Theatre Development Fund News

The 27th Annual Lucille Lortel Awards were handed out last night, May 6, 2012 at NYU Skirball Center, in a ceremony that once again benefited the Actors Fund and honored the best of Off Broadway. BroadwayWorld was of course on hand for the festivities, and we take you backstage for photos of this year's winners and presenters below!

The 27th Annual Lucille Lortel Awards were handed out last night, May 6, 2012 at NYU Skirball Center, in a ceremony that once again benefited the Actors Fund and honored the best of Off Broadway. BroadwayWorld was of course on hand for the festivities, and we bring you photos of the starry arrivals below!

The 27th Annual Lucille Lortel Awards were handed out this Sunday, May 6, 2012 at NYU Skirball Center, beginning at 7:00pm EST, in a ceremony that once again benefited the Actors Fund and honored the best of Off Broadway.

The Off-Broadway League today announced the confirmed performers for the 2012 Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway. Additionally, the remaining tickets to the show have been released for sale to the public at a discounted rate of $35 each. The 27th Annual Lucille Lortel Awards will be handed out this Sunday, May 6, 2012 at NYU Skirball Center, beginning at 7:00pm EST, in a ceremony that will once again benefit the Actors Fund.

1,000 New York City public high school and middle school students from 16 schools, who are participating in TDF's Stage Doors Program, will be attending a special matinee performance of the new Tony Award-nominated play Peter and the Starcatcher on Thursday, May 10 at 2pm at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 West 47th Street, NYC).

"NBC Nightly News" correspondent Anne Thompson will report on the autism-friendly performance of Mary Poppins, which took place this Sunday, April 29 at 1PM. This performance was presented by Theatre Development Fund's Autism Theatre Initiative, which is a service of TDF's Accessibility Programs (TAP). Mary Poppins is the second Broadway production, after The Lion King, to host an autism-friendly performance. Following an overwhelming response to the announcement of these special performances, both shows promptly sold out.

The Ensemble Studio Theatre will honor two of its most distinguished members, the acclaimed actress Lois Smith and two-time Board chair G.H. 'Denny' Denniston, Jr with its 2012 Distinguished Member Award at a "Fun-Raiser" benefit celebration Monday evening, May 14, at 6:45pm at SIR Stage 37, 508 West 37th Street. Tickets are $350. Jill Jaffe is the event designer and producer and Jason Bruffy is director and producer. Additional ticket, table and ad packages are available. For information contact Benefit Coordinator Aubrie Fennecken at (212) 247-4982 x.106

TDF's Autism Theater Initiative presents autism-friendly performances of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins today, April 29, at 1pm, at the New Amsterdam Theatre (214 West 42nd, Street, NYC) and Disney's The Lion King on Sunday, September 30, at 1pm, at the Minskoff Theatre (1515 Broadway, NYC). These performances illustrate TDF's commitment to continuing to present autism-friendly performances in New York City. TDF is also available to consult with other theatre organizations across the United States who would like to present their own autism-friendly performances.

The Off-Broadway League today announced this year's host and several of the presenters confirmed to participate in the 2012 Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway. The 27th Annual Lucille Lortel Awards will be handed out on Sunday, May 6, 2012 at NYU Skirball Center, beginning at 7:00pm EST. This year's ceremony will once again benefit the Actors Fund.

The Ensemble Studio Theatre/Alfred P. Sloan Project for New Plays on Science and Technology will tackle Post-Concussion Syndrome when it presents the world premiere of 27-year-old playwright Patrick Link's HEADSTRONG.

TDF's Autism Theater Initiative will present autism-friendly performances of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins on Sunday, April 29, at 1pm, at the New Amsterdam Theatre (214 West 42nd, Street, NYC) and Disney's The Lion King on Sunday, September 30, at 1pm, at the Minskoff Theatre (1515 Broadway, NYC). These performances illustrate TDF's commitment to continuing to present autism-friendly performances in New York City. TDF is also available to consult with other theatre organizations across the United States who would like to present their own autism-friendly performances.

The Ensemble Studio Theatre/Alfred P. Sloan Project for New Plays on Science and Technology will tackle Post-Concussion Syndrome when it presents the world premiere of 27-year-old playwright Patrick Link's Headstrong. The play, directed by Ensemble Studio Theatre Artistic Director William Carden, begins previews April 18 for an opening April 30 at The Ensemble Studio Theatre, 549 West 52nd Street.

The Broadway League has awarded coveted New York Education Grants to the Broadway productions of Wit by Margaret Edson, and Wicked by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman. Each production receives a $5,000 grant towards its 2012 educational initiatives. The grants are important to the growth and development of theatre education in the city as they encourage theatres to create more opportunities for young people and to exchange ideas about education.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company continues its 2011/12 season with The March, based on the novel by E. L. Doctorow, adapted and directed by ensemble member Frank Galati, playing April 5 - June 10, 2012 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St.

Playwrights Horizons has just announced complete casting for the World Premiere of RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN, a new play by Pulitzer Prize finalist and Obie Award winner Gina Gionfriddo (Becky Shaw). Directed by Peter DuBois (Becky Shaw, Sons of the Prophet, Measure for Pleasure, Jack Goes Boating, Artistic Director of Huntington Theatre Company), the production will begin previews Friday, May 18 at 8PM with an Opening Night set for Tuesday, June 12 at 7PM. The limited engagement will play through Sunday, June 24 at Playwrights Horizons' Mainstage Theater (416 West 42nd Street).

Nominations in 14 categories were announced today by the Off-Broadway League for the 2012 Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway. This year's ceremony will once again benefit The Actors Fund. The Lortel Awards will be handed out on Sunday, May 6, 2012 at NYU Skirball Center beginning at 7:00pm EST.

Repertorio Español is pleased to announce the world premiere production of Karen Zacarias's MARIELA EN EL DESIERTO (Mariela in the Desert), directed by Jerry Ruiz. MARIELA EN EL DESIERTO will begin previews at Repertorio Español's Gramercy Arts Theater

Theatre Bay Area and the research firm WolfBrown will present the findings contained in Counting New Beans: Intrinsic Impact and the Value of Art at Joe's Pub on Wednesday, March 21 from 9am-12pm.