Touchstone News

Today, May 3, 2012 the Mary Boone Gallery will open at its Fifth Avenue location an exhibition of new paintings and sculpture by WILL COTTON.

On Saturday, May 19, 2012, Touchstone Theatre will present the seventh annual Young Playwrights' Festival, a showcase of original one-act plays written by students ages 8-15 and brought to life by the Touchstone Ensemble, invited guest directors, and professional and community actors from across the Lehigh Valley. The Young Playwrights' Festival will take place in Zoellner Arts Center's Baker Hall at 7pm, followed by the Gala Dessert Reception & Live/Silent Auction Fundraiser.

On 3 May 2012 the Mary Boone Gallery will open at its Fifth Avenue location an exhibition of new paintings and sculpture by WILL COTTON.

The Telegraph reports that Tony Award winner Mark Rylance will perform at the opening ceremony for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chairman Rocco Landesman announced today that Touchstone Theatre is one of 788 not-for-profit national, regional, state, and local organizations nationwide to receive an NEA Art Works grant. Touchstone Theatre is recommended for a $20,000.00 grant to support the art educational components of the Young Playwrights Lab. The 788 Art Works grants total $24.81 million and support the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, public engagement with diverse and excellent art, lifelong learning in the arts, and the strengthening of communities through the arts.

On March 27, Raven-Symone took over the leading role of Deloris Van Cartier in Broadway's SISTER ACT from Tony and Olivier Award nominee Patina Miller, who gave her final performance on Sunday, March 18. SISTER ACT, which celebrated its one-year Anniversary on Broadway on April 20, is playing at the Broadway Theater. The first footage of Raven Symone in the show has been released and below, BroadwayWorld brings you a look at the new performance montage!

On March 27, Raven-Symone took over the leading role of Deloris Van Cartier in Broadway's SISTER ACT. She is stepping into the high-heeled boots of Tony and Olivier Award nominee Patina Miller, who gave her final performance on Sunday, March 18. SISTER ACT, which celebrated its one-year Anniversary on Broadway on April 20, is playing at the Broadway Theater. View a just-released trailer featuring Raven-Symone below!

The Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Foundation presents LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM in the Fred Kavli Theatre at 8:00 pm on Sunday, May 6, 2012. Legendary guitarist, singer/songwriter/producer, Grammy® Award winner and Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame member LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM is gearing up for a new round of tour dates beginning May 3 in Solana Beach, CA and concluding Monday, May 21 in Spokane, WA. More shows throughout the U.S. will be announced in the coming weeks.

Today we are saluting one of the most beloved Broadway scores of all time, created by the formidable show business songwriting dynasty of Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein - THE SOUND OF MUSIC. While the original 1959 Broadway production was well-received and won Mary Martin a Tony Award for her winsome Maria, the property has gone on to win over generations the world over thanks in no small part to the 1965 Robert Wise feature film version starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer. On Monday, Carnegie Hall will be presenting a special concert version of the family- friendly show starring Laura Osnes, Tony Goldwyn and Brooke Shields. Be sure to check out my comprehensive conversation with Brooke Shields, who will be playing the Baroness, available here, and, also, stay tuned to BroadwayWorld for my upcoming InDepth InterView with the Maria of the concert presentation, rising Broadway superstar Laura Osnes. So, what exactly is it about THE SOUND OF MUSIC that has won over audiences of all ages for more than fifty years and set hearts aflutter and souls stirred? Is it the dramatic story of a family torn apart by death and war only to be brought back together again when least expected by a kindly maternal nun? Is it the slice of life depiction of the family dynamic and how we can all relate to one or many facets of it therein? Is it the ensuing romance between Maria and Captain Von Trapp and their delicately portrayed courtship (particularly when considering the ravishing duet added for the film, "Something Good")? Or, is it that classic Rodgers & Hammerstein score - containing a dizzying assortment of standards that have gone on to become ingrained in our ears, minds and hearts, as well as made a fixture of pop culture itself - "Do-Re-Mi", "My Favorite Things", "Edelweiss", "The Lonely Goatherd", "Climb Ev'ry Mountain", the title song and beyond. AMC's hit series MAD MEN even featured one of the most beloved SOUND OF MUSIC duets on a recent broadcast as an ironic episode capper all too befitting of the moment (and, given the 60s setting of the series, era) - Betty Draper mischievously sneaking an extra bowl of ice cream set to the strains of "I Am Sixteen Going On Seventeen". Between the MAD MEN song reference, the ongoing SOUND OF MUSIC film singalongs occurring every week (with many patrons coming in costume and with props, ala ROCKY HORROR) around the world and the countless professional and amateur productions that crop up every year, as well as the glitzy Carnegie Hall concert on Monday, THE SOUND OF MUSIC has never gone out of style - it shall forever remain sixteen, even when the show itself is not too far away from hitting sixty.

