Theatre Development Fund News

Nominations in 14 categories and 3 special awards were announced today by the Off-Broadway League for the 2011 Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway.

Nominations in 14 categories and 3 special awards were announced today by the Off-Broadway League for the 2011 Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway. This year's ceremony will benefit The Actors Fund. A list of nominees follows below.

A group of students from Middle School 301 and nearby Trinity Episcopal Church in the Bronx were thrilled to experience their very first Broadway show yesterday when they visited the long-running Disney musical MARY POPPINS at the New Amsterdam Theatre, the New York Daily News reports.

Earl D. Weiner, Chairman of the Board, and Victoria Bailey, Executive Director of Theatre Development Fund [TDF], the not-for-profit service organization for the performing arts, announced today that Michael Naumann would be joining TDF as Managing Director. Mr. Naumann, a significant player in New York's theatrical community, leaves his position of Director of Finance at Frankel Green Theatrical Management (FGTM) to join TDF. Prior to his current post, Mr. Naumann served for 20 years as Director of Finance and Administration at Manhattan Theatre Club. He will assume his duties at TDF on May 9.

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for theatre, announces an initial list of three speakers for its annual National Conference in Los Angeles, June 16-18, 2011.

Each year on March 27, the international theatre community celebrates World Theatre Day. Founded in 1961 by the International Theatre Institute (ITI), World Theatre Day was created to celebrate theatre around the world, with various national and international theatre events organized to mark the occasion.

The Broadway League has awarded coveted New York Education Grants to the Broadway productions of Memphis by Joe DiPietro and David Bryan, and War Horse by Michael Morpurgo. Each production receives a $5,000 grant towards its 2011 educational initiatives. The grants are important to the growth and development of theatre education in the city as they encourage theatres to create more opportunities for young people and to exchange ideas about education.

The Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) World Premiere production of KIN, a new play by Bathsheba Doran (Living Room in Africa, her adaptation of Great Expectations at The Lortel) will officially open On March 21.

Each year on March 27, the international theatre community celebrates World Theatre Day. Founded in 1961 by the International Theatre Institute (ITI), World Theatre Day was created to celebrate theatre around the world, with various national and international theatre events organized to mark the occasion.

Three-time Tony Award-winning scenic designer ROBIN WAGNER and esteemed costume designer LEWIS BROWN are among the 2011 TDF/Irene Sharaff Awards recipients. The awards will be presented at a ceremony on Friday, April 8 at 6:30pm at the Hudson Theatre (145 West 44th Street). Mr. Brown was selected to receive the 2011 TDF/Irene Sharaff Lifetime Achievement Award for costume design, and Tony Award-winning scenic designer Robin Wagner will receive the Robert L.B. Tobin Award for Sustained Excellence in Theatrical Design. Sadly, Mr. Brown passed away in January of 2011. His award will be accepted by his long-time colleague and friend, Albert Wolsky, who was the recipient of the 2010 TDF/Irene Sharaff Lifetime Achievement Award

Since Theatre Development Fund (TDF), the not-for-profit service organization which runs the TKTS Discount Booths, released the The Official TKTS iPhone app last December, it has become one of the most downloaded New York theatre apps in the iTunes App Store. It is still available free of charge through March 1 (after March 1 downloads will cost $0.99). Today, theatre lovers with Android devices will be able to get the same TKTS information with the launch of the TKTS Android app which lets TKTS customers know, in real-time, what shows are available at all three TKTS Discount Booths - Times Square, South Street Seaport and Downtown Brooklyn.

Theatre Development Fund, the not-for-profit service organization for the performing arts, announced the commencement of the second year of their audience development initiative, 'New Audiences for New York,' which is designed to build new audiences for Broadway among diverse and underrepresented New Yorkers across the City.

Jill Furman, Tony® award-winning and two time Tony award-nominated Broadway producer, will be presented The Commercial Theater Institute's Robert Whitehead Award for "outstanding achievement in commercial theatre producing" at a reception at The Glass House Tavern on Tuesday, March 15, 2011. Lin-Manuel Miranda, the Tony award-winning writer, performer, lyricist, and composer, who wrote and starred in In the Heights, will present the award.

"Fan Festival" kicks off The Broadway League's annual Kids' Night on Broadway!

"Fan Festival" kicks off The Broadway League's annual Kids' Night on Broadway!

Previews begin Friday, February 25 for the Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) World Premiere production of KIN, a new play by Bathsheba Doran (Living Room in Africa, her adaptation of Great Expectations at The Lortel).

Now in its second year, the American Voices New Play Institute at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater will hold a four-day convening bringing together more than 100 theater practitioners from across the country to further the dialogue around new play development.

Now in its second year, the American Voices New Play Institute at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater will hold a four-day convening bringing together more than 100 theater practitioners from across the country to further the dialogue around new play development.

The Broadway League and NYC & Company, New York City's official tourism, marketing and partnership organization, today announced winter marketing programs - including the first ever Broadway Week featuring 2-for-1 tickets to participating shows from January 24 - February 10, 2011 - to encourage residents and visitors to experience the best New York City has to offer this winter.

More event details are announced, and additional shows are on sale for the Broadway League's 15th annual KIDS' NIGHT ON BROADWAY, scheduled for February 6 -10, 2011.