Traveling the world as an international opera star, Angela Brown noticed something about audiences. 'I would see very few people who looked like me,' says Brown. On the surface, it looked like a racial divide, but when Brown performed at schools and universities across the country, she learned that exposure and access also played key roles in the gap. This compelled her to create her show Opera...from a Sistah's Point of View that dispels the myths surrounding the sometimes-intimidating art form called opera. By demonstrating the ethnic, geographic, and socio-economic diversity portrayed in opera characters, she helps people from all walks of life and races find themselves in and enjoy opera. She blows up the preconceived expectations of opera by mixing show-stopping arias, poignant art songs, and moving spirituals with tongue-in-cheek commentary. The show breaks down barriers for audiences that wouldn't necessarily include opera as a part of their entertainment options.
Chance Theater's regional premiere of the punk rock Lizzie, The Musical won the LA Stage Alliance Ovation Award for a?oeBest Production of a Musical (Intimate Theatre)a?? last night at the 30th Annual Ovation Awards. The ceremony was at the Theatre at Ace Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.
Heidi Schreck's Tony Award nominated play and Pulitzer Prize finalist What the Constitution Means to Me, directed by Oliver Butler, kicks off its national tour today, January 12, beginning at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles and playing 40 weeks in 22 cities.
While viewing the opening night of Seattle Shakespeare Company's production of Richard Brinsley Sheridan's a?oeThe Rivalsa??, one old adage kept springing to mind. a?oeThrow it against the wall and see if it sticks.a?? Well, aside from a few standout performances, not much stuck. But that wasn't from lack of trying as director George Mount seemed to throw everything but the kitchen sink at that wall whether it fit within the play or not.
Duels, dandies, deceptions, and dudes with daddy issues stir up a comic frenzy in Richard Brinsley Sheridan's witty gem The Rivals at Seattle Shakespeare Company. George Mount directs the production which begins previews on Jan. 7, opens Jan. 10 and runs through Feb. 2 at the Center Theatre at Seattle Center.
The Fire This Time Festival, the destination for early career and emerging playwrights from the African diaspora, announces its 2020 dates. The 14-day festival, presented in collaboration with FRIGID New York, which annually honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will take place from January 20 to February 2, 2020. This year, seven commissioned dramatists will be presented in repertoire as part of the annual celebration held at the Kraine Theater in the East Village.
Broadway In Chicago has announced that tickets for Heidi Schreck's Tony Award nominated play and Pulitzer Prize finalist What the Constitution Means to Me will go on sale January 3, 2020. What the Constitution Means to Me will play Broadway In Chicago's Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut) for a limited 6-week engagement March 4 through April 12, 2020.
Diablo Ballet presents the second program of their 26th season, Balanchine & Beyond, Feb 7 a?" 8 at the Del Valle Theatre in Walnut Creek. The programs features selections from five ballets including George Balanchine's, Who Cares? set to the music of Gershwin; the choreographic debut of company dancer Michael Wells; the bravura Esmerelda; and the celebration of female choreographers with works by Sally Streets and Penny Saunders.
Jocelyn Bioh's hit comedy School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play, comes to Portland this January in a historic co-production between Artists Repertory Theatre and Portland Center Stage at The Armory. Inspired in part by Bioh's mother's time in a boarding school in Ghana, and Bioh's own experience in at a boarding school in Pennsylvania, School Girls tells the story of Paulina, the reigning Queen Bee at Ghana's most exclusive boarding school. Her dreams of winning the Miss Universe pageant are threatened by the arrival of Ericka, a new student with undeniable talent, beauty a?? and lighter skin. The New York Times called Bioh's biting play about the challenges facing teenage girls across the globe a?oea gleeful African makeover of an American genre.a??
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah announced today that Jordan Klepper has been called back to duty to provide a series of ongoing special field reports throughout the 2020 election season, reuniting him with the Emmy Award-winning late night series. Klepper's first report, filed from Hershey, PA, will air during tonight's episode of The Daily Show at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT.
