City Center News

White Plains Performing Arts Center presents a reading of a new comedy as part of the inaugural PAGE TO STAGE reading series. Join us on Sunday, January 25 at 7:00 pm for How To Kill Your Mother Without Really Trying (a comedy by a resentful son) Part 1-A, written by Steve Bluestein with special guest star Debra Jo Rupp (TV's The 70's Show).

Lyric Opera of Chicago announced today that Jenn Gambatese will portray Carrie Pipperidge in Lyric's new production of Carousel, on stage April 10 through May 3, 2015 (opening night April 11). Gambatese returns to Lyric following her critically acclaimed performance as Maria in last year's production of The Sound of Music, which just won 2014's Best Special Theatrical Event at the Broadway World Chicago Awards. 'The sweetly appealing Gambatese makes a light and lovely Maria, full of practicality and pluck.' (Time Out Chicago)

Honeymoon in Vegas, the eagerly anticipated new musical comedy with book by Blazing Saddles and Fletch writer Andrew Bergman and score by three-time Tony Award-winner Jason Robert Brown, opens tonight, January 15, at Broadway's Nederlander Theatre (208 West 41st Street). Scroll down to learn more about the cast and watch interviews with the stars!

The Amazing Max, bursting with striking visual magic, comedy and loads of audience participation, will be on-stage at the White Plains Performing Arts Center on Saturday, January 24 at 2:00 pm. Magician Max Darwin makes objects appear out of thin air, defies the laws of physics, and performs miracles inches from spectator's faces. 'An awesome and hilarious live magic show' PBS Kids. 'Max Darwin is indeed amazing' Time Out Kids. This show is the wackiest, most interactive, highest energy magic show for families today. The Amazing Max selects all of his assistants at random from the audience, and each adds a unique element to the show. 'His ability to astound is something to see.' (The Huffington Post).

Barbara Brandt will explore the dynamics of costume design, from concept to creation, with fashion designer B Michael and choreographer Andrea Schermoly on Monday, February 9, 2015, in Studio 5 at 6:30 at New York City Center (130 West 56th Street, New York City). Also participating in the panel and debuting an original pas de deux are principal dancer Chase Finlay and Youth America Grand Prix alumna and soloist Lauren Lovette, both of New York City Ballet. A reception will follow the discussion. B Michael will create a one-of-a-kind tutu to be auctioned off at the conclusion of the evening. Proceeds from the event will provide much-needed scholarships for talented dancers.

New York City Center will present A Bailar: Dance at the Center, a three-week Latin dance festival featuring three acclaimed dance companies from Cuba, Argentina and Spain, running February 18 - March 7, 2015. The Festival kicks off with the U.S. debut of , a celebration of Cuban dance and music, and continues with Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui's m¡longa, which captures the sultry world of Buenos Aires tango. Voces, Suite Flamenca, a new work from flamenco superstar Sara Baras, closes A Bailar. The Festival's many free pre-show events include dance lessons and discussion panels that will explore Latin culture through a variety of lenses.

New York City Center will present A Bailar: Dance at the Center, a three-week Latin dance festival featuring three acclaimed dance companies from Cuba, Argentina and Spain, running February 18 - March 7, 2015. The Festival kicks off with the U.S. debut of Havana Rakatan, a celebration of Cuban dance and music, and continues with Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui'sm¡longa, which captures the sultry world of Buenos Aires tango. Voces, Suite Flamenca, a new work from flamenco superstar Sara Baras, closes A Bailar. The Festival's many free pre-show events include dance lessons and discussion panels that will explore Latin culture through a variety of lenses.

The American premiere of Constellations, the acclaimed new play by Nick Payne, directed by Michael Longhurst, starring Oscar nominee Jake Gyllenhaal (Golden Globe nominee for Nightcrawler; Brokeback Mountain) and two-time Olivier Award winner Ruth Wilson (Golden Globe winner for Showtime's 'The Affair;' BBC's and PBS' Emmy nominated 'Luther'), opens on Broadway tonight, January 13 at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street).

