Ars Nova News

FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents The Songs of Andrew R. Butler as part their performance series New Writers at 54! New Writers at 54! is an ongoing series at Feinstein's/54 Below showcasing exciting work by today's hottest emerging voices

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) (Artistic Director James C. Nicola and Managing Director Jeremy Blocker) announced today performers, presenters and the host for the NYTW 2020 Gala, honoring NYTW Usual Suspect & Tony Award-winning director Rachel Chavkin (Hadestown, Light Shining in Buckinghamshire, Three Pianos at NYTW) and Tony Award-winning producer Jordan Roth (Producer of Hadestown; President of Jujamcyn Theaters). The Gala will be held on Monday, February 3 at Capitale (130 Bowery, New York, NY 10013).

Today's episode features not one, but two stars of the mega-hit Hadestown, Eva Noblezada and Amber Gray.

FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREME, the critically acclaimed improv troupe founded by Thomas Kail, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Anthony Veneziale, is now accepting applications for the winter Freestyle Love Supreme Academy classes and intensives. The FLS Academy is the first ever freestyle school created and run directly by FLS members, including teachers and guest facilitators, in partnership with long-time FLS producers Kail, Miranda, Ars Nova founders Jenny and Jon Steingart, and Hamilton co-producer Jill Furman.

From January 3-25, 2020, SpeakEasy Stage Company will join with The Front Porch Arts Collective, Boston's only black-led theatre company, to co-produce the New England Premiere of the acclaimed drama PASS OVER by Antoinette Nwandu.  

Kokandy Productions has announced the Chicago premiere of the bold new musical HUNDRED DAYS, featuring music and lyrics by The Bengsons, and book by The Bengsons and Sarah Gancher. Making its Chicago debut after successful runs at La Jolla Playhouse and New York Theatre Workshop, Hundred Days will be helmed by director/performer Lucky Stiff. Casting will be announced shortly. HUNDRED DAYS will play March 6 - April 12, 2020 at The Chopin Theatre, 1543 W Division St. in Chicago. Tickets will be available at www.kokandyproductions.com, or in person at The Chopin Theatre box office. The press opening is Friday, March 13 at 8 pm.

This Sunday, December 8, the Christmas season commences at the Sheen Center for Thought & Culture (18 Bleecker Street at the corner of Elizabeth Street, NYC) with the opening of The Gospel of John, conceived and performed by award-winning Broadway veteran Ken Jennings (Sweeney Todd, Grand Hotel, Side Show). Jennings brings the Gospel to life on stage - in just 90 minutes. Directed by John Pietrowski (Artistic Director of Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey), The Gospel of John plays a limited holiday engagement through December 29 at The Sheen Center's Black Box Theater.  Currently in previews, the official opening is Sunday, December 8 at 3PM. Tickets are available online at SheenCenter.org, by phone at 212-925-2812, or in-person at The Sheen Center box office Monday to Friday noon to 5PM and one hour before performances.

Next week, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com/Feinsteins or call (646) 476-3551.

The highly-anticipated return engagement of Sir Patrick Stewart's acclaimed oneman version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL to benefit City Harvest and Ars Nova will play for two nights only, December 11 and December 13, at Theater 511 (511 West 54th Street). Two tickets per benefit performance will now be offered for $25 to TodayTix Lottery winners.

Planet Connections' starts out 2020 with 'DARK PLANET: Not Your Mother's Valentine's Day,' short plays unapologetically looking at life through a clever a?" albeit caustic a?" lens. Frank, Funny, Engaging, Engrossing, and Enlightening, Performing Thursdays & Fridays, February 6 a?" 21, at the Theater at the 14th Street Y, 344 E 14th St, NYC. This event a?" celebrating the diversity of the performing arts & artists of NYC a?" will be accompanied by an opening night party and special Valentine's Day event.

The Fred Ebb Foundation (Mitchell S. Bernard, Trustee) in association with the Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) presented the fifteenth annual Fred Ebb Award for aspiring musical theatre songwriters to Angela Sclafani & Benjamin Velez. The award, named in honor of the late award-winning lyricist Fred Ebb, was presented by Kate Baldwin on Monday, December 2nd from 6-8pm at a by-invitation-only ceremony in the Penthouse Lounge of The American Airlines Theater.

The board of the Hermitage Artist Retreat in the United States announced today that the organisation has chosen Andy Sandberg as its Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer as of January 1, 2020. Sandberg succeeds Bruce Rodgers, who is retiring after serving as the Hermitage's Executive Director since 2005. Sandberg, an accomplished director, writer, and Tony Award-winning producer whose national and international career has been committed to new work and artist development, was selected following an extensive national search. In his new role, Sandberg will be responsible for overseeing the organisation's operations, artistic programs, administration, and strategic plan.

The board of the Hermitage Artist Retreat in Florida announced today that the organization has chosen Andy Sandberg as its Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer as of January 1, 2020. Sandberg succeeds Bruce Rodgers, who is retiring after serving as the Hermitage's Executive Director since 2005. Sandberg, an accomplished director, writer, and Tony Award-winning producer whose national and international career has been committed to new work and artist development, was selected following an extensive national search. In his new role, Sandberg will be responsible for overseeing the organization's operations, artistic programs, administration, and strategic plan. 

The Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan will welcome a talented cast to its stage on Thursday, December 18 at 7:30 p.m. for a reading of Anna Ziegler's a?oeThe Wanderers,a?? a funny, insightful, and mysterious new drama. Ziegler is an award-winning playwright whose widely produced play, a?oePhotograph 51,a?? won London's 2016 WhatsOnStage award for best new play. It was also selected as a?oeBest of the Yeara?? play by The Telegraph and The Washington Post. The special reading of a?oeThe Wanderersa?? is a benefit for the JCC's Lambert Center for Arts and Ideas. Tickets cost $20 for members and $25 for the public. Visit jccmanhattan.org or call 646.505.5708 to reserve your seat.

This Month, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com/Feinsteins or call (646) 476-3551.

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. 

This weekend, the Christmas season commences at the Sheen Center for Thought & Culture (18 Bleecker Street at the corner of Elizabeth Street, NYC) when performances begin for The Gospel of John, conceived and performed by award-winning Broadway veteran Ken Jennings (Sweeney Todd, Grand Hotel, Side Show).

Today's top stories: Ephraim Sykes will play Michael Jackson in MJ, and more!

Sir Patrick Stewart's acclaimed one-man version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL will return for two nights only, December 11 and December 13, at Theater 511 (511 West 54th Street) to benefit City Harvest and Ars Nova.

New musical Cowboy Bob will come to Feinstein's/54 Below on December 9, 2019.