Kathryn Holtkamp News

The legendary Latin and Jazz percussionist Candido, now 103 years young, will be presented with the Duke Ellington Center's 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award, at DECFA's annual “Ring Dem Bells” holiday party and concert Monday, December 8 (5:30 to 9:30 PM) at the Landmark on the Park, 160 Central Park West (at 76th Street), it was announced by Mercedes Ellington, the noted dancer/choreographer, who is Duke Ellington's granddaughter and founder and artistic director of DECFA.

This year's "Ring Dem Bells" holiday party will take place on Monday evening, December 8, 2014, at Landmark On the Park, a popular event venue at 160 Central Park West (at 76th Street).

Manhattan Musical Theatre Lab kicks off their 15th Anniversary Season with The Prisoner of Vegas, a new musical based on Anthony Hope's novel The Prisoner of Zenda, tonight, October 30, at 6:30 PM at the Snapple Theater Center (50th Street between B'way and 8th Ave).

Manhattan Musical Theatre Lab kicks off their 15th Anniversary Season with The Prisoner of Vegas, a new musical based on Anthony Hope's novel The Prisoner of Zenda, Thursday, October 30, at 6:30 PM at the Snapple Theater Center (50th Street between B'way and 8th Ave).

Manhattan Musical Theatre Lab kicks off their 15th Anniversary Season with The Prisoner of Vegas, a new musical based on Anthony Hope's novel The Prisoner of Zenda.

The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts (DECFA) launched its 1st Jazz Vocal Competition at New York City's 40th Annual 52nd Street Duke Ellington Jazz Festival on Saturday, October 25, 2014. Performing under sunny skies on a beautiful fall afternoon in New York City, the 23 competing singers demonstrated their unique vocal talents in front of an appreciative crowd who cheered them on with great enthusiasm. In the end, the three winners were:

The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts (DECFA) will introduce its 1st Jazz Vocal Competition at New York City's 40th Annual 52nd Street Duke Ellington Jazz Festival today, October 25, 2014, it was announced by renowned dancer/choreographer Mercedes Ellington, founder and artistic director of DECFA.

The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts (DECFA) will launch its 1st Jazz Vocal Competition at New York City's 40th Annual 52nd Street Duke Ellington Jazz Festival on Saturday, October 25, 2014. The Competition, which will take place between 1:00 and 4:00 PM in the Performance Area at the southeast corner of 52nd Street and Avenue of Americas,, will feature 26 talented up-and-coming jazz vocalists who will be vying for cash prizes and opportunities to perform at future concerts and musical events presented by the Ellington Center for the Arts. .

The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts (DECFA) will introduce its 1st Jazz Vocal Competition at New York City's 40th Annual 52nd Street Duke Ellington Jazz Festival on Saturday, October 25, 2014, it was announced here today by renowned dancer/choreographer Mercedes Ellington, founder and artistic director of DECFA

Prospect Theater Company (Cara Reichel, Producing Artistic Director / Melissa Huber, Managing Director) announces a one-show-only concert reading of their original musical The Flood, on Saturday, October 19th at 3pm. First developed by Prospect in 2000-2001, with a subsequent full production in 2006, the book, music and lyrics of this new musical are by founding company members Peter Mills and Cara Reichel. This special encore concert presentation will raise funds to support Prospect's work developing new musicals by emerging writers. The concert is directed by Cara Reichel and music directed by Daniel Feyer.

The Milk Can Theatre Company (ML Kinney and Bethany Larsen, Artistic Directors) will end it's 2011-2012 season with The Snap Shot Plays - a collection of seven ten-minute original plays all inspired from photographs - with performances set tonight, May 8 through May 13 at Theatre 54 (244 West 54th Street, 12th Floor) in Manhattan. The Snap Shot Plays is an Equity approved showcase.

The Milk Can Theatre Company (ML Kinney and Bethany Larsen, Artistic Directors) will end it's 2011-2012 season with The Snap Shot Plays - a collection of seven ten-minute original plays all inspired from photographs - with performances set for May 8 through May 13 at Theatre 54 (244 West 54th Street, 12th Floor) in Manhattan. The Snap Shot Plays is an Equity approved showcase.

The songwriting team of Michael Cooper and Hyeyoung Kim have written a short musical that will be presented as part of an evening called "Rites of Passage" at the Prospect Theater Company at the West End Theatre, at the Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew, through February 20.

Prospect Theater Company presents a developmental performance of new works by some of NYC's emerging musical theater writers, the result of works created in the company's 5th annual musical theater lab.

The songwriting team of Michael Cooper and Hyeyoung Kim have written a short musical that will be presented as part of an evening called "Rites of Passage" at the Prospect Theater Company at the West End Theatre, at the Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew, February 11- 20.

Cats is best viewed through fresh eyes, probably, when the wonder of the spectacle is first encountered. The show's technical wizardry, in its time mind-boggling and perhaps even revolutionary, is now old hat (although I can certainly let go of my own cynicism long enough to appreciate the very theatricality of the show) and expected. But, imagine if you will, if you know nothing about the show at all and you settle into your seat and give yourself over to the experience. Chances are - no matter how worldly or sophisticated you are - you'll find yourself just a little awestruck by Cats. It remains an important milestone in musical theater history, despite the derision of theater snobs the world over.

Stranger to the Muse, a new musical with music by Adam David Cohen and book and lyrics by Patrick Gallagher, will receive two industry readings on Sunday, 10/4 and Monday, 10/5 at Manhattan Theatre Club Studios.

Stranger to the Muse, a new musical with music by Adam David Cohen and book and lyrics by Patrick Gallagher, will receive two industry readings on Sunday, 10/4 and Monday, 10/5 at Manhattan Theatre Club Studios.