Fela!, the critically acclaimed musical that had audiences on their feet during its world premiere last summer at Off-Broadway's 37 Arts, will arrive on Broadway this fall where it begins performances at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre (230 West 49th Street) on Monday, October 19. The official opening is set for Monday, November 23. This new musical, based on the life of groundbreaking African composer, performer and activist Fela Anikulapo Kuti, is directed and choreographed by Tony® Award-winner Bill T. Jones (Spring Awakening), with a book by Jim Lewis and Bill T. Jones. Sahr Ngaujah will return in the title role for which he received universal acclaim, while the world renowned Antibalas and other members of the NYC Afrobeat community, under the direction of Aaron Johnson, will again perform Kuti?s rousing music live onstage. Winner of this year?s Lucille Lortel Award for Best Musical, Fela! was conceived by Bill T. Jones, Jim Lewis and Steve Hendel.
The Civilians News
This year The Tony Randall Theatrical Fund has expanded its giving guidelines beyond financial support for the production of a single classic play with The 2009 Tony Randall Theatrical Fund General Operating Support Grants, awarded to ten passionate, resourceful theatrical organizations that have continued to fulfill their artistic missions despite financial constraints.
Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Saturday, May 23, 2009.
Let me put it this way... If Spring Awakening was the kind of show that made you feel good about the future of the American musical, I'd say there's a fine chance you'll enjoy Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson: The Concert Version. On the other hand, if you couldn't for the life of you stand one moment of Spring Awakening, or at the very least was of the humble opinion that it was far from the ground-breaking musical theatre revolution so many proclaimed it to be, I'd say there's a very good chance you will looooooooooooooove Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson: The Concert Version.
Drag superstar Sweetie, recently seen on 'Project Runway' and in WIG OUT!, hosts the WIG OUT! COSTUME EXTRAVANGZA, a special one-night-only event offering drinks, divas, drag and dance presented by the Vineyard Theater on Thursday, May 21, beginning with a cocktail reception at 7:00pm, followed by a fashion show, silent auction of costumes from the hit musical WIG OUT! designed by Toni-Leslie James, and dance party featuring the stars of WIG OUT! at the Vineyard Theatre (108 East 15th Street) in Manhattan.
59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer) is proud to welcome NYC?s own Waterwell to the Americas Off Broadway festival with the NYC premiere of #9, devised by Waterwell and directed by Tom Ridgely with music composed by Lauren Cregor and Waterwell and choreography by Monica Bill Barnes. #9 begins previews on Friday, June 5 for a limited engagement through Sunday, June 28. Opening Night is Thursday, June 11 at 8:30 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday at 7:30 PM, Wednesday - Saturday at 8:30 PM; Sunday at 3:30 and 7:30 PM. Please note there is no performance on Sunday, June 14 at 3:30 PM. The regular ticket price is $25 ($17.50 for 59E59 Members). Sundays at 7:30 PM are only $9. Tickets are available by calling Ticket Central at 212-279-4200 or online at www.ticketcentral.com. For more information visit www.59E59.org.
The Vineyard Theatre, Young Playwrights Inc., and The Anne Frank Center USA collaborate on a new Arts-In-Education initiative designed to inspire the next generation of artists DIARY 21: ARE WE WRITING LOUD ENOUGH? selections from new plays inspired by the legacy of Anne Frank written by students from Washington Irving High School and Lab School for Collaborative Studies
The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced complete casting and creative team today for BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON: The Concert Version, the fourth play of the 2008-2009 Public LAB season. Written and directed by Alex Timbers and featuring music and lyrics by Michael Friedman, BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON: The Concert Version will begin performances on Tuesday, May 5 and run through Sunday, May 24. Tickets are $10 for all performances and are on-sale now.
Awards were handed out for 14 categories and 2 special awards are announced by the Off-Broadway League for the Lucille Lortel Awards recognizing Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway. This year?s ceremony benefits The Actors Fund. A list of nominees follows below.
