Katie White News

The Award-Winning Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) is pleased to announce the world premiere production of ASTORIA STORIES, directed by Artistic Director Dev Bondarin.

A man and his relationship to his animal.... This notion has formed the basis of many books , TV sitcoms, and plays. There is  the imaginary rabbit in  Mary Chase's HARVEY, the goat in  Edward Albee's THE GOAT, and most recently man's best friend,  a dog named Sylvia in A.R. Gurney's hysterical 1995 play SYLVIA.

Queens Theatre today announced the cast for this month's rarely seen New York City stage production of Harper Lee's classic To Kill A Mockingbird. Directed by Rob Urbinati, To Kill A Mockingbird is playing a two-week engagement with performances beginning on Friday, November 13th and extending through Sunday, November 22. c

'Mel Brooks' genius lies not only in that he has created these incredibly hilarious films, but he has written the musical scores as well.' The speaker is Jeremiah James, one of the stars of Young Frankenstein, the blockbuster fourth mainstage show of Maine State Music Theatre's 2015 season, which comes to a close n August 22. James, as well as his colleagues, Missy Dowse (Inga), Dance Captain Buddy Reeder, Music Director Samuel Thorne Bagala, and MSMT's Director of Development Barbara Whidden are talking with BWW's Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold to a standing-room-only crowd in the last of the summer's Peek Behind the Curtain interview series on August 12 at Brunswick's Curtis Memorial Library. The lively panel is eloquent about Young Frankenstein and about their summer experience at MSMT.

'I try to do every play I direct keeping in mind both people who have never seen it before and those who might know it well. I ask myself, 'What would today's audience want to hear and how can I tell the story for this a contemporary public?' I actively look for ways to put a spin on even a well-known show like the Music Man so that some things strike the audience as surprises, as fresh and different. I want them not to sing along with tunes they know, but be caught off guard a little and be so busy watching the story unfold that they forget they already know it.' Director/choreographer Marc Robin is discussing his latest staging of Meredith Willson's classic musical, the Music Man, for Maine State Music Theatre. Robin was part of a panel that also included the shows stars, Curt Dale Clark and Lauren Blackman, MSMT's Props Designer Kyle Melton, and the company Director of Communications Carol Marquis, moderated by BWW's Carla Maria Verdino-Sullwold, the fourth such talkback in the company's summer series, Peek Behind the Curtain, which drew a standing-room only crowd.

Maine State Music Theatre held it third panel discussion devoted to its production of Sister Act on July 1, 2015, at the Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick. Actors Kingsley Leggs and David Girolmo, stage manager Mark Johnson, music director Jason Wetzel, and MSMT Managing Director Stephanie Dupal spoke to Broadway World's moderator Carla Maria Verdino-Sullwold and a full house of enthusiastic MSMT patrons about the challenges of putting on this large scale show that has proved to be another huge hit for the company.

In a lively, funny, often piquant conversation cast and creative team members from Maine State Music Theatre's The Full Monty convened on June 10 to talk with Broadway World in the first of this summer's highly successful talkback series, A Peek Behind the Curtain. The audience was delighted to have the opportunity to meet director, Donna Drake, stars Peter Matthew Smith, Amanda Rose, MSMT Artistic Director Curt Dale Clark and Outreach Sales Manager Katie White. The discussion focused on the show's appeal, its message, and, of course, on the show stopping strip finale.

This edition of 'A Drinking Game: NYC' lovingly recreates 1993's 'Robin Hood: Men in Tights.' It's one part live stage reading, one part cult classic film--and more than a dash of alcohol. Actors improvise the script, while both actors and audience drink when favorite buzzwords occur.

This edition of 'A Drinking Game: NYC' lovingly recreates 1993's "Robin Hood: Men in Tights." It's one part live stage reading, one part cult classic film--and more than a dash of alcohol. Actors improvise the script, while both actors and audience drink when favorite buzzwords occur.

The Award-winning Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC), will be presenting Merrily We Roll Along, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by George Furth, based on the original play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. The musical will be choreographed by Misha Shields, musical directed by Ming Aldrich-Gan and directed by APAC's Artistic Director Dev Bondarin. The musical begins on Thursday, April 30, 2015 and continues through Saturday, May 23, 2015. APAC's performance venue is located at the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, 30-44 Crescent St (@ 30th Rd), in Astoria, Queens.

This edition of 'A Drinking Game: NYC' lovingly recreates 1986's '¡Three Amigos!' It's one part live stage reading, one part cult classic film--and more than a dash of alcohol. Actors improvise the script, while both actors and audience drink when favorite buzzwords occur.

This edition of 'A Drinking Game: NYC' lovingly recreates 1986's '¡Three Amigos!' It's one part live stage reading, one part cult classic film--and more than a dash of alcohol. Actors improvise the script, while both actors and audience drink when favorite buzzwords occur.

