Barbara Whitman News

Theatrical developer Stageworks Productions names Sara Skolnick as Vice President of Production.

A Strange Loop in Concert, a performance celebrating the release of the original cast recording of Michael R. Jackson's immensely acclaimed musical, will come to Joe's Pub at the Public on Monday, October 14.

Roundabout Theatre Company and Columbia University School of the Arts have announced the winners of Columbia@Roundabout's 2019 New Play Reading Series. As part of the collaborative partnership between Roundabout Theatre Company and Columbia University, the reading series awards three playwrights from the current MFA program and recent alumni with a cash prize as well as a reading in Roundabout's Rehearsal Hall, followed by a post-reading reception. Five finalists have also received cash prizes in recognition of their exceptional work. No other collaborative partnership in the New York area brings together an esteemed Ivy League MFA program with a Tony Award-winning, not-for-profit theatre. The reading series is made possible by a grant from The Tow Foundation.   

New York Youth Symphony (NYYS), is proud to continue its mission of educating and inspiring young musicians through its Orchestra, Jazz, Chamber Music, Composition, Musical Theater Composition, Apprenticeship Conducting, and First Music commissioning programs. This season includes seven world premieres of new works commissioned through the First Music program, composed for the Orchestra, Jazz, and Chamber Music ensembles. The season also features renowned and up-and-coming soloists including prodigy pianist Harmony Zhu, 2019 Sphinx Competition winner cellist Sterling Elliott, and leading young pianist Michelle Cann in the Carnegie Hall premiere of Florence Price's recently re-discovered Piano Concerto in One Movement with NYYS Orchestra, as well as in-demand drummer Matt Wilson, celebrated saxophonist Steve Wilson, and trombone virtuoso Wycliffe Gordon with NYYS Jazz. The complete NYYS 2019-2020 concert calendar follows at the end of this press release.

The Ziegfeld Club, Inc. announces that they will offer the Billie Burke Ziegfeld Award for the Fifth consecutive year in a row.

The Drama League (Gabriel Stelian-Shanks, Executive Artistic Director) today announced the 2019 Drama League Awards Nominees for Outstanding Production of a Play, Outstanding Revival of a Play, Outstanding Production of a Musical, Outstanding Revival of a Musical, and the much-coveted Distinguished Performance Award. The nominations were announced this morning by the current stars of Waitress, Shoshana Bean and Jeremy Jordan, at the official announcement event at Sardi's Restaurant, which was streamed live online here at BroadwayWorld.

The Drama League (Gabriel Stelian-Shanks, Executive Artistic Director) today announced the 2019 Drama League Awards Nominees for Outstanding Production of a Play, Outstanding Revival of a Play, Outstanding Production of a Musical, Outstanding Revival of a Musical, and the much-coveted Distinguished Performance Award. The nominations were announced this morning by the current stars of Waitress, Shoshana Bean and Jeremy Jordan, at the official announcement event at Sardi's Restaurant, which was streamed live online here at BroadwayWorld.

As a part of the special concert series, Musical Mondays, Second Stage Theater has announced Adam Chanler-berat, Lawrence Clayton, Jennifer Damiano, Louis Hobson, Tamika Lawrence, Isaac Powell, Alice Ripley, Amy Spanger, J. Robert Spencer, Pearl Sun and Aaron Tveit will perform Next To Normal: A Concert Celebration.

Transport Group just presented its annual A Toast to the Artist gala, honoring Tony Award-winning orchestrator Michael Starboin and composer Carmel Dean with the Transporting American Theatre Award.

Fountain Hills Theater announces the second production in their 2018-19 season-their 17th season as a full-time youth theater-"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," February 15-March 3, 2019. 

