Melanie News

Peter Handke's THE ART OF ASKING is heading to Nationaltheatret, running from Oct. 18 to Nov. 28. 

This October, FILM MOVEMENT PLUS, the newly launched SVOD service from pioneering film distributor Film Movement, celebrates the creativity, energy and vision of women directors with WOMEN BEHIND THE CAMERA. Highlighting some of the many acclaimed, women-driven films in Film Movement's catalog, the programming will be anchored by the U.S. streaming premiere of IN BETWEEN from Women in Motion Young Talent Award-winner Maysaloun Hamoud.

Mary Poppins is set to fly over the rooftops of London and onto the stage at Stages Theatre Company this holiday season! Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins JR., based on the classic P.L. Travers stories and the Walt Disney film, is playing at Stages Theatre from November 16 through December 27, 2018.

In the Heights is an original musical that is set over the course of three days, involving characters in the largely Hispanic-American neighborhood of Washington Heights in New York City. Originally conceived by Lin-Manuel Miranda during his sophomore year at Wesleyan University, the musical had its world premiere through their student theater company in April of 2000.

North Carolina Theatre, the region's premiere nonprofit professional theatre, presents its first production of the 2018-19 season, Lin-Manuel Miranda's In the Heights, playing Oct. 16-21 at Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh.

Sundance Institute, in collaboration with Science Sandbox, an initiative of the Simons Foundation, announced the inaugural five filmmakers and projects being supported by the Science Sandbox Nonfiction Initiative, a new program aiding innovative artists in creating science-focused works and in connecting those projects with audiences. The program aims to elevate the voices of independent artists who are working at the intersection of science and nonfiction storytelling, encourage critical thinking, promote educated discourse and highlight the overlap of science and art. 

Playing On Air announced today the three winners of the inaugural James Stevenson Prize for comedic short plays. First Prize ($7,500, plus a Playing On Air recording for radio and podcast distribution) has been awarded to Hate Baby by Gracie Gardner. (Gardner is also the winner of the 2017 Relentless Award and author of the New York Times Critic's Pick Athena.) Second Prize ($2,000) has been awarded to Hedgehog Years by Lily Akerman. Third Prize ($1,000) has been awarded to Horse Latitudes (Who Wants to be an Equine Extra?) by Elizabeth Logun.

In baseball, it might be called a home run. In politics, it would be wave. Whatever analogy is used, it was an unprecedented evening for the acclaimed Dezart Performs. The Palm Springs ensemble took home 11 "Desert Stars Awards" at last night's 31st annual Desert Theatre League Gala held in Palm Desert, having been nominated for 23 awards in 19 categories. The tally was a record for the company and included "Best Production" honors in both comedy and drama and also two awards for the group's founding artistic director, Michael Shaw: one for acting, and one for directing.

HEARTBEAT OPERA-the daring young company whose unconventional orchestrations and stagings of classic operas have been called 'a radical endeavor' by The New Yorker and 'pioneering' by The New York Times-launches its fifth season with its Annual Halloween Drag Extravaganza, this year titled DRAGUS MAXIMUS, a homersexual opera odyssey.

NYU Steinhardt's Program in Educational Theatre will present Peter and the Starcatcher, a theatrical retelling of Peter Pan's story before Neverland, featuring a cast of 19 developmentally diverse performers, from Oct. 19 to 28. The production is accessible to audience members of all abilities.

Orlando Shakes in partnership with UCF invites patrons to the center of the creative process at PlayFest presented by Harriett's Charitable Trust (PlayFest 2018) from November 2 - 4 and 10 - 11, 2018.

Nathan Lee Graham took to the stage at The Green Room 42 on October 11 with the flourish you would expect from this dramatic performer. Wearing a black brocade jacket with a long, fringed, gold metallic scarf over one shoulder, Graham staged ALL THINGS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL: A SONDHEIM SALON, an evening devoted to Stephen Sondheim.

The Comrades launch their 2018-19 season with the Midwest premiere of Kenneth Lin's political drama WARRIOR CLASS, directed by Carol Ann Tan playing October 11 - November 11, 2018 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N Lincoln Avenue in Chicago. The press opening is Saturday, October 13 at 8 pm.

Rehearsals have begun for Center Theatre Group's production of "Valley of the Heart," which is written and directed by Luis Valdez ("Zoot Suit"). Presented in association with El Teatro Campesino, the production will play at the Mark Taper Forum October 30 through December 9, 2018. The opening will be on Wednesday, November 7.

D'Arcy Drollinger presents: Buffy the Vampire Slayer LIVE! October 11th - November 3rd, 2018 Thursdays at 8PM - Fridays & Saturdays at 7PM With a special Wednesday night performance on Halloween!

Tonight, Carnegie Hall opened its 2018-2019 season with a sold out gala benefit concert featuring the San Francisco Symphony conducted by Music Director and Carnegie Hall Perspectives artist Michael Tilson Thomas. The program included Gershwin's Cuban Overture and An American in Paris as well as Liszt's Mephisto Waltz No. 1. Mr. Tilson Thomas and the orchestra were joined on this celebratory occasion by renowned sopranos Renee Fleming and Audra McDonald offering vocal selections by Gershwin, Rodgers, Villa-Lobos, Stephen Sondheim, and others.

Wilton's Music Hall, the oldest grand music hall in the world, today announces its 2019 Spring season - a glorious collection of theatre, and music from some of the UK's most exceptional companies and artists.

Cameron Mackintosh's acclaimed new production of Boublil and Schonberg's legendary musical MISS SAIGON is now on tour across North America. Get a first look below!