Lewis Strong News

The New Jersey State Council on the Arts Literary Artist Fellowship Showcase features public performances of works from recipients of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts Fellowships in poetry, prose, and playwriting. Writers are chosen through a highly competitive national peer panel review process focusing on artistic merit. The Arts Council's Fellows are some of the best artists working in their genres.

The New Jersey State Council on the Arts Literary Artist Fellowship Showcase features public performances of works from recipients of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts Fellowships in poetry, prose, and playwriting. Writers are chosen through a highly competitive national peer panel review process focusing on artistic merit. The Arts Council's Fellows are some of the best artists working in their genres.

Each year, Clear Channel stations across America host Jingle Ball concerts in local cities featuring performances by top recording artists and emerging new talent. This season, 103.5 KISS FM in Chicago will welcome its first ever Jingle Ball concert, while Z100's Jingle Ball in New York will celebrate its 18th annual concert and will feature for the first time as an exclusive nationwide broadcast two hour special on The CW Network Wednesday, December 18 at 8 p.m. EST. The full iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2013 Tour will stop in Dallas; Philadelphia; Los Angeles; Seattle; Chicago; Minneapolis; Atlanta; New York; Boston; Washington D.C.; Tampa; and Miami.

Lawrence Edelson, Producing Artistic Director of American Lyric Theater (ALT), announced today that the company has been awarded a $150,000 grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support capacity building and the national expansion of the company's Composer Librettist Development Program (CLDP), the only full-time professional mentorship initiative for emerging operatic writers in the country.

Trendsetters and shopping pros are invited to a 12-day spectacular that promises a fashionable finish to the summer. The Magnificent Mile Shopping Festival presented by MasterCard returns to The Magnificent Mile in Chicago from August 22 September 2.

The Denver Center Theatre Company will begin selling single tickets to the upcoming 2013/14 season today, August 5.

The 10-play season includes four exhilarating world premieres selected from the 2013 Colorado New Play Summit. Karen Zacarias' adaptation of Helen Thorpe's book Just Like Us, Catherine Trieschmann's comedy The Most Deserving, Matthew Lopez's heartfelt The Legend of Georgia McBride and Marcus Gardley's adaptation of Homer's epic poem, black odyssey, will all take to the stage to dazzle Denver audiences. Also selected for the season is a Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, an adaptation of a Marx Brother's script, Shakespeare's tragic masterpiece, a powerful and poignant love story and the return of a Christmas classic.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. It's the TOP TEN HOT TOPIX in the Mosh Pit for January through June, 2013! And our 203rd weekly column. Check out what YOU've been talking about!

The nominations for the 2013 Helpmann Awards have been announced simultaneously at events in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart and Perth. This is the first time the Nominations events were held concurrently in 6 cities and a first for Adelaide, Hobart and Perth.

dell'Arte Opera Ensemble of New York City celebrates its tenth anniversary with a 2013 season entitled 'Smoldering in Rome': Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea, SV 308 (1642) with stage direction byVictoria Crutchfield, and Mozart's La clemenza di Tito, K. 621 (1791), directed by Walker Lewis with musical direction by dell'Arte's Artistic Director, Christopher Fecteau. dell'Arte's young artists are joined by Baroque/Classical chamber ensemble The Sebastians for L'incoronazione di Poppea, led by Jeffrey Grossman, lending rich authenticity to the performances.

Two years ago, in my generally favorable review of Pamela Lewis' quirky, if flawed, cabaret show Dog Walking Diva, I went a little bit out on the limb with . . . “She has the potential to be a major cabaret star.” Well, as Lewis (who given her bubbly and bold personality performs under the totally appropriate moniker of “Champagne Pam”) remarked often in her newest show, during which she assessed whether she had yet achieved a list of life goals, that particular observation would have to get a “check.” Because with Daddy's Little Girl, Champagne Pam--who proudly admitted to having reached the Big 4-0--is all grown up as a cabaret performer and should be a member of that rarified group who even a reviewer on a press comp should pay to see and hear.

Erik Altemus is making his Broadway debut as 'Lewis' in the current revival of PIPPIN, returning to the stage for the first time in 40 years. The talented actor revealed to BWW why making his Broadway debut at this point in his career was exactly 'the way it was meant to happen.'

A humorous stage adaptation of an award-winning book, JASON INVISIBLE is a world premiere commission by the Kennedy Center and VSA. The story of a young teenager dealing with a mentally ill father, JASON INVISIBLE shows the power of friendship in an interactive theatrical experience directed by Rosemary Newcott of Atlanta's Alliance Theatre.

This week, Bruno Mars' WHEN I WAS YOUR MAN was the best selling song, while country star Luke Bryan claimed the best selling album spot with SPRING BREAK...HERE TO PARTY. For the full-breakdown of this week's iTunes best sellers, check out the list below!

Seattle Center Festal presents Irish Week Festival, 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., March 16 and 10 a.m. - 6 p.m, March 17, in Seattle Center Armory. Explore and experience the cultural roots and contemporary influences of Ireland through live performances, visual arts, hands-on activities, foods, games, and a lively marketplace.

Boston Playwrights' Theatre final new play of the season is Dan Hunter's LEGALLY DEAD, a dark comedy about a dysfunctional family deciding how to deal with its missing Dad. The wacky, scary characters are immensely entertaining, but you wouldn't want them on your family tree.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Grammy and Oscar, 'Smash' and 'Million Dollar Quartet' on TV, Lyric Opera's five R and H shows, Rachel Rockwell directs 'Brigadoon' and 'Shrek,' two college shows, and the two singing Callaway sisters!

Syfy launches the next generation of arena combat when 12 state-of-the-art robots and 24 courageous contestants enter the ring in the hotly-anticipated new competition series, Robot Combat League, premiering Tuesday, February 26 at 10PM ET/PT. Each week, Robot Combat League, hosted by Chris Jericho, the wildly popular WWE superstar, features tournament-style battles between eight-foot tall humanoid robots controlled by a human fighter ("robo-jockey") and an engineer ("robo-tech"). Robot Combat League is produced by Smart Dog Media, with Craig Plestis serving as executive producer.

Actors Terrence Mann and Charlotte d'Amboise break from PIPPIN to discuss their work in it, their characters, and the changes in theme from the original to Diane Paulus' circus-themed current production.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The pre-Broadway 'Big Fish,' a 'Fela!' tour, some long-running shows extend, Theo Ubique lights up the winter, Glencoe's 'Sweet Charity' jazz club, 'Lady Day,' two 'Grand Night' revues and more!