Kaplan News

The School of Visual Arts (SVA), celebrating its 25th Annual Dusty Film & Animation Festival and Awards, taking place May 10-13, 2014,

Jane Moss, Ehrenkranz Artistic Director, today announced the 48th season of Lincoln Center's Mostly Mozart Festival, New York's acclaimed annual summer celebration of classical music, which runs from July 25-August 23, 2014. This year's Festival will feature more than 35 events across several venues including concerts, opera, dance, pre-concert recitals and lectures, late-night performances, contemporary music, and premieres of two commissioned works. The Festival kicks off with two free events: the world premiere of a new work by John Luther Adams, performed July 25 and 26 for free on Hearst Plaza, in a joint presentation with Lincoln Center Out of Doors, and continuing an annual tradition, the free preview concert by the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra at Avery Fisher Hall on July 26. Renee and Robert Belfer Music Director Louis Langree returns for his 12th season to conduct the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra, which will perform a wide range of works anchored by the Festival's featured namesake. Mostly Mozart will also present world-renowned artists and returning Festival favorites, such as violinist Joshua Bell, Mark Morris Dance Group, Emerson String Quartet and Artists-in-Residence International Contemporary Ensemble, as well as 14 Festival debuts, including pianists Yuja Wang and Steven Osborne, and violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja.

In celebration of their 30th Anniversary, Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, presents the legendary musical Les Miserables, which opened last night, Tuesday, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. and runs through June 8, 2014. Directed by multi-Jeff Award winner Rachel Rockwell (Ragtime, The Sound of Music, Sweeney Todd, and Oliver! at Drury Lane Theatre), the cast is led by Ivan Rutherford ("Jean Valjean" in over 2,000 performances of Les Miserables on Broadway, as well as in the 20th anniversary Broadway Revival and The National Tour ofLes Miserables, and Titanic on Broadway); Jeff Award-winner Quentin Earl Darrington as "Javert" (Ragtime on Broadway and at Drury Lane Theatre, Memphis: A New Musical on Broadway and The National Tours of The Lion King, The Color Purple, and Memphis: A New Musical); and Jennie Sophia as "Fantine" (The National Tour of The Lincoln Center's South Pacific and Oliver! and The Sound of Music at Drury Lane Theatre).

The Hub Network today launched a brand new app with exclusive games, full episodes and video shorts, as well as a fun photo booth activity.

When it comes to Southern playwrights, Tennessee Williams remains the quintessential example, and music is an inextricable element of both his cherished classics and lesser-known works. In a recent 90-minute concert, David Kaplan crafted a show that explores and celebrates the songbook of Tennessee Williams. Now, Ghostlight Records has released TENNESSEE WILLIAMS: WORDS AND MUSIC, a CD that preserves the atmosphere and idea of the concert and features Alison Fraser's soulful and gravely alto.

The 6th Annual Shorty Awards, handed out in New York last night, honor the best of social media, recognizing the people and organizations producing real-time short form content

In celebration of their 30th Anniversary, Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, will present the legendary musical LES MISERABLES, opening tonight, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. and running through June 8, 2014.

Hospitality Queen Susan Buckley and Producing Artistic Director, Jacob Langfelder helped launch the new 14,000 square foot event space 42West in a big way over the weekend with appearances by Tony and Grammy Award-Winner, Billy Porter (Kinky Boots, Billy's Back on Broadway) as well as Elizabeth A. Davis (Once, FairPlay), Robin DeJesus (In The Heights, La Cage Aux Folles), Emmy Award-Winner Lance Horne, DJs Andrew Andrew and Ali Luminescent and Christine Geiger as The Intergalactic Unicorns.

The new Broadway play Mothers and Sons from 4-time Tony Award winner Terrence McNally has announced today that it will offer a series of post-show talkbacks in conjunction with the Huffington Post Gay Voices on four consecutive Wednesday evenings (4/9, 4/16, 4/23, 4/30) at the Golden Theatre (252 West 45th Street). Special guests will include LGBT activist and journalist David Mixner, attorney Roberta Kaplan, Huffington Post Gay Voices deputy editor Curtis M. Wong, and CNN political commentator Hilary Rosen, among others. Full details below.

