President Obama News

THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary issued a proclamation today from President Obama regarding National Arts and Humanities Month 2011.

Americans for the Arts, the nation's leading organization for advancing the arts and arts education, today announced the recipients of the 2011 National Arts Awards, which recognize those artists and arts leaders who exhibit exemplary national leadership and whose work demonstrates extraordinary artistic achievement.

This season in Studio 5 at City Center, renowned dancer-turned director Damian Woetzel will offer an intimate look at today's most compelling dance artists and companies, including American Ballet Theatre and Christopher Wheeldon, and Tony Award-winning performer and master teacher Victoria Clark will explore City Center's beloved Encores! series.

Theatre Exile begins the third annual Studio X-hibition with a new play from award winning playwright and Exile favorite Bruce Graham, North of the Boulevard. Directed by associate artistic director Matt Pfeiffer, and starring Scott Greer, Brian Anthony Wilson, Brian McCann and Harry Philibosian, the reading will be on Monday, October 10th, 2011, at 7pm in Studio X at 1340 South 13th St.

The Connecticut Forum and The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts will celebrate 20 years of Forum events at The Bushnell March 16, 2012 at 7 p.m. with a speech by President Bill Clinton. President Clinton will speak on 'Embracing our Common Humanity.'

With sales surpassing one million combined units, the wildly entertaining Celtic Thunder pay homage to the musical culture of Ireland with their new CD and DVD concert special, Heritage. In the New York area the concert special, Heritage, is being aired on WLIW TV 21 (WLIW.ORG) who had pledges for tickets and a Meet and Greet with members of Celtic Thunder as one of the premiums. The troup performed at the Beacon Theatre on September 24, and BroadwayWorld was there!

Theatre Exile begins the third annual Studio X-hibition with a new play from award winning playwright and Exile favorite Bruce Graham, North of the Boulevard. Directed by associate artistic director Matt Pfeiffer, and starring Scott Greer, Brian Anthony Wilson, Brian McCann and Harry Philibosian, the reading will be on Monday, October 10th, 2011, at 7pm in Studio X at 1340 South 13th St.

The Town Hall, New York's landmark theatre and concert venue, has announced the critically acclaimed Seventh Annual Broadway Cabaret Festival October 16th, October 22nd and October 28th. Broadway Originals!, Elaine Stritch At The Town Hall, and A Tribute To Judy Garland and Gene Kelly, will be presented in a new format of three consecutive weeks. The festival is created, written and hosted by Scott Siegel.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Broadway veteran and Emmy nominee Jesse Tyler Ferguson will emcee a fundraiser for President Obama. The event will take place on September 26 at Los Angeles' House of Blues.

Bristol Riverside Theatre presents two-Time Tony Award winner CHITA RIVERA performing songs from her legendary Broadway career in CHITA RIVERA: MY BROADWAY on September 23-25.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Broadway veteran and Emmy nominee Jesse Tyler Ferguson will emcee a fundraiser for President Obama. The event will take place on September 26 at Los Angeles' House of Blues.

Kean Stage presents Esperanza Spalding in her Chamber Music Society USA Fall Tour on Saturday, October 15 at 7:30 pm in Wilkins Theatre, Kean University.

Cellist Alisa Weilerstein was today named a 2011 MacArthur Foundation Fellow. The prestigious award carries a prize of $500,000 of 'no strings attached' support over the next five years and has been dubbed the 'Genius Award'.

With sales surpassing one million combined units, the wildly entertaining Celtic Thunder pay homage to the musical culture of Ireland with their new CD and DVD concert special, Heritage.

In 'How We Won: Progressive Lessons from the Repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' the second e-book from The Huffington Post, Aaron Belkin argues that the public needed to be persuaded that gay troops would not harm the military before Congress could be convinced to repeal the ban.

Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key Administration posts.

Paul McCartney, legendary singer/songwriter and 14-time GRAMMY winner (as well as Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement and Trustees Award recipient), will be honored as the 2012 MusiCares Person of the Year at its 22nd annual benefit gala, it was announced today by Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the MusiCares Foundation and The Recording Academy , and Scott Pascucci, Chair of the MusiCares Foundation Board.

The Town Hall, New York City's landmark theatre and concert venue (123 West 43rd Street), is pleased to honor two influential women: Judith Jamison, Artistic Director Emerita of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and Dr. Joyce F. Brown, President of the Fashion Institute of Technology.

RENT alum Anthony Rapp (RENT, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown) will collaborate on a one night only reading of BORN BLUE, a new musical written by Caren Tackett (RENT, Hair). Proceeds from the event will benefit New York City based not-for-profit Broadway Impact.

In September, the Tony Award-winning Berkeley Repertory Theatre kicks off its new season with the world premiere of Rita Moreno: Life Without Makeup, a captivating new show created specifically for this outstanding actress. Written by Artistic Director Tony Taccone, developed by Rita Moreno and Tony Taccone, and staged by David Galligan, this spectacular production starts previews in the Roda Theatre on September 2, opens September 7, and runs through October 30.