Max Jenkins News

?After two decades of bringing musical theater, acting and dance to the NYC landscape, Applause New York, the city's foremost children's performing arts program, will be celebrating its 20th anniversary on March 6th with a star studded alumni gala and live performances.

Last Sunday, December 7th at Joe's Pub, 'A Better Holiday' concert was held to benefit the It Gets Better Project. The event featured stars of Broadway and television singing songs of the season. Scroll down for photos!

On December 7th, Joe's Pub at The Public will play host to some of the brightest talent on Broadway and television. An incredible cast will come together for a festive concert benefitting the It Gets Better Project, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth.

New York's television, film and theatrical celebrities will take their place behind the bar at the annual 'Stockings with Care Celebrity Bartending Night' in New York City on Monday, November 17th at Hudson Station Bar and Grill (440 Ninth Avenue between 34th and 35th Streets) from 7pm to 11pm to raise money for the not-for-profit organization. Stockings with Care provides holiday gifts for children whose families live in homeless shelters or are in jeopardy of becoming homeless.

NBC has given its first full season order to freshman cop drama MYSTERIES OF LAURA, starring Debra Messing.

Knife Edge Productions presents Stephen Belber's FAULT LINES, directed by Shira-Lee Shalit. The show opened at TBG Theater on September 8. Scroll down for photos of celebrities at the show, including Bobby Cannavale, Richard Kind, John Patrick Shanley and more!

NBC will air a special preview of the new drama MYSTERIES OF LAURA, starring 'Smash's Debra Messing.

The World Premiere of Lucas Kavner's (Fish Eye with Colt Coeur/HERE Arts Center; Love Money at Ars Nova) Carnival Kids, directed by Stephen Brackett and presented by Lesser America, opened at the TBG Theatre (312 West 36th Street between 8th and 9th Avenue) on Monday, June 9th. The production, which has already received a New York Times Critics Pick, will run through Saturday, June 28th. Tickets ($18; $15 students) may be purchased online at www.lesseramerica.com.box-office or by calling 212-868-4444.

Lesser America will present the World Premiere of Lucas Kavner's (Fish Eye with Colt Coeur/HERE Arts Center; Love Money at Ars Nova) Carnival Kids, June 5-28 at TBG Theatre (312 West 36th Street between 8th and 9th Avenue).

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) will host a one-night-only staged reading of the hit off-Broadway play, UNNATURAL ACTS, to benefit The Trevor Project on Monday, January 27, 2014. The special event will be held at 7pm at NYTW (79 East Fourth Street, between Bowery & Second Avenue) and will feature the entire original off-Broadway cast. A brief panel discussion to follow.

Max Jenkins (star and co-writer of Classic Stage Company's record-breaking UNNATURAL ACTS, 'Gossip Girl,' '30 Rock') and Heléne Yorke (GREASE, WALMARTOPIA, original Glinda in the Second National Tour of WICKED, HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, '30 Rock,' 'Masters of Sex' on Showtime) star in HIGH MAINTENANCE, 'OLIVIA', a webisode about the Brooklyn hipsters you love to hate. Watch it below!

Classic Stage Company's acclaimed production of UNNATURAL ACTS, a new play created by members of the Plastic Theatre, conceived and directed by Tony Speciale, will close on Sunday, July 31 at CSC (136 East 13th Street).

Classic Stage Company's acclaimed production of UNNATURAL ACTS, a new play created by members of the Plastic Theatre, conceived and directed by Tony Speciale is set to close July 24 at CSC (136 East 13th Street). New York Magazine called UNNATURAL ACTS 'remarkable, sleek and brutal' and said 'the play offers damning lessons in power, persecution and solidarity - or lack thereof.' Variety raved 'UNNATURAL ACTS is riveting and fascinating' with 'stunning theatricality.' The Associated Press called UNNATURALS ACTS 'powerfully riveting' and said 'Speciale has staged this engrossing story with flair and impressive theatricality, employing a company of extremely talented actors. In a riveting series of increasingly charged vignettes, he unspools a story of prejudice, intimidation, friendship, fear and betrayal that displays the crushing effect of societally-approved homophobia.' And The Daily News wrote 'Speciale's production is stylish and stirring, and beautiful.'

Due to extraordinary demand, Classic Stage Company's acclaimed production of UNNATURAL ACTS, a new play created by members of the Plastic Theatre, conceived and directed by Tony Speciale, will extend for one final week through Sunday, July 31 at CSC (136 East 13th Street).

Classic Stage Company's acclaimed production of UNNATURAL ACTS, a new play created by members of the Plastic Theatre, conceived and directed by Tony Speciale, will close on Sunday, July 17 at CSC (136 East 13th Street).

Classic Stage Company's acclaimed production of UNNATURAL ACTS, a new play created by members of the Plastic Theatre, conceived and directed by Tony Speciale, will extend by popular demand for one additional and final week through Sunday, July 24 at CSC (136 East 13th Street). New York Magazine called UNNATURAL ACTS 'remarkable, sleek and brutal' and said 'the play offers damning lessons in power, persecution and solidarity - or lack thereof.' Variety raved 'UNNATURAL ACTS is riveting and fascinating' with 'stunning theatricality.' The Associated Press called UNNATURALS ACTS 'powerfully riveting' and said 'Speciale has staged this engrossing story with flair and impressive theatricality, employing a company of extremely talented actors. In a riveting series of increasingly charged vignettes, he unspools a story of prejudice, intimidation, friendship, fear and betrayal that displays the crushing effect of societally-approved homophobia.' And The Daily News wrote 'Speciale's production is stylish and stirring, and beautiful.'

Classic Stage Company (CSC), under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Jessica R. Jenen, will present UNNATURAL ACTS, a new play created by members of the Plastic Theatre, conceived and directed by Tony Speciale, as the final offering of its triumphant 2010-11 season. Based on the real-life story of Harvard's 'Secret Court' of 1920, UNNATURAL ACTS will conclude performances Sunday July 10 at CSC (136 East 13th Street).

Classic Stage Company's acclaimed production of UNNATURAL ACTS, a new play created by members of the Plastic Theatre, conceived and directed by Tony Speciale, will extend by popular demand for one additional week through Sunday, July 17 at CSC (136 East 13th Street). New York Magazine called UNNATURAL ACTS 'remarkable, sleek and brutal' and said 'the play offers damning lessons in power, persecution and solidarity - or lack thereof.' Variety raved 'UNNATURAL ACTS is riveting and fascinating' with 'stunning theatricality.' The Associated Press called UNNATURALS ACTS 'powerfully riveting' and said 'Speciale has staged this engrossing story with flair and impressive theatricality, employing a company of extremely talented actors. In a riveting series of increasingly charged vignettes, he unspools a story of prejudice, intimidation, friendship, fear and betrayal that displays the crushing effect of societally-approved homophobia.' And The Daily News wrote 'Speciale's production is stylish and stirring, and beautiful.'