Donna Wood

On Tuesday, December 17th Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater reveals the company premiere of Camille A. Brown's City of Rain. This quietly lyrical piece honors the struggles and grace of a deceased friend, showing a different facet of the choreographer than Ailey audiences have seen in her previous works for the Company. Dedicated to Greg 'Blyes' Boomer, the work for 10 dancers is set to an original composition by Jonathan Melville Pratt entitled Two Way Dream. A recipient of numerous honors, including a 2014 Bessie Award for Outstanding Production for the work Mr. TOL. E. RAncE (Camille A. Brown & Dancers), Ms. Brown choreographed Broadway's Choir Boy (TONY nominee for Best Choreography), the TONY Award-winning revival of Once On This Island, and the Emmy Award-winning television special, Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert. [There are five more chances to see City of Rain this season: Dec. 20 eve, 21 eve, 27 eve, Jan. 1 eve, 5 mat.]

After experiencing a performance like last night's one yearns for another 1000 years of revelations. In keeping with honouring the affiliated school's anniversary, it feels comforting to know that there is a clear pipeline for keeping the company strong. Here's to a continued vision of strength in 2020.

On Tuesday, December 10th, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater continues its holiday season with a celebration of The Ailey School's 50th anniversary, honoring its standard of excellence for providing exceptional training to more than 3,500 students annually. This special evening features students performing alongside the Company in Alvin Ailey's Memoria and Revelations.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater announces programming for a historic night at Ailey celebrating Associate Artistic Director Masazumi Chaya on Sunday, December 22nd at 7:30pm at New York City Center. Previously, Robert Battle, Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, shared the news that the Company's beloved mainstay for nearly five decades, Mr. Chaya, intends to retire on January 5, 2020, at the conclusion of the Company's New York City Center season. Having joined the Company in 1972 as a dancer, Mr. Chaya performed under Mr. Ailey's direction for 15 years, subsequently assumed responsibility for rehearsing the Company-a role for which Mr. Ailey had cultivated him-and for more than 28 years, as Associate Artistic Director, has maintained the repertoire, handled innumerable creative decisions, and guided generations of the Company's dancers.

"The Hindu and the Cowboy," the award-winning, one-act play drawn from true stories of Kansas Citians from different faith backgrounds, will be presented on Sunday, March 26, at the Jewish Community Center as part of SevenDays 2017. The 2 p.m. performance will be held in the Social Hall and is presented SevenDays® 2017 and the Kansas City Festival of Faiths (FOF).

Plymouth's Spire Center for Performing Arts proudly presents the third annual Plymouth Rock Assurance Jazz Fest throughout Memorial Day Weekend, Friday, May 27 through Sunday, May 29, at 25 ½ Court Street, Plymouth.  Jazz Fest 2016 is produced by Johnny Souza, through the generous sponsorship of Plymouth Rock Assurance Company and Eastern Bank.  Special guest jazz radio host Eric Jackson serves as master of ceremonies for Friday and Saturday's events.

Renowned dancers and choreographers will teach master classes at the Ailey Extension in conjunction with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's New York City Center season (December 2 – January 3).

In conjunction with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's current holiday season at New York City Center, the celebration of the new year, and The January 5th season finale on what would have been Alvin Ailey's 83rd birthday; The Ailey Extension will offer special programs now through January. Starting tonight programs will include Revelations workshops taught by leading dancers from the Company's 55 year history, and the all new 'Get Fit in '14' challenge beginning today, January 2nd.

In conjunction with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's current holiday season at New York City Center, the celebration of the new year, and The January 5th season finale on what would have been Alvin Ailey's 83rd birthday; The Ailey Extension will offer special programs now through January. Starting tonight programs will include Revelationsworkshops taught by leading dancers from the Company's 55 year history, and the all new 'Get Fit in '14' challenge beginning on January 2nd.

In conjunction with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's current holiday season at New York City Center, the celebration of the new year, and The January 5th season finale on what would have been Alvin Ailey's 83rd birthday; The Ailey Extension will offer special programs now through January. Starting tonight programs will include Revelations workshops taught by leading dancers from the Company's 55 year history, and the all new "Get Fit in '14" challenge beginning on January 2nd.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will kick off a five-week holiday season tonight, December 4thwith a star-studded gala benefit performance at New York City Center and party at the New York Hilton Midtown Grand Ballroom. 27-time Grammy award-winning music icon Quincy Jones and actress Gabrielle Union will serve as the evening's Honorary Chairs.

There will be a memorial celebration for Paul Szilard (Dancer, Producer, Impresario and great friend to the arts) today, October 31st, 2013 at 1:30 pm at The Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Avenue at 18th Street, NYC. There will be performances by the Martha Graham Dance Company, The Avlin Ailey American Dance Theater and Universal Ballet's Kirov Academy of Ballet; as well as reflections from some of his friends.

There will be a memorial celebration for Paul Szilard (Dancer, Producer, Impresario and a great friend to the arts) on Thursday, October 31st, 2013 at 1:30 pm at The Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Avenue at 18th Street, NYC. Participants will be LaRue Allen, Executive Director, Martha Graham Dance Company; Adrienne Dellas, Director of the Universal Ballet's Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C.; Calvin Hunt, Senior Director, Performance and Production, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; Judith Jamison, and Artistic Director Emerita, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. There will be performances by members of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performing 'Song for You' and an excerpt from 'Cry'; students from the senior division of the Kirov Academy of Ballet performing the Adagio and Coda from 'Sleeping Beauty'; and members of the Martha Graham Dance Company performing 'Ritual to the Sun' from Acts of Light. The public is invited.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will kick off a five-week holiday season on December 4thwith a star-studded gala benefit performance at New York City Center and party at the New York Hilton Midtown Grand Ballroom. 27-time Grammy award-winning music icon Quincy Jones and actress Gabrielle Union will serve as the evening's Honorary Chairs.

There will be a memorial celebration for Paul Szilard (Dancer, Producer, Impresario and great friend to the arts) on Thursday, October 31st, 2013 at 1:30 pm at The Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Avenue at 18th Street, NYC. There will be performances by the Martha Graham Dance Company, The Avlin Ailey American Dance Theater and Universal Ballet's Kirov Academy of Ballet; as well as reflections from some of his friends.

Paul Szilard died peacefully at home on Friday, 26 July 2013, at the age of 100. He was born in Budapest, Hungary (August 24, 1912) and became a United States citizen in the 1950's. A former leading dancer, Paul Szilard has performed throughout the world with such famous dancers as Nora Kaye, Colette Marchand, Sonia Arova and others.

Sometimes Shakespeare is all about murder and revenge and history and import and sometimes it's just a goofy romp through the ins and outs of the heart. And "Love's Labour's Lost" from the Seattle Shakespeare Company currently playing at the Center Theatre is definitely part of the latter group. Probably the biggest example of Shakespeare at his most frivolous, the production definitely had its shining moments but tended to betray its own story near the end and whether that's the script or the direction, it left me a little wanting.

Seattle Shakespeare's LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST by William Shakespeare runs at Seattle Center's Center Theatre, opening March 15 and playing through April 7, 2013, directed by Jon Kretzu. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Seattle Theater Writers, a critics' circle of local theater writers and reviewers, today announces the 2012 slate of nominees of the second annual Gypsy Rose Lee Awards, theater awards devoted to recognizing excellence across the economic spectrum of professional Seattle theaters.