Maurice Hines News

The New York Music Theater Festival can easily be considered a harbor for the freshest talents in musical theater. Over a period of several weeks, an astonishing number of musical productions are presented on vest pocket stages throughout New York City. As is often the case with harbors, there is a confluence of talent feeding into it. Not only is this talent from all over the nation, but it ranges from the youngest to the most experienced and they all converge on the city for this event.

Yee-haw! It's time to start two-steppin' and boot-scootin' in the aisles, as Signature Theatre kicks off its 2012/13 season with the Tony Award-winning musical comedy The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, beginning performances on Tuesday, August 14.

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) presents Gilbert & Sullivan's comic operetta THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, directed by Broadway veteran Terrence Mann, starring Sean Martin Hingston as the Pirate King, Steven Hayes as the Major-General and Connecticut native Diane Phelan as Mabel.

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) presents Gilbert & Sullivan's comic operetta THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, directed by Broadway veteran Terrence Mann, starring Sean Martin Hingston as the Pirate King, Steven Hayes as the Major-General and Connecticut native Diane Phelan as Mabel.

Amas Musical Theatre will celebrate its 43rd Year with a Gala evening on Monday, April 2th, featuring a special concert by Tony-Winner, Lillias White. The Amas Benefit Event honors the iconic restaurateur, author and transcultural lifestyle pioneer B. Smith with the "Rosie Award." The event takes place at the Baruch Performing Arts Center, East 25th Street between Lexington and 3rd Avenues, at 7pm.

Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff, Artistic Producer), will celebrate its 43rd Year with a Gala evening on Monday, April 2th, featuring a special concert by Tony winner Lillias White. The event takes place at the Baruch Performing Arts Center, East 25th Street between Lexington and 3rd Avenues, at 7pm.

Carolyn Griffin has announced that MetroStage will be presenting the premiere of a new musical, Josephine Tonight, with book and lyrics by Sherman Yellen, and music by Wally Harper, through Mar. 18, 2012.

Jujamcyn Theaters and True Colors Theatre Company have announced the 4th Annual August Wilson Monologue Competition will take place on Monday, May 7th at 7:00 p.m. at the August Wilson Theatre (245 West 52nd Street). The event, which is free and open to the public, features high school students from Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh and Seattle performing monologues by the late, legendary American playwright.

The theater is filled with shows that take place in the entertainment business. Whether it is a about a young girl making good on Broadway or two crooked producers trying not to make good, the world of entertainment is a fascinating place. However, does the theater really need another show about the business of show? It does when it is as delightful as Josephine Tonight.

Now considered a prominent venue for award winning theatre, Culture Project had its humble beginnings in a former piano manufacturing factory on East 91st Street. It then moved to a lumberyard at 45 Bleecker Street which it converted into a two-theater performing arts center with Bombitty of Errors and And God Created Great Whales as its initial attractions. Now Culture Project has officially returned to 45 Bleecker making it its permanent home, and will present And God Created Great Whales, the innovative piece that launched the Culture Project into prominence over a decade ago.

We've been very lucky with the mildest winter I can remember since I moved to the DC area in 1985. And in February the list of theatre productions gracing our local stages are diverse and offer an endless amount of possibilities. So while the snow is on vacation why not visit your Nation's Capital and take in some of these shows. Here's my list of what I am looking forward to seeing and links to other productions playing in February. Buy some tickets and support your local theatres.

Carolyn Griffin has announced that MetroStage will be presenting the premiere of a new musical, Josephine Tonight, with book and lyrics by Sherman Yellen, and music by Wally Harper, Jan. 26-Mar. 18, 2012.

Carolyn Griffin has announced that MetroStage will be presenting the premiere of a new musical, Josephine Tonight, with book and lyrics by Sherman Yellen, and music by Wally Harper, Jan. 26-Mar. 18, 2012.

Now considered a prominent venue for award winning theatre, Culture Project had its humble beginnings in a former piano manufacturing factory on East 91st Street. It then moved to a lumberyard at 45 Bleecker Street which it converted into a two-theater performing arts center with Bombitty of Errors and And God Created Great Whales as its initial attractions. Now Culture Project has officially returned to 45 Bleecker making it its permanent home, and will present And God Created Great Whales, the innovative piece that launched the Culture Project into prominence over a decade ago.

Amas Musical Theatre will celebrate its 43rd Year with a Gala evening on Monday, April 2th, featuring a special concert by Tony-Winner, Lillias White. The Amas Benefit Event honors the iconic restaurateur, author and transcultural lifestyle pioneer B. Smith with the "Rosie Award." The event takes place at the Baruch Performing Arts Center, East 25th Street between Lexington and 3rd Avenues, at 7pm.

Saturday, December 10, the casting office of Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater will hold a citywide casting call to fill four roles in its upcoming production of The Music Man, which runs May 11-July 22, 2012 in the Fichandler Stage and is directed by Artistic Director Molly Smith.

Saturday, December 10, the casting office of Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater will hold a citywide casting call to fill four roles in its upcoming production of The Music Man, which runs May 11-July 22, 2012 in the Fichandler Stage and is directed by Artistic Director Molly Smith.

Having successfully completed three years as an Original Cast Member/Assistant Dance Captain for the 2010 Tony Winner for 'Best Musical,' Memphis, Ms. Figgins now performs, ChocoLove Voices, Sunday, November 20th, 2011, 7:00 PM at The Triad Theatre.

Having successfully completed three years as an Original Cast Member/Assistant Dance Captain for the 2010 Tony Winner for 'Best Musical,' Memphis, Ms. Figgins now performs, ChocoLove Voices, Sunday, November 20th, 2011, 7:00 PM at The Triad Theatre.

D. Watts' Spoken Word Preserves: The Jam, an innovative, soul revealing 'play on words' jam session, will take place on Monday, October 10th at the Helen Mills Spotlight Theatre, 139 West 26th Street (between 6th and 7th avenue), performance begins at 8pm. Tickets are $18 for advance general admission, $25 for advance reserved seating (limited availability), $20 at the door and available at www.vallinsandmalotke.com or by calling 646-363-6039.