Isaiah Sheffer News

Symphony Space's In the Salon series gets underway tonight, October 18 (7:30 pm) in the Leonard Nimoy Thalia with a program devoted to Benjamin Britten's music, in celebration of the composer's centenary year.

The actor and director Avi Hoffman is organizing a special presentation of 'The Rise of David Levinsky,' a musical by Isaiah Sheffer and Bobby Paul, which will honor Sheffer, the late founding artistic director of Symphony Space. The open-to-the-public reading on Monday October 21 at 7pm, takes place at Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway (at 95th Street). The free event marks the one-year anniversary of the death of Sheffer, who died in November of last year.

The actor and director Avi Hoffman is organizing two staged readings in October. The first, a new play 'Rough Patch' by Charles Gluck, will get off to a 'smooth' start today, October 7 at 6pm, at the Roy Arias Studios, at the Times Square Arts Center, 300 West 43rd Street.

Symphony Space opens its 2013-14 Music season with 'Kurt Weill on Broadway,' tonight, October 7 (8 pm) at the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre. Today marks the 70th anniversary of the Broadway opening of Weill's One Touch of Venus. Ted Chapin hosts a stellar cast featuring Melissa Errico, Brent Barrett, Judy Blazer, and Ron Raines, plus winners of the international Lotte Lenya Competition.

Symphony Space, in collaboration with Hermitage Artist Retreat, presents the world premiere of The Day Before, a one-time-only multimedia event, on Friday, November 8 at 7:30 pm in the Leonard Nimoy Thalia. Conceived by the two organizations, it is produced and directed by Symphony Space's Artistic Director, Laura Kaminsky. The Day Before brings together more than 60 composers, writers, filmmakers, and visual artists to contribute original work around the theme November 21, 1963: The Day Before. Sparked by the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's assassination, this moving production reimagines the world as it was on the eve of that tragic and cataclysmic day.

The actor and director Avi Hoffman is organizing two staged readings in October. The first, a new play 'Rough Patch' by Charles Gluck, will get off to a 'smooth' start on Monday October 7 at 6pm, at the Roy Arias Studios, at the Times Square Arts Center, 300 West 43rd Street.

The only actor in New York to be performing in two shows and two languages simultaneously, Avi Hoffman is currently appearing in the world premiere of Samuel Beckett's 'Waiting for Godot' in Yiddish, and his own critically acclaimed one-man musical tour de force 'Still Jewish After All These Years' in English!

Playwrights Horizons and Symphony Space will present a panel discussion previewing the theater company's new season tonight, September 23 at 7:30 PM at Symphony Space's Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theater (2537 Broadway at 95th Street). Moderated by The Washington Post's Chief Theater Critic Peter Marks, joined by Playwrights Horizons Artistic Director Tim Sanford, the 6th annual panel discussion will feature artists representing the six productions of the theater company's 2013/2014 Season.

Playwrights Horizons and Symphony Space will present a panel discussion previewing the theater company's new season on Monday evening, September 23 at 7:30 PM at Symphony Space's Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theater (2537 Broadway at 95th Street). Moderated by The Washington Post's Chief Theater Critic Peter Marks, joined by Playwrights Horizons Artistic Director Tim Sanford, the 6th annual panel discussion will feature artists representing the six productions of the theater company's 2013/2014 Season.

Symphony Space's In the Salon series gets underway on Friday, October 18 (7:30 pm) in the Leonard Nimoy Thalia with a program devoted to Benjamin Britten's music, in celebration of the composer's centenary year. Tenor Rufus Müller and guitarist David Leisnerjoin forces to present a rare performance of Britten's complete oeuvre for the combination. This ravishing and often profound body of work was written for Britten's life partner, Peter Pears, and their friend, guitarist Julian Bream. It comprises Folk Song Arrangements (Vol. 6),Songs from the Chinese, and The Second Lute Song of the Earl of Essex from Gloriana. The program also includes Nocturnal for solo guitar (1963), an acknowledged masterpiece of the genre. It is presented in collaboration with Guitar Plus

Symphony Space will open its 2013-14 Music season with 'Kurt Weill on Broadway,' Monday, October 7 (8 pm) at the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre. The show takes place on the 70th anniversary of the Broadway opening of Weill's One Touch of Venus. Ted Chapin hosts a stellar cast featuring Melissa Errico, Brent Barrett, Judy Blazer, and Ron Raines, plus winners of the international Lotte Lenya Competition.

