Nathan Cummings News

Responding to popular demand, Soho Rep announces second extension of Young Jean Lee's hotly debated LEAR. Now through February 14th at Soho Rep. (46 Walker Street)

Soho Rep's Artistic Director Sarah Benson has announced that the company's world-premiere of the newest work from Young Jean Lee's Theater Company, LEAR, will have 5 performances added, extending it now through February 6 at Soho Rep (46 Walker St.) in Manhattan. The production began previews on January 7 and will open on January 14.

Since 1997, Twin Cities taiko ensemble Mu Daiko has journeyed through the roots of Japanese drumming toward the heart-pounding blend of theater, dance and music that it is today. Taiko Caravan celebrates that metamorphosis with a return to the Southern Theater, featuring a program of traditional favorites, original compositions and new commissions. San Jose Taiko, one of North America's oldest and most prestigious taiko ensembles, joins Mu Daiko on stage the second weekend (Dec. 4-6 only).

Dance, music and theater performances that feature and celebrate prominent African-American artists, and a slate of topical films on a variety of issues comprise the 2010 winter/spring season for Harlem Stage - one of the country's top presenters, producers, and supporters of works by artists of color.

Since 1997, Twin Cities taiko ensemble Mu Daiko has journeyed through the roots of Japanese drumming toward the heart-pounding blend of theater, dance and music that it is today. Taiko Caravan celebrates that metamorphosis with a return to the Southern Theater, featuring a program of traditional favorites, original compositions and new commissions. San Jose Taiko, one of North America's oldest and most prestigious taiko ensembles, joins Mu Daiko on stage the second weekend (Dec. 4-6 only).

The New York Musical Theater Festival honored TV's NY 1 ON STAGE and Sh-K-Boom & Ghostlight Records at its sixth Anniversary Season Awards Gala on Sunday, November 22nd at The Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street). The winners of NYMF 2009 Awards for Excellence, which were announced earlier this month, were also honored at the gala.

NYMF will make available a limited number of $75 show-only tickets for the Sixth Season Awards Gala honoring Time Warner Cable's NY1 'On Stage' for their commitment to the coverage and encouragement of musical theatre in New York City, Sh-K-Boom & Ghostlight Records for their dedication to the preservation of new musicals and their support of new musical theatre artists, and the winners of the NYMF 2009 Awards for Excellence.

The New York Musical Theater Festival will honor the winners of the NYMF 2009 Awards for Excellence as well as NY1 'On Stage' and Sh-K-Boom Records at the Sixth Anniversary Season Awards Gala taking place Sunday, November 22nd at The Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street). Two additional awards, presented by Daegu International Musical Festival and Stage Entertainment USA, will also be presented.

In what the Oregon Shakespeare Festival's Artistic Director Bill Rauch and Executive Director Paul Nicholson can only describe as amazing, OSF's 2009 season results have exceeded all expectations. Initially anticipating a slump in the 2009 season attendance and revenue, the Festival closed with record attendance of 410,034 (89% of capacity), and record revenues of $17,098,115.

New York Musical Theater Festival's Next Broadway Sensation 2008 winner Shawna Hamic makes her solo concert debut with Outside The Box at Joe's Pub on November 2 at 11:30pm.

East West Players (EWP), the nation's premier Asian American theatre, continues its 44th season, themed Art Is..., with the west coast premiere of PO BOY TANGO, by Kenneth Lin. This production will be directed by the artistic director of The Chance Theater in Orange County, Oanh Nguyen. It will bring back to the EWP stage two of EWP's veteran actors, Jeanne Sakata and Dennis Dun and introduce African American actress Cece Antoinette.

Since 1997, Twin Cities taiko ensemble Mu Daiko has journeyed through the roots of Japanese drumming toward the heart-pounding blend of theater, dance and music that it is today. Taiko Caravan celebrates that metamorphosis with a return to the Southern Theater, featuring a program of traditional favorites, original compositions and new commissions. San Jose Taiko, one of North America's oldest and most prestigious taiko ensembles, joins Mu Daiko on stage the second weekend (Dec. 4-6 only).

New York Musical Theater Festival's Next Broadway Sensation 2008 winner Shawna Hamic makes her solo concert debut with Outside The Box at Joe's Pub on November 2 at 11:30pm.

Bryan Putnam, book, music, and lyrics, continues to show his mutli-faceted talents by jumping into the title role of The ToyMaker due to cast illness. With a mornings rehearsal and organic knowledge of the music, Putnam will sing off-stage at today's 1p performance as Petr, the toy maker.

Due to popular demand, the following shows have added additional performances: F#@KING UP EVERYTHING - Sat, Oct 17 at 11pm SING, BUT DON'T TELL - Sun, Oct 18 at 3pm

The New York Musical Theatre Festival and Mass Street Productions/Ryan J. Davis are proud to present the World Premiere of Street Lights, a contemporary musical drama by Joe Drymala. From the creators of the Broadway-bound White Noise, which was a hit at NYMF in 2006, Street Lights features a groundbreaking score that uses modern hip hop, R&B and pop to tell a timeless story in the musical language of today's youth, while creating a bridge to earlier generations by incorporating samples of old civil rights anthems within the modern songs and beats. Ryan J. Davis directs a cast of 14 including Carla Duren* (Bway: 110 in the Shade, Hairspray),Chad Carstarphen (Off-Bway: The Conscientious Objector), Miguel Jarquin-Moreland*, Kevin Curtis* (NYMF: Twilight in Manchego, Maccabeat), Gayle Turner* (Bway: The Wiz), Jim Stanek* (Bway: Story of My Life, Lestat, Little Women), Virginia Cavaliere (Regional: High School Musical), Joy Lynn Matthews* (Bway: The Music Man; Marie Christine), Roberto Araujo, Claudeen Benoit, Geri Brown, Jay Garcia*(Off-Bway: Altar Boyz), Ejyp Johnson, and Melissa Joyner all of whom are dedicated to supporting new musicals and whose credits encompass every major regional theater in the country, along with significant achievements in film, television and cabaret. Performances will be held at American Theatre for Actors (Chernuchin), 314 West 54th Street, (bet. 8th & 9th Avenues) in New York City from October 13th-18th.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival and Mass Street Productions/Ryan J. Davis are proud to present the World Premiere of Street Lights, a contemporary musical drama by Joe Drymala. From the creators of the Broadway-bound White Noise, which was a hit at NYMF in 2006, Street Lights features a groundbreaking score that uses modern hip hop, R&B and pop to tell a timeless story in the musical language of today's youth, while creating a bridge to earlier generations by incorporating samples of old civil rights anthems within the modern songs and beats.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) and Andy Sandberg (Hair) present The Last Smoker in America with Book & Lyrics by Bill Russell (Side Show, Tony Award Nominee), and Music by Peter Melnick (Adrift in Macao, Drama Desk Nominee).

THE NEW YORK NEW MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL and BRYAN PUTNAM INK are pleased to announce the world premiere production of THE TOYMAKER, directed by Lawrence Edelson. THE TOYMAKER will play a limited engagement at Theatre at St. Clement's (423 West 46th Street, New York, NY 10036.) Performances begin Monday, October 5 and continue through Sunday, October 18.

A new musical about a runaway slave who becomes one of America's first Black Cowboys will debut this fall when CROSS THAT RIVER is presented by The New York Musical Theatre Festival and Patricia Harris, starting October 12, 2009 at TBG Theatre (312 West 36th Street - 3rd Floor) in New York City.