'A Drinking Game: NYC' mixes a live stage reading with a cult classic film--and tops it off with alcohol. Actors improvise the script, while both actors and audience drink when favorite buzzwords occur.

'A Drinking Game: NYC' mixes a live stage reading with a cult classic film--and tops it off with alcohol. Actors improvise the script, while both actors and audience drink when favorite buzzwords occur.

Maine State Music Theatre announced today that Katie White has joined the Administrative Office Staff as Group Sales and Outreach Manager. This role was created by MSMT to develop connections within the local community as well as foster relationships with seasonal tourist groups.

Globetrotting pop duo THE TING TINGS have just announced 2015 North American tour dates, kicking off January 19 in Toronto. The U.K. natives are touring in support of their new album SUPER CRITICAL, available now in the U.S. digitally, with a physical release on January 13, 2015 via Finca/[PIAS].

"A Drinking Game: NYC" mixes a live stage reading with a cult classic film--and tops it off with alcohol. Actors improvise the script, while both actors and audience drink when favorite buzzwords occur.

Following a sold-out Opening Night performance, THE NEW YORK MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL and SPIEGEL AND WOLPOW PARTNERSHIP have announced a second extension performance of CLONED!, a two of a kind sci-fi musical set in the Manhattan of the 90s, with book by Jacey Powers (Picking Up - DR2 Theater) & Dan Wolpow (Keepers: A Broadway Benefit at Studio 54), lyrics by Dan Wolpow, music by Adam Spiegel (Camp Rolling Hills - 2013 NYMF Next Link Project Finalist), choreographed by Ryan Kasprzak (TV: Smash, So You Think You Can Dance; Tour: Billy Elliot; NYMF: Volleygirls), music direction by Julianne B. Merrill (NYMF: Mother Divine) and directed by Tom Wojtunik (Children of Eden - NY IT Award Outstanding Musical; Urinetown - NY IT Award Outstanding Musical; The Miss Education of Jenna Bush - FringeNYC Best Solo Show & Audience Favorite; Edenville - NY IT Award Nominee Best Director; NYMF: The Groove Factory).

THE NEW YORK MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL and SPIEGEL AND WOLPOW PARTNERSHIP have announced the world premiere production of CLONED!, winner of The New York Musical Theatre Festival's 2013 Developmental Reading Award, an Official Selection of the 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival's Next Link Project and a Grand Jury Selection of the 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival, with book by Jacey Powers (Picking Up - DR2 Theater) & Dan Wolpow (Keepers: A Broadway Benefit at Studio 54), lyrics by Dan Wolpow, music by Adam Spiegel (Camp Rolling Hills - 2013 NYMF Next Link Project Finalist), choreographed by Ryan Kasprzak° (TV: Smash, So You Think You Can Dance; Tour: Billy Elliot; NYMF: Volleygirls), musical direction by Julianne Merrill° and directed by Tom Wojtunik° (Children of Eden - NY IT Award Outstanding Musical; Urinetown - NY IT Award Outstanding Musical; The Miss Education of Jenna Bush - FringeNYC Best Solo Show & Audience Favorite; Edenville - NY IT Award Nominee Best Director; NYMF: The Groove Factory).

Studio art classes are forming now for the Erie Art Museum's Spring Semester of studio art classes and workshops. Class registrations made by April 1 are eligible for a $10.00 off Early Bird Discount for each class; registration can be done online at erieartmuseum.org or by calling the Museum at 814-459-5477. The Museum offers a broad range of classes for all ages, kids and adult, and all skill levels, from absolute beginners to more seasoned artists; professional artists teach all classes. Some highlights this semester are Oriental Painting, which will meet Mondays for 6 weeks, starting April 7, 4-6 p.m. Esther Sung Hong, who holds her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Oriental Art, facilitates the class and helps students develop their skills in painting fruits, flowers, and outdoor scenes all specifically tailored for beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels. Printmaking and Bookbinding 101, will meet Tuesdays for 5 weeks starting April 8, from 5:30-7 p.m. In this introductory course, Jill Kambs, who holds her MFA degrees in Photography and Book Arts, will teach students how to make hand-printed books from affordable everyday materials. Art Becker will be teaching Digital Photography: The Next Step on Thursdays for 6 weeks, starting April 10, 7-9 p.m. This class, a follow up to Digital Photo class, helps students advance their technical knowledge, shoot at twilight and at night, and learn some studio lighting techniques. Just in time for Easter, the Museum brings back the popular Pysanky Egg Dying Workshop on Sunday, April 13 from 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. Pysanky is an ancient method that uses wax to create intricate dye patterns. It has been a tradition in many Eastern European families for generations, and children learn from parents or grandparents. In this workshop, Katie White teaches participants the history and meaning of Pysanky symbols, and create their own decorated egg. The Museum offers discounts to Museum Members on all classes and workshops. A complete description of available classes is online at www.erieartmuseum.org. For more information, call (814) 459-5477.