For more than half a century the name Florence Foster Jenkins has been guaranteed to produce explosions of derisive laughter. Not unreasonably so, as this wealthy society eccentric suffered under the delusion that she was a great coloratura soprano when she was in fact incapable of producing two consecutive notes in tune. Nevertheless, her annual recitals in the ballroom of the Ritz Carlton hotel brought her extraordinary fame. As news of her terrible singing spread, so did her celebrity. Her growing mob of fans packed her recitals, stuffing handkerchiefs in their mouths to stifle their laughter—which Mrs. Jenkins blissfully mistook for cheers. The climax of her career was a single concert at Carnegie Hall in 1944. Famously, it sold out in two hours. SOUVENIR, by turn hilarious and poignant, tells her story through the eyes of her accompanist, Cosme McMoon. Faced with her boundless certainty, Cosme comes to revise his attitude, not only towards her singing but to the very meaning of music itself. As the play ends the audience enters her world completely, finding there the beauty she'd heard in her head all along. SOUVENIR is a musical odd-couple for the ages.
The award-winning New York Neo-Futurists announced the world premiere production of TRY THIS ON FOR ME, a new full-length immersive play created by ensemble member Lee LeBreton with collaborators Anooj Bhandari and Nicole Hill, directed by Dan Rogers.
The highly anticipated Broadway revival of Funny Girl is beginning performances tonight, March 26, at the August Wilson Theatre, ahead of an official opening on April 24. Meet the cast bringing this iconic show back to the stage!
The Sundance Institute Board of Trustees today announced that Ebs Burnough will serve as the nonprofit's next Chair, Board of Trustees, starting in October 2021.
The Board of Trustees holds the fiduciary responsibility for the Institute, and works closely with the staff to develop strategic priorities that align with the values and vision of founder Robert Redford.
San Francisco Ballet has announced Artistic Director and Principal Choreographer Helgi Tomasson’s farewell season in 2022, celebrating Tomasson’s remarkable 37-year tenure leading the Company.
Act II Playhouse in Ambler, PA has announced their holiday theatre season. 'We're excited that we are able to continue our 2020/21 season - albeit virtually,' said Tony Braithwaite, Artistic Director. 'We expected that we would not be able to perform live yet, so we're working hard to find ways to bring Playhouse experiences to our patrons.'
Joo Won Ahn, Aran Bell, Skylar Brandt, Thomas Forster, Calvin Royal III and Cassandra Trenary have been appointed to the rank of Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theatre. Gabe Stone Shayer has been promoted to the rank of Soloist. The promotions, announced today by ABT Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie, are effective immediately.
Palm Beach Dramaworks will celebrate its twentieth anniversary season by paying tribute to its past and stepping in to the future.
Sundance Institute adds three feature films to the 2020 Sundance Film Festival's robust slate of independent work today, alongside previously announced work. The Institute also confirmed that previously-announced Special Event, Love Fraud, will screen on Day One of the Festival. The Festival will take place in Park City, Salt Lake City and at Sundance Mountain Resort January 23–February 2, 2020.
Dixie's Tupperware Party, the hilarious and heartfelt show starring the fast- talking, gum-chewing, ginger-haired Alabama gal Dixie Longate, returns to Starlight Indoors by popular demand for the first time since 2016. Dixie herself was back in KC in early 2018 with Dixie's Never Wear a Tube Top While Riding a Mechanical Bull, where she shared more of her antics with Starlight audiences.
Schimmel Center at Pace University concludes its Series of World Music & Dance and 2018-2019 Season with contemporary Ukranian folk quartet DakhaBrakha on Saturday, June 15, 2019 at 7:30pm.
Broadway stars Liz McCartney and Bob Stillman will headline Judson Theatre Company's Souvenir: A Fantasia on the Life of Florence Foster Jenkins by Stephen Temperley. Souvenir is the first production of Judson Theatre Company's eighth season, opening Thursday, May 9, 2019 and running through Sunday, May 12 at the Hannah Center Theatre.
Judson Theatre Company has announced their Eighth Season: Souvenir: A Fantasia on the Life of Florence Foster Jenkins by Stephen Temperley and Agatha Christie's Witness for the Prosecution. Souvenir opens Thursday, May 9, 2019 and runs through Sunday, May 12. Witness for the Prosecution opens Thursday, November 21 and runs through Sunday, November 24.
A mainstay of the Belmont Theater District, Mercury Theater Chicago's critically acclaimed production of AVENUE Q moves into its final weeks with a closing date of December 30. With incredible runs on the Mercury stage in 2014 and 2018, this lovingly revived Broadway musical comedy appealed to the heart and humor of more than 40,000 audience members, earning widespread critical acclaim with coverage from the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times, WTTW's "Chicago Tonight" and WGN Radio, and awards from Broadway World and the Joseph Jefferson awards, including 12 Broadway World Award nominations for the 2018 production. By its closing date, AVENUE Q will have played 355 performances over 12 months, placing it as one of the longest-running homegrown musicals in Chicago history.
