La Jolla Playhouse will present a reading of its commissioned musical Hands on a Hardbody, written by Pulitzer Prize-winner and 2011 Playhouse Gala Honoree Doug Wright (I Am My Own Wife), Amanda Green (High Fidelity) and Trey Anastasio of the popular band Phish. Directed by Neil Pepe (Speed-the-Plow) and choreographed by Benjamin Millipied (Black Swan), the Hands on a Hardbody reading will take place in New York on April 8th and 9th (by invitation).
Career Transition For Dancers announces the 2nd annual 'Stepping Into Hope and Change NYC: A free career development conference for dancers' on Thursday, April 7, at the Actor's Equity Audition Center, 165 W 46Street 2nd floor NYC NY 10036.
One of the most highly acclaimed and most riveting films of 2010 is undoubtedly the Academy Award-winning BLACK SWAN by Darren Aronofsky. While the stunning lead performance of Natalie Portman was the only nomination of the five (for Picture, Directing, Editing and Cinematography being the other four) to score Oscar gold, director Darren Aronofsky has now solidified himself in recent years as one of the most notable and accomplished directors of his, or any, generation. Stanley Kubrick is somewhere smiling. The Blu-Ray, released this week, brings BLACK SWAN to home video in the most, well, perfect of manners.
To accrue all the characters, characteristics and components of a career as diverse and varied as that of stage and screen star John Leguizamo would be near-impossible for even the most gifted performers in the galaxy. Having appeared in nearly ninety films so far in his twenty-five year career - including a musical, MOULIN ROUGE, and an adaptation of Shakespeare, ROMEO + JULIET, both for noted directed Baz Luhrmann - as well as five off-Broadway and Broadway solo shows - MAMBO MOUTH, SPIC-O-RAMA, FREAK, SEXAHOLIX and, now, GHETTO KLOWN - Leguizamo is consistently challenging himself and revealing new sides to his personality and skills as an actor and performer with his daring choices of roles and searing performances. In this comprehensive career retrospective, we cover Broadway, Hollywood and much more and we even have his first comments on his new feature film opening this weekend, THE LINCOLN LAWYER. From Todd Haynes' POISON to Brian DePalma's CASUALTIES OF WAR and CARLITO'S WAY, to Spike Lee's SUMMER OF SAM, to TO WONG FOO, SUPER MARIO BROS. and more; singing Sondheim's 'Send In The Clowns'; plus, stories on his recently departed co-stars Dennis Hopper (LAND OF THE DEAD) and Brittany Murphy (SPUN), and first news on the David Koresh biopic WACO co-starring Kurt Russell and Adrien Brody, and FUGLY with Radha Mitchell - Leguizamo‘s performances speak (and sing) for themselves. King, cartoon, criminal, artist, clown or klown - Leguizamo can play them all. And play them damn well, as well.
Starring Natalie Portman in her Academy Award winning role*, BLACK SWAN is a seductive yet haunting film that will leave you breathless. Directed by innovator Darren Aronofsky (The Wrestler), this Best Picture nominated film boasts a wealth of talent including Portman (Closer), in the performance of her career, as well as Mila Kunis (Date Night), Winona Ryder (Girl, Interrupted) and Vincent Cassel (Ocean's Twelve). In the film that Daily Variety hailed as '...wicked, sexy and ultimately devastating... fascinating,' Natalie Portman's mesmerizing transformation into the Black Swan leaves you breathless - and wanting to see it again. Become part of the haunting phenomenon and own BLACK SWAN on Blu-ray or DVD on March 29th from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.
The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center today announced its fourth season, highlighting new twists in its performing arts series, fresh multimedia educational events, and the creation of exciting new artistic partnerships.
Career Transition For Dancers announces the 2nd annual 'Stepping Into Hope and Change NYC: A free career development conference for dancers' on Thursday, April 7, at the Actor's Equity Audition Center, 165 W 46Street 2nd floor NYC NY 10036.
The Broadway Beauty Pageant crowned Michael Cusumano (Mr. Chicago) the winner last evening, Monday, March 21st, 2011 at 8:00 PM, at the benefit for The Ali Forney Center, NYC's primary housing resource for homeless LGBT youth. Michael received standing ovations for his brilliant interpretation of his Russian prima ballerina version of the film 'Black Swan' dancing on pointe. A capacity crowd enjoyed the annual show again at the Peter Norton Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway (at 95th Street). The award-winning Tovah Feldshuh hosted the not-to-be-missed event The other multi-talented contestants were: Matt Anctil, La Cage aux Folles; Raymond J. Lee, Anything Goes; Brandon Rubendall, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark; and James Tabeek, Mary Poppins. Lee Roy Reams opened the show with a long boa singing and dancing with the contestants in a special number 'Beautiful Boys' created by Gerard Alessandrini.. Conceived by Jeffery Self and directed by Ryan J Davis, musical direction by Christopher Denny, choreography by Erin Porvaznika; lighting design by Brian Tovar. The evening was produced by Wil Fisher, Ryan J. Davis, Jeffery Self and Matthew Oberstein.
