Mary Ann News

Moscow 1938. Not the best place to have a sense of humour, let alone a yearning for freedom.

The 29th annual Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival (Inside Out), championing innovative LGBTQ filmmakers from across the globe, revealed its full feature and short film lineup. The announcement was made today by Inside Out's Executive Director Andria Wilson and the festival's Director of Programming Andrew Murphy. Inside Out, which launched the first ever annual LGBTQ Film Finance Forum, has established itself as an international home and incubator for LGBTQ emerging and established filmmakers. This year's festival will take place May 23 to June 2, 2019.

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) announces casting for the first production of the 2019 Nutmeg Summer Series: "Mamma Mia!," the Tony Award-nominated musical based on the songs of ABBA.  The cast includes Broadway actors Jessica Hendy (Broadway's "Cats," "Aida"), Jennifer Cody (Broadway's "Shrek", "Urinetown" & CRT's "Noises Off"), Lauren Blackman (Broadway's "Anastasia"),  and Bradley Dean (Braodway's "The Last Ship", "Dear Evan Hansen"). As previously announced, Terrence Mann will direct with choreography by Mary Ann Lamb and Jessica Walker. Subscriptions and single tickets are on sale at crt.uconn.edu or 860-486-2113.

The little OPERA theatre of ny (LOTNY) presents the New York Premiere of Benjamin Britten's opera in two acts, OWEN WINGRAVE, with libretto by Myfanwy Piper, at GK Arts Center, 29 Jay Street, Brooklyn, NY, from May 9-12, 2019, with performances on Thursday through Saturday at 7:30pm and Sunday at 3pm. Tickets are $20-$45 and are available at www.ticketcentral.com. 

The New 42nd Street Gala will celebrate the vision and legacy of Cora Cahan, founding President & CEO, as she steps down after 29 years of extraordinary leadership. Proceeds from the Monday, June 3, 2019, event at The Plaza Hotel will benefit The New Victory Theater's innovative arts and engagement programs which reach more than 55,000 kids each year. 

The bestselling, much-loved author and LGBT activist, Armistead Maupin has announced his first ever UK tour this autumn which will culminate at Storyhouse in Chester as part of the Literature Festival on 11 November.

Treasure Island is playing on the Arcadia Stage and has already extended their run through June 9th. Geared to children 8 and up, this charming story is full of fun for the adult kids too!

Rhinebeck Writers Retreat is producing a reading of the new musical THE TATTOOED LADY, book by Obie-winner Erin Courtney, music and lyrics by Lucille Lortel-winner Max Vernon, and direction by Ellie Heyman. THE TATTOOED LADY was selected for Rhinebeck Writers Retreat's Triple R program, giving the writers 2 readings and a residency to do extensive development of their musical in a compressed time frame.

Featuring Jim James, bell hooks, Rachel Grimes, Wendell Berry, Joan Shelley and many more wonderful Kentucky artists, with proceeds benefiting the Kentucky Natural Lands Trust & Pine Mountain Settlement School.

FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Award-winning songwriters Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrichas they celebrate their 26th year of romantic comedy writing with a one-night only, all-original show on Tuesday, May 7 at 9:30pm

Find yourself at 28 Barbary Lane on June 7 when new limited series Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City  launches on Netflix.

After a groundbreaking inaugural year, BroadwayEvolved returns in 2019 with two Summer Intensives and College Prep. With just a few spots remaining, Betsy Wolfe, Co-Founder, shares her reflections on 2018 and why she just knew there had to be a second year.

Two of Galveston's most revered citizens - Ray and Vivian Pinard - will be honored as recipients of the prestigious 28th Annual Leonora Kempner Thompson Community Enrichment Award on Saturday, March 23 at The Grand 1894 Opera House.  Sponsored by, and benefiting The Grand, this event begins at 7pm and will include a cocktail reception, dinner on stage, and an award presentation. Honorary Co-chairs for this year's event are Gail and Armin Cantini and Donna and David Lang.

Hoff-Barthelson Music School's Annual Benefit Concert, the School's largest fundraising event of the year taking place on Sunday March 31, 2019, will feature 2019 Grammy award winner John Patitucci and his Jazz Trio. The concert will include special appearances by advanced HBMS jazz and chamber music students. The event will be held in the main sanctuary of the Westchester Reform Temple in Scarsdale.

The Gift Theatre launches its 18th season with a revival of John Patrick Shanley's Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning drama DOUBT: A PARABLE, presented as a part of Steppenwolf's LookOut Series.

After years of playing well with others - whether singing backup for friends' shows, or crooning alongside a cast of puppet characters - Jennifer Barnhart finally steps into the spotlight in her first solo cabaret, fittingly titled, 'It's About Time!' Alan Muraoka will direct two evenings of stories, silliness and song as Jennifer shares the journey that led her to two of the most famous streets in the world: Broadway and Sesame Street.

Menander Productions and Jamie Pierce have gathered a talented cast and crew to populate their world premiere of playwright Gina Torrecilla's ATTACK OF THE SECOND BANANAS, now at the Zephyr Theatre. Ryan Bergmann sharply directs his six-person ensemble in a slick, quick pace of much laughs and hilarity. Taylor Stephenson's underscoring of mock suspense music aptly heightens this involving, who-done-it mystery.

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) Artistic Director Terrence Mann and Executive Producer Matthew J. Pugliese are pleased to announce the lineup for the 2019 Nutmeg Summer Series. The third season under the artistic leadership of three-time Tony Award nominee Mann will include, "Mamma Mia" and "Cabaret." The Nutmeg Summer Series will run June 6 through July 21. Subscription packages are on sale beginning March 1 for the season. Single tickets will go on sale April 1, 2019, and are available at crt.uconn.edu or call (860) 486-2113.

OPERA America, the national service organization for opera and the nation's leading champion for American opera, is pleased to announce the recipients of its first-ever Civic Practice Grants, supported by OPERA America's Opera Fund endowment.

La Jolla Music Society, one of the West Coast's foremost performing arts institutions, has announced the launch of its greatly-anticipated, cutting edge new home, The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center (The Conrad), with three illustrious opening-weekend concerts. With ceremonies, performances, and receptions being held Friday through Sunday, April 5, 6, and 7, 2019, the variety and caliber of these festivities in celebration of its $82 million, 49,000-square-foot complex reflect La Jolla Music Society's invaluable positioning in the classical music world at large, and especially of its immeasurable significance to performing arts programming on an international scale.