Ned Glass News

In two years, the Grace InFused Theatre Festival went from the drawing table to a full day event at the Columbus Performing Arts Center on Aug. 6. The festival, which promotes gospel-based productions, drew close to 100 people to a six-hour presentation that featured the world-premiere of STAINED GLASS, a table reading of PRODIGAL BROTHERS, two monologues by Howi Tiller and the music of Joe Hendrickson.

This National Rum Day, August 16 th, BACARD calls consumers around the country to "Raise Your Rum" as part of a campaign to bring awareness to the spirit's history, versatility and cultural comeback.

The 2016 Grace InFused Theatre Festival will be held in downtown Columbus, Ohio, at the Columbus Performing Arts Center (549 Franklin Avenue) on Saturday, Aug. 6, starting at 4:30pm. The festival will feature new plays and performances from esteemed playwrights from across the country.

The minute you walk into the Omaha Community Playhouse and look at the stage, you know you are in for an unusual experience. I HATE HAMLET, opening April 17, is a wonderful playground somewhere between the Hollywood days of the legendary John Barrymore and today. Directed by Ablan Roblin and Assistant Director Noah Diaz, seasoned actors intertwine the serious with the farcical, the real with the surreal. It's a delicious bit of theater that even those who really do hate Hamlet have to love.

A splendid array of six near-life-size enthroned figures in stained glass from England's historic Canterbury Cathedral will be shown in the exhibition Radiant Light: Stained Glass from Canterbury Cathedral, opening February 25 at The Cloisters-a branch of The Metropolitan Museum of Art devoted to the art and architecture of the Middle Ages.

"To spend my days inspired is very rewarding," says costume designer Merrie Whitney, of Franklin. Whitney is reflecting on her role as costumer for Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) and Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA). The position marks a return to costume design after a decade-long hiatus as stay-at-home mom to Wyatt, 11, and Johanna, 9.

Encore Theatre is celebrating their 20th anniversary with a season of "Classic Works from the Past Seasons." Proving that they are well capable of tackling complex pieces, they are sailing into 2014 with John Pielmeier's AGNES OF GOD. The play, which opened on Broadway in 1982 and eventually inspired the 1985 film, provides a stark examination of faith, innocence, compassion, and humanity. Encore Theatre beautifully captures the spirit of this production, giving audiences a gripping and emotional theatre going experience.

Pacific Symphony announces what is perhaps its most significant season to date for the 36-year-old orchestra-the 2014-15 Hal and Jeanette Segerstrom Family Foundation Classical Series and special events, celebrating Music Director Carl St. Clair's 25 years at the helm. Filled with giant stars and giants of the repertoire that have moved listeners for centuries, the season is pure St. Clair-embracing and celebrating all that great music can mean to the human heart.

InViolet will present the World Premiere of BRANCHED, an over-the-top comedy by Erin Mallon. Directed by Robert Ross Parker (Vampire Cowboys), previews begin February 13 at HERE in SoHo. Opening night is slated for Thursday, February 20.

Once again, the Chula League's 12th annual Cherrywood Art Fair (CAF) has succeeded in cherry-picking the top artists and makers in Central Texas for its annual two-day event, perfect for celebrating the holiday spirit and the Maker Movement with unique, locally made art, live music and creative activities for the whole family.

On day one of Art Basel week, Miami's arts leaders gathered at the Mayfair Hotel for the opening reception of 'Miami Says Art-2' to celebrate the cultural trailblazers who helped transform this city into a global art destination. The exhibition reprises visionary artist Martin Kreloff's groundbreaking 1976 show, where champions of the arts looked into his camera and proclaimed 'ART!'

In a time when Broadway caliber shows are defined by falling chandeliers, witches that literally defy gravity, and a swinging Spiderman with a $70 million budget, it seems that audiences may expect and want more than a simple set and small cast. But when that simple set and small cast are just right, the effect can be breathtaking, as is the case with the current National Tour of Godspell.

The 2013-14 season of live performances of early music at The Cloisters-The Metropolitan Museum of Art's branch museum dedicated to the art and architecture of the Middle Ages-has been announced by Concerts at The Cloisters. The program was specially planned in celebration of The Cloisters' 75th anniversary year, which began last spring. All concerts will be performed within the historic apse of the 12th-century church of San Martin in Fuentidueña near Segovia, Spain. The unique setting and superb acoustics-combined with access to masterpieces of medieval art-provide participants with an unforgettable concert experience.

The Best of Broadway & Cabaret come out in support of the Actors' Temple, (est. 1917) tonight, Monday, November 18, 2013 at 7:00 PM. The Fourth Annual Concert Fundraiser will take place at the Temple, 339 West 47th Street. This musical celebration will benefit the theater district historic landmark which has been struggling to survive in recent years.

The musical GODSPELL will always hold a special place in my heart since I was fortunate enough to produce the music for a version several years ago. While it was quite an undertaking for one person, it allowed me to get very familiar with Stephen Schwartz's genre-hopping score. Ever since, I've been a unabashed fan of the work. The Peabody Opera House is presenting a very good production buoyed by a talented and energetic cast. Even if you're not a particularly religious person, you'll still find plenty to appreciate in this family-friendly show.

The electricity in Carol Morsani Hall, at the Straz Center in Tampa, for the opening performance of the National Tour of 'THE BOOK OF MORMON', was the closest I have experienced here, to the excitement of a Broadway opening night yet! The SOLD-OUT house was simply percolating, in anticipation of the 9 time Tony Award winning musical's Tampa debut.

Artists' Exchange has announced its upcoming events for November 2013. Details below!

Artists' Exchange has announced its upcoming events for November 2013. Details below!

This morning, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, St. Ann's Warehouse Founder and Artistic Director Susan Feldman, St. Ann's Warehouse Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson, St. Ann's Warehouse Board Chair Joseph S. Steinberg, Brooklyn Bridge Park President Regina Myer, NYC Council Member Stephen Levin, State Senator Daniel Squadron and others broke ground at the Tobacco Warehouse in Brooklyn Bridge Park. The event signals the beginning of St. Ann's $27 million development of the historic building, originally constructed in 1861, into a 25,000 SF performing arts center and community hub on the Brooklyn waterfront. The Tobacco Warehouse will serve as a permanent home for St. Ann's, which has activated found spaces for cultural use in downtown Brooklyn since in 1980. The non-profit organization plans to present its opening season in the Brooklyn Bridge Park warehouse in Fall 2015.