Alan C. Edwards News

The Apollo Theater presents The Classical Theatre of Harlem's production of THE FIRST NOEL from December 10-18, 2016.

The winners of the First Annual Berkshire Theatre Awards have been announced. Seventeen arts journalists voted on 120 nominees in 25 categories chosen from artists in the 75 live theatre productions mounted in Berkshire County and adjacent areas between October 1, 2015 and September 30, 2016.

In the last twelve months, more than 300,000 people attended a live theatre production in or around Berkshire County. With 75 stage productions employing hundreds of professionals, making theatre is an important cog in the area's cultural economy. In fact, many consider the region a hot spot for Broadway bound shows, and a popular summer destination for theatre-goers from around the nation.

The Classical Theatre of Harlem (CTH) (Ty Jones, Producing Artistic Director; David Roberts, Managing Director), will present Macbeth as its annual free Uptown Shakespeare in the Park production.

Katori Hall, who wrote the award winning play THE MOUNTAINTOP, which is in production at Cleveland Play House, in her script attempts to answer such questions as: What was Martin Luther King, Jr. like as a person? With all the death threats that King received, what was his last night alive like? What did he believe was going to be his ultimate role in the Black rights movement?

This holiday season, The Classical Theatre of Harlem, in collaboration with the Apollo Theater, presents the world premiere of The First Noel. This Harlem- based holiday musical features music that crosses genres-from pop to jazz to gospel - to tell a universal story of love and belonging. Book, lyrics and music by Jason Michael Webb (Motown: The Musical, Violetand The Color Purple) and Lelund Durond Thompson (founder, YellaFella Entertainment and CTH Artistic Associate). Steve H. Broadnax III (Dominique Morisseau's Blood at the Root) serves as director and Brian Harlan Brooks (Motown: The Musical) as choreographer for this holiday presentation, which will take place in the Apollo's soundstage. The First Noel, commissioned by The Classical Theatre of Harlem and in association with Penn State Centre Stage, has been in development for three years and is intended to become a Harlem holiday classic. 

This holiday season, The Classical Theatre of Harlem, in collaboration with the Apollo Theater, presents the world premiere of The First Noel. This Harlem- based holiday musical features music that crosses genres-from pop to jazz to gospel - to tell a universal story of love and belonging. Book, lyrics and music by Jason Michael Webb (Motown: The Musical, Violetand The Color Purple) and Lelund Durond Thompson (founder, YellaFella Entertainment and CTH Artistic Associate). Steve H. Broadnax III (Dominique Morisseau's Blood at the Root) serves as director and Brian Harlan Brooks (Motown: The Musical) as choreographer for this holiday presentation, which will take place in the Apollo's soundstage. The First Noel, commissioned by The Classical Theatre of Harlem and in association with Penn State Centre Stage, has been in development for three years and is intended to become a Harlem holiday classic. 

The 15th anniversary season of The Classical Theatre of Harlem (CTH) (Ty Jones, Producing Artistic Director; David Roberts, Managing Director) continues with CTH's free, summer, uptown production of William Shakespeare's The Tempest, presented in partnership with City Parks Foundation's SummerStage festival. The Carl Cofield-directed production, which stars New York theater and Broadway veteran Ron Cephas Jones, will transform the Richard Rodgers Amphitheater in Marcus Garvey Park into an enchanted Caribbean island where the magic takes flight, with an elaborate aerial design elements planned. The third annual CTH Under the Stars presentation holds previews tonight, July 3, and Saturday, July 4. Performances, which are free and open to the public, run from July 5 through 26.

The 15th anniversary season of The Classical Theatre of Harlem (CTH) (Ty Jones, Producing Artistic Director; David Roberts, Managing Director) continues with CTH's free, summer, uptown production of William Shakespeare's The Tempest, presented in partnership with City Parks Foundation's SummerStage festival. The Carl Cofield-directed production, which stars New York theater and Broadway veteran Ron Cephas Jones, will transform the Richard Rodgers Amphitheater in Marcus Garvey Park into an enchanted Caribbean island where the magic takes flight, with an elaborate aerial design elements planned. The third annual CTH Under the Stars presentation holds previews on Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4. Performances, which are free and open to the public, run from July 5 through 26.

The Classical Theatre of Harlem (CTH) announces plans for its landmark 2015 season. The Harlem-based American theatre company will present its 15th Anniversary Celebration and Benefit Concert this spring, featuring songs from the eagerly anticipated musical Witness Uganda, winner of the American Academy of Arts and Letters 2014 Richard Rodgers Production Award for Musical Theater; a free summer production of William Shakespeare's The Tempest; and the winter holiday world premiere of a new CTH-commissioned musical, The First Noel.

