McDonald News

Good morning, BroadwayWorld!

The Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF), the not-for-profit foundation of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), will host a conversation entitled 'Producing Theatre for an Ageless Audience', moderated by Linda Hartzell, SDC Foundation Trustee and Artistic Director Emerita of Seattle Children's Theatre, with luminary directors Mark Brokaw and Marcia Milgrom Dodge and playwright Timothy Allen McDonald on Monday May, 20, 2019 from 6:00-8:00 PM at SDC, 321 W. 44th St., Suite 804.

This morning at the Broadway League's 2019 Spring Road Conference, playwright Terrence McNally was honored with the Distinguished Lifetime Service Award as part of the Broadway League Awards, which recognize the contributions of those who have displayed exemplary service to the Broadway industry and are considered innovators of their craft.

Get a first look below at the new Broadway production of Terrence McNally's Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, starring Audra McDonald and Michael Shannon, directed by Arin Arbus.

The annual Broadway League Awards, honoring excellence and achievement for Touring Broadway, were announced today during the Broadway League's 2019 Spring Road Conference. First presented in 1992, the Broadway League Awards recognize the contributions of those who have displayed exemplary service to the Broadway industry and are considered innovators of their craft.

Disney Channel has ordered a second season of 'Amphibia,' a frog-out-of-water animated comedy series, ahead of its debut on MONDAY, JUNE 17 (10:00-10:30 a.m. EDT/PDT), on Disney Channel and DisneyNOW. Leaping into the fantastical world of 'Amphibia,' the series chronicles the adventures of independent and fearless teen Anne Boonchuy (voiced by Brenda Song) after she is magically transported to a rural marshland full of frog people and meets the excitable young frog Sprig Plantar and his family. Created and executive produced by Annie Award-winner Matt Braly ('Gravity Falls'), the series is inspired by his heritage, family and childhood trips to Bangkok, Thailand.

New Dramatists, Tony Honor recipient and the nation's premier playwright development laboratory, honored three-time Tony Award winner, Nathan Lane, with its 2019 Distinguished Achievement Award at its 70th Annual Spring Luncheon Tribute on Tuesday, May 14th at the New York Marriott Marquis.

Last night, The Strokes played a special set to a capacity crowd at The Wiltern in Los Angeles. The evening show was a hometown benefit for The Center in Hollywood and Food Cycle LA. The Strokes partnered with The Center, a community dedicated to ending isolation and homelessness in LA and Food Cycle LA, an organization focused on eliminating hunger and reducing food waste. The evening efforts raised over $250,000 with all proceeds to be shared directly.

New Dramatists, Tony Honor recipient and the nation's premier playwright development laboratory, just honored three-time Tony Award winner, Nathan Lane, with its 2019 Distinguished Achievement Award at its 70th Annual Spring Luncheon Tribute at the New York Marriott Marquis.

Pacific Festival Ballet of Thousand Oaks will be premiering its new ballet version of Camelot, the original 'Game of Thrones' in two performances on May 18 at the Fred Kavli Theatre in the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. Directed and choreographed by Kim Maselli and featuring new music by Eric Allaman.

Showtime Documentary Films today announced it will premiere the new documentary 16 SHOTS from Academy Award® nominated director Richard Rowley (Dirty Wars) on Friday, June 14 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The  feature examines the 2014 shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald by Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke and the cover-up that ensued. After the police initially declared the shooting as justified, journalists and activists fought for footage of the event  to be released, sending the Chicago Police Department and local Chicago government officials into upheaval as the community demanded justice. Rowley's film dissects the cover-up through first-hand witness accounts which led to the unprecedented conviction that fractured the political landscape of Chicago. 

The Royal Opera House today launches its 2019/20 Season, unveiling an exciting range of new commissions, world premieres and much-loved revivals, supported by a diverse range of ticketed and free daytime events, activities and festivals for people of all ages.

Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG award-winning actress Rachel Brosnahan will be honored by Covenant House at A Night of Broadway Stars on Monday, June 3rd at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Frederick P. Rose Hall, Broadway at 60th Street, New York City, for her advocacy on behalf of young people facing homelessness. 

VIVIAN REED will debut her new show "Little Bit of Soul, Little Bit of Pop" at The Green Room 42 on Saturday, June 15 at 7:00 PM. Reed is back to display her rare vocal ability to powerfully deliver songs in a variety of genres. The evening is packed with her unique arrangements of well-known music from an eclectic group of songwriters, such as Lionel Richie, Steve Winwood, Brenda Russell, Alan Jay Lerner, and Stevie Wonder. Her energy and passion are accompanied by conductor James Davis on piano, leading an all-star quintet.

After considering hundreds of live stage productions, concerts, and art exhibitions in Austin between the dates of May 1, 2018, and April 30, 2019, members of the Austin Critics Table have announced their nominees for outstanding dance, classical music, visual art, and theatre with the nominees for the 2019 Critics Table Awards.

One of modern drama's most prolific playwrights, Terrence McNally, sits down with Rob and Kevin to look at his upcoming production of Frankie and Johnny In The Clair De Lune, as well as take a look back on his incredible career which includes such shows as Love! Valor! Compassion! Master Class, It's Only a Play, The Ritz, and writing the book to such musicals as The Rink, Ragtime, A Man of No Importance, and many more.

Over the last 5 years, Des Moines Symphony and Des Moines Performing Arts have come together to present a concert with one of Broadway's brightest stars. It has become a yearly tradition for me as well. Some of the past concerts have included Audra McDonald, Sutton Foster, Kristin Chenoweth, and Leslie Odem Jr. This year for their collaboration, they gave the audience an extra treat with two artists, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Megan Hilty. They both gave amazing performances that I won't soon forget.

Terrence McNally has had a remarkably far-ranging career, including at least one new work on Broadway in each of the last six decades.

The 23rd Annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is excited to announce their distinctive 2019 lineup of narrative features, documentaries and short films in competition. Films are set to screen in Miami from June 13-15 at the Regal Cinemas South Beach and the New World Center.

Last month, Hot Chip announced their return – a new album A Bath Full of Ecstasy set for June 21st, a storming new single ('Hungry Child') and a series of worldwide sold out shows where they reasserted themselves as everyone's favorite band, bringing audiences to joyful delight with a set list that included a searing 'Sabotage' cover.