Sarah Johnson News

Cookeville High School's production of West Side Story claimed top honors - the award for Best Show of 2014/15 - last Saturday at the second annual Nashville High School Musical Theatre Awards, presented at Lipscomb University's Collins Alumni Auditorium and hosted by Melinda Doolittle.

Link Up, Carnegie Hall's music education program for grades 3-5 celebrates its 30th year with dozens of energetic and interactive children's concerts across the United States and abroad this spring, including six performances in New York City over three days, May 19-21, in Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage. The program and concerts are presented by Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute.

Now one of the most performed shows in America, Seussical is a fantastical, magical, musical extravaganza! Tony winners Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Lucky Stiff, My Favorite Year, Once On this Island and Ragtime) have lovingly brought to life all of our favorite Dr. Seuss characters, including Horton the Elephant, The Cat in the Hat, Gertrude McFuzz, Lazy Mayzie and a little boy with a big imagination--Jojo. The colorful characters transport us from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus Mcgurkus to the invisible world of the Whos.

Funky Little Theater Company is proud to present the Regional Premiere of Laurie Brooks' new play, Afflicted: Daughters of Salem. This production will have performances tonight, January 22nd-February 7th, 2015 (Todays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7pm + Monday, February 2nd at 7pm is Industry Night). All tickets are $10 and can be purchased online (www.funkylittletheater.org) or at the door. Funky Little Theater Company accepts cash, check or most major credit cards. All performances will be at Funky Little Theater Company located at 2109 Templeton Gap Road, 80907. This production features performances by Michelle Pantle, Emma Colligan, Meghan Lastrella, Sarah Johnson, April Hamer and Lizzy Essiedu and is directed by Chris Medina.

Funky Little Theater Company is proud to present the Regional Premiere of Laurie Brooks' new play, Afflicted: Daughters of Salem. This production will have performances January 22nd-February 7th, 2015 (Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7pm + Monday, February 2nd at 7pm is Industry Night). All tickets are $10 and can be purchased online (www.funkylittletheater.org) or at the door. Funky Little Theater Company accepts cash, check or most major credit cards. All performances will be at Funky Little Theater Company located at 2109 Templeton Gap Road, 80907. This production features performances by Michelle Pantle, Emma Colligan, Meghan Lastrella, Sarah Johnson, April Hamer and Lizzy Essiedu and is directed by Chris Medina.

Musical Explorers, an education program for New York City students in grades K-2 developed by Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute (WMI), builds basic music skills in the classroom as children learn songs from different cultures, reflect on their own communities, and develop singing and listening skills. Each year, the program culminates in a series of concerts held in Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall at the end of the fall and spring semesters, with artists representing the wide variety of cultures and styles found throughout New York City's five boroughs. Artists performing in this year's concerts include Haitian singer Emeline Michel, Michael Farkas and his jug band The Wiyos, Argentinian musicians Sofia Rei and Sofia Tosello, Yiddish folk violinist Yale Strom, Mexican harpist Celso Duarte, and classical tenor Dan Snyder. This season's concerts are scheduled for today, December 9-12, 2014 and May 5-8, 2015.

Musical Explorers, an education program for New York City students in grades K-2 developed by Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute (WMI), builds basic music skills in the classroom as children learn songs from different cultures, reflect on their own communities, and develop singing and listening skills. Each year, the program culminates in a series of concerts held in Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall at the end of the fall and spring semesters, with artists representing the wide variety of cultures and styles found throughout New York City's five boroughs. Artists performing in this year's concerts include Haitian singer Emeline Michel, Michael Farkas and his jug band The Wiyos, Argentinian musicians Sofia Rei and Sofia Tosello, Yiddish folk violinist Yale Strom, Mexican harpist Celso Duarte, and classical tenor Dan Snyder. This season's concerts are scheduled for December 9-12, 2014 and May 5-8, 2015.

Link Up, Carnegie Hall's music education program for students in grades 3-5, celebrates its 30th year with dozens of energetic and interactive concerts across the United States and abroad this season. With the addition of 14 new partner orchestras this year, Link Up curriculum and program materials are now being shared for free with more than 70 orchestras across the country from Alaska to Florida, as well as in Canada, Spain, and Japan, serving approximately 300,000 students and teachers around the world.

