McDonald News

This All-Star Tribute Concert 1970 celebrates the life and work of the legendary folk singer and songwriter Woody Guthrie, whose songs have become part of the bedrock of American life. Three years after Guthrie died of Huntington's disease in 1967, the California chapter of the Committee to Combat Huntington's Disease, now known as the Hereditary Disease Foundation, helped stage this concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles to raise funds for Huntington's research.

QSTC's Playwrights of Color Summit (POCS) is a week-long residency that allows previously unproduced playwrights an opportunity to work exclusively on their plays with all resources, stipends, travel and room & board provided by QSTC.  The week's work will culminate in staged readings of four finalists' plays. Founder Tyrone Mitchell Henderson says, "This year we will accentuate the voices of four female solo artists whose work sheds light on self-worth, communication, love, identity and growing as an artist.  It is so fulfilling to bring these new works to my home town."

From croaker sack to Chinchilla, Orson Welles called Eartha Kitt 'the most exciting woman in the world'. But in 1968 she was blacklisted for 'making the 1st Lady cry.' 'I Want To Be Evil' chronicles Eartha's destitute childhood, her affair with the Revlon heir, her kinship with Sammy Davis Jr. and her volatile relationship with Hollywood.

Just last night, Vineyard Theatre presented its 2019 Gala fundraiser, celebrating Tony, Olivier, Drama Desk, and Drama League Award nominated artist and Vineyard Board Member, Colman Domingo. Check out photos from the star-studded red carpet below!

Ensemble Theatre Company (ETC) announces its 2019-20 Season of plays. ETC's 41st Season is the company's seventh year at The New Vic in downtown Santa Barbara, and features a thrilling selection of extraordinary works, including William Shakespeare's Measure for Measure, a radio play version of the beloved holiday story It's a Wonderful Life, a musical adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma, the West Coast premiere of the Broadway play American Son, and an inspirational pop and jazz musical about the legendary Rosemary Clooney. ETC's 2019-20 Season will build upon the momentum of its successful and celebratory 40thAnniversary 2018-19 Season.

Get ready for another binge watch! Netflix will start streaming Bathtubs Over Broadway on Thursday, May 9. Directed by Dava Whisenant, the documentary peels back the curtain on the forgotten industrial musicals.

It is fitting that in the days leading up to the release of Jesse Royal's new single “LionOrder,” featuring Protoje, via reggae label Easy Star Records, he has been holed up in Los Angeles writing songs for his next album, in between another tireless run of live shows. In 2017, Jesse followed an immensely successful early single with an album (Lily of Da Valley) that debuted at number one on the Billboard Reggae Chart, but he quickly learned that there can be no rest when building a career that will last. So he played countless shows to develop his live following, in America especially, and now serves notice to the world with this track release that the next part of his musical journey has officially begun. The first song from his as-yet-unnamed, impending sophomore album, “LionOrder” taps Protoje, fresh off his GRAMMY Nomination for Best Reggae Album last year, to deliver positive and constructive messages of watching the company we keep, identifying the strength of unity in our communities, and the power to transform oneself and thus the world around us. Produced by Sean Alaric (Koffee, Toian) & Jason Panton (Wrd Sound Pwr), the riddim is both uplifting and militant - setting the tone perfectly for Jesse Royal and Protoje to educate and entertain together.  

Proof at the Masque Theatre is part of the fundraising initiative to celebrate the Masque Theatre's 60th Birthday.

Terrence McNally's Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune starring Audra McDonald and Michael Shannon began performances last night at the Broadhurst Theatre. The night marked a big moment for playwright, Terrence McNally, celebrating his 25th Broadway production, and director Arin Arbus, celebrating her Broadway debut.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Kick off a brand new week by catching up on the latest Broadway news!

Embarking on a new collaboration with Bill Henson, one of Australia's most compelling artists, the Art Quartet performs Chiaroscuro - an evocative, dreamlike response to Henson's latest work. The concerts will take place at Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery and are set within a solo exhibition of new works by Bill Henson - his first in Sydney in seven years.

In celebration of four-time Tony Award winner Terrence McNally's 80th birthday, producers Hunter Arnold, Debbie Bisno and Tom Kirdahy announce a new Broadway production of Terrence McNally's Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, starring Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award winner Audra McDonald and two-time Academy Award nominee Michael Shannon, directed by Obie Award winner Arin Arbus.

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) today announced the winners of the 46th Annual Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards. The gala was held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, Southern California.

Instead of immediately following up his hit 2013 urban jazz album Bleu Horizons with a like-minded sequel, guitarist Craig Sharmat immersed in the music scene of his new adopted hometown of Santa Barbara and formed The Idiomatiques - which became the first Gypsy Jazz band in history to score a hit on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz chart with the track 'C'est La Vie.'

On Saturday, May 4 only, the new Broadway production of Terrence McNally's Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune will offer 25 tickets (per performance) for $25 each to the 25 preview performances in honor of Terrence McNally's 25 productions on Broadway.

The Miracle League of CT partners with Playhouse on Park in producing special sensory-friendly performances of The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley, the final show of Playhouse's 2018-2019 Young Audience Series. All tickets will be specially priced at $5 for this performance only, all seats reserved.  

The Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre continues its commitment to new work by presenting the fourth annual SigWorks: Monday Night New Play Readings Series. This initiative highlights and supports the work of DMV playwrights and is an opportunity for playwrights, actors, directors, designers, and patrons to explore new plays in a fun and informal environment.

The Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation, The Muny, and the Fabulous Fox Theatre are pleased to announce the nominees for the third St. Louis High School Musical Theatre Awards to be held on Sunday, June 2 at 4 p.m. at the Fabulous Fox Theatre. The nominees were announced today and will be presented with a commemorative medallion at a ceremony hosted at the Fabulous Fox Theatre on Monday, May 6.

Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune announces a limited number of $40 general rush tickets will be available at the Broadhurst box office when it opens for that day's performance

Lucy O'Byrne and Mark Moraghan are to join the cast of the quirky off-Broadway hit musical Little Miss Sunshine for its UK tour which begins at Churchill Theatre, Bromley on 16 May 2019.