Michelle Obama News

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Founding Executive Directors) is pleased to welcome acclaimed actor Kathleen Chalfant to the company of its upcoming Shakespeare Remix Macbeth, a product of the troupe's nationally acclaimed after-school program that was recently honored with the 2009 Coming Up Taller Award (Friedman and youth Remix participant Shana Brown traveled to Washington, D.C., for a White House ceremony hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama to accept the award).

Susan Boyle, runner up on the popular British television show 'Britain's Got Talent,' is rumored to have been invited to perform for President Barack Obama and the First Lady, Michelle Obama. The event will be a 'small, intimate gathering' honoring Michelle Obama's 46th birthday. The event will take place at the White House on January 17th. Michelle and Barack Obama are both known to be big Susan Boyle fans.

The new theatre season is full of exciting works by some very well known artists. With the New Year almost upon us, we've turned our focus on the ten personalities we'll be keeping an extra special eye on here at BroadwayWorld.com in 2010.

President Barack Obama has handpicked Miami businessman and arts leader Ricky Arriola to serve on his Committee on the Arts and Humanities, the nation's preeminent body focused on arts and humanities education, cultural diplomacy, and economic revitalization through the arts and humanities. A Miami native, Mr. Arriola currently serves as chair of Miami 's Performing Arts Center Trust, an independent body of business and civic leaders that oversees the nonprofit Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. He is also President and CEO of Inktel Direct, a national business process outsourcing company based in Miami.

Steve Silver's Beach Blanket Babylon, the world's longest running musical revue, will be featured on 'Good Morning America' (GMA) when they televise live from San Francisco's Union Square on Thursday, December 3, 2009 as part of the ABC network holiday promotion 'Sam Champion Lights Up America.' The live broadcast, from 4 - 6 a.m. (PST), will be re-run locally at its regularly scheduled time of 7- 9 a.m. (PST). Bay Area residents are encouraged to be part of the national television broadcast and be in Union Square by 4 a.m. and say, 'Good Morning America!'

'Can I have a hug?,' asked Days of Our Lives actor Yuval David. 'That is the number one question ask of me,' says Florence Henderson as she invited him to come up on stage to receive his hug on Tuesday night at Cabaret at the Castle.

Sesame Street, the world's largest informal children's educator, celebrates its 40th birthday on November 10, 2009, the exact day the series debuted on television four decades ago, with everything you love about Sesame Street and more: new block format, new show open, new nature curriculum and our new First Lady Michelle Obama! Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator and star of the 2008 Tony Award winning musical In The Heights will also guest on the series this season too! You can watch a sneak peek of his new character right here on STAGE TUBE!

Sesame Street, the world's largest informal children's educator, celebrates its 40th birthday on November 10, 2009, the exact day the series debuted on television four decades ago, with everything you love about Sesame Street and more: new block format, new show open, new nature curriculum and our new First Lady Michelle Obama!

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble's (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Founding Executive Directors) Shakespeare Remix after-school program is being nationally recognized with the prestigious 2009 Coming Up Taller Award. Berkman, Russell, Friedman and youth Remix participant Shana Brown traveled to Washington, D.C., yesterday for a White House ceremony hosted by First LadyMichelle Obama to accept the award.

This week, classical music overtook the White House as the President and the First Lady hosted a concert and workshop series that featured young classical musicians. The President delivered some inspiring words to the audience about the importance of classical music and live performance.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble's (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Founding Executive Directors) Shakespeare Remix after-school program is being nationally recognized with the prestigious 2009 Coming Up Taller Award. Berkman, Russell, Friedman and youth Remix participant Shana Brown traveled to Washington, D.C., today for a White House ceremony hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama to accept the award.

Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator and star of the 2008 Tony Award winning musical In The Heights, was a special guest as President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama hosted the first ever White House Poetry Jam.

Country Club invites you to World Premiere of THE JACKIE LOOK a new site-specific work by controversial performance artist KAREN FINLEY. Performances run September 19 - October 24 at Country Club (248 West 14th Street, between 7th & 8th Aves.)

Imagination Stage's 30th Anniversary Gala titled 'Once Upon a Time...Into the Future' promises to be a spectacular evening benefiting the organization's theatre and arts education programs. First Lady Michelle Obama will be the Honorary Chair of the Gala held on October 24, beginning at 6:30pm.

The Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF) and The New York Comedy Festival (NYCF) unite to present the third annual Stand Up for Heroes: A Benefit for the Bob Woodruff Foundation at Town Hall in New York City at 8:00 PM on Wednesday, November 4th. Brian Williams will host Stand Up for Heroes, which will feature star performances by Louis C.K., Stephen Colbert, Lisa Lampanelli, John Ondrasik, Bruce Springsteen and other surprise guests. These and other A-list entertainers have agreed to Stand Up for Heroes and ReMIND our nation that 'Support our troops' is no longer a slogan. It's an action. The evening promises unforgettable performances, laughter, and sincere gratitude, with proceeds going to the BWF.

It is the first subject to be struck from curriculum when budget cuts set in. Compared to it's athletic counterpart, the arts more so than any other subject 'get the shaft' when it comes to allocating resources in schools across the nation.

First Lady Michelle Obama spoke on the arts at her appearance with fellow first ladies at a high school in Pittsburgh, where Obama touted her commitment to the creative arts.

May 30, 2009 was a historic event for Broadway when President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama attended a performance of JOE TURNER'S COME AND GONE at the Belasco Theatre, marking the first time a sitting President attended a play on Broadway in over 40 years. Reports have confirmed that the Shubert Organization that owns the Belasco will be refurbishing the theater to turn-of-the-century elegance in 2010, and auctioning off items from the current house in celebration of the Obama's attendance.

Country Club invites you to World Premiere of THE JACKIE LOOK a new site-specific work by controversial performance artist KAREN FINLEY. Performances run September 19 - October 24 at Country Club (248 West 14th Street, between 7th & 8th Aves.)

Karen Finley Premieres THE JACKIE LOOK, Site-specific production begins September 19 at Country Club