancer' presented by Tony Award winner Bill Irwin. Legendary dancer, choreographer, teacher and founder of the National Dance Institute Jacques d'Amboise received the Douglas Watt Lifetime Achievement Award named for the late drama critic and co-founder of the Award with Fred Astaire. Following a major tribute in dance including a brilliant performance by NYCB's Russell Janzen of a piece from the ballet 'Who Cares' created by George Balanchine and first danced by d'Amboise; an exuberant performance of 'Shall We Dance' by d'Amboise's students at the National Dance Institute and praiseful introductions by Len Cariou, Charlotte & Christopher d'Amboise, Brian Stokes Mitchell presented the award to Mr. d'Amboise.

The New York premiere of Elan Wolf Farbiarz and Cory Terry's Channeling Kevin Spacey will officially open at Off Broadway's St. Luke's Theatre on Sunday, May 15.

Patricia Watt, Executive Producer of the 2011 Fred & Adele Astaire Awards, has announced the first group of Presenters for the 29th Annual Fred & Adele Astaire Awards, In addition to Len Cariou and Brian Stokes Mitchell who will co-present the Douglas Watt Lifetime Achievement Award to legendary, dancer, choreographer, teacher and star of stage, film and television Jacques D'Amboise, additional presenters include Bill Irwin, Maurice Hines, Christine Andreas, Charlotte D'amboise, Christopher D'amboise and Karen Ziemba.

Channeling Kevin Spacey, which began previews Off Broadway at St. Luke's Theatre on April 17, has added an extra performance to its schedule this Saturday, April 23 at 7pm.

The New York premiere of Elan Wolf Farbiarz and Cory Terry's Channeling Kevin Spacey will begin performances at Off Broadway's St. Luke's Theatre on Sunday, April 17, 2011 with an official opening scheduled for May 15.

The Fred and Adele Astaire Awards will once again recognize excellence in dance on both stage and film. This year's Awards gala will take place May 15,2011 at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at New York University, 566 LaGuardia Place) New York City 10019.

Unity Center for Practical Spirituality is proud to present an upcoming musical extravaganza: 'Hear Our Song,' to be held at the Norwalk City Hall, Concert Hall at 125 East Avenue, Norwalk, on Friday April 8, 2011 at 8 pm.

Unity Center for Practical Spirituality is proud to present an upcoming musical extravaganza: 'Hear Our Song,' to be held at the Norwalk City Hall, Concert Hall at 125 East Avenue, Norwalk, on Friday April 8, 2011 at 8 pm.

'The Thomashefskys' were on stage again last night as Michael Tilson Thomas & the New York Philharmonic presented his acclaimed multi-media concert of the Music and Memories of Boris and Bessie Thomashefsky This years gala honored David and Sylvia Steiner as well as Tilson Thomas. Folksbiene is the sole surviving professional Yiddish Theatre in America and it preserves and adds to the legacy of Yiddish theatre, which flourished on Second Avenue and was domnated by Tilson Thomas's legendary grandparents ‘The Thomashefskys.'

Michael Tilson Thomas will conduct and host a staged presentation of The Thomashefskys: Music and Memories of a Life in Yiddish Theater, Tuesday and Wednesday, April 5-6, 2011, at 7:30 p.m., with the New York Philharmonic at Avery Fisher Hall. Directed by Patricia Birch, the multimedia evening celebrates Mr. Tilson Thomas's grandparents, Bessie and Boris Thomashefsky, by following the story of these European immigrants who played major roles in the development of American Yiddish theater, a central part of life on Manhattan's Lower East Side at the beginning of the 20th century. Starring are Judy Blazer as Bessie and Shuler Hensley as Boris; the performances feature Eugene Brancoveanu and Ronit Widmann-Levy - all making their New York Philharmonic debuts.

Unity Center for Practical Spirituality is proud to present an upcoming musical extravaganza: 'Hear Our Song,' to be held at the Norwalk City Hall, Concert Hall at 125 East Avenue, Norwalk, on Friday April 8, 2011 at 8 pm.

Unity Center for Practical Spirituality is proud to present an upcoming musical extravaganza: 'Hear Our Song,' to be held at the Norwalk City Hall, Concert Hall at 125 East Avenue, Norwalk, on Friday April 8, 2011 at 8 pm.