Award-winning slam poet, actor, singer, musician Saul Williams (Slam), Christopher Jackson (After Midnight), Saycon Sengbloh (Motown The Musical, Fela!), Ben Thompson(Matilda), John Earl Jelks (Radio Golf - Tony nomination), Joshua Boone (Brownsville Song [b side for Tray] at Actors Theatre of Louisville), Dyllon Burnside ('Prison Break') and Tony Award winner Tonya Pinkins (Jelly's Last Jam, Caroline or Change, Play On!) will star in HOLLER IF YA HEAR ME, the new Broadway musical inspired by the lyrics of Tupac Shakur. Written by Todd Kreidler and directed by Kenny Leon, HOLLER IF YA HEAR ME will begin performances on May 29, 2014 and open June 19, 2014 at the Palace Theatre (1564 Broadway at 47th Street).

UnsungMusicalsCo. (UMC) is proud to present Unsung Carolyn Leigh, a special concert produced for Lincoln Center's American Songbook at the Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse tonight, April 5 at 8 PM. The evening, showcasing songs by the Tony- and Grammy-nominated lyricist of Peter Pan, Little Me and How Now Dow Jones, is created and directed by Ben West (The Fig Leaves Are Falling, At Home Abroad, Make Mine Manhattan).

With Broadway's 2014 season now in full swing, there's a solid group of performers making their Broadway debuts this Spring. Meet all of the Great White Way's newest stars below, and be sure to let us know who you're most looking forward to seeing onstage!

Soho Playhouse, the downtown Off-Broadway theatre located at 15 Vandam Street, will present the world premiere of EXTRAORDINARY EXTREMITIES with previews beginning tonight, April 4 prior to an official press opening of April 13 it has been announced by producer Darren Lee Cole.

Pacific Northwest Ballet's 2011 production of Giselle has been staged by PNB artistic director Peter Boal, based in part on primary sources from Paris and St. Petersburg, with the assistance of dance historians Marian Smith and Doug Fullington. In 2014, new scenery and costumes designed by Jérôme Kaplan will be added to the production. It runs May 30-June 8, 2014. Check out the photos below!

Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events Commissioner Michelle Boone, Carolina Garcia Jayaram, Chief Executive Officer of United States Artists (USA) and USA's Board of Directors are announcing today that USA, one of the nation's largest grant-making and advocacy organizations, supporting artists across eight major disciplines, will move its headquarters from Los Angeles to Chicago. USA is in the process of hiring local staff and finding a location for the new office within the city.

Animal Planet heads into this Upfront season with a wide-ranging lineup of big entertainment, 100 percent original content and having had its best year ever

ROSS VALLEY PLAYERS present their RAW (Ross Alternative Works) 2014 Spring Festival, April 18 through 27, featuring the World Premiere of Giovanni is Here by Mercedes Cohen. Each season, RAW presents two festivals of short works or full-length plays, selected for their quality and originality. Each play is a short run production with minimal set pieces with full sound and lighting. Giovanni is Here is directed by Michael Cohen.

The Hollywood Reporter has revealed a new video fro ABC Family's new scripted cancer drama CHASING LIFE, during last night's Pretty Little Liars season finale. The series will premiere on Tuesday, June 10 at 9/8c. Get a First Look below!

Tickets go on sale this Monday, April 7 at 10am for HOLLER IF YA HEAR ME, the new Broadway musical featuring the lyrics of Tupac Shakur. Written by Todd Kreidler and directed by Kenny Leon, HOLLER IF YA HEAR ME will begin performances on May 29, 2014 and open June 19, 2014 at the Palace Theatre (1564 Broadway at 47th Street).

In response to overwhelming public demand and positive critical reception, Southern Rep is extending the run for its current production, Tennessee Williams' THE NIGHT OF THE IGUANA at The Art Klub on 527 Elysian Fields Avenue, through April 13, 2014. Originally slated to close April 6, the extension will add an additional four performances to THE NIGHT OF THE IGUANA's schedule. The show times for the new performances are Thursday - Saturday at 7:30 pm, and a Sunday Matinee at 2:00 pm.