Michael Roberts News

A Key For Living

The thirteenth annual PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature will focus its lens on today's fractious relationship between gender and power. Taking place in New York City, May 1-7, 2017, the weeklong Festival will use literature and the arts to address how gender both enables and impairs full participation in politics and society.

 Tony Award-winning producer Margot Astrachan (A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder) is joined by a panel of musical theatre industry veterans on Wednesday, April 19 at 7pm for an insightful discussion about how musicals come together.  Topics will include moving a work from concept to full production, and how musicals are selected for prestigious showcases like the New York Musical Festival.

Tony Award-winning producer Margot Astrachan (A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder) is joined by a panel of musical theatre industry veterans on Wednesday, April 19 at 7pm for an insightful discussion about how musicals come together.

Following the Women's Marches around the country, Occupy and other recent protests, we ask ourselves: what next? House Divided unites artists, writers, thinkers, and politicos in a one-of-a-kind event to be held at the historic Great Hall at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art where Lincoln gave his famous address against the expansion of slavery.

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center announces the complete line-up of its annual PEN World Voices International Play Festival, running May 1, 2 at The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center (365 Fifth Avenue, New York), and Sunday, May 7 at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe (236 E 3rd St, New, New York).

PEN America has announced that leading Russian and American journalist and author Masha Gessen, will deliver the Arthur Miller Freedom to Write Lecture, followed by a conversation with comedian and political commentator Samantha Bee on the closing night of the PEN World Voices Festival. This year the thirteenth annual Festival, taking place in New York from May 1-7, will address some of the vital issues of the Trump era, with a special focus on the fractious relationship between gender and power. At a moment of historic threats to freedom and truth, Ms. Gessen and Ms. Bee, both activists in their own rights, will speak to Gessen's experience with Russian censorship and suppression of dissent, and parallels between the current administration and other authoritarian regimes.

The thirteenth annual PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature will focus its lens on today's fractious relationship between gender and power. Taking place in New York City, May 1-7, 2017, the weeklong Festival will use literature and the arts to address how gender both enables and impairs full participation in politics and society.

For the final concert in this popular community concert season lovers of Mozart's music will be especially well served with three members of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra together with pianist Damien Mansfield performing Mozart's 1st Piano Quartet.

Amas Musical Theatre and The Amas Song Salon will offer a special presentation with four rising Broadway talents - Sam Davis (An American in Paris), Daniel May (Flower Drum Song), Rashidra Scott (Sister Act), and A.J. Shively (Bright Star) - who will explore the art of musical orchestrating and arranging.

For their inaugural offering, Great Circle Productions will present the world premiere of EDWIN, The Story of Edwin Booth, a dramatic musical that commemorates the 150th Anniversary (1866-2016) of the legendary actor's return to the stage, as well as the 400th Anniversary of the birth of William Shakespeare, with music by Marianna Rosett, and book & lyrics by Eric Swanson.

Finally, the First Annual Derby City Playwrights New Play Festival ends with a new play by the group's founder. It has been awhile since Brian Walker premiered a new, full-length work in Louisville, and High Tide was worth the wait.

After enjoying its World Premiere engagement earlier this spring at the Playroom Theater, A Class Act, the inaugural and relevant new play by attorney and playwright Norman Shabel, will now hold court at New World Stages  - Stage 5(340 West 50th Street - between 8th & 9th Avenues) for a summer run.  Produced by Eric Krebs, performances will begin on Saturday, July 9 at 8pm and continue through Sunday, September 4.

Robin Sokoloff 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 Monday, June 13th at 7pm at Loft227 (227 W 29th Street).

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center presents World Voices: International Play Festival 2016?. The Segal Center will showcase eight play readings of some of the world's most respected dramatists.

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center presents World Voices: International Play Festival 2016. As part of the 2016 PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature, the Segal Center will showcase play readings by eight of the world's most respected dramatists. With each writer hailing from a different world region as classified by the United Nations, the International Play Festival generates a conversation on art, politics, dreams, war, and philosophy, meant to give American audiences a rich awareness of the greater global dialogue. All readings will be followed by discussion with the playwright.

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).

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.

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.

Liminal: adjective - 1. Of or relating to a transitional or initial stage of a process, 2. Occupying a position at, or on both side of a boundary or threshold