Prairie 2006 - Articles Page 18

The University of Alberta is now home to the Canadian Centre for Theatre Creation, a new national drama institute that is the first of its kind in Canada. One of the centre's goals is to develop work that creates a more accurate reflection of the nation's cultural diversity by bringing together independent artists, theatre companies and researchers to examine and experiment with new approaches to theatre-making. In addition to the commissioning and developing of scripts, the Canadian Centre for Theatre Creation's mandate extends to engaging artists who do not necessarily work within the traditional playwriting model. In doing so, the centre will provide artists with the resources needed to work in non-conventional ways. 'Until now, there hasn't really been a place in Canada where such a range of artists can be served,' said Kim McCaw, centre director and U of A drama professor. 'We are also committed to presenting new work, either on our own or in partnership with other companies and organizations, which is something else that sets us apart from most other play development centres.' Nurturing the play from idea to performance is something McCaw says is one of the centre's key goals. 'It's very ambitious,' said McCaw. 'But whenever we talk about it, there's a sense that this is something new, and there's an excitement about what it could mean both locally and nationally.' The Canadian Centre for Theatre Creation has commissioned a new play to be penned by Elyne Quan, a University of Alberta alumna and rising Canadian playwright.

Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) begins 2009 with the New York premiere of THE SAVANNAH DISPUTATION, a new play by Evan Smith (Psych and The Uneasy Chair at Playwrights Horizons, Remedial English for the Young Playwrights Festival at Playwrights Horizons, Servicemen at The New Group). This will be Mr. Smith's fourth collaboration with the theater company.

Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) continues its 2008/2009 Season with the New York premiere of THE SAVANNAH DISPUTATION, a new play by Evan Smith (Psych and The Uneasy Chair at Playwrights Horizons, Remedial English for the Young Playwrights Festival at Playwrights Horizons, Servicemen at The New Group). This will be Mr. Smith's fourth collaboration with the theater company.

With the sponsorship of Southwest Airlines, this amazing evening held at the Alex Theatre in Glendale CA and under the direction of Bruce Mayhall, brought festive song and dance that not only set the audiences feet to tapping and smiles to their lips, but also a tear or two to the eye as chorus members shared stories of Christmas' past.

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed 'Best of New York' by New York Magazine and 'an invaluable New York institution' by The New York Post, will continue their 10th Anniversary season with the debut engagement of author, radio personality and musician, GARRISON KEILLOR. His new show runs Sunday nights from December 7 to 28 at the Regency Hotel (540 Park Avenue at 61st Street).

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents ROUGH CROSSING by TOM STOPPARD, from an original play by FERENC MOLNÁR, directed by MARK RUCKER at the University Theatre (222 York Street, New Haven) beginning November 28 through December 20. Opening Night is Thursday, December 4.

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents ROUGH CROSSING by TOM STOPPARD, from an original play by FERENC MOLNÁR, directed by MARK RUCKER at the University Theatre (222 York Street, New Haven) beginning November 28 through December 20. Opening Night is Thursday, December 4.

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents ROUGH CROSSING by TOM STOPPARD, from an original play by FERENC MOLN?R, directed by MARK RUCKER at the University Theatre (222 York Street, New Haven) beginning November 28 through December 20. Opening Night is Thursday, December 4.

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed 'Best of New York' by New York Magazine and 'an invaluable New York institution' by The New York Post, will continue their 10th Anniversary season with the debut engagement of author, radio personality and musician, GARRISON KEILLOR. His new show runs Sunday nights from December 7 to 28 at the Regency Hotel (540 Park Avenue at 61st Street).

THE NEW YORK CITY GAY MEN'S CHORUS launches its 29th season with a time-honored New York tradition: under the Artistic Direction of Charles Beale, NYCGMC presents The New York City Gay Men's Chorus Holiday Spectacular 'Celebrate Me Home' at Carnegie Hall on Tuesday December 9th, 8:00PM.

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents ROUGH CROSSING by TOM STOPPARD, from an original play by FERENC MOLNÁR, directed by MARK RUCKER at the University Theatre (222 York Street, New Haven) beginning November 28 through December 20. Opening Night is Thursday, December 4.

