Jason Ma News

The Fountain Theatre presents an all-star line-up of local, national and international flamenco artists to celebrate Forever Flamenco! founder Deborah Lawlor's 20-year dedication to producing, nurturing and broadening the art form in Los Angeles. Forever Flamenco! at the Ford, under the artistic direction of internationally renowned flamenco dancer Maria Bermudez, takes place on Saturday, June 15 at 8:30 pm at the Ford Theatres in Hollywood. Since 1990, the dancers, musicians and singers of Forever Flamenco! have been delighting Fountain Theatre audiences with the intensity, precision and exhilaration for which flamenco is known. Now Forever Flamenco! returns to the outdoor stage at the Ford Theatres with this passionate expression of Spanish culture in a tribute to Lawlor. "Forever Flamenco! was born out of Deborah's love and total immersion into flamenco," says Bermudez. "Young dancers, up-and-coming dancers, seasoned professionals and international dancers - all of us have all come through Forever Flamenco! at the Fountain. I took my first baby steps there." Forever Flamenco! at the Ford will be a once-in-a-lifetime gala event gathering some of flamenco's finest artists together on stage for the first time, including dancers Fanny Ara, Maria Bermudez, Alejandro Granados (from Spain), Manuel Gutierrrez, Timo Nuñez, Linda Vega and Yaelisa; singer/dancer Roberto Amaral; singers Jose Cortez, Ana de los Reyes (from Spain) and Jesus Montoya; singer/composer Pele de los Reyes (from Spain) of the Grammy-nominated group Navajita Platea; guitarists Adam del Monte, Jason Maguire, Antonio Triana and Ben Woods; and percussionist Joey Heredia. Watch for more surprise artists, as well as a few guests from Bermudez' flamenco puro company Sonidos Gitanos, which has been presented at the Ford by Lawlor and the Fountain eight times since 1995. Deborah Lawlor's Forever Flamenco! series plays monthly to enthusiastic crowds at the Fountain Theatre. She and the Fountain have presented Bermudez and her Sonidos Gitanos/Gypsy Flamenco Company from Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, for eight summer engagements at the Ford - including, in 2010, its new off-shoot, The Chicana Gypsy Project - and in 2007 at the Japan American Theatre. The 2009 Ford season included Forever Flamenco!: LA Ole featuring an all-star cast assembled from Forever Flamenco! at the Fountain. Lawlor began her career as a dancer, choreographer and actor in New York's "downtown" scene. After living in South India for five years, where she was involved in the initial development of the international township of Auroville, she created two full-length outdoor dance/theater pieces celebrating the community. She spent the next 10 years in Australia and France studying ancient cultures of India and Egypt and translating several books in these fields from French into English. Returning to the U.S. in 1986, she became deeply involved in the intimate theater scene and, in 1990, she and Stephen Sachs co-founded the Fountain Theatre, which is now in its 23rd season of theatrical and dance events. Lawlor is responsible for the Fountain's extensive dance involvement. The 1995 season included The Women of Guernica, Lawlor's flamenco-based adaptation of Euripides' The Trojan Women, which she also directed. She directed two one-act plays by Tennessee Williams and created and directed three full-evening dance-theater pieces for the Fountain: Declarations: Love Letters of the Great Romantics; The Path of Love, which she also directed in South India; and the dance opera, The Song of Songs, with music by Al Carmines. Actors Equity Association honored Lawlor with its Diversity Award, for her dedication to presenting work at the Fountain that is culturally diverse. Considered to be one of the foremost international flamenco artists in the world today, Bermudez resides in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, the "birthplace" of flamenco. There, she has worked with renowned artists such as Juana del Pipa, Andres Peña, Antonio El Pipa, Alejandro Granados, Navajita Platea, El Capullo and many others. She was honored by the artists of the city for her relentless dedication in exposing the artistry of this region. Bermudez' outstanding and critically acclaimed performances include the Hollywood Bowl, Ford Amphitheatre, Fountain Theater and the Music Center in Los Angeles; Central Park, Lincoln Center and the Joyce Theater in New York City; the Teatro Palacio das Artes in Brazil; Peña Cernicalos, Los Gallos and Teatro Lope de Vega and Festival de Jerez in Spain; guest appearances with the Santa Cecilia California; and numerous venues throughout the world. Most recently she formed Chicana Gypsy Project which draws on her Mexican-American heritage and her immersion into Adulucian Gypsy culture. Her life and career have inspired the award-winning documentary film, Streets of Flamenco. Forever Flamenco! at the Ford takes place on Saturday, June 15. Doors open for picnicking at 6:30 pm and the show starts at 8:30 pm. Reserved seating is $50 and $75; VIP tickets, which include preferred seating, pre-concert private VIP catered party with artists and a gift bag, are available for $100. Purchase tickets on or before June 8 and save $5. Tickets are available at www.FordTheatres.org or 323 461-3673 (for non-visual media 323 GO 1-FORD). To learn about discounts for groups of 8 or more, please call 323 769-2147.