Across the Arab World, Orthodox Christians and Egyptian Coptics celebrate Christmas on January 7. Arab Christmas, at St Martin-in-the-Field offers a line up of internationally renowned singers and musicians performing Syriac, Coptic and Byzantine chants, harking back to the time of Queen Zanubia's Palmyra in the second century CE.
The Drama League (Artistic Director Gabriel Stelian-Shanks, Executive Director Bevin Ross) announced today the acting company for the 36th annual DirectorFest, the only festival in the United States dedicated to the art of contemporary stage directing. Directorfest will take place January 10 - February 4, 2020 at various locations around NYC: The New Ohio Theatre (154 Christopher Street), The Drama League Theater Center (32 Avenue of the Americas), LaGuardia Performing Arts Center (31-10 Thomson Avenue), and Joe's Pub (425 Lafayette Street). For festival details and tickets, visit directorfest.org or call (212) 244-9494 x102.
Actresses Zainab Musa and Kyra Miller join Emmy Award winning actress Erin Cherry and internationally acclaimed actress Sheetal Sheth for The Muse Project's Tea Time, starting at 12:30pm on Saturday, December 14th, at Torn Page (435 W 22nd St, New York) - the historic home of Rip Torn and Geraldine Page.
As final casting is being announced, the engagement of playwright Heidi Schreck's 'What the Constitution Means to Me' at Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum is already being extended by a week due to overwhelming early sales. The Tony-nominated play, originally scheduled to run January 12 - February 16, 2020, will now continue until February 23, 2020.
Emmy Award winning actress Erin Cherry and internationally acclaimed actress Sheetal Sheth join The Muse Project for Tea Time, starting at 12:30pm on December 14th at Torn Page (435 W 22nd St, New York) - the historic home of Rip Torn and Geraldine Page.
To celebrate the Mentor Project's 22nd Season, Cherry Lane Theatre (Angelina Fiordellisi, Executive Director; Seri Lawrence, Artistic Director) has announced a workshop presentation by poet/ performer Shawn Randall of his original work (The Making Of) How to Save the World in 90 Minutes. He will be mentored by Diana Oh ({my lingerie play}) in the StudioTheatre, March 4 -14, 2020. Cherry Lane then continues its season in partnership with J.A.G. Productions for the rolling World Premiere of Esai's Table by Nathan Yungerberg, originally produced in workshop format by Mentor Project in 2017. Performances of Esai's Table begin March 19, 2020, on the Cherry Lane Main Stage.For tickets, schedule and more information, please visit www.cherrylanetheatre.org.
Need escape from The Season? Ugh, for real. Take a break from the holiday hubbub with Mad Horse Theatre and PortFringe Maine's Fringe Festival, bringing back to stage highlights from the last two years of PortFringe insanity. Come check out local fringe theatre and performance this December with a re-mount of PortFringe favorites for eight crazy days!
Jon Lawrence Rivera, Artistic Director of Playwrights' Arena – the first and oldest theater dedicated to discovering, nurturing, and producing original works written exclusively by Los Angeles playwrights – is thrilled to announce the cast for RED INK by Steven Leigh Morris, which includes Michelle Bonebright-Carter, Tracey A. Leigh, Leo Marks, Christopher Salazar, Jocelyn Towne, and Peter Van Norden.
The 28 quarterfinalists have been announced for the 27th annual American Traditions Vocal Competition (ATC), which is slated to run Feb. 17-21, 2020. The 28 talented vocalists, selected from over 100 applicants, will be competing for $40,000 in prizes, plus special performance opportunities with ATC's partner organizations, Savannah Philharmonic and Savannah VOICE Festival.
On December 6th, 2019, Art House Productions' JC Fridays will be holding its seasonal multi-arts festival--featuring art events that take place in restaurants, galleries, stores, and event spaces in almost every neighborhood in Jersey City. All events are free and open to the public. As one of the preeminent art scenes in the tri-state area, Jersey City is abound with visual and performing artists of all types, musicians, and individuals with unique talents; JC Fridays is one of the best times for them to share their newest projects and works.