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents ROUGH CROSSING by TOM STOPPARD, from an original play by FERENC MOLNÁR, directed by MARK RUCKER at the University Theatre (222 York Street, New Haven) beginning November 28 through December 20. Opening Night is Thursday, December 4.

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents ROUGH CROSSING by TOM STOPPARD, from an original play by FERENC MOLN?R, directed by MARK RUCKER at the University Theatre (222 York Street, New Haven) beginning November 28 through December 20. Opening Night is Thursday, December 4.

Broadway In Chicago will host the world premiere of THE ADDAMS FAMILY, a new musical based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams, beginning performances Friday, November 13, 2009 at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre (24 W. Randolph St., Chicago).

SHARON CARR ASSOCIATES, LTD announces the return engagement of GLIMPSES OF THE MOON, a Jazz Age musical with book & lyrics by Tajlei Levis and music by John Mercurio, directed by Marc Bruni. GLIMPSES OF THE MOON is back by popular demand for an ongoing run at Off-Broadway's Oak Room in the Algonquin Hotel (59 West 44th Street, between 5th and 6th Ave.).

SHARON CARR ASSOCIATES, LTD is pleased to announce the return engagement of GLIMPSES OF THE MOON, a Jazz Age musical with book & lyrics by Tajlei Levis and music by John Mercurio, directed by Marc Bruni. GLIMPSES OF THE MOON is back by popular demand for an ongoing run at Off-Broadway's Oak Room in the Algonquin Hotel (59 West 44th Street, between 5th and 6th Ave.).

The New York Musical Theatre Festival, Sharon Carr and Richard Winkler present IDAHO! (www.IdahoMusical.com), a new American comedy musical with book, music and lyrics by Buddy Sheffield and music by Keith Thompson.

KLEA BLACKHURST and BILLY STRITCH will celebrate the release of their new CD Dreaming Of A Song: The Music of Hoagy Carmichael with two weeks worth of performances at the Metropolitan Room.

The Colony Theatre Company presents the third production of its 2008 - 2009 season, the Los Angeles premiere of MARY'S WEDDING, written by Stephen Massicotte and directed by David Rose. MARY'S WEDDING will preview on Wednesday, October 22; Thursday, October 23 and Friday, October 24 at 8:00pm and will open on Saturday, October 25 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, November 23 at The Colony Theatre, 555 North Third Street (at Cypress) adjacent to the Burbank Town Center.

Lou Spisto, Executive Producer of the Tony Award-winning Old Globe, is pleased to announce the Theatre's complete 2009 Summer Season.

Producers Ben Sprecher and Louise Forlenza of the newly formed production entity GLOBAL BROADWAY Inc. officially signed a deal this evening with the Vereinigte Buhnen Wien Theatre to bring the hit musical REBECCA to Broadway in 2010. The signing took place in front of the sold-out re-opening night audience for REBECCA following the performance with Sprecher, Forlenza, VBW Artistic Director Kathrin Zechner and Manager Thomas Drozda. REBECCA, based on the classic Daphne Du Maurier novel (and later turned into an Oscar-winning film by Alfred Hitchcock) features book and lyrics by Michael Kunze, music by Sylvester Levay, and direction by Francesca Zambello, director of Broadway's The Little Mermaid and the new musical Little House on the Prairie, which just had its world premiere at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis.

The Wilshire Theatre Beverly Hills, 8440 Wilshire Boulevard; Beverly Hills, CA 90211, will open its doors to the general public on Sunday, September 21, 2008, after being closed for several months for completion of Phase I of the historic venue's Revitalization Project. Corky Hale Productions will present a star-studded musical event, entitled, 'It's Magic! A Tribute to Sammy Cahn' celebrating the life and lyrics of one of Hollywood's greatest Academy Awardâ-winning songwriters.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival, Sharon Carr and Richard Winkler present IDAHO! (www.IdahoMusical.com), a new American comedy musical with book, music and lyrics by Buddy Sheffield and music by Keith Thompson.

Producers Ben Sprecher and Louise Forlenza announced today the formation of GLOBAL BROADWAY PRODUCTIONS INC., a new production entity created to develop and produce new musicals for Broadway, the road, and international stages.

Playwrights Horizons, under the leadership of Artistic Director Tim Sanford and Managing Director Leslie Marcus, has announced additional casting and dates for its upcoming 2008/2009 Season.