It is official that the Broadway Theater Season has begun. Head Over Heels, Pretty Woman, and Getting The Band Back Together, are the musicals kicking off the summer. I recently had a chance to sit with Brandon Williams from Getting the Band Back Together. He makes his Broadway debut playing the show's Bad Boy.
The one-night event JESSICA LANG DANCE will happen at the Walton Arts Center on Thursday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m.
Works & Process at the Guggenheim is pleased to announce its fall 2018 season, which includes new dance and music commissions, and a gala featuring a revival performance of a Works & Process Rotunda Project in the Guggenheim's iconic Frank Lloyd Wright-designed space. Since 1984 the performing-arts series has championed new works and offered audiences unprecedented access to leading choreographers, composers, dancers, musicians, and playwrights, among others. Programs explore the creative process through stimulating discussions with artists and riveting performance highlights. Each 70-minute program takes place in the museum's Peter B. Lewis Theater unless otherwise noted. Additional information is available at worksandprocess.org.
Hudson Valley Dance Festival, the event that's brought stunning pas de deux, striking contemporary pieces, thrilling tap dances and acclaimed world premieres to one extraordinary program, returns on Saturday, October 6, 2018, to Catskill, NY. This day of diverse, enchanting dance is produced by and benefits Dancers Responding to AIDS, a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
Walton Arts Center's 2018-19 season kicks off in September with a full slate of shows. To help patrons get a jumpstart on their fall planning, single tickets for these first shows are now on sale.
On September 27, New York City Ballet will present the seventh installment of its annual Fall Fashion Gala, celebrating choreography and costume design with an evening of world premiere ballets and creative collaborations between some of today's most exciting artists from the worlds of dance and design.
Sascha Radetsky has been named Artistic Director of ABT Studio Company. It was announced today by American Ballet Theatre Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie. Radetsky succeeds Kate Lydon, who joins St. Paul's School as the director of dance at the start of the 2018-19 academic year. Lydon has served as ABT Studio Company Artistic Director since 2013.
Juilliard Dance announces its 2018-19 season of performances of world premieres, masterworks in repertory, and new works developed by Juilliard students. The cornerstone of the season is New Dances: Edition 2018, featuring four world-premiere dances by innovative choreographers Stefanie Batten Bland (fourth-year class), alumnus Peter Chu (third-year class), Nelly van Bommel (second-year class), and Marcus Jarrell Willis (first-year class). Performances take place December 7, 8, 10, and 11, at 7:30pm and December 9 at 3pm in Juilliard's Peter Jay Sharp Theater. In the spring semester, Juilliard Spring Dances features repertory works by acclaimed choreographers: Bill T. Jones' D-Man in the Waters (Part 1); Alejandro Cerrudo's Little Mortal Jump; and Martha Graham's The Rite of Spring. Performances take place on March 27-29, at 7:30pm and March 30, at 2pm and 7:30pm in Juilliard's Peter Jay Sharp Theater.
Led by Artistic Director Robert Battle, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's 2018 Lincoln Center engagement continued last night with the star-studded Ailey Spirit Gala. The one-night-only benefit performance and party featured Honorary Chair Jussie Smollett, who stars on Fox's Empire and recently released his debut album, Sum of My Music. The evening honored Vikas Kapoor and Ailey Trustee Jaishri Kapoor for their remarkable support of the Ailey organization and their dedication to Ailey's educational initiatives. Gala Co-Chairs were Stephen Meringoff & Kim Charlton, Almaz & Marc S. Strachan, and Daria L. & Eric. J. Wallach; and Vice Chairs were Michele & Timothy Barakett, Robyn & N. Anthony Coles, Leslie & Tom Maheras, and Pamela D. Zilly & John H. Schaefer. Over $1 million was raised to support Ailey's extensive educational and training programs for young people, including AileyCamp and scholarships to The Ailey School.
