Jane Chu News

The Drama League (Executive Artistic Director Gabriel Stelian-Shanks) will honor three powerhouses of the American theater community at the 84th Annual Drama League Awards, set for Friday afternoon, May 18, 2018 at the Marriott Marquis Times Square.

National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Jane Chu has approved more than $25 million in grants as part of the NEA's first major funding announcement for fiscal year 2018. Included in this announcement is a Challenge America grant of $10,000 to Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company for a series of performances that will celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year through traditional and contemporary visual arts, music, and dance. The Challenge America category features NEA support for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations-those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability.

National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Jane Chu has approved more than $25 million in grants as part of the NEA's first major funding announcement for fiscal year 2018. Included in this announcement is an Art Works grant of $75,000 to Children's Theatre Company supporting the development and production of three new theatre works for young audiences, including the production of Corduroy which opens March 9, 2018 and two new commissions.

National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Jane Chu has approved more than $25 million in grants as part of the NEA's first major funding announcement for fiscal year 2018. Included in this announcement is an Art Works grant of $35,000 to the Monterey Jazz Festival in support of the Monterey Jazz Festival's 2018 Commission Piece, to be composed and performed by Oscar Hernandez and the Spanish Harlem Orchestra.

One Thousand Nights and One Day (www.ProspectTheater.org) a new musical with book and lyrics by Jason Grote (1001; Shostakovich, or Silence), music by Marisa Michelson (Tamar Of The River, Naamah's Ark),and directed by Erin Ortman (For The Love Of; The Wading Pool), will play at the ART/NY Mezzanine Theatre (502 West 53rd Street between 10th and 11th Avenues), it was announced today by Cara Reichel, Producing Artistic Director of the Prospect Theater Company. Performances for the limited engagement begin April 4 and opening night is set for April 15.One Thousand Nights and One Day is based on the play 1001 by Jason Grote.

Two-time Tony Award-winning Goodspeed Musicals has assembled six exciting teams to helm the eclectic group of productions planned this season: an exuberant musical extravaganza, a glorious classic, a hilarious musical within a musical, an intimate musical tour-de-force, a timeless and unconventional new musical and the return of our popular holiday show with new surprises for all ages. Tickets for productions at The Goodspeed in 2018 are on sale now. Single tickets for the three shows scheduled for The Terris Theatre go on public sale March 26 at 10:00 a.m.

Village Theatre is excited to announce the World Premiere of String, a brand-new story with a mythological twist by award-winners Sarah Hammond (book), and Adam Gwon (music & lyrics), and direction by Brandon Ivie.  A fun and fresh fable about fate, love, and the imperfections that make us human, String is an original story about three sisters - goddesses known as the Fates - who are responsible for spinning, measuring, and snipping the String of Life. After falling out of favor with Zeus, they find themselves banished to a modern skyscraper in the mortal world. But when the eldest sister falls in love, the very fabric of the universe begins to unravel. "We are thrilled to have such a sophisticated show premiering on our stage," said Ivie. "This show is very intimate, but also deals with understanding our place in the universe and what it means to be human. It's a show about Gods, but they deal with the same things we do - sisterhood, love, loss. We know our audiences are going to connect with these characters on a deep emotional level."

Miami City Ballet, one of the country's premier ballet companies, has received an Art Works grant of $50,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts, as part of the NEA's first major funding announcement for fiscal year 2018. The Art Works category is the NEA's largest funding category and supports projects that focus on the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, public engagement with diverse and excellent art, lifelong learning in the arts, and/or the strengthening of communities through the arts. Miami City Ballet received the Art Works grant to support the presentation of a centennial celebration of American Choreographer Jerome Robbins.

The Educational Theatre Association (EdTA) has been approved for it's first National Endowment for the Arts grant. Jane Chu, NEA Chairman, has approved more than $25 million in grants as part of the NEA's first major funding announcement for fiscal year 2018 including an Art Works matching grant of $36,000 to EdTA for the Curriculum Framework Project. EdTA's grant was one of only 68 in the nation approved in Art Works' arts education category.