Drag superstar Sweetie, recently seen on 'Project Runway' and in WIG OUT!, hosts the WIG OUT! COSTUME EXTRAVANGZA, a special one-night-only event offering drinks, divas, drag and dance presented by the Vineyard Theater on Thursday, May 21, beginning with a cocktail reception at 7:00pm, followed by a fashion show, silent auction of costumes from the hit musical WIG OUT! designed by Toni-Leslie James, and dance party featuring the stars of WIG OUT! at the Vineyard Theatre (108 East 15th Street) in Manhattan.
The Weston Playhouse Theatre, Vermont's oldest professional theatre, will host its second annual Artists Retreat the week of April 26 - May 3, bringing a diverse and noteworthy group of theatre artists to Weston, Vermont to work on their latest projects.
Sundance Institute today announced the five projects chosen for the 2009 Sundance Institute Theatre Lab to be held July 7 -22 at the Sundance Resort in Utah. Under the stewardship of Sundance Institute Theatre Program's Artistic Director Philip Himberg, the projects and participants selected for this year's residency are: Diagram of a Paper Airplane (Carlos Murillo); An Iliad (Denis O'Hare and Lisa Peterson); The Lily's Revenge (Taylor Mac); Ngwino Ubeho (Come and Be Alive) (Odile Gakire Gatire); and Palomino (David Cale).
April is the cruelest - and most hilarious - month at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, when Les Waters lets loose with another shocking script from Martin McDonagh. In 2007, the Obie Award-winning director scored a direct hit with his extended run of The Pillowman; since then, the Academy Award-winning author released his first feature film, In Bruges. Now Berkeley Rep reenlists these seasoned artists for another vicious comedy: The Lieutenant of Inishmore. Staged in the state-of-the-art Roda Theatre, this edgy farce begins previews on April 17, opens April 22, and closes May 17. BART and Wells Fargo serve as season sponsors for Berkeley Rep's 41st year of fearless theatre, and the executive producers for this show are Marjorie Randolph, Betty and Jack Schafer, and Philip and Shirley Schild.
The Weston Playhouse Theatre, Vermont's oldest professional theatre, will host its second annual Artists Retreat the week of April 26 - May 3, bringing a diverse and noteworthy group of theatre artists to Weston, Vermont to work on their latest projects.
April is the cruelest - and most hilarious - month at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, when Les Waters lets loose with another shocking script from Martin McDonagh. In 2007, the Obie Award-winning director scored a direct hit with his extended run of The Pillowman; since then, the Academy Award-winning author released his first feature film, In Bruges.
The Tony Award-winning Vineyard Theatre (108 East 15th Street) will open its 2009-10 season with the New York premiere A BOY AND HIS SOUL, written and performed by Colman Domingo (PASSING STRANGE), set to begin previews in September.
The Civilians' Spring Benefit, 'There's No Place Like Home' will be held Friday, April 17th at Galapagos Art Space, DUMBO, Brooklyn This year's benefit follows the themes of home and community that The Civilians have been exploring in recent projects such as Brooklyn at Eye Level and This Beautiful City.
The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced complete casting and creative team today for BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON: The Concert Version, the fourth play of the 2008-2009 Public LAB season. Written and directed by Alex Timbers and featuring music and lyrics by Michael Friedman, BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON: The Concert Version will begin performances on Tuesday, May 5 and run through Sunday, May 24. Tickets are $10 for all performances and are on-sale now.
The Vineyard Theatre, Young Playwrights Inc., and The Anne Frank Center USA collaborate on a new Arts-In-Education initiative designed to inspire the next generation of artists DIARY 21: ARE WE WRITING LOUD ENOUGH? selections from new plays inspired by the legacy of Anne Frank written by students from Washington Irving High School and Lab School for Collaborative Studies
Rep Stage, the professional Equity theatre in residence at Howard Community College (HCC), continues its 16th season with the regional premiere of Jenny Schwartz's 'God's Ear,' playing April 1 through April 26, 2009 in the Studio Theatre of HCC. 'God's Ear' focuses on a young couple, Ted and Mel, and how they cope with the loss of their son. Positioned firmly in the center of 'God's Ear' is the concept of language, and how language and expression are used to deal with tragedy and grief. Paul Morella (Ted), Julie-Ann Elliott (Mel) and Lauren Williams (Lanie) star; Helen Hayes Award-winning director Kasi Campbell directs. For show schedules and additional information, refer to the included Fact Sheet.
Videos
