Lauren Wolman - Page 116

Seven years ago, an unsuspecting New Jersey township, population 37,569, became the epicenter of the international avant-garde. The culprit is named Peak Performances. Refusing to rent celebrities or Hollywood names to sweeten the lure, Peak chose not to blink and to go hardcore. Peak Performances continues its radical mission this coming season when it brings some of the world's most original and challenging artists from across the globe to brighten the stage of Montclair State University's Alexander Kasser Theater, located at 1 Normal Avenue. Jedediah Wheeler is Peak's Artistic Director.

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater announced today that they will kick off their 2011/2012 season with the F*!@cking Good Plays (festival, II) - seven (7) days of new play readings by ten (10) of today's hottest playwrights. The festival, to be presented at Rattlestick Theater (224 Waverly Place - off 7th Avenue South between West 11th & Perry Streets), will begin on Monday, August 1st and continue through Sunday, August 7th. Playwrights include: Trent Creswell, Jessica Dickey, Laura Eason, Kathryn Hathaway, Andrew Hinderaker, Bruce Kronenberg, James Lecesne, Florencia Lozano, Erica Schmidt, and Ken Urban. The readings will be directed by Jessica Blank, Denis Butkus, Evan Cabnet, Trip Cullman, Jill DeArmon, Michael Padden, Erica Schmidt, and Daniella Topol.

Marin Theatre Company presents SEVEN GUITARS by August Wilson and Directed by Kent Gash. SEVEN GUITARS features Shinelle Azoroh,* Charles Branklyn,* L. Peter Callender,* Margo Hall,* Omoze Idehenre,* Marc Damon Johnson,* and Tobie L. Windham.*

Russian-born Vasily Petrenko, the youngest Principal Conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, comes to the Hollywood Bowl in two programs of classical concerts, Tuesday, July 26, and Thursday, July 28, at 8 p.m. He is joined in the Tuesday program by Russian pianist Alexander Gavrylyuk, who made his Bowl debut last summer; this time performing Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto. The program includes Antonín Dvo?ák's Carnival Overture and also includes Jean Sibelius' Second Symphony. Thursday's program features LA Phil Principal Concertmaster Martin Chalifour perfoming Sibelius' Violin Concerto. Also on the Thursday program are Dvo?ák's masterpiece, Symphony No. 9, 'From the New World,' and Mikhail Glinka's Overture to Ruslan and Ludmilla.

The Off Broadway Theatre, celebrating 18 years of comedy and original parody, is pleased to announce the opening of ERIC JENSEN'S CHARLIE'S AUNT, which opens on Friday, July 29th, and runs to August 27th, 2011. Curtain opens at 7:30 PM. All seating is reserved.

The Atlanta Braves and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra will partner for the first Music Appreciation Night at Turner Field when the Atlanta Braves take on the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, August 17, 2011. The game begins at 7:10 p.m. and tickets are available exclusively online at: braves.com/atlantasymphony.

Los Angeles and New York veteran stage actor Tim Cummings has released a book of collected stories entitled ORPHANS stories. The book, which contains a joyous superfluity of styles, forms, and themes, is available as both a digital and a print edition.

In THE STUDENT PRINCE, young love blossoms in Old Heidelberg as the betrothed heir to the throne goes off to university, only to fall for a beautiful waitress in the beer garden.

Italian bass-baritone Ildebrando D'Arcangelo returns to the start of his international career with his new Deutsche Grammophon recording of Mozart arias. He is joined by conductor Gianandrea Noseda and the Orchestra del Teatro Regio di Torino for a selection of both popular and rare opera and concert arias, available September 13th in advance of his performances at the LA Opera in Mozart's Così fan Tutte. Click here to learn more about the release.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS is thrilled to announce the second year of its wildly successful series, TRIBUTE FRIDAYS, featuring the most authentic tribute bands around paying homage this season to Journey, Bon Jovi, David Bowie, Queen, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones! Concert dates are Friday, August 26, 2011 at 8pm and Friday, September 9, 2011 at 8pm and Friday, September 16 at 8pm. The lobby bar will open for Happy Hour at 6:30pm.

Hundreds of passionate, female dancers from coast to coast will answer the call, but there can only be one! Emmy award-nominated choreographer and creative director to the stars Laurieann Gibson, shares her expertise with many hopefuls as they embark on the moment of their lives in BORN TO DANCE: LAURIEANN GIBSON premiering Tuesday, August 2 at 10:00 p.m.*

Edge of Empires: Pagans, Jews, and Christians at Roman Dura-Europos examines the life and culture of this ancient city (located in present-day eastern Syria), which flourished under the Romans from the mid-second to mid-third century CE. With 77 objects, the exhibition explores the diversity of and interconnections among religions, languages, and peoples that distinguished Dura-Europos. Edge of Empires opens at the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World on September 23, 2011.

Since the release of her 2009 debut EP - 100% Carolyn Fe - this Montreal Blueswoman has been working very hard gigging in and around the Greater Montreal area gathering up a loyal following. While all the gigging was happening, the past year was spent writing new material for a full-length CD, and to top it off, the band evolved so much that a name change had to happen; so here it is- Carolyn Fe Blues Collective! The new name better reflects the collaborative efforts between Carolyn Fe and her band mates. As well, the band is excited to invite guest artists to play with them as they promote their new CD, Original Sin. Don't miss the launch at the famous Bistro à JoJo on August 12 and 13.

The Village Gate's Old Fashioned Piano Party will be celebrating the upcoming Fringe NYC show Yeast Nation - The Triumph of Life written by Greg Kotis and Mark Hollman(Urinetown) this Sunday, July 24th @ 9pm. Stars Harriet Harris (Thoroughly Modern Millie, 'Frasier'), Manu Narayan (Bombay Dreams, suburbia) and more will be previewing songs from the show, which will be running August 13-25, 2011.

IN PURSUIT, by Breahan Pautsch, is Hobo Junction's new sci-fi comedy. A sweet couple of immigrants from another galaxy is settling into a quiet life in Wisconsin, and only an intergalactic green card stands between them and the nice normal Earth life they've always dreamed of. Just when Earth American citizenship seems within their reach...miles of red tape, a crazy out-of-town cousin hell-bent on a good time and an unexpected body threaten to derail their well-made plans.

Wayside Theatre Artistic Director Warner Crocker announced today the performance of The Nerd is the second production of Wayside Theatre's 50th Golden Anniversary Season. The comedy was written by the late playwright, Larry Shue. The Nerd began performances on July 16 and closes on August 13.

Weekend movie box office estimates: July 15-17, 2011.

Scott Barbarino and the Iridium Jazz Club Present Kat Gang and the Nate Mayland Quartet July 19, 2011 at 9pm

Broadway performer Ray Lee will join Marti Gould Cummings at The Ritz for a free performance tonight at 10:30pm. There are $3 beers and $4 cocktails.

CHICAGO - the musical: Book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, Music by John Kander, Lyrics by Fred Ebb Set during the roaring twenties and the age of prohibition, Chicago tells the story of Roxie Hart's quest for fame and fortune through the unlikely means of adultery, murder, and incarceration. As she awaits her trial Roxie vies with another murderess, vaudeville entertainer Velma Kelly, for the spotlight and the headlines. The jazz score includes the hits 'All That Jazz,' 'Cell Block Tango,' and 'Razzle Dazzle.' Chicago was winner of six Tony Awards (1996) including Best Revival. (Content Advisory: Occasional Strong Adult Language, Deals Frankly with Topic of Sexuality, and Deals Humorously with Topic of Violence)