Local NYC based company, Dance Dot, will be hosting a variety of free tap dance classes to celebrate National Tap Dance Day on Saturday May 25th. All classes are open to the public and range from absolute beginner levels to the advanced tap dance professional.

La MaMa presents the World Premiere of Chemistry of Love, written by Jill Campbell and directed by George Ferencz. Chemistry of Love runs now through May 19, 2013 in a limited engagement at La MaMa's First Floor Theatre, located at 74A East 4th Street between 2nd Avenue & the Bowery in New York City. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

In celebration of Asian Heritage month, the Equal Employment Opportunity Committee of Actors' Equity Association and ReImagined World Entertainment will present 'The Asian American Composers and Lyricists Project,' a free evening of original works created and sung by Asian American theatre artists. This one-night only concert event will take place on Sunday, May 19 at 8PM at the Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at the Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10thAvenues).

E! is unveiling a dynamic original programming slate at its Upfront event this evening in New York.

COMEDY CENTRAL is doubling down on Anthony Jeselnik and Nathan Fielder. The network has renewed "The Jeselnik Offensive" and "Nathan for You" for second seasons, it was announced today by Kent Alterman, President, Content Development and Original Programming, COMEDY CENTRAL.

E! is unveiling a dynamic original programming slate at its Upfront event this evening in New York.

The Saint Sebastian Players offer a new take on a classic, producing William Shakespeare's Measure for Measure, set in the 1970s southern United States, April 26-May 19, 2013.

Award-winning square product theatre presents the Regional Premiere of Brenda Withers' new comedy The Ding Dongs (or What is the Penalty in Portugal?). The production will mark only the second ever full production of this lauded play.

La MaMa presents the World Premiere of Chemistry of Love, written by Jill Campbell and directed by George Ferencz. Chemistry of Love runs May 2 - 19, 2013 in a limited engagement at La MaMa's First Floor Theatre, located at 74A East 4th Street between 2nd Avenue & the Bowery in New York City. Previews begin May 2 for a May 4 opening. Meet the cast in the photos below!

La MaMa, in association with Seagull Ink, is proud to present the World Premiere of Chemistry of Love, written by Jill Campbell and directed by George Ferencz. Chemistry of Love runs May 2 - 19, 2013 in a limited engagement at La MaMa's First Floor Theatre, located at 74A East 4th Street between 2nd Avenue & the Bowery in New York City. Previews begin May 2 for a May 4 opening.

Piedmont Players Theatre, along with Owen & Elizabeth Norvell, introduce the cast of TREASURE ISLAND by Robert Louis Stevenson in a new adaption by Ken Ludwig. The production will run May 9-11 & 16-18 at 7:30pm, with a matinee on May 12 at 2:30pm.

La MaMa, in association with Seagull Ink, will present the World Premiere of Chemistry of Love, written by Jill Campbell and directed by George Ferencz. Chemistry of Love runs May 2 - 19, 2013 in a limited engagement at La MaMa's First Floor Theatre, located at 74A East 4th Street between 2nd Avenue & the Bowery in New York City. Previews begin May 2 for a May 4 opening.

The Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), presented by founding partner American Express, today announced a variety of programming that will allow domestic audiences to experience the Festival from across the country, including the lineup and programming for the Tribeca Online Festival, and Tribeca Film's video-on-demand offerings during TFF.

Recognizing the importance of exposure to the arts in the development and education of young people, The Old Globe today announced a special hour-long production of William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night that will tour San Diego County middle and high schools. This imaginative, fun and accessible production is an ideal introduction to the wonders of Shakespeare. The production, which will tour from April 22 through May 17, 2013, is now available for booking and will cost schools $500 for one performance and $400 for a second performance at the same school on the same day. Discounts and scholarships are available to Title One schools. The Globe's tour of Twelfth Night, directed by Nelson Eusebio III, is part of Shakespeare for a New Generation, a national program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. To book a performance, please email GlobeLearning@TheOldGlobe.org.

After two low-rated seasons, HBO is no longer feeling ENLIGHTENED. The network has opted out of renewing the series for a third season, despite the fact that its star, Laura Dern, won a Golden Globe for her performance during its inaugural outing.

The Alabama Shakespeare Festival's touring production of William Shakespeare's hilarious comedy Twelfth Night will be coming home for a limited run in the theatre's intimate Octagon stage, March 26-30. There will be additional performances on April 30 and May 9.

The Saint Sebastian Players offer a new take on a classic, producing William Shakespeare's Measure for Measure, set in the 1970s southern United States, April 26-May 19, 2013.

The 2013 Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), presented by founding sponsor American Express, today announced its lineup of 60 short films, 30 of which are world premieres-a record number for the Festival-and a special screening.

There's a strange thing about roads. They must be carefully paved and must lead somewhere before they're driven upon. Such is the problem with ROADS COURAGEOUS, the highly problematic new musical enjoying its World Premiere at The Playhouse San Antonio.