Beloved as one of the world's most popular dance companies, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts for a seven-performance engagement at the David H. Koch Theater June 13 - 17, 2018. Led by Artistic Director Robert Battle as it reaches six decades, the Company's repertory for the season features works by eight choreographers - including a world premiere by Jessica Lang - across three programs. Alvin Ailey's must-see masterpiece Revelations is the uplifting finale of each performance.
Leading interpreter of the Great American Songbook Michael Feinstein, ukulele virtuosi Jake Shimabukuro, Grammy Award winning singer Sheena Easton, and acrobatic troupe Cirque Mechanics, are just a few of the artists set to appear at the Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts at Pepperdine University during its 2018-2019 season.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, led by Artistic Director Robert Battle, will return to Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts for a five-day, seven-performance engagement at the David H. Koch Theater from June 13-17.
"Expect the Unexpected" during the 2018-2019 season at Gettysburg College's Majestic Theater. The dynamic season lineup includes rock & roll classics, comedic musical theater, compelling modern dance, a night with local stars, fun family shows, jazz, jugglers, Irish music, and an exhilarating international dance show. Tickets go on sale June 8 to Majestic Theater members, and June 15 to the general public.
Actresses, Liz Mikel (Lysistrata Jones) and Kiersey Clemons (Hearts Beat Loud, Transparent) stop by my studio to talk about their upcoming run in the New York Premiere of Eve Ensler's FRUIT TRILOGY, being presented by Abingdon Theatre Company as their final production of its 25th Anniversary season. These women talk to me about getting involved with the project, the obvious conversation about women of color in these roles. and so much more. Please enjoy my chat with these FABULOUS women.
Jessica Lang Dance (JLD) announced today a significant donation of $500,000 from Ann and Weston Hicks. The Hicks' leadership gift is the largest single gift the organization has received to date. This gift supports the company's growth, capacity building and organizational development, as well as touring, artistic work, and performances. The donation also comes with a challenge to other supporters of JLD to match the Hicks' gift in order to achieve a $1 million fundraising goal by the end of 2018. Nearly half of the match has been raised within two months.
Artistic Director Robert Battle has announced exciting highlights to Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Lincoln Center season at the David H. Koch Theater June 13 - 17. In addition to three diverse programs - Celebrate Women, Ailey, Then & Now, and Musical Icons - the engagement also includes The Ailey Spirit Gala benefit; three new Company dancers; and a series of activities for all as Ailey enters its sixth decade.
For the past 3 years, I have been able to cover the New Dramatists Luncheon, and each time, I am amazed at the people that I get to meet when doing a red carpet. It's nice to see some new faces and a dream to see the familiar ones. This year's honoree is 2x Academy Award winning/ Tony Award winning and current nominee for his performance in Eugene O'Neill's THE ICEMAN COMETH, Denzel Washington.
For many of us of a certain age, SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK, was the cornerstone to everything we kids learned about Civics, Mathematics, Parts of Speech, and so much more. It was one of those moments that made our Saturday Mornings literally sing. After learning about nouns, various multiplication tables, and of course, how a bill turns into law, I felt like I had tapped into a new world of learning.
Last month, I had the opportunity to talk to playwright, Phillip Dawkins, about his latest play, THE GENTLEMAN CALLER. We chatted about the men who are about to start previews in the New York premiere of the play, Juan Francisco Villa and Daniel K. Isaac. I was very specific that I wanted to chat with them. Sometimes, you get exactly what you ask. Both Juan and Daniel braved spending time with me, and we had a fantastic chat about the show, their careers, and being non-traditionally cast in the roles of Tennessee Williams and William Inge, respectively.
Darius De Haas, described by The New York Times as "electrically thrilling," by Variety as "a performer who can reveal the sorrows, pains and joys of the composer's richly layered repertoire with an intensity and honesty that easily envelops and mesmerizes the listener," and by the Jazz Times as "blessed with a gorgeous voice and a keen theatrical sophistication," brings his brand new concert and vocal magic to Feinstein's/54 Below, April 26th and 27th.
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