Theatre Development Fund News

New York Live Arts (Live Arts) to present the New York City premiere of discrete figures by Japanese companies Rhizomatiks Research and ELEVENPLAY, and American media artist Kyle McDonald, May 8-11, 2019. The performance will be the mainstage highlight of Live Arts' annual interdisciplinary festival Live Ideas, this year exploring Artificial Intelligence and titled Live Ideas 2019 - AI: Are You Brave Enough for The Brave New World?, May 8-12, 2019. Five live female dancers execute choreography with machine learning technology on a stage designed for interactivity between performers, drones, and Artificial Intelligence, in the quest for a new palette of movement to foster undiscovered modes of expressive dance that transcend the limits of conventional human subjectivity and emotional expression.

Playhouse Square will present a special performance of Disney's THE LION KING for individuals with sensory sensitivities, autism spectrum disorders and other sensory, social and cognitive challenges or issues and their families on Saturday, August 31 at 1:30 p.m. This marks the first-ever sensory-friendly performance of a touring Broadway show in Cleveland. Playhouse Square has previously presented sensory-friendly performances as part of the Children's Theater Series presented by University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's.

Currently nominated for 16 Carbonell Awards for theatrical excellence, Slow Burn Theatre Company will stage You're a Good Man Charlie Brown based on the beloved Peanuts comic strip by Charles Schulz in the Abdo New River Room at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts Thursday, February 28-Sunday, March 10 and at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center Thursday, March 14-Sunday, March 17

T. Fellowship, in association with Columbia University School of the Arts, announces the next T. Fellow is Rachel Sussman, the seventh fellow in the one year program designed to educate and empower new creative producers. The fellow will receive a stipend of $10,000 with a $20,000 budget for the development of a new theatrical production, and will have access to courses in Columbia's MFA Theatre Management & Producing Program.

It's a Christmas miracle and a brand new episode this week as we sit down with Costume Designer Alejo Vietti AND a very special guest, Tony Award winner Jessie Mueller! Jessie is probably most known for having originated the role of Carole King in the Broadway production of "Beautiful", and all her fabulous clothes came from the mind of this week's guest.

New York Live Arts, under the artistic leadership of world renowned choreographer, National Medal of Arts, MacArthur "Genius" Award and Kennedy Center Honors recipient Bill T. Jones and Associate Artistic Director Janet Wong, announced Raja Feather Kelly as the 2019-20 Randjelovi/Stryker Resident Commissioned Artist (RCA). The award is one of the most substantial awards for a choreographer in the United States and a significant vehicle for midcareer artists.

Greater Boston Stage Company proudly announces Tiny Tim's Christmas Carol, a joyful, family-friendly spin on a holiday classic. Tiny Tim is determined to have his father home for Christmas day even if it means teaching Ebenezer Scrooge a lesson in Christmas cheer. Adapted from the classic Charles Dickens' novel by Tony Award winner Ken Ludwig ('Twas the Night Before Christmas) and his son Jack, this heartwarming hour-long Christmas tale is full of family fun for all ages. Directed by Sarah Elizabeth Bedard, performances run December 8 - 23, 2018.

Founded by McKersin Previlus, Lakai Dance Theatre presents The Block: An Afro-Musical at New York Live Arts. With influences of Jazz, Hip-Hop, and Afro-Diasporic styles, The Block takes on the realities of an inner-city life through intricate spoken word verses and musical stories. This one-time performance is on November 2, 2018, 7:30 PM. Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased at 212 924 0077 or online at newyorklivearts.org.

Chashama, the prominent non-profit supporting emerging artists, has named 20-year-old performer and writer Leah Lane to its Board of Directors -- making her the youngest board member in the organization's history. Leah was formally introduced at a VIP reception and sneak preview of the Open Studios Weekend on Oct. 12.  

NYU Steinhardt's Program in Educational Theatre will present Peter and the Starcatcher, a theatrical retelling of Peter Pan's story before Neverland, featuring a cast of 19 developmentally diverse performers, from Oct. 19 to 28. The production is accessible to audience members of all abilities.

As part of its Live Feed program, New York Live Arts presents the New York City premiere of Bill Shannon's Touch Update, a new work exploring contemporary modes of digital versus interpersonal representation and physicality. Touch Update investigates social constructions and specific physical movement patterns that emanate from disabled bodies. Video wearables and installation art animate corporeal abstractions of dance, digital intimacy and human touch.

Hartford Stage will stage its annual sensory friendly performance of A Christmas Carol - A Ghost Story of Christmas on Saturday, December 1, at 2 p.m. It will be the fifth year that Hartford Stage has offered the sensory friendly performance of the beloved family holiday tale.

Chashama, the prominent non-profit supporting emerging artists, has named 20-year-old performer and writer Leah Lane to its Board of Directors -- making her the youngest board member in the organization's history. Leah will be formally introduced at a VIP reception and sneak preview of the Open Studios Weekend on Oct. 12 from 6PM - 8PM.  

As Playwrights Horizons (Artistic Director Tim Sanford, Managing Director Leslie Marcus) begins their 2018-2019 season with the New York Premiere of Craig Lucas's I Was Most Alive with You-a play featuring both Deaf and hearing casts-the company continues to emphasize a commitment to accessibility with the launch of an expanded captioning program, powered by GalaPro. GalaPro, which lets Deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons view captions on their smartphones/devices, allows captions to be available at every post-opening performance on both Playwrights stages. GalaPro closed-captioning will be available for all I Was Most Alive with You performances after September 24.

Four becomes three... According to Brooklyn Paper, the Theatre Development Fund closed down its Downtown Brooklyn TKTS window earlier this month due to low ticket sales.

T. Fellowship, in association with Columbia University School of the Arts, has announced a five-year $100,000.00 funding commitment from The John Gore Organization beginning in 2018.

The Broadway League has announced the recipients of its twenty-third annual National Education and Engagement Grants.

Performances will be held at the Thad Smotherman Theatre at Texas Wesleyan University (1205 Binkley Street, 76105) on selected dates from Thursday, September 20 through Saturday, September 30, 2018.

DPAC has announced its second autism-friendly performance since 2016 with Elf: The Broadway Musical which will take place today, December 8 at 10 a.m. In an effort to allow all families in the Triangle to enjoy the magic of live theater, this special autism-friendly performance will be presented in a tolerant and supportive environment for children and adults on the autism spectrum or other sensitivity issues with their loved ones.

DPAC has announced its second autism-friendly performance since 2016 with Elf: The Broadway Musical which will take place on Saturday, December 8 at 10 a.m. In an effort to allow all families in the Triangle to enjoy the magic of live theater, this special autism-friendly performance will be presented in a tolerant and supportive environment for children and adults on the autism spectrum or other sensitivity issues with their loved ones.