Theatre Development Fund News

Philip J. Smith, the Chairman and Co-Chief Executive of the Shubert Organization will be honored at Theatre Development Fund's gala today, March 4 which celebrates the 40th Anniversary of TKTS in Times Square. (TKTS Times Square will turn 40 on June 25, 2013). The gala will be held at The Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street, NYC). For tickets, table information and journal ad information go to: www.tdf.org/gala, email: events@tdf.org or call 212.912.9770 x340.

In honor of World Theatre Day (March 27th) an Around the Globe Chain Play will be presented at the Lark Play Development Center. Starting and ending in NYC, a play will be written as it travels around the world making 16 stops with playwrights from across the globe.

Philip J. Smith, the Chairman and Co-Chief Executive of the Shubert Organization will be honored at Theatre Development Fund's gala on Monday, March 4 which celebrates the 40th Anniversary of TKTS in Times Square. (TKTS Times Square will turn 40 on June 25, 2013). The gala will be held at The Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street, NYC). For tickets, table information and journal ad information go to: www.tdf.org/gala, email: events@tdf.org or call 212.912.9770 x340.

Now, Disney Theatrical Productions has confirmed that Aladdin, a new musical based on the Academy Award winning animated film, will play its pre-Broadway engagement at Toronto's Ed Mirvish Theatre(formerly the Canon) November 13, 2013 to January 12, 2014 and will open at Broadway's New Amsterdam Theatre in 2014. The show will feature music by Alan Menken; lyrics by the late Howard Ashman, Tim Rice and Chad Beguelin with a book by Beguelin. Casey Nicholaw will direct and choreograph.

The Old Globe will offer an autism-friendly performance of the holiday musical Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! today, Dec. 15 at 10:30 a.m. Following in the footsteps of successful autism-friendly performances of The Lion King and Mary Poppins on Broadway, The Grinch will be performed in a friendly and supportive environment for children on the autism spectrum and their families.

In October, Theatre Development Fund announced that they would pilot a new program at TKTS Times Square whereby matinee and evening tickets would be sold simultaneously at the main TKTS Discount Booth in Times Square. Due to a very robust holiday season coupled with the fact that the TKTS Discount Booth at South Street Seaport is currently closed due to flooding from Hurricane Sandy, the pilot will be suspended until after the holiday season.

Helen Marie Guditis, Founder and President of "The Theatre Museum" , died of cancer, in her sleep. She valiantly fought for 4 years but succumbed to the disease on December 3, 2012. She was with family members, who said that she sang broadway show tunes until her last breath. Stewart F. Lane, chairman of The Theatre Museum called Helen's dedication to theater inspiring and stated, 'Helen will be deeply missed by the theater community.'

The Acting Company's 40th Anniversary Ruby Ball was held on December 3, 2012 at Capitale, and James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director of the Signature Theatre and the Richard Rodgers Director of Juilliard's Drama Division, accepted the John Houseman Award recognizing his profound commitment to the development of American actors and an audience for the theater. Earl Weiner, Board Chairman of both The Acting Company and the Theater Development Fund (TDF) received the Warburg Humanitarian Award for his outstanding philanthropic endeavor and leadership. Check out photos from the event below!

The Broadway League's 15th annual demographics report, The Demographics of the Broadway Audience 2011-2012, compares current theatergoing habits to previous seasons in predicting trends for the future.

At The Acting Company's 40th Anniversary Ruby Ball tonight, December 3, 2012 at Capitale, James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director of the Signature Theatre and the Richard Rodgers Director of Juilliard's Drama Division, will accept the John Houseman Award recognizing his profound commitment to the development of American actors and an audience for the theater.

The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) announced a $3,000 surplus at its Annual General Meeting this week. "This is a great achievement for the Alliance," says Michael Rubinoff, the newly elected President to the Board of Directors at TAPA. "The surplus will help to move the organization forward to achieving financial stability in order to continually provide meaningful, quality services to our members."

Theatre Development Fund has launched the TDF Theatre Dictionary - a video guide to 'theatre lingo' by TDF and theatre companies from across North America. Check out the welcome message by stage, screen and TV star Denis O'Hare!

TDF's Autism Theater Initiative (ATI) today announced a slate of autism-friendly performances of Broadway shows for 2013.

StudentsLive and Japanese Girl Group AKB48 previously announced the final Broadway Showcase of FROM TOKYO TO BROADWAY as part of the 2012 Passport to Broadway: Japan program.

At The Acting Company's 40th Anniversary Ruby Ball on Monday, December 3, 2012 at Capitale, James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director of the Signature Theatre and the Richard Rodgers Director of Juilliard's Drama Division, will accept the John Houseman Award recognizing his profound commitment to the development of American actors and an audience for the theater. Earl Weiner, Board Chairman of both The Acting Company and the Theater Development Fund (TDF) will receive the Warburg Humanitarian Award for his outstanding philanthropic endeavor and leadership. According to Barbara Fleischman, Gala Chair, Harriet Harris(Thoroughly Modern Millie, upcoming in Cinderella) and Dr. Kate Levin, Commissioner of New York City's Department of Cultural Affairs, will present the awards; Jim Dale will host, Kate Baldwin (Finian's Rainbow, upcoming in Giant) will perform and tributes will be offered by Angela Lansbury, Kevin Kline, Patti LuPone, Rainn Wilson, Dana Ivey, Hamish Linklater, Joe Dowling, Director of The Guthrie and Michael Kahn, Artistic Director of Washington's Shakespeare Theater. Four hundred guests complete an industry-filled audience of producers, directors, entertainers and other notables including The Honorable Thomas Kean, record producer Clive Davis,director/choreographer Susan Stroman, TV personality Pia Lindstrom, Juilliard President Joseph Polisi, composerMary Rodgers Guettel and The Broadway League's Charlotte St. Martin. Tickets from 212-258-3111.

The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) along with Friends of the Arts will meet with over 25 Toronto City Councillors at Toronto City Hall on Tuesday, November 13 to discuss the importance of the arts and their impact on Torontonians.

Theatre Development Fund has announced that its satellite TKTS Discount Booth in Downtown Brooklyn at 1 MetroTech Center will reopen on Tuesday, November 6 at 11am. This booth has been closed since Hurricane Sandy hit last week.

The Old Globe today announced the complete cast and creative team for the Globe's 15th annual production of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Theatre Development Fund has announced that its satellite TKTS Discount Booth at South Street Seaport will remain closed until further notice due to extensive water damage sustained as a result of Hurricane Sandy.

StudentsLive and Japanese Girl Group AKB48 have announced the final Broadway Showcase of FROM TOKYO TO BROADWAY as part of the 2012 Passport to Broadway: Japan program.