Bill T. Jones News

An Evening with Bill T. Jones: Insights on Directing, Choreography and Life will be held Saturday, October, 1, 2011 at Northeastern University, at 8pm

Following a groundbreaking Spring 2011 season that saw meteoric star Jason Moran bring international acclaim and young scenesters to a night of reimagined Fats Waller music, Uptown Nights at Harlem Stage returns for a third season this fall, with an eclectic lineup of groundbreaking music and bold cultural discourse.

Under new leadership, The Classical Theatre of Harlem is proud to present two gripping world premiere productions that mark the Company's return to full-scale works. From August 5 - September 4, The Classical Theatre of Harlem will present Shakespeare's great history play, Henry V, in a new staging directed by Jenny Bennett that features OBIE award-winner Ty Jones in the title role. An acclaimed veteran of the Company and driving force behind its survival, Jones heads a cast of 15 in a raw, timeless production. His interpretation of King Henry V not only highlights the character's charisma and inspirational power to lead, but also his heroic faults and morally questionable tactics.

Pianists and Artistic Directors Blair McMillen and Pam Goldberg present 'String Force,' the third and last round of concerts in the Rite of Summer Music Festival, taking place on Governors Island Labor Day weekend, on Sunday, September 4th.

The new DC area theatre season begins in September. Over 50 shows are opening in our professional and community theatres. But before we move on to the new season and what's opening in September, let's look back at my personal favorite musicals, plays, and performances in both musicals and plays in the DC area - from August 2010 to August 2011.

Broadway legend Mandy Patinkin and opera superstar Nathan Gunn combine their vocal talents to create a unique and powerful evening at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 31, in the pavilion. Featured in People magazine's 2008 list of 'The Sexiest Men Alive,' baritone Gunn has performed in opera houses around the world and last appeared at Ravinia in the festival's production of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro. Tony and Emmy award-winner Patinkin has appeared in the Broadway productions of Evita, Sunday in the Park with George, The Wild Party, The Winter's Tale and The Knife, as well as in CBS's Chicago Hope and Criminal Minds. They will be joined by pianists Julie Gunn and Paul Ford.

With 11 Tony ® Award nominations including Best Musical and Best Director of a Musical & Best Choreography for Bill T. Jones, the upcoming US tour of FELA! is set to be led by Sahr Ngaujah, who originated the role on Broadway. The tour will play the following US cities: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Miami, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Tempe, and Washington.

SHN will present The Bridge Project production of RICHARD III by William Shakespeare featuring Kevin Spacey with Sam Mendes directing.

Broadway legend Mandy Patinkin and opera superstar Nathan Gunn combine their vocal talents to create a unique and powerful evening at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 31, in the pavilion. Featured in People magazine's 2008 list of 'The Sexiest Men Alive,' baritone Gunn has performed in opera houses around the world and last appeared at Ravinia in the festival's production of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro. Tony and Emmy award-winner Patinkin has appeared in the Broadway productions of Evita, Sunday in the Park with George, The Wild Party, The Winter's Tale and The Knife, as well as in CBS's Chicago Hope and Criminal Minds. They will be joined by pianists Julie Gunn and Paul Ford.

Pianists and Artistic Directors Blair McMillen and Pam Goldberg present 'String Force,' the third and last round of concerts in the Rite of Summer Music Festival, taking place on Governors Island Labor Day weekend, on Sunday, September 4th.

A.R.T. American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) will present The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, opening the A.R.T.'s 2011-2 season on August 117 at the Loeb Drama Center. The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, by George Gershwin, DuBose and Dorothy Heyward, and Ira Gershwin, is adapted by Suzan-Lori Parks and Diedre Murray, and directed by A.R.T. Artistic Director Diane Paulus.

The Guthrie Theater's splash-hit production of Gilbert and Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore boasts new musical arrangements by Andrew Cooke that borrow inspiration from disco, jazz and rock opera, which he argues help modern audiences appreciate the humor in the libretto. Captained by Guthrie Artistic Director Joe Dowling, and featuring 'sumptuous costumes' by Fabio Toblini and 'arresting choreography' by David Bolger, the Guthrie's production of H.M.S. Pinafore has entertained audiences and critics alike with its 'continuous parade of stunning song-and-dance sequences.' The creative team also includes Frank Hallinan Flood (Set Designer), Malcolm Rippeth (Lighting Designer) and Scott W. Edwards (Sound Designer).

Producer Ken Davenport announced today that Telly Leung ('Glee'), Uzo Aduba (Coram Boy), Nick Blaemire (Cry-Baby) and Morgan James are set to join previously announced star Hunter Parrish in the upcoming Broadway revival and 40th anniversary production of the legendary rock musical GODSPELL.

The OBIE award-winning Classical Theatre of Harlem (Ty Jones, producing director) in conjunction with Hip-Hop Theater Festival (Clyde Valentín, executive director and Kamilah Forbes, artistic director) will present the world and Off-Broadway premiere of SEED, an award-winning play written by Radha Blank and directed by Niegel Smith, at the National Black Theater in Harlem.

Following a groundbreaking Spring 2011 season that saw meteoric star Jason Moran bring international acclaim and young scenesters to a night of reimagined Fats Waller music, Uptown Nights at Harlem Stage returns for a third season this fall, with an eclectic lineup of groundbreaking music and bold cultural discourse.

The Flomenhaft's are proud to present portraits by artists represented by our gallery and in our gallery collection.

SHN will present The Bridge Project production of RICHARD III by William Shakespeare featuring Kevin Spacey with Sam Mendes directing.

The Guthrie Theater's splash-hit production of Gilbert and Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore boasts critically acclaimed choreography and musical staging by David Bolger, whose fancy footwork has been heralded by critics as 'arresting,' 'breathtaking,' and 'awesome.'

SHN is thrilled to announce FELA! as the 7th and final show in SHN's upcoming 2011-2012 Season. FELA! , directed by Bill T. Jones, is a provocative hybrid of dance, theatre and music exploring the extravagant world of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti. The show has become an international sensation having been performed in three continents. FELA! will play November 15 - December 11 at San Francisco's Curran Theatre (445 Geary Street) which operates under the direction of Carole Shorenstein Hays. Tickets for FELA! are currently available by subscribing to SHN's 2011-2012 Season. Individual tickets will go on sale in late September. Click here to see Carole Shorenstein Hays announce FELA!

Acclaimed composer/violinist Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR) presents an ecstatic fusion of music, art and movement in a new evening-length work Symphony for the Dance Floor.