Michael Leeds News

The Silver Palm Awards committee - founded four years ago to honor theatrical excellence in South Florida - has announced that this year it will present the coveted award to 17 individuals, including two for direction of plays, two for playwriting and one for creating a memorable fighting sequence. Also among the honorees is Mosaic Theatre for its ensemble work in the 2011 production of The Irish Curse.

Rising Action Theater announces that this Monday, November 14th at 7:30pm for the first ever there will be a public reading of the new comedy/mystery 'Who Killed Joan Crawford?' by Carbonell/Silver Palm Award winner Michael Leeds who last season directed Rising Action Theatre's critically acclaimed production of The Boys In The Band.

On Monday, November 14th at 7:30pm Rising Action will present the first ever public reading of the new comedy/mystery 'Who Killed Joan Crawford?' by Carbonell/Silver Palm Award winner Michael Leeds who last season directed Rising Action Theatre's critically acclaimed production of The Boys In The Band.

On Monday, November 14th at 7:30pm Rising Action will present the first ever public reading of the new comedy/mystery 'Who Killed Joan Crawford?' by Carbonell/Silver Palm Award winner Michael Leeds who last season directed Rising Action Theatre's critically acclaimed production of The Boys In The Band.

The Silver Palm Awards committee - founded four years ago to honor theatrical excellence in South Florida - has announced that this year it will present the coveted award to 17 individuals, including two for direction of plays, two for playwriting and one for creating a memorable fighting sequence. Also among the honorees is Mosaic Theatre for its ensemble work in the 2011 production of The Irish Curse.

City Theatre is joining with Grammy-Nominated singer/songwriter Lisa Loeb to mount an engagement of the hit rock musical CAMP KAPPAWANNA, in the Rinker Playhouse at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach, June 9 through 12, 2011.

City Theatre is joining with Grammy-Nominated singer/songwriter Lisa Loeb to mount an engagement of the hit rock musical CAMP KAPPAWANNA, in the Rinker Playhouse at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach, June 9 through 12, 2011.

Winner of 6 Tony Awards, 5 Drama Desk awards, and 2 Outer Critics Circle Awards, the musical is based on a novel by Elizabeth Spencer, and is set in Florence and Rome in the summer of 1953. It is the story of a young American tourist, Clara Johnson, who meets and falls for a young Italian, Fabrizzio Nacarelli.

A musical about a war-time romance and a controversial play that took audiences to the depths of humanity top the list of nominees for the 35th annual Carbonell Awards, celebrating the best shows and performances in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

The Carbonell Awards recognize Florida's best stage productions and those behind them. This year, the awards' 35th, the Actors' Playhouse production of MISS SAIGON leads the pack with 11 nominations, followed by 7 nominations for the controversial play BLASTED, the Miami Herald reports.

Executive Artistic Director Carson Kievman has announced that NY-based actress, Nadia Dajani and South Florida performers Amy McKenna, Elayne Wilks, Ryan George, Glen Lawrence and Brian McCormack have joined Evan Handler, completing the cast for SoBe Arts upcoming staged readings of ACAPULCO by New York writer Jacquelyn Reingold and directed by Michael Leeds.

Executive Artistic Director Carson Kievman has announced that NY-based actress, Nadia Dajani and South Florida performers Amy McKenna, Elayne Wilks, Ryan George, Glen Lawrence and Brian McCormack have joined Evan Handler, completing the cast for SoBe Arts upcoming staged readings of ACAPULCO by New York writer Jacquelyn Reingold and directed by Michael Leeds.

ACAPULCO by New York writer Jacquelyn Reingold (HBO's In Treatment) and featuring L.A.-based Evan Handler (Sex and the City & Californication) and N.Y.-based Nadia Dajani (The Big C & Ugly Betty) with South Florida actors Amy McKenna (South Beach Babylon & SoBe Arts' Twelfth Night) & Elayne Wilks.

Executive Artistic Director Carson Kievman has announced that SoBe Institute of the Arts (SoBe Arts) will present staged readings of promising new plays, beginning with Acapulco by New York writer Jacquelyn Reingold (HBO's In Treatment, Law and Order, and produced off-Broadway) and featuring L.A.-based Evan Handler ('Sex and the City,' 'Californication,' and films by Ron Howard and Oliver Stone) in addition to local artists.

The Stage Door production is being directed by Arthur Whitelaw, who directed the original 'Taffeta' Off-Broadway, and was the original producer. Whitelaw has won and/or been nominated for every industry award including the Tony, Emmy, Oscar, Drama Desk Award, and Obie. 'The Taffetas are special to us because they take us to a simpler, gentler time in our history. People are responding so positively to it, because it is just fun!!' exclaims Whitelaw, with a laugh.

In 1968, Mart Crowley's viciously funny play 'The Boys in the Band' opened off-Broadway and created a sensation among New York theatre-goers. It stimulated a new awareness of Gay Culture, which became a catalyst for the Stonewall riots a few months later, and we've never been the same since! In 1970, it was a highly successful film directed by William Friedkin (The French Connection, The Exorcist), featured the original NY cast and was seen by millions worldwide. A brand new film documentary chronicling the The Making of the Boys and its impact was a hit at the recent Ft. Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.

In 1968, Mart Crowley's viciously funny play 'The Boys in the Band' opened off-Broadway and created a sensation among New York theatre-goers. It stimulated a new awareness of Gay Culture, which became a catalyst for the Stonewall riots a few months later, and we've never been the same since! In 1970, it was a highly successful film directed by William Friedkin (The French Connection, The Exorcist), featured the original NY cast and was seen by millions worldwide. A brand new film documentary chronicling the The Making of the Boys and its impact was a hit at the recent Ft. Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.

Opening this weekend at the Stage Door, and running until September 26, is the musical 'Mack and Mabel.' At the helm is director Michael Leeds (Tony nomination 'Swingin' on A Star'), who was a performer in the first National Tour with Bernadette Peters. Consequently, he has a special affinity for the show and was able to convince Jerry Herman to give him some leeway on new approaches and changes to for this production. 'I didn't get everything I wanted,' says Leeds with a laugh, ' but he was kind enough to give me a lot, including the ending that was eventually used on the tour, but not on Broadway.'

Opening this weekend at the Stage Door, and running until September 26, is the musical 'Mack and Mabel.' At the helm is director Michael Leeds (Tony nomination 'Swingin' on A Star'), who was a performer in the first National Tour with Bernadette Peters. Consequently, he has a special affinity for the show and was able to convince Jerry Herman to give him some leeway on new approaches and changes to for this production. 'I didn't get everything I wanted,' says Leeds with a laugh, ' but he was kind enough to give me a lot, including the ending that was eventually used on the tour, but not on Broadway.'

The Stage Door Theatre in Coral Springs is beginning rehearsals of 'Mack and Mabel,' which opens their new season. Previews begin on August 20, with the opening on August 28. The musical is considered by Jerry Herman, who is also the author of 'La Cage Aux Folles,' 'Hello Dolly!,' and 'Mame,' to be his best score. The show was nominated for 8 Tony Awards when it opened on Broadway in 1974.