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)Chairman Jane Chu has approved more than $25 million in grants as part of the NEA's first major funding announcement for fiscal year 2018.  Included in this announcement is an Art Works grant of $50,000 to San Francisco's American Conservatory Theater(A.C.T.) to support the upcoming Bay Area premiere of Qui Nguyen's Vietgone, playing at A.C.T.'s Strand Theater (1127 Market St.) February 21-April 22, 2018, and the development of community outreach events in connection with the production. The Art Works category is the NEA's largest funding category and supports projects that focus on the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, public engagement with diverse and excellent art, lifelong learning in the arts, and/or the strengthening of communities through the arts.

Earlier today, the National Endowment of the Arts Chairman Jane Chu released the following statement regarding President Trumps budget plan for 2019.

Each year, more than 4,500 communities large and small throughout the United States benefit from National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grants to nonprofits. For the NEA's first of two major grant announcements of fiscal year 2018, more than $25 million in grants across all artistic disciplines will be awarded to nonprofit organizations in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. These grants are for specific projects and range from performances and exhibitions, to healing arts and arts education programs, to festivals and artist residencies.

The Clarence Brown Theatre has been recommended for a prestigious $15,000 "Art Works" award from the National Endowment for the Arts in support of the Southeast Premier of Alabama Story by Kenneth Jones running now through February 18th.

TITAS Presents announced today that it has been selected to receive an Art Works grant from The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Art Works grants support projects that focus on the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, public engagement with diverse and excellent art, lifelong learning in the arts, and/or the strengthening of communities through the arts.

National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Jane Chu has approved more than $25 million in grants as part of the NEA's first major funding announcement for fiscal year 2018. Included in this announcement is an Art Works grant of $10,000 to Firehouse Theatre for the world premiere of Richmond composer Walter Braxton's opera TO DAMASCUS. This is the first direct NEA grant that Firehouse has received in its 24 year history.

The Florentine Opera Company will receive a $30,000 Art Works grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to support the world premiere live recording and production of American composer Carlisle Floyd's Prince of Players.

Goodspeed Musicals is thrilled to announce three enticing productions planned for Chester, Conn. in 2018. First will be the inspiring You Are Here by Drama Desk Award nominees Bartram and Hill. This soaring musical will run May 18 - June 10. Next up will be a new musical adaptation of the enduring love story Cyrano. This exciting new take on the classic will be adapted by Erica Schmidt in collaboration with the indie band The National. Cyrano will run August 3 - September 2. Finally, A Connecticut Christmas Carol, a musical adaptation of the Dickens holiday classic spiced with the flavor of the Nutmeg State, returns to The Terris Theatre November 30 - December 30, 2018.

National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Jane Chu has approved more than $25 million in grants as part of the NEA's first major funding announcement for fiscal year 2018.  Included in this announcement is an Art Works grant of $15,000 to Pegasus Theatre Chicago for the Young Playwrights Festival year-round program. The Art Works category is the NEA's largest funding category and supports projects that focus on the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, public engagement with diverse and excellent art, lifelong learning in the arts, and/or the strengthening of communities through the arts.

National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Jane Chu has approved more than $25 million in grants as part of the NEA's first major funding announcement for fiscal year 2018. Included in this announcement is an Art Works grant of $25,000 to the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. This award is the largest NEA grant awarded to the Kauffman Center in support of Future Stages Festival. The festival is a free community event that provides opportunities for future artists to take center stage at the Kauffman Center. The Art Works category is the NEA's largest funding category and supports projects that focus on the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, public engagement with diverse and excellent art, lifelong learning in the arts, and/or the strengthening of communities through the arts.

TheatreWorks Florida announced that The National Endowment for The Arts (NEA) Chairman, Jane Chu, has approved a grant in the amount of $10,000 to launch the company's TheatreCares program, Vet Voices. This is TheatreWorks Florida's 4th NEA grant and they are so appreciative of the agency's support for this project.