Out of the ashes of the Twin Towers emerged a group of survivors. They had all been through hell and back, but one survivor in particular stood out as inspirational: Tania Head. Tania's devastating story of narrowly escaping death from the 78th floor of the South Tower, badly burned and crawling through carnage and chaos, is one of true courage and a fighting will to survive. But while she made it out alive of one building, her life was essentially taken away by the other. Her fiance had perished in the North Tower.

An ID Films presentation of a film directed by Angelo J. Guglielmo, Jr. and produced by Meredith Vieira Productions and 4235 Productions, THE WOMAN WHO WASN'T THERE exposes the truth behind 9/11 'survivor' Tania Head.

On March 27, Raven-Symone took over the leading role of Deloris Van Cartier in Broadway's SISTER ACT. She is stepping into the high-heeled boots of Tony and Olivier Award nominee Patina Miller, who gave her final performance on Sunday, March 18. SISTER ACT, which will celebrate its one-year Anniversary on Broadway on April 20, is playing at the Broadway Theater. BroadwayWorld brings you just-released production shots of Raven in action below!

lonesome road productions, in association with Jim Jensen and Lisselan Productions, announce the final seven weeks of Chicago performances for the critically-acclaimed hit, the Doyle & Debbie show, created by Bruce Arntson, and starring Bruce Arntson, Jenny Littleton and Matt Carlton. The show, playing at The Royal George Cabaret, will close May 27, 2012.

As first reported exclusively by BroadwayWorld.com last week, the Public Theater confirmed today that Tony Award-winner Donna Murphy has been cast as The Witch in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's beloved musical INTO THE WOODS, directed by Timothy Sheader with co-direction by Liam Steel. Murphy last performed at the Delacorte in the Shakepeare in the Park production of The Mystery of Edwin Drood in 1985. INTO THE WOODS will begin previews on Monday, July 23 and continue for five weeks through Saturday, August 25 with an official press opening on Thursday, August 9.

SISTER ACT's newest star Raven-Symone has been sidelined from the production for several performances last week as she battles the flu. BroadwayWorld has confirmed that the star is on the mend and will be back in the production tomorrow, April 10.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Patrick Willingham) announced additional casting today for the 50th Anniversary season of free Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte. Robert Joy (Le Beau, Lord) and Oliver Platt (Touchstone) join the previously announced MacIntyre Dixon (Adam), David Furr (Orlando), Renee Elise Goldsberry (Celia), Omar Metwally (Oliver), Lily Rabe (Rosalind), and Stephen Spinella (Jaques) in Shakespeare's comedy AS YOU LIKE IT, directed by Daniel Sullivan.

Last night, March 27, Raven-Symone took over the leading role of Deloris Van Cartier in Broadway's SISTER ACT. She is stepping into the high-heeled boots of Tony and Olivier Award nominee Patina Miller, who gave her final performance on Sunday, March 18. SISTER ACT, which will celebrate its one-year Anniversary on Broadway on April 20, is playing at the Broadway Theater. BroadwayWorld was on hand for Raven's entire debut and brings you video coverage from her curtain call and interviews with the stars below!

BroadwayWorld was on hand for Raven's entire debut and brings you a special look at her curtain call below!

BroadwayWorld was on hand for Raven's entire debut and brings you a special look at her debut party below!

Last night, March 27, Raven-Symone took over the leading role of Deloris Van Cartier in Broadway's SISTER ACT. She is stepping into the high-heeled boots of Tony and Olivier Award nominee Patina Miller, who gave her final performance on Sunday, March 18. SISTER ACT, which will celebrate its one-year Anniversary on Broadway on April 20, is playing at the Broadway Theater. BroadwayWorld was on hand for Raven's debut curtain call and brings you a very first look below! Stay tuned for complete coverage of her special opening night!