T. Jones News

BroadwayWorld presents a comprehensive weekly roundup of regional stories around our Broadway World, which include videos, editor spotlights, regional reviews and more. This week, we feature NEWSIES, FUN HOME, CHICAGO and More!

One year after its sold-out world premiere and on the heels of a successful crowdfunding campaign, Opera Philadelphia presents an encore engagement for We Shall Not Be Moved, "a rare work in the genre to be created by artists of color" (New York Times), in a free broadcast as part of the company's annual Opera on the Mall series at Independence National Historical Park.

What happens when a total stranger enters your life and changes it forever? Based on a true story, this Olivier Award winner for Best Play examines the impact of a charming young con man on a mature wealthy woman when she suddenly begins to care for his well-being. (Note: The play includes a brief scene with nudity)

This musical is one that everyone loves, but it is not an easy one to put together and do right. Tor Campbell, the Director and Choreographer, has accomplished that with an abundance of clever ideas, high energy, style, conviction and talent. The entire Cast is on top of it, feeling and selling this Broadway treasure like nobody's business! There is so much heart in this large Cast that it just spills out everywhere on stage all the way to the back of the house. Besides non-stop movement, full-out everything across the board performancewise, each Principal and each Ensemble member puts their all into it. Book and Lyrics by Tom Eyen, music by Henry Kreiger, Originally Choreographed and Directed by the great Michael Bennett.

NYU Skirball will present two marathon performances of Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company's acclaimed Analogy Trilogy, on September 22 and 23 at 3:00 pm. This is a rare opportunity to see the three parts of the trilogy performed as a whole and features the NYC premiere of Ambros: The Emigrant, the work's final piece. The complete trilogy will run 6½ hours (including a 90-minute dinner break) and is made up of Dora: Tramontane, Lance: Pretty aka the Escape Artist and Ambros: The Emigrant (NYC premiere).

Single tickets for Michigan Opera Theatre's (MOT) 2018-19 season will go on sale next Monday, Aug. 20. The MOT opera series celebrates masterworks of literature turned opera, by authors like John Steinbeck and Voltaire. The MOT dance series will celebrate modern dance, following the movement through multiple generations. It also includes a program featuring ballet legend Alessandra Ferri as well as local favorite "The Nutcracker" with BalletMet.

Today, the Recording Academy announced that two-time GRAMMY®-nominated saxophonist and vocalist Mindi Abair and four-time GRAMMY-nominated producer and songwriter Harvey Mason Jr. will lead the Academy's National Advocacy Committee as co-chairs. Joined by Committee members Sue Ennis, Lalah Hathaway, Booker T. Jones, and Nile Rodgers, the Committee's immediate focus is ensuring that the Senate passes the Music Modernization Act, which would be the first major reform to music copyright law in decades. The Committee is also focused on encouraging participation from the music community in the Academy's annual District Advocate day, which will take place on Oct. 24 in congressional districts across the country.

In collaboration with Ghiberti Foundation at Grace Cathedral, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) is pleased to present Requiem Mass: A Queer Divine Rite, a monumental choral work organized by renowned singer-composer Holcombe Waller. Making its San Francisco debut, Requiem Mass honors and invokes the peaceful repose of those who have suffered persecution due to their sexual orientation or gender expression.

Bard College announces the appointment of several distinguished new members of faculty across disciplines this fall. Arthur Aviles '87 joins the faculty as a guest artist in dance. Aviles is an award-winning New York-based dancer and choreographer.

SoLuna Studio will produce the Tony Award winning musical SPRING AWAKENING as a part their professional mainstage season, with performances running August 3rd-12th. Performances will be held on Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 3pm. Tickets purchased in advance at www.SoLunaStudioNY.eventbrite.com are $20. At the door, all tickets are $25. Group rates are also available. For more information about the show and tickets, please visit SoLuna Studio's website at www.solunastudiony.com. Pictures and other promotional material from the show can be found on Instagram @SoLunaStudio and on Twitter @SoLunaStudioNY

NYU Skirball will present two marathon performances of Bill. T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company's acclaimed Analogy Trilogy, on September 22 and 23 at 3:00 pm.

