M. Grant News

The Shubert Foundation's 2016 Grants Program has awarded a record total of $25.6 million to 506 not-for-profit performing arts organizations across the United States. The 2016 grants mark the 34th consecutive year that the Foundation has increased its giving. 

More than 300 people attended JCCA's annual Celebration of Hope: A Gala to Benefit Children and Families at Jazz at Lincoln Center May 18, 2016. The festive event raised more than $700,000 to help the 16,000 vulnerable, abused children and families served by JCCA, one the national's oldest child and family services agencies. One of the highlights of the evening was Tony Award winner Joanna Gleason's song 'Lullaby.' She dedicated it to the 'beautiful children JCCA serves.' Scroll down for a photo of Gleason at the event!

A full house of children and adults greeted the Disney musical Mary Poppins with exuberant delight at the historic Waterville Opera House this weekend. And, indeed, the elaborate production of the familiar classic had many pleasures to offer. Directed by Debra Susi with choreography by Adam P. Blais, the staging was lively and the dancing serviceable, sometimes sparkling, while the moments of flight (facilitated by Foy) elicited the appropriate gasps and applause. The atmospheric production, despite slowing the action in the scene changes on several occasions, boasted a painted drop set with moveable furniture units and a colorful, magical lighting design by Chad Lefebvre, who created the storybook palette in pastel pinks, greens, blues, and lavenders. Travis M. Grant supplied the lavish, elegantly designed and detailed costumes, and Jayson Murray insured a well-balanced acoustic with his sound design.

Listen, I am not a psychiatrist by any means, but I think there is a slight chance, that Olivia Pope has some PTSD after her kidnapping last fall that may be starting to manifest itself. Anyone? Just me?

This weekend found the New York Philharmonic in Ann Arbor, Michigan, for the inaugural performance residency of its five-year partnership with the University Musical Society of the University of Michigan, in conjunction with the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance. Alan Gilbert led the Orchestra in works by Beethoven, Magnus Lindberg, Esa-Pekka Salonen, and Richard Strauss; David Newman led the score to On the Waterfrontas the complete film was screened; Philharmonic musicians led master classes; and Alan Gilbert conducted a thousand — Philharmonic brass plus the Michigan Marching Band, Michigan Alumni Band, and UMS Choral Union — at the Michigan Homecoming football game halftime show. Go Blue!

As its mainstage season draws to a close, Maine State Music Theatre presented the second of its offerings for young audiences, Shrek Jr.,The Musical in an ambitiously staged interpretation of the 2008 David Lindsay-Abaire-Jeanine Tesori musical version of the Disneyworks film that packed Brunswick's Pickard Theatre for four performances on August 17th. Though MSMT has always offered children's theatre as part of its summer season, this Shrek distinguishes itself in its exuberant and deliciously talented young cast, its impressive production values, and its decision to address the show to a broader family audience. To see toddlers and grandparents, the literally-young and young-at-heart all relishing the energetic performance was an absolute delight!

'Fame/I'm gonna live forever/I'm gonna learn how to fly. . . .'So sings the company of young aspiring actors in the Steve Margoshes/Jacques Levy 1984 musical, FAME, and, indeed, one finds the description appropriate for the talented cast which Maine State Music Theatre has assembled for its annual intern production, presented at Brunswick's Pickard Theatre on Monday, June 15th. Each year some two dozen young artists, who also perform in the main stage shows and work behind the scenes come together to present their own show, and in this year's FAME they outdo themselves! The 1988 musical based on the earlier movie is an excellent choice for the company, offering age-appropriate characters with which the actors can identify and challenging them to turn out colorful, individual performances while creating an esprit de corps. Moreover, it is a theatre story, filled with laughter, pathos, and heart.

It's your last week to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Maine Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 26th. Voting closes at the end of the year, in under one week!

Time is ticking on your last chance to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Maine Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 19th. Voting closes at the end of the year!

Voting has now opened for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Maine Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 4th.

Voting has now opened for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Maine Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 4th.

Voting has now opened for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Maine Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of November 25th.

Rayna organizes a charity concert at Fort Campbell after finding out Luke has been injured in Afghanistan, forcing him to cut his tour short. Deacon and Maddie are brought closer together as they chart a new course for their future.

Calling all lovers of literature, good food, and literature about good food, Pen Parentis has a wonderful Literary Salon planned for November, featuring four excellent food writers! Caroline M. Grant, co-editor of The Cassoulet Saved Our Marriage: True Tales of Food, Family, and How We Learn to Eat, will read from her anthology, along with contributing food journalists Aleksandra Crapanzano and Edward Lewine.

Calling all lovers of literature, good food, and literature about good food, Pen Parentis has a wonderful Literary Salon planned for November, featuring four excellent food writers! Caroline M. Grant, co-editor of The Cassoulet Saved Our Marriage: True Tales of Food, Family, and How We Learn to Eat, will read from her anthology, along with contributing food journalists Aleksandra Crapanzano and Edward Lewine.

Pen Parentis has a grand season opener planned, and all avid readers as well as novice and professional writers 21+ are invited to attend! Tonight, September 10th, 2013, at the ever-elegant Andaz Wall Street (75 Wall at Water Street) at 7:00 pm, Pen Parentis opens its tenth season of Literary Salons-still free and open to the public. Four authors will be reading from new works, mingling over happy hour wine and beer, and signing books that are available for purchase from Bluestockings Books.

Pen Parentis has a grand season opener planned, and all avid readers as well as novice and professional writers 21+ are invited to attend! On Tuesday, September 10th, 2013, at the ever-elegant Andaz Wall Street (75 Wall at Water Street) at 7:00 pm, Pen Parentis opens its tenth season of Literary Salons-still free and open to the public. Four authors will be reading from new works, mingling over happy hour wine and beer, and signing books that are available for purchase from Bluestockings Books.

Pen Parentis has a grand season opener planned, and all avid readers as well as novice and professional writers 21+ are invited to attend! On Tuesday, September 10th, 2013, at the ever-elegant Andaz Wall Street (75 Wall at Water Street) at 7:00 pm, Pen Parentis opens its tenth season of Literary Salons—still free and open to the public. Four authors will be reading from new works, mingling over happy hour wine and beer, and signing books that are available for purchase from Bluestockings Books.

On August 5, 2013, the ballot tabulation of the Nevada Local election was conducted. Following are the results of the election.