Michael Rob News

Manhattan Musical Theater Lab and The Schulberts will present the newest musical by the writing/producing duo Charlie Schulman & Michael Roberts, GOLDSTEIN, directed by Christopher Scott. The musical, which is aimed for an Off-Broadway production, will be presented on Friday, April 15 at 3pm and Monday, April 18 at 7pm at the Actors Temple Theatre (339 West 47th Street).

MainStage Irving-Las Colinas continues its 2015-16 Light the Lights! season with the thrilling classic drama, KIND LADY (by Edward Chodorov). The production will open on March 11 and run through the 26 at the Irving Arts Center's Dupree Theater (3333 N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving, TX 75062).

It took 30 years for Shawn Moninger, a Unity minister and longtime technical director with four MAC awards, to move out of the booth and onto the stage. His show Because I Can (which has been running monthly at the Metropolitan Room since last November) is more a one-man Off-Broadway comedy show than typical cabaret. Almost without exception, the opening of a cabaret show is the weakest. Performers tend to warm up around the third or fourth number. That was not the case at the February 27 show, or as Moniger put it, 'the Senior Citizen Happy Hour.'

MainStage Irving-Las Colinas continues its 2015-16 Light the Lights! season with the thrilling classic drama, KIND LADY (by Edward Chodorov). The production will open on March 11 and run through the 26 at the Irving Arts Center's Dupree Theater (3333 N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving, TX 75062). All evening performances are at 7:30 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m. Tickets range from $19-28 and are on sale now at the Irving Arts Center Box Office (972.252.2787/ www.irvingartscenter.com). Ticket discounts are available for seniors and students.

?They say that the more specific something is, the more universal it is. That's certainly the case with the new original musical ONLY ONE SOPHIE by Illusion Theater's Artistic Director Michael Robins. Based on the life of his grandmother, the musical tells a very specific story about an American family centered around a strong, independent, loving Russian Jewish immigrant woman. But this tale of love, grief, family, and memories is a universal one that brings to mind one's own family history and memories. The specifics may be different, but we all have family traditions and memories and, if we're lucky, a loving grandmother that will never be forgotten. ONLY ONE SOPHIE is a beautiful, funny, poignant, inspiring story brought to life through lovely original music (by Roberta Carlson) and a terrific eight-person cast. If you're interested in sweet, simple, heartfelt stories told musically, head down (or rather, up) to Illusion Theater's 8th floor stage in the Hennepin Center for the Arts between now and March 5.

MainStage Irving-Las Colinas continues its 2015-16 Light the Lights! season with the thrilling classic drama, KIND LADY (by Edward Chodorov). The production will open on March 11 and run through the 26 at the Irving Arts Center's Dupree Theater (3333 N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving, TX 75062).

The Illusion Theater presents the world premiere of Only One Sophie, an engaging musical inspired by Director Michael Robins' remarkable family history. Opening February 12, the new work will be on stage through March 5 at the downtown Minneapolis theater, located on the eighth floor of The Cowles Center for Dance & the Performing Arts, 528 Hennepin Ave.

Mystery Writers of America is proud to announce, as we celebrate the 207 th anniversary of the birth of Edgar Allan Poe, the Nominees for the 2016 Edgar Allan Poe Awards, honoring the best in mystery fiction, non-fiction and television published or produced in 2015.

Gallery Players presents 'TIL DEATH DO US PART, a New Musical by Bobby Cronin & Caroline Prugh, presented as part of the Overtures Series at the Gallery Players.

The National Theatre Conference (NTC), an organization founded in 1925 that meets annually in New York to discuss relevant issues in today's theatre community and to celebrate outstanding achievement in the American theatre, has named the recipients of its 2015 awards. HowlRound Director Polly Carl has been named Person of the Year; the Illusion Theater in Minneapolis, under its co-producing directors Michael Robins and Bonnie Morris, is the recipient of the Outstanding Theatre Award; and playwright Jessica Dickey has been selected as the winner of the Barrie and Bernice Stavis Playwright Award. All three will be honored and presented with their awards and hold discussions with the membership at The Players club during NTC's annual meeting in New York, December 4-6, 2015.

Fresh from her world tour, Miss Richfield 1981 returns to her home state and opens her 16th annual holiday show, THE CHRISTMAS CONE OF SILENCE tonight, December 4 at the Illusion Theater.

Offering a first look at the year ahead in independent film, culture and new ideas, Sundance Institute announced today the 65 films selected for the U.S. Competition, World Competition and out-of-competition NEXT category set to premiere at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, January 21-31 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah. Films that have premiered in these sections include Beasts of the Southern Wild, Fruitvale Station,Whiplash, Blackfish, The September Issue, The Cove, An Education, Animal Kingdom, Precious, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, Obvious Child, Tangerine and Escape from Tomorrow.

MainStage Irving-Las Colinas opens its 2015-16 Light the Lights! season with the new musical comedy, THE ADDAMS FAMILY (book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, Music and Lyrics by Andrew Lippa). The production will open on November 6 and run through the 21 at the Irving Arts Center's Dupree Theater (3333 N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving, TX 75062). Tickets range from $21-31 and are on sale now at the Irving Arts Center Box Office (972.252.2787/ www.irvingartscenter.com). Ticket discounts are available for seniors and students.

The acclaimed ensemble, Transatlantic Love Affair, brings another fresh story to the Illusion stage. Co-Artistic Director Isabel Nelson (Red Resurrected, Ballad of the Pale Fisherman, 2012 Ivey Award for Emotional Impact) returns to the director's seat for Emilie/Eurydice, inspired by the true story of Emilie Gossiaux and the Greek myth of Eurydice. The new work will be on stage November 6-21 at the downtown Minneapolis theater, located on the eighth floor of The Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts, 528 Hennepin Ave.

Fresh from her world tour, Miss Richfield 1981 returns to her home state and opens her 16th annual holiday show, THE CHRISTMAS CONE OF SILENCE on December 4 at the Illusion Theater.

MainStage Irving-Las Colinas opens its 2015-16 Light the Lights! season with the new musical comedy, THE ADDAMS FAMILY (book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, Music and Lyrics by Andrew Lippa). The production will open on November 6 and run through the 21 at the Irving Arts Center's Dupree Theater (3333 N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving, TX 75062). Tickets range from $21-31 and are on sale now at the Irving Arts Center Box Office (972.252.2787/ www.irvingartscenter.com). Ticket discounts are available for seniors and students.

The acclaimed ensemble, Transatlantic Love Affair, brings another fresh story to the Illusion stage. Co-Artistic Director Isabel Nelson (Red Resurrected, Ballad of the Pale Fisherman, 2012 Ivey Award for Emotional Impact) returns to the director's seat for Emilie/Eurydice, inspired by the true story of Emilie Gossiaux and the Greek myth of Eurydice. The new work will be on stage November 6-21 at the downtown Minneapolis theater, located on the eighth floor of The Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts, 528 Hennepin Ave.

Roland Emmerich's STONEWALL, written by OTHER DESERT CITIES playwright Jon Robin Baitz, centering on the beginning of the gay rights movement, his theaters today, September 25.

The Film Society of Lincoln Center announces Ana Vaz as the 2015 Kazuko Trust Award Recipient. The grant is presented by the Kazuko Trust and the Film Society

The inaugural 2015 St Albans Writers' Festival, the newest writers' festival in Australia focusing on Australian authors and writing, will take place from Friday 18 September to Sunday 20 September in the rural setting of historic St Albans Village, located in the beautiful Hawkesbury River area less than two hours drive from Sydney.