Kurt Weill News

Andrea Most, author of Theatrical Liberalism: Jews and Popular Entertainment in America, will discuss her book at a free event on Monday, May 4, at 7:00pm at Theatre for a New Audience, Polonsky Shakespeare Center, 262 Ashland Place.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com or call (646) 476-3551.

Spoiler Alert! If you attend Avenue Q, you will find yourself at one of the most creative productions of the theatrical season. Avenue Q opened on Friday April 17 at the Barn Players in Mission, Kansas. Based on the original concept of Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx Avenue Q is a musical in two acts. Music and lyrics are by Lopez and Marx with the book by Jeff Whitty.

Multiple Helpmann and Green Room Award winners Jacqui Dark and Kanen Breen detonate across the footlights as the Strange Bedfellows, in a debauched and greasepaint-spattered riot of musical abandon, courageously accompanied by musical director Daryl Wallis.

For one night only on Saturday, May 9 at 7:30pm, Broadway legend Patti LuPone will perform in her critically-acclaimed concert, Far Away Places, conceived and directed by Scott Wittman with musical arrangements by Joseph Thalken at Pace University's Schimmel Center. A Broadway superstar for more than 30 years, Ms. LuPone is a two-time Tony Winner (Best performance by a leading actress) for Evita and Gypsy; an Olivier recipient (for her performance in London's LES MISERABLES); and a two-time Grammy winner (Best Classical recording and Best Opera recording for Rise and Fall of Mahagonny). She takes us on a musical journey with thrilling renditions of songs by an eclectic list of songwriters, including Stephen Sondheim, Cole Porter, Willie Nelson, Kurt Weill, Edith Piaf, Frederick Hollander, and, even The BeeGees.

A landmark in modern drama which inspired the hits 'Cabaret' and 'Chicago' and which includes one of the most popular songs of the century, 'The Threepenny Opera' plays on the Clarence Brown Theatre Mainstage tonight, April 16 through May 3, 2015.

Acclaimed street artist Bradley Theodore has painted two original murals in downtown Manhattan celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the OBIE Awards, Off Broadway's Highest Honor. Presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Village Voice, the 2015 OBIE Awards will be held on Monday, May 18, 2015 at Webster Hall (125 East 11th Street). Tickets to the ceremony are now available via www.ObieAwards.com.

Due to an unexpected development in Audra McDonald's schedule, the date for her performance in Pittsburgh has been changed. The concert will now take place at 8 p.m. on Monday, May 11th at the landmark Byham Theater.

The Hill House Association (www.hillhouse.org) will present six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald in concert for one night only. The performance will begin at 8 p.m. tonight, April 15(th) at the landmark Byham Theater.

The Collegiate Chorale announces that Eli Tokash will join the cast of the US Premiere of Kurt Weill's The Road of Promise on May 6, 2015 at 8pm and May 7, 2015 at 7pm at Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall, 881 7th Avenue, New York, NY 10019. Tickets are $30-$135 and are available at www.carnegiehall.org, CarnegieCharge 212-247-7800, or the Box Office at 57th and Seventh. For more information, visit http://collegiatechorale.org/performances/the-road-of-promise.

A massive 12,000-pound moving steel platform – and the Vancouver Opera Orchestra – will dominate the Queen Elizabeth theatre stage for VO's innovative new production of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, opening April 25, 2015 for only 6 performances through May 3.

Villanova Theatre presents The Threepenny Opera, with book and lyrics by Bertolt Brecht, music by Kurt Weill, directed by Valerie Joyce, and on stage tonight, April 14-26, 2015. Villanova's reimagined production will feature actors playing instruments, a striking industrial aesthetic, and a timely message.

John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men opened on Saturday night at the White Theatre inside the Jewish Community Center in Overland Park, Kansas. Bill Christie directs one of the finest productions of the tragic play produced in the Kansas City area. John Steinbeck's books and plays, though classics, are not for everyone, but the production at the White Theatre is of such a high quality it should not be missed.

A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed classical repertory theatre company, extends both of its productions of William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar and Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill's groundbreaking The Threepenny Opera in Michael Feingold's translation through May 24.

Gigi, Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's beloved Oscar and Tony Award-winning musical comedy, celebrates its opening tonight, April 8, at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street). Scroll down to learn more about the company, and watch highlights from the show below!

A landmark in modern drama which inspired the hits 'Cabaret' and 'Chicago' and which includes one of the most popular songs of the century, 'The Threepenny Opera' plays on the Clarence Brown Theatre Mainstage April 16 through May 3, 2015.

After successful shows at Judy's Chelsea and Don't Tell Mama, Jennifer Roberts is back to celebrate her love for Manhattan with two shows at New York hotspot 'Don't Tell Mama.' Musical Director Tedd Firth will join Jennifer along with bass player Ritt Henn (www.ritthenn.com) tonight, April 7th and April 9th.

A signature feature of the National Theater Institute, weekly Theater Labs challenge students to put all the skills gained in classes into practice. When given just 15 hours to stage a scene, students learn to trust their creative instincts. Under the mentorship of a professional director, NTI students gain practical experience with a wealth of classical and contemporary texts as well as have the opportunity to work as actor, director, designer, and/or dramaturge each week.

Revenge will be delicious in the final production of Vancouver Opera's 2014-2015 season: Stephen Sondheim's brilliantly thrilling Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, onstage at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre for 6 performances April 25 - May 3, 2015.

This April and May, 54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street.