Symphony Space announces its 2013-2014 season of film under the helm of Symphony Space Artistic Director, Laura Kaminsky and Director of Film Programming, Ed Budz. Throughout the season, the Leonard Nimoy Thalia houses the staple series Thalia Docs and Thalia Film Club and the recent co-presented additions, National Theatre Live and the Iron Mule Short Comedy Screening Series.

Symphony Space, New York's home for innovative and diverse cultural programming on the Upper West Side, celebrates its 35th season of Music programs in 2013-14 with a stellar array of artists in imaginative, thought-provoking presentations. Curated by Artistic Director Laura Kaminsky, the offerings range from marathon celebrations to intimate recitals, encompassing a rich variety of musical styles. Highlights include a visit from Krzysztof Penderecki, October 25; the fifth THE MUSIC OF NOW MARATHON, with the dream-inspired theme of 'REM: Rapid Ear Movement,' February 1; and appearances by Dar Williams, Tom Paxton, Christine Lavin, and other icons of folk/acoustic music. Capping the season is SLEEPING AROUND, a multidisciplinary festival celebrating the culture, history, art, scene, and scandal of New York's most famous hotels, highlighted by WALL TO WALL SLEEPING AROUND on May 3.

Each spring Symphony Space honors individuals and organizations who share its dedication to keeping the arts accessible to all New Yorkers. On April 15, 2013, the Spring Swing and Access to the Arts Awards Gala will honor Steven M. Alden, Louise Kerz Hirschfeld & Lewis B. Cullman, Luis Ubiñas, and the late Isaiah Sheffer. Co-chaired by Amy Wilson and David Flannery, and BD Wong, the 2013 Spring Swing Gala will be held at Capitale, located at 130 Bowery on the Lower East Side. The evening begins with cocktails and a silent auction at 6:30pm, followed by dinner and entertainment at 7:30 PM, and concludes with dancing and dessert.

The Harlem Resonance Festival (tonight, April 2 - May 11) is Symphony Space's second annual multi-disciplinary thematic spring festival, following last year's celebration of Gertrude Stein's Paris.

Each spring Symphony Space honors individuals and organizations who share its dedication to keeping the arts accessible to all New Yorkers. On April 15, Symphony Space will present the fourth annual Access to the Arts Awards to Steven M. Alden, Board Chairman from 2001-2012 in recognition of his devoted leadership of Symphony Space; philanthropists Louise Kerz Hirschfeld & Lewis B. Cullman, for their inspiring dedication to the arts and respective leadership of the Al Hirschfeld Foundation and the Lewis B. & Dorothy Cullman Foundation; and Luis Ubiñas, the President of the Ford Foundation, for his dynamic direction of the nation's second largest foundation. Symphony Space will also bestow the Access to the Arts Award to Isaiah Sheffer, its Founding Artistic Director, who passed away in November 2012.

Each spring Symphony Space honors individuals and organizations who share its dedication to keeping the arts accessible to all New Yorkers. On April 15, Symphony Space will present the fourth annual Access to the Arts Awards to Steven M. Alden, Board Chairman from 2001-2012 in recognition of his devoted leadership of Symphony Space; philanthropists Louise Kerz Hirschfeld & Lewis B. Cullman, for their inspiring dedication to the arts and respective leadership of the Al Hirschfeld Foundation and the Lewis B. & Dorothy Cullman Foundation; and Luis Ubiñas, the President of the Ford Foundation, for his dynamic direction of the nation's second largest foundation. Symphony Space will also bestow the Access to the Arts Award to Isaiah Sheffer, its Founding Artistic Director, who passed away in November 2012.

Tonight, March 9 (7 pm), as part of Symphony Space's The Music of Now Series, pianist Anthony de Mare returns to the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre for the second installment of Liaisons: Reimagining Sondheim from the Piano. Marrying his reputation as a champion of contemporary classical music with his deep respect for legendary musical theater composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim, de Mare is building a unique piano repertory by commissioning 36 leading contemporary composers from the classical, jazz, theater, and film worlds to write short solo piano pieces inspired by Sondheim's music.