David Bloom News

More than 50 actors have been set to participate in The Blank Theatre's 25th Anniversary Young Playwrights Festival, including Michael Grant Terry (Bones, NCIS, Grimm, CSI), Janina Gavankar (The Mysteries of Laura, The Vampire Diaries, Grey's Anatomy), Lenny Jacobson (Nurse Jackie, Frequency, Big Time in Hollywood, FL), and Jennifer Stone (Wizards of Waverly Place). Twelve winning plays by young playwrights aged 17, 18, and 19 from six different states will be presented during this year's festival at the Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood, running from June 1-25.

OPERA America, the national service organization for opera and the nation's leading champion for American opera, announces a series of special initiatives to advance and highlight the work of women in opera. These programs are emblematic of OPERA America's deep commitment to achieving gender equity in the field.

Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC) presents the 16th annual River To River Festival, Downtown New York City's completely free summer arts festival, June 14-25. The 2017 edition presents an array of performances and events exploring and celebrating diversity in all its forms-often blurring the lines between genres including dance, music, theater and the visual arts-over the course of 100+ performances and events spanning 17 projects at 31 unique sites across Lower Manhattan and Governors Island. The Festival also offers opportunities for audiences to interact with artists, socialize and experience multiple facets of artists' work and the creative process.

The life and times of the spy-as-femme-fatale, Mata Hari, has always attracted the interest of film and stage artists. Now we have the Matt Marks-Paul Peers opera MATA HARI—which opened New York's fifth Prototype Festival last week and continues through Saturday the 14th—though I think of it as more of a dance than an opera. Not literally, of course, but dramatically, as a dance of death for the title character and the men (and one woman) who surround her in this compelling, though somewhat messy, work.

Beth Morrison Projects and HERE's fifth annual PROTOTYPE: Opera/Theatre/Now festival begins this week, running January 5-15!

The Firehall Arts Centre announced today the addition of the works of two female playwrights to the 2016/2017 season. And Bella Sang With Us, written by Vancouver's own Sally Stubbs, and The Nether, by award-winning American playwright Jennifer Haley.

For one night only, singer/songwriter Jeremy Schonfeld's Iron & Coal will make its U.S. debut at Brooklyn's National Sawdust. The original concept album will be presented in concert with vibrant multimedia content today, December 6, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. at National Sawdust (80 North 6th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11249).

For one night only, singer/songwriter Jeremy Schonfeld's Iron & Coal will make its U.S. debut at Brooklyn's National Sawdust. The original concept album will be presented in concert with vibrant multimedia content on Tuesday, December 6, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. at National Sawdust (80 North 6th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11249).

KANSAS CITY CHOIR BOY, with music and lyrics by Todd Almond, featuring Almond and rock icon Courtney Love, began performances with three previews Thursday, October 15, 2015, through Saturday, October 17 at 8 p.m., and opened last night Sunday, October 18 at 6:30 p.m. Check out photos below!

KANSAS CITY CHOIR BOY, with music and lyrics by Todd Almond, featuring Almond and rock icon Courtney Love, begins performances with three previews tonight, October 15, 2015, through Saturday, October 17 at 8 p.m., and opens Sunday, October 18 at 6:30 p.m. The show, which is a special DouglasPlus event, will run through November 8. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the show from this year's PROTOTYPE Festival in NYC!

KANSAS CITY CHOIR BOY, with music and lyrics by Todd Almond, featuring Almond and rock icon Courtney Love, begins performances with three previews Thursday, October 15, 2015, through Saturday, October 17 at 8 p.m., and opens Sunday, October 18 at 6:30 p.m. The show, which is a special DouglasPlus event, will run through November 8. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the show from this year's PROTOTYPE Festival in NYC!

The American Repertory Theater expands its 2015/16 Season programming with the OBERON Presents series, featuring a range of artists, companies, and programs. Up next is KANSAS CITY CHOIR BOY, with music and lyrics by Todd Almond, and featuring Courtney Love and Almond. The production runs tonight, October 1, through October 10, 2015.