By popular demand, Mercury Theater Chicago's critically acclaimed production of AVENUE Q has extended performances for the second time, now running through December 30. After an incredible run in 2004, this lovingly revived Broadway musical is wowing audiences yet again with its relatable humor and heartwarming message. Directed by L. Walter Stearns, AVENUE Q opened on June 21 to rave reviews, with Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune noting "AVENUE Q is a long-running hit all over again in Chicago. 'Warning, puppet sex' once again appears on the Mercury's marquee," and WTTW's Chicago Tonight highly recommending the show, remarking "it's not only clever and refreshingly frank but wholly charming."
By popular demand, Mercury Theater Chicago's critically acclaimed production of AVENUE Q has extended performances for the second time, now running through December 30. After an incredible run in 2004, this lovingly revived Broadway musical is wowing audiences yet again with its relatable humor and heartwarming message. Directed by L. Walter Stearns, AVENUE Q opened on June 21 to rave reviews, with Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune noting "AVENUE Q is a long-running hit all over again in Chicago. 'Warning, puppet sex' once again appears on the Mercury's marquee," and WTTW's Chicago Tonight highly recommending the show, remarking "it's not only clever and refreshingly frank but wholly charming."
The Marie-Josee Kravis Prize for New Music at the New York Philharmonic, which recognizes a composer for extraordinary artistic endeavor in the field of new music, has been awarded to South Korean composer Unsuk Chin. One of the world's largest new-music prizes, the Kravis Prize includes $200,000 and a commission to write a work for the New York Philharmonic. Ms. Chin's new orchestral work will receive its World Premiere by the Philharmonic in a future season. Funding for the Kravis Prize comes from a $10 million gift to the New York Philharmonic in 2009 by Henry R. Kravis in honor of his wife, Marie-Josee, for whom the Prize is named. Past Prize winners include Henri Dutilleux, Per Norgard, and Louis Andriessen.
Sharon, a sheltered divorcee from Iowa takes in a roommate: Robyn, a free-spirited, mysterious, lesbian slam poet from the Bronx who is looking to completely change her life. As Sharon begins to uncover Robyn's secrets, while sharing music, books, and an occasional toke, she discovers a deep-seated desire to transform her own life. The Roommate is a subversive, absorbing comedy about what it takes to re-route
Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, is pleased to announce the extension of AVENUE Q through November 4, 2018 due to popular demand. After an incredible run in 2004, this lovingly revived Broadway musical is wowing audiences yet again with its relatable humor and heartwarming message.
Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, is thrilled to announce that our homegrown production of AVENUE Q will be lovingly revived on the Mercury stage, from June 21st through September 9th, 2018. Press opening is Friday, June 29th at 8:00pm. After entertaining nearly 30,000 people over 169 performances and breaking all box office records for Mercury Theater Chicago, these sassy and lovable puppets are back for more fun and mischief.
The New York Philharmonic's 2018 Concerts in the Parks, Presented by Didi and Oscar Schafer, will feature James Gaffigan conducting music celebrating Laureate Conductor Leonard Bernstein's centennial, evocative works highlighting the Orchestra's virtuosity, and music by students in the Philharmonic's Very Young Composers (VYC) program - the first time that VYC works have been performed in the parks concerts.
Blues and Broadway take the stage as Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati presents the regional premiere of Larry Parr's His Eye is on the Sparrow, the powerful, heartbreaking, and uplifting account of the iconic Ethel Waters, who overcame a spirit-breaking childhood and racial injustice to become a legendary jazz and blues singer, Broadway pioneer, and Oscar-nominated actress. This one-woman musical biography recounts the life behind this leading lady and features some of Waters's most famous musical numbers. Playing April 24-May 19, 2018. Directed by D. Lynn Meyers. Production Sponsor is John Goering.
Blues and Broadway take the stage as Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati presents the regional premiere of Larry Parr's His Eye is on the Sparrow, the powerful, heartbreaking, and uplifting account of the iconic Ethel Waters, who overcame a spirit-breaking childhood and racial injustice to become a legendary jazz and blues singer, Broadway pioneer, and Oscar-nominated actress. This one-woman musical biography recounts the life behind this leading lady and features some of Waters's most famous musical numbers. Playing April 24-May 19, 2018. Directed by D. Lynn Meyers. Production Sponsor is John Goering.
It's a Jule Styne Celebration! The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Evans Haile, Executive Director), dedicated to the development of new musicals and the preservation of musical gems from the past, has announced Stephanie Umoh (Junk, York's Jerry's Girls,) and two-time Tony Award nominee Vivian Reed (Bubbling Brown Sugar, High Rollers...), will lead the cast of the 1968 Tony Award winner for Best Musical, Hallelujah, Baby!, with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, and book by Arthur Laurents, the first of three shows in the Winter 2018 Musicals in Mufti Series celebrating the work of composer Jule Styne.
On Thursday, January 18 at 7:30 pm, Manhattan School of Music (MSM) presents a Benefit Concert for Puerto Rico, featuring world-renowned violinist and MSM faculty member Pinchas Zukerman. All proceeds from this intimate, one-night-only event will go to the FORWARD Puerto Rico Fund sponsored by the Red de Fundaciones de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico Foundations Network).
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