Transport Group has announced that its annual A Toast to the Artist gala will honor Tony Award-winning orchestrator Michael Starboin and composer Carmel Dean with the Transporting American Theatre Award. The evening takes place Monday, March 11 at 6:30pm at The Current, Pier 59 @ Chelsea Piers, and includes a cocktail party, seated dinner, performances, dessert reception, and silent and live auctions. The Transporting American Theatre Award recognizes significant contributions to the American Theatre. Past recipients of the Transporting American Theatre Award include Dick Scanlan, Mary- Mitchell Campbell, Michael John LaChiusa, Gretchen Shugart, Barbara Whitman, Beth Williams, Sue Frost, Christian Borle, Paul Huntley, Douglas Carter Beane, Lewis Flinn, A.R. Gurney, Liz Smith, Barbara Frietag, Terrence McNally, and Joe Mantello among others. Tickets are now on sale and may be purchased at transportgroup.org.

The Tank (Meghan Finn and Rosalind Grush, Artistic Directors) will present the live comedy show for food lovers, GOOD COOKS! created by Deby Xiadani, Alec Ring, and Luke Katler at The Tank (312 West 36th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues) on Tuesday, January 22 at 9:30pm, Tuesday, February 12 at 9:30pm, Thursday, March 14 at 9:30pm, and Thursday, April 18 at 9:30pm. Runtime is 1 (delicious) hour. Tickets ($10) are available for advance purchase at www.thetanknyc.org. 

Fountain Hills Theater is excited to announce the second production in their 2018-19 season-their 17th season as a full-time youth theater-"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," February 15-March 3, 2019.

Following their sold-out concert Crazy Rainbow Days: New Songs by Will Van Dyke & Jeff Talbott at Feinstein's/54 Below, the musical theatre writing team is releasing the single "Take Me to the Party", performed both in the concert and on the single by Broadway star Wesley Taylor.

Transport Group will honor Tony Award-winning orchestrator Michael Starboin and composer Carmel Dean with the Transporting American Theatre Award. The evening takes place Monday, March 11, at The Current, Pier 59 @ Chelsea Piers, and includes a seated dinner, performances, dessert reception, and silent and live auctions.

New York Stage and Film is thrilled to announce that its annual Winter Gala will feature performances and appearances by Tony Award nominee and Pulitzer Prize finalist Jon Robin Baitz, Tony Award nominee Santino Fontana, David Forman, Tony Award winner John Gallagher Jr, Grammy Award nominee Rob Hyman, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Screen Actors Guild Award nominee Mozhan Marno, Bonnie Milligan, Manu Narayan, Josh Radnor, Dee Roscioli, Academy Award  and Tony Award winner John Patrick Shanley, Grammy Award and Tony Award winner Duncan Sheik, and Obie Award  winner Lucy Thurber. Brian Usifer serves as Musical Director.

Following their last sold-out concert A View of the River at 54 Below/Feinstein's, the songwriting team of Will Van Dyke and Jeff Talbott are hosting Tony Award winner Annaleigh Ashford, Tony nominees Kate Baldwin and Orfeh, and a starry list of other top-notch Broadway performers in a concert called Crazy Rainbow Days: New Songs by Will Van Dyke & Jeff Talbott at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 28th. The evening will feature never-before-heard songs from Van Dyke and Talbott's musicals, as well as several all-new songs created exclusively for the evening.

George Street Playhouse's Educational Touring Theatre, courtesy of support from The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey and RWJBarnabas Health, will premiere a new musical about the opioid crisis and its impact on teens and families. This original musical was developed in response to the devastating impact prescription opioid misuse, heroin, and fentanyl have had on communities throughout New Jersey. Anytown will premiere on September 25, 2018 at George Street Playhouse as part of a special Spotlight Conference on Opioid Abuse.  The Spotlight Conference will feature a keynote address from New Jersey State Attorney General Gurbir Grewal along with workshops for educators, school administrators, and public health professionals conducted by experts in the field from RWJBarnabas Health's Institute for Prevention and Recovery.  

Now entering its 56th season, the New York Youth Symphony (NYYS) is launching a Musical Theater Composition (MTC) program, to be led by newly-appointed director Anna K. Jacobs. In a partnership with the Harlem School of the Arts, this new program aims to diversify the world of musical theater by creating opportunities for young composers to have their compositions workshopped and performed by both peers and professionals.