Ten letters and card written to veteran publicist /author Walter Newkirk (memoraBEALEia, Letters of Little Edie Beale, The Secret Life of Walter Newkirk) will be auctioned by Julien's Auctions on June 26 and June 27.
Bay Street Theater has announced that Tony Award winner Betty Buckley and Drama Desk Award winner Rachel York will star as Big Edie and Little Edie Bouvier Beale in GREY GARDENS, the musical, August 4 – 30; with book by Doug Wright, music by Scott Frankel, and lyrics by Michael Korie. Michael Wilson directs.
In 1975, filmmakers Albert and David Maysles brought their cameras into the crumbling, palatial estate of Edith Bouvier Beale (the aunt of Jackie Kennedy) and her daughter, Little Edie. There they found two women ostracized from their community, hanging on to reality by a thread, and surrounded by dozens of cats and raccoons. Grey Gardens, the Musical examines both the back-story of this fascinating family and the fate they couldn't possibly have imagined. It was the first musical on Broadway ever to be adapted from a documentary.
The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) announces nine awards granted from their National Fund for New Musicals, a major funding program to support NAMT member not-for-profit theatres in their collaborations with writers to create, develop and produce new musicals. Now in its seventh year, the Fund will provide grants totaling $46,000 to ten organizations across the country.
Acclaimed Off-Broadway theater company Playwrights Horizons has announced details for its 2015 special online Auction. Bidding for the auction, which will feature an eclectic array of items and unique opportunities, begins today, Tuesday, May 5 at www.CharityBuzz.com/PlaywrightsHorizons. Online bidding will continue through Tuesday, May 19.
In 1975, filmmakers Albert and David Maysles brought their cameras into the crumbling, palatial estate of Edith Bouvier Beale (the aunt of Jackie Kennedy) and her daughter, Little Edie. There they found two women ostracized from their community, hanging on to reality by a thread, and surrounded by dozens of cats and raccoons. Grey Gardens, the Musical examines both the back-story of this fascinating family and the fate they couldn't possibly have imagined. It was the first musical on Broadway ever to be adapted from a documentary.
The Playwrights Horizons world premiere of IOWA, a new musical play written by Susan Smith Blackburn Prize finalist Jenny Schwartz (God's Ear, Somewhere Fun), music by Todd Almond (Stage Kiss at PH, Kansas City Choir Boy, The Tempest, On the Levee) and lyrics by Mr. Almond and Ms. Schwartz, opens tonight, April 13, 2015.
Bay Street Theater announces a change in the second play, OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY, for the 2015 Mainstage Summer Season. Jason Alexander was previously announced to star in the show, but had to withdraw from his role since he will be taking over for Larry David in FISH IN THE DARK on Broadway. Bay Street Theater wishes Jason all the best on his Broadway run. More information about the second play of the Mainstage Season will be announced soon.
Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts is pleased to announce Curtain Up!, Bay Street's 4th Annual Spring Benefit honoring Patty and Jay Baker, and Barbara Slifka at Joe's Pub in New York City on May 4. The theater's fourth honors event will be hosted by Bay Street's Artistic Director, Scott Schwartz.
Previews begin tomorrow, today, March 20 for the Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) world premiere of IOWA, a new musical play written by Susan Smith Blackburn Prize finalist Jenny Schwartz (God's Ear, Somewhere Fun), music by Todd Almond (Stage Kiss at PH, Kansas City Choir Boy, The Tempest, On the Levee) and lyrics by Mr. Almond and Ms. Schwartz. Directed by two-time Obie Award winner Ken Rus Schmoll (Red Dog Howls, Middletown, What Once We Felt; next season's Antlia Pneumatica at PH), the musical play will be the fifth production of the theater company's 2014/2015 Season.
Albert Maysles, who directed the film GREY GARDENS, passed away on March 5, 2015. He was 88. The authors, director and producer of the Broadway musical adaptation of GREY GARDENS issued a statement in Maysles' honor today, March 6.
Making their 54 Below debuts together, Emily Padgett and Erin Davie crafted a cabaret show that was filled with humor and heart. Singing duets and solo numbers, the lovely ladies who played Violet and Daisy Hilton in this season's Broadway revival of Side Show at the St. James Theatre skillfully entertained the dinner time crowd and left us looking forward to the next time they tread the boards on the Great White Way.
Playwrights Horizons has announced casting for IOWA, the world premiere of a new musical play written by Susan Smith Blackburn Prize finalist Jenny Schwartz (God's Ear, Somewhere Fun), music by Todd Almond (Stage Kiss at PH, Kansas City Choir Boy, The Tempest, On the Levee) and lyrics by Mr. Almond and Ms. Schwartz. Directed by two-time Obie Award winner Ken Rus Schmoll (Red Dog Howls, Middletown, What Once We Felt; next season's just-announced Antlia Pneumatica by Anne Washburn at PH), the musical play will be the fifth production of the theater company's 2014/2015 Season.
Stearns Matthews, a 2015 Bistro Award winner for Outstanding Recording, celebrated the late 2014 release of his debut album Spark last night at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. Giving an encore performance of his critically lauded Spark CD Release Show, the accomplished performer and three-time MAC Award nominee entertained audiences with his whimsical set and his dazzling and bright lyric baritone instrument.
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Carousel,' 'The King And I' and 'The Merry Widow' at Lyric Opera, and the upcoming season at Porchlight. Plus 'Merman' transfers, 'Mormon' arrives, 'First Wives Club' and 'Gotta Dance' try out, the 'Pride And Prejudice' reading moves, Quest Theatre mounts two, Pasek and Paul's 'Peach,' Bailiwick's 'Wonderful Town,' the Mosh Pit in the Tribune and more honors for Jessie Mueller! Whew!
Acclaimed cabaret vocalist Stearns Matthews will present an encore performance of the release show for his debut album, SPARK, tonight, February 11th at 7pm at the Laurie Beechman Theatre.
Playwrights Horizons, under the leadership of Artistic Director Tim Sanford and Managing Director Leslie Marcus, has announced the six productions of its 2015/2016 Season. The six new works will be presented at the theater company's home at 416 West 42nd Street. In season order, they will be:
The winner of the 2015 Richard Rodgers Award for Musical Theater was announced earlier this week by the American Academy of Arts and Letters, which administers the Rodgers Awards: String, by Adam Gwon and Sarah Hammond. The show was awarded a Studio Production.