The Paley Center for Media announced today that it will host its 12th annual PaleyFest Fall TV Previews September 6-16, 2018, at the Paley Center's Beverly Hills location. The ten-day festival celebrates the most anticipated new shows of the Fall 2018 television season as well as returning favorites from all five major broadcast networks, cable television, and premium streaming services. Each event includes screenings followed by star-studded discussions with the series cast and creatives.

Carmen Jones, starring Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose, will end its triumphant limited engagement on Sunday, August 19th with a special benefit performance at 3 pm at CSC (136 East 13th Street).

Nyu Skirball has announced its 2018-19 Dance Season! See full details below!

Today, American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) Artistic Director Pam MacKinnon announced the appointment of three new employees to fill key positions within the Artistic and Conservatory departments at San Francisco's premier nonprofit theater organization-Joy Meads as Director of Dramaturgy and New Works; Peter J. Kuo as Associate Conservatory Director; andDanyon Davis as Head of Movement.

Bill T. Jones, MacArthur Genius Award and National Medal of Arts awardee and Artistic Director of New York Live Arts, and Janet Wong, Associate Artistic Director, announced the New York Live Arts' 2018-2019 season today. "We look to artists to reflect, reframe, reimagine, and represent the world to us. We hope that in turn we respond with empathy and, dare we say, compassion," states Bill T. Jones. "New York Live Arts will premiere eight New York and/or world premieres this season including the much anticipated "Y" by Randjelovi?/Stryker Resident Commissioned Artist RoseAnne Spradlin," says Janet Wong. "We will also bring back Jack Ferver's highly successful 'Everything Is Imaginable,' which premiered at New York Live Arts' this past season. For the 2019 edition of the Live Ideas Festival we will look at artificial intelligence and our role in shaping the future," she adds.

Theaterlab present the world premiere of MAGDALENA, an intimate multimedia solo work by the award-winning filmmaker and a Guggenheim Fellow Gabri Christa. Utilizing storytelling, visuals, and dance, the artist reveals a deeply personal account of experiencing her Dutch mother's dementia, and an effort to piece together her past, marked by struggles with war, interracial marriage and unconventional motherhood.

PBS today announced its fall 2018 schedule lineup, anchored by THE GREAT AMERICAN READ (Tuesdays, September 11- October 23). Exploring the power, passion and joy of reading, the series is hosted by Meredith Vieira and features reflections from everyday Americans as well as notables. Margaret Atwood, Lauren Graham, John Irving, Bill T. Jones, Devon Kennard, Gayle King, Diane Lane, George R.R. Martin and many more reflect on their favorite books. The series will culminate with the results of the first-ever national vote for “America's Best-Loved Novel.” 

UCLA's Center for the Art of Performance (CAP UCLA) announces three additions to its 2018-19 season, which honors legacy artists and features pioneering social justice champions and diverse global perspectives. Bestselling humorist David Sedaris will return with new and unpublished work for the 20th anniversary of his first appearance at Royce Hall. Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning filmmaker and activist Josh Fox will appear in a live solo performance of The Truth Has Changed ahead of the midterm elections. Pulitzer Prize finalist and Latino Literature Hall of Fame member Luis Alberto Urrea will join previously announced Pulitzer winner Viet Thanh Nguyen in a conversation exploring their writing about the immigrant experience and society we all share as Americans.

Peak Performances kicks off its 2018-19 season with the world premiere of Hatuey: Memory of Fire, a rousing Afro-Cuban-Yiddish opera performed in English, Yiddish and Spanish, with music by Frank London, libretto by Elise Thoron, direction by Mary Birnbaum, and choreography by Maija Garcia.