This month, Dallas Theater Center will produce the world premiere of the brand new musical Stagger Lee, book and lyrics by Meadows Prize recipient Will Power. Stagger Lee, which takes its title from the century-old folk song, is directed by Patricia McGregor with music by Will Power and Justin Ellington. Stagger Lee was partially developed in workshops in collaboration with the Meadows School of the Arts, Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas as a part of Will Powers' Meadows Prize residency. Stagger Lee begins previews tonight, January 21 with a Pay-What-You-Can performance and runs through Sunday, February 15.

This January, Dallas Theater Center will produce the world premiere of the brand new musical Stagger Lee, book and lyrics by Meadows Prize recipient Will Power. Stagger Lee, which takes its title from the century-old folk song, is directed by Patricia McGregor with music by Will Power and Justin Ellington. Stagger Lee was partially developed in workshops in collaboration with the Meadows School of the Arts, Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas as a part of Will Powers' Meadows Prize residency. Stagger Lee begins previews on Wednesday, January 21 with a Pay-What-You-Can performance and runs through Sunday, February 15. Tickets to Stagger Lee are on sale now at www.DallasTheatercenter.org.

'Days of Our Lives' star Kevin Spirtas leads a cast of 13 in the new musical comedy MR. CONFIDENTIAL, presented as part of the 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival. Directed and choreographed by Stephen Nachamie(director of NYMF's award-winning 2012 production of Foreverman), MR. CONFIDENTIAL features book and lyrics bySamuel Bernstein (Bobbie's Girl) and music by David Snyder. The production plays five performances July 21-27 at theAlice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at the Pershing Square Signature Center (480 W. 42nd St.), as part of the 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

NYMF's most popular presentation, FABLE will play at Ford Foundation Studio Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center Tuesday, July 22 through Sunday, July 27. NYMF has begun adding performances. Today, July 24 at 5:00pm is the first; Sunday, July 27 at 1:00pm is the second; with more to follow. Composer/Lyricist Christopher Anselmo has been selected as a participant in the prestigious 2014 NYMF/ASCAP Musical Songwriting Workshop, which runs in New York from Monday, July 14 through Sunday, July 20. Mr. Anselmo and Mr. Kaufman (Book) have been scooped up by 54 Below (254 West 54 Street) where they will perform their FRIENDSHIP, FABLES AND FUN: A NIGHT WITH CHRIS AND HARRISON for one night only - Today, July 17 at 11:30pm.

NYMF's most popular presentation, FABLE will play at Ford Foundation Studio Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center Tuesday, July 22 through Sunday, July 27. NYMF has begun adding performances. Thursday, July 24 at 5:00pm is the first; Sunday, July 27 at 1:00pm is the second; with more to follow. Composer/Lyricist Christopher Anselmo has been selected as a participant in the prestigious 2014 NYMF/ASCAP Musical Songwriting Workshop, which runs in New York from Monday, July 14 through Sunday, July 20. Mr. Anselmo and Mr. Kaufman (Book) have been scooped up by 54 Below (254 West 54 Street) where they will perform their FRIENDSHIP, FABLES AND FUN: A NIGHT WITH CHRIS AND HARRISON for one night only - Thursday, July 17 at 11:30pm.

'Days of Our Lives' star Kevin Spirtas leads a cast of 13 in the new musical comedy MR. CONFIDENTIAL, presented as part of the 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival. Directed and choreographed by Stephen Nachamie (director of NYMF's award-winning 2012 production of Foreverman), MR. CONFIDENTIAL features book and lyrics by Samuel Bernstein (Bobbie's Girl) and music by David Snyder. The production plays five performances July 21-27 at theAlice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at the Pershing Square Signature Center (480 W. 42nd St.), as part of the 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast in rehearsal!

H. S. Kaufman (Book) and Christopher Anselmo (Music and Lyrics) are twenty year-old artists who have written a highly anticipated and groundbreaking musical about what some might describe as a soul-searching and terrifying milestone in the American culture - High School Graduation.

'Days of Our Lives' star Kevin Spirtas leads a cast of 13 in the new musical comedy MR. CONFIDENTIAL, presented as part of the 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival.

terraNOVA Collective has announced the repeat engagement production of Dacyl Acevedo's WILL WORK FOR, directed by Jo Cattell. WILL WORK FOR will play a two-week limited run at the IRT Theater (154 Christopher Street, Suite 3B, New York, NY). Performances begin tonight, September 12. Opening Night is Thursday, September 19 (7 p.m.).

terraNOVA Collective has announced the repeat engagement production of Dacyl Acevedo's WILL WORK FOR, directed by Jo Cattell. WILL WORK FOR will play a two-week limited run at the IRT Theater (154 Christopher Street, Suite 3B, New York, NY). Performances begin Thursday, September 12. Opening Night is Thursday, September 19 (7 p.m.).