The American premiere of Constellations, the acclaimed new play by Nick Payne, directed by Michael Longhurst, starring Oscar nominee Jake Gyllenhaal (Golden Globe nominee for Nightcrawler; Brokeback Mountain) and two-time Olivier Award winner Ruth Wilson (Golden Globe winner for Showtime's "The Affair;" BBC's and PBS' Emmy nominated "Luther"), opens on Broadway tomorrow, Tuesday, January 13 at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street).

Over the next decade, The Harkness Foundation for Dance will contribute $1 million each to five organizations of prominent importance to the dance field. The grantees are the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), The Joyce Theater, New York City Center, the 92nd Street Y (92Y), and NYU Langone Medical Center's Hospital for Joint Diseases (HJD), which houses the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary.

Douglas Sills has joined the cast of George and Ira Gershwin's Lady, Be Good, joining previously announced cast members Tommy Tune, Colin Donnell, Danny Gardner, Jeff Hiller, Erin Mackey, Patti Murin, Richard Poe, Jennifer Laura Thompson and Kirsten Wyatt. The opening production of New York City Center's 2015Encores! season, directed by Mark Brokaw and choreographed by Randy Skinner, will run for seven performances, February 4 - 8, 2015. Founding Encores! Music Director Rob Fisher will return as Guest Music Director and has supervised the restoration of the Gershwins' original score.

Lyrics & Lyricists gets going on the opening show of its 45th season with 'A Good Thing Going: The Stephen Sondheim and Harold Prince Collaboration' beginning tonight, January 10, and continuing January 11 and 12.

Producer Kevin McCollum is proud to announce that Broadway favorite leading men and 'Smash' costars, two time Tony Award nominee Brian d'Arcy James (Shrek, Sweet Smell of Success) and Tony Award winner Christian Borle (Peter and the Starcatcher) will return to the stage to star in Something Rotten!, a completely original new musical comedy directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon, Aladdin), with music and lyrics by Grammy Award winner Wayne Kirkpatrick and Golden Globe Award nominee Karey Kirkpatrick and a book by Karey Kirkpatrick and best-selling author John O'Farrell.

Seth Rudetsky's Broadway Concert Series at the Parker Playhouse produced by Mark Cortale will welcome Audra McDonald -- the historic six-time Tony winner and star of Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, Porgy and Bess, Ragtime, and Master Class as well as TV's Private Practice, tonight, January 8, 2015.

Founded in 2007, Los Angeles-based BODYTRAFFIC was named one of Dance Magazine's “25 to Watch” in 2013 and was praised by the Los Angeles Times for its “most hopeful combination of choreographic and performing excellence.” LA Weekly applauded the company for its “confident, hard-hitting” execution in a wide range of styles. This exciting dance ensemble continues to break new ground in the field of dance and its evening performance at Harris Center for the Arts will display their distinctive style.

LA MaMa Experimental Theatre Club and Sheryl Lee Ralph and The D.I.V.A. Foundation present MAMA ROSE (A Solo Musical). This show gives a glimpse of Mr. Waits' life growing up in Buffalo, New York with his own MAMA ROSE, Rose Waits. In this dark comedy you'll find out that this 'southern belle' could have ruled the world...if they had only let her.

Rehearsals begin today, January 6, for Manhattan Theatre Club's world premiere of The World of Extreme Happiness, the new play by Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig, directed by Eric Ting. This co-production with Chicago's Goodman Theatre will begin previews Tuesday, February 3, 2015 for a Tuesday, February 24, 2015 opening night at MTC's New York City Center - Stage I (131 West 55th Street).

The Merce Cunningham Trust (MCT), founded to preserve and extend the artistic legacy of the choreographer Merce Cunningham, announces major gifts to two significant arts organizations. The Trust has awarded the Foundation for Contemporary Arts (FCA) $375,000 to establish and endow the Merce Cunningham Award, and the Baryshnikov Art Center (BAC) $250,000 to support the establishment of The John Cage and Merce Cunningham Studio, as well as the creation of a Cage Cunningham Fellowship.