The League of American Orchestras' National Conference will offer fresh perspectives from thought leaders on the many ways orchestras are adapting during this era of rapid change. Hosted by the Seattle Symphony, the Conference takes place today, June 4-6, 2014 in Seattle, with pre-Conference seminars on June 2-4 as well as musical performances, events, and sessions presented by industry experts and beyond. Nearly 1,000 professionals and volunteers from across the orchestra field are expected to attend.

Lincoln Center Education, the education cornerstone of Lincoln Center and a global leader in arts education and advocacy, announced updates to the Next Stage event today, May 30, 2014 focused on music, and in partnership with the New York Philharmonic.

Lincoln Center Education, the education cornerstone of Lincoln Center and a global leader in arts education and advocacy, announced updates to the Next Stage event on May 30, 2014 focused on music, and in partnership with the New York Philharmonic. Violinist Midori, originally announced as moderator, with regret has withdrawn to attend to a minor but time sensitive health issue. Her replacement as moderator will be Dr. Aaron A. Flagg, Professor of Music, Dean of the Hartt School and Senior Advisor to the President on External Relations at the University of Hartford. Joining Dr. Flagg will be three panelists: Sarah Johnson (Director, Weill Music Institute at Carnegie Hall), Angelica Negron (composer and New York Philharmonic Teaching Artist), and Paola Prestini (composer and Creative Director of Original Music Workshop).

The League of American Orchestras' National Conference will offer fresh perspectives from thought leaders on the many ways orchestras are adapting during this era of rapid change. Hosted by the Seattle Symphony, the Conference takes place June 4-6, 2014 in Seattle, with pre-Conference seminars on June 2-4 as well as musical performances, events, and sessions presented by industry experts and beyond. Nearly 1,000 professionals and volunteers from across the orchestra field are expected to attend.

Li'l Buds Theatre presents Those Silly Reindeer! This original musical for families was co written by J. Preddie Predmore and the critically acclaimed actress Jenny Lamb most recently praised for her work as Sally Bowles in Cabaret at Light Opera works. Li'l Buds continues it's tradition of casting professional actors and children together to create a high quality theatrical experience that speaks to kid and adult audiences alike.

The International Documentary Association (IDA)'s 29th Annual IDA Documentary Awards were held last night, Friday, December 6th at the Director's Guild in Los Angeles. Scroll down for a full list of winners!

Rehearsals are now underway as high school singers from five New York City public schools and a community youth choir join together with young instrumentalists from the recently launched Jazz at Lincoln Center Youth Orchestra (JLCYO) to prepare for an exciting March 2014 concert at Carnegie Hall. The performance is the culmination of a year-long creative learning project spotlighting Duke Ellington's legendary sacred music.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The BCA nominations are out, Levi Kreis leads a reading, 'We Three Lizas' return, two holiday shows from Broadway In Chicago, three more versions of 'A Christmas Carol,' more reindeer, and Palatine's 'White Christmas.' And it's still early November!

Li'l Buds Theatre presents Those Silly Reindeer! This original musical for families was co written by J. Preddie Predmore and the critically acclaimed actress Jenny Lamb most recently praised for her work as Sally Bowles in Cabaret at Light Opera works. Li'l Buds continues it's tradition of casting professional actors and children together to create a high quality theatrical experience that speaks to kid and adult audiences alike.

Tales of paranormal activities, reports of spiritual encounters and ghost stories have always appealed to their audiences since time immemorial, as they tap into man's innate curiosity with unseen forces and powers beyond humanity's reckoning. With her new book, Totally Sarah, author Gladys Dorris shares stories of such otherworldly experiences, as she tells the tale of a young woman gifted with extrasensory perception who embarks on a series of paranormal adventures in London, a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada.

Academy Award winner Al Pacino has signed on to star in David Gordon Green's drama, "Manglehorn," financed and produced by Worldview Entertainment.