Arts Midwest today announced the recipients of $1.17 million in Shakespeare in American Communities grants, with $1 million going to professional theater companies partnering with schools, and $170,000 going to organizations partnering with facilities in the juvenile justice system.
It is time for Robert Kelley to take a richly-deserved curtain call. June 30th will be his last day as Artistic Director of TheatreWorks Silicon Valley after a mind-blowing 50 years in that role. It is not hyperbole to state there isn't another individual who has had a more profound influence on the Bay Area theatre landscape. Kelley founded TheatreWorks as a scrappy, community theater company in April, 1970 and guided its transformation over the years into a Tony-winning powerhouse and nationally-recognized incubator of new works. BroadwayWorld had the pleasure of speaking with Kelley earlier this spring to discuss his half-century history with TheatreWorks.
To mark the conclusion of its 50th Anniversary Season and celebrate the legacy of Founding Artistic Director Robert Kelley, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley is hosting TheatreWorks Treasures, a once-in-a-lifetime virtual auction allowing fans and supporters of the company the opportunity to snag rare and exclusive treasures from its 50-year history.
Following the success of Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin: Live from Florence, a live streaming event in May from Felder's residence in Florence, Italy, which raised significant funds for 13 US theatres and arts organizations, actor, playwright and pianist Hershey Felder has created a new arts broadcasting company, Hershey Felder Presents a?" Live from Florence.
Following the success of Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin: Live from Florence, which was streamed across the world in May 2020, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley in partnership with Hershey Felder Presents - Live from Florence will offer a special live streaming performance of Hershey Felder: Beethoven, based on the original stage direction by Joel Zwick.
More than 30 Bay Area theatres are joining forces to present a reading on Juneteenth, encouraging donations to support a bold Go Fund Me Campaign that aims to fundraise one million dollars for Black theatre projects in America. Spearheaded by PlayGround, Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, and Planet Earth Arts, these Bay Area theatres (including TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, Berkeley Rep, A.C.T, Cal Shakes, and many more) are co-presenting a livestreamed Zoom reading of Vincent Terrell Durham's Polar Bears, Black Boys & Prairie Fringed Orchids at 7pm PT on June 19 as part of the Juneteenth Theatre Justice Project, a national theatre movement to produce this reading of Durham's play to commemorate anniversary of the freeing of enslaved Black people. BroadwayWorld spoke with Aldo Billingslea, the longstanding pillar of the Bay Area theatre community who is producing the livestream and also leads the Juneteenth Theatre Justice Project. Billingslea is well-loved throughout the Bay Area as a man of many talents, including actor, professor, producer, collaborator and mentor.
Following the success of Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin: Live from Florence, a live streaming event in May from Felder's residence in Florence, Italy, which raised significant funds for 13 US theatres and arts organizations, Hershey Felder has created a new arts broadcasting company, Hershey Felder Presents - Live from Florence.
TheatreWorks is putting out the call to budding songwriters, seeking teen songbirds and rappers ready to create the next Hamilton or Dear Evan Hansen, giving them the tools to tell their own story through music. Bay Area high school students will learn from pros how to compose and create a new musical in TheatreWorks Silicon Valley's TheatreWorks Musical Making Workshop.
With concerns about how the coronavirus pandemic will affect the performing arts community in the Coachella Valley and beyond, a new group has formed for a common good. Six local, producing theatre companies have created the Alliance of Desert Theatres. Its mission statement reads: The Alliance of Desert Theatres is a cooperative of producing theatre companies that network and take action in order to advocate for and nurture a vibrant performing arts community.
San Francisco's new works incubator PlayGround in partnership with Bay Area theatre veteran Aldo Billingslea, Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, Planet Earth Arts, and more than 30 leading theatres from the Bay Area and beyond team up to present a Juneteenth livestreamed Zoom reading of Vincent Terrell Durham's thrilling and timely play, Polar Bears, Black Boys & Prairie Fringed Orchids.
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley will stream a benefit online workshop reading of Pandora, an intriguing new work by acclaimed playwright Laurel Ollstein.
On Tuesday, May 19, presenters Charles Bush and Julie Halston, along with OBA President Peter Breger, announced the 10th Annual Off Broadway Alliance. The Off Broadway Alliance plans on celebrating this year's winners with a reception this Fall.
Rick Riordan, author of the popular Percy Jackson and the Olympians book series has announced that the books will be turned into a live action series for Disney+!
For its 10th summer, Rhinebeck Writers Retreat will host nine weeklong 'virtual residencies' for 18 musical theatre writers of nine new musicals.
Due to overwhelming demand TheatreWorks Silicon Valley in partnership with Hershey Felder Presents will offer streaming access for the recorded livestream of Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin. Originally performed live from Florence, Italy by virtuoso performer/playwright/director Hershey Felder on Sunday, May 10, this celebrated solo show pays tribute to America's greatest songwriter, Irving Berlin.
Charles Busch and Julie Halston will announce the winners of the 10th Annual Off Broadway Alliance Awards on Tuesday, May 19 at 11:30 am. The winners will be announced via streaming on Facebook and YouTube.
Nothing can stop BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge from bringing you interviews with your favorite Broadway stars! Tune in right here today, May 15 (12pm), as he chats with Julia Murney and Andrew Lippa!
A BWW EXCLUSIVE: HERSHEY FELDER AS IRVING BERLIN at Florence, Italy
As theaters across the country are desperately struggling to stay afloat, this Sunday night Hershey Felder is planning a truly one-of-a-kind benefit.
This week the California Arts Council announced a grant award of $20,000 to TheatreWorks Silicon Valley as part of its Arts Education Exposure program. The Arts Education Exposure program supports attendance at high-quality performances and exhibits for students with limited access to these experiences. Priority is given to events that offer deep cultural resonance with the student communities served, complemented by pre- and post-attendance activities such as artist talkbacks, teaching artist workshops, and facility tours.
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