The Broadway Beauty Pageant crowned Michael Cusumano (Mr. Chicago) the winner last evening, Monday, March 21st, 2011 at 8:00 PM, at the benefit for The Ali Forney Center, NYC's primary housing resource for homeless LGBT youth. Michael received standing ovations for his brilliant interpretation of his Russian prima ballerina version of the film 'BLACK SWAN' dancing on pointe. A capacity crowd enjoyed the annual show again at the Peter Norton Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway (at 95th Street). The award-winning Tovah Feldshuh hosted the not-to-be-missed event The other multi-talented contestants were: Matt Anctil, La Cage aux Folles; Raymond J. Lee, Anything Goes; Brandon Rubendall, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark; and James Tabeek, Mary Poppins. Lee Roy Reams opened the show with a long boa singing and dancing with the contestants in a special number 'Beautiful Boys' created by Gerard Alessandrini.. Conceived byJeffery Self and directed by Ryan J Davis, musical direction byChristopher Denny, choreography by Erin Porvaznika; lighting design by Brian Tovar. The evening was produced by Wil Fisher,Ryan J. Davis, Jeffery Self and Matthew Oberstein.
Recently honored by President Barack Obama with the National Medal of Arts, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival 2011 will officially commence with a star-studded Season Opening Gala performance and celebration on June 18. A dance photography exhibit by Annie Leibovitz, created especially for the Pillow, will be on display in an exclusive preview.
In his tenth season with Nashville ballet, Jon Upleger is the very epitome of grace, class and talent, thrilling audiences with his artistry and complete devotion to his craft. 'I can't play a musical instrument so dance is my way to visually express music,' he says.
Earlier today I spoke to one of America's most beloved comedians - screen, stand-up or otherwise - the Emmy-winning Wanda Sykes about her upcoming appearance headlining Monday's GayFest Spring At Last! Gala to benefit The Harvey Milk School and she shared with me her message of hope to the next generation, what she wishes for in the equal rights movement in the near future, as well as personal stories of herself being bullied and how she remained resilient in the face of adversity. Additionally, she clues us in on what her character arc will involve this season on HBO's CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM - hint: it involves Cheyenne Jackson - when it makes its highly-awaited return in the Summer; plus, we take a look back at her TV specials, various series and film roles and she offers up a glimpse of what we can expect from her in 2011 and beyond. All of this is, of course, in addition to a thorough discussion of her recent essaying of the role of Miss Hannigan in ANNIE in Philadelphia and if she would consider taking on the role in the upcoming James Lapine-directed revival aimed at Broadway. Plus, news about the forthcoming big-screen MUPPET MOVIE - and much more!
In the past year-and-a-half of interviewing actors and dancers for our 'A Life in the Theater' and 'This Dancer's Life' series, I've been struck by something very interesting: While actors love to talk about themselves and what makes them do what they do, dancers tend to be more circumspect and to the point. This week's featured dancer, for example, the beautiful, ethereal, other-worldly Sadie Bo Harris - one of the prima ballerinas of Nashville Ballet - answers our questions with a disarming brevity, cutting to the chase and giving us a sharply focused view of her life as a dancer.
Dishing on all pop culture and shining a light on inappropriate water cooler talk 'Kathy Griffin WANTS A TONY' will feature all new material about her hilarious observations and run-ins with celebrities. The show is subject to change nightly depending on what Kathy decides is the news of the day. Let's just say Broadway may never be the same again! Tickets are priced from $61.50 to $121.50 for all performances and are on sale now!
Performance Space 122 presents SWAN!!!, a sexy, scary, spectacular, salacious, stunning, startling werk from Jack Ferver's QWAN (Quality Without a Name) Company. Jack Ferver returns to PS122 following sold-out performances of Rumble Ghost with his newest pop culture infused reading of SWAN!!!, a parody of the multiple Oscar-nominated phenomenon Black Swan. SWAN!!! begins its four performance run on Thursday, March 10 at Performance Space 122 (150 First Avenue at E. 9th Street). To purchase tickets please call 212-352-3101 or visit www.ps122.org.
Anyone can emulate Nina's warm up outfit from Move Dancewear for under £50 through the Capezio adjustable leotard, with adjustable straps to aid comfort and fit, backed up with a Bloch kit shoulder shrug in either pink or black.
Today we are talking to one of the biggest and youngest sensations of the season, Al Pacino's highly-lauded Portia to his Shylock in the sold-out MERCHANT OF VENICE, as well as a recurring star on THE GOOD WIFE and MEDIUM - following an unforgettable appearance on NIP/TUCK last year - this year's recipient of USA's CHARACTER APPROVED Award for Theatre, Lily Rabe. In this enlivened discussion, Rabe and I dissect her work on stages and screens large and small as well as what the future holds for her on Broadway, in Hollywood and beyond - including starring in a new independent film, LETTERS TO THE BIG MAN, and a revival of A DOLL'S HOUSE co-starring Hamish Linklater at the Williamstown Theatre Festival.
Fitness sensation The Bar Method, known for its unique full-body exercise program that utilizes a ballet bar technique, is partnering with Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment to promote dance fitness and a healthy body in celebration of the release of the Academy-Award® nominated film Black Swan, available on Blu-ray Disc and DVD March 29th.
