Victoria Bailey News

TDF's Autism Theater Initiative (ATI) announces a slate of autism-friendly performances on Broadway for the 2013-14 theatre season. The Initiative, which operates under the auspices of Theatre Development Fund's Accessibility Programs (TAP), will present autism-friendly performances of three blockbuster Broadway musicals. They are: Disney's THE LION KING on Sunday, September 29, 2013, at 1pm at the Minskoff Theatre; SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Darkon Saturday, November 16, 2013, at 2pm at the Foxwoods Theatre; and WICKED on Sunday, March 2, 2014, at 1pm at the Gershwin Theatre.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: BROADWAY BARES is back, TKTS celebrates 40 years, Willy Wonka gets a West End debut, and so much more!

Today, June 26, TKTS in Times Square, the same-day discount theatre outlet for Broadway and Off Broadway shows celebrated 40 years in Times Square. Beginning at 11am, there was a special celebration in honor of TKTS' 40th Anniversary behind the TKTS Booth on Broadway and 47th Street. Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein and Broadway star Julie Halston made special appearances to help with the festivities. Check out full coverage of today's celebration below!

For the 40th Anniversary of TKTS in Times Square, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella Star Laura Osnes rang the bell to open the New York Stock Exchange with Theatre Development Fund (TDF) Chairman, Earl D. Weiner, Executive Director Victoria Bailey and Managing Director Michael Naumann. Check out photos from the special event below!

Applications for the second annual T. Fellowship will be accepted from May 22, 2013 through August 1, 2013. Applications and instructions are available online at www.tfellowship.com.

Applications for the second annual T. Fellowship will be accepted from May 22, 2013 through August 1, 2013. Applications and instructions are available online at www.tfellowship.com.

Nominations in 26 competitive categories for the American Theatre Wing's 67thAnnual Antoinette Perry "Tony" Awards were announced today by Tony winning-actress Sutton Foster and star of both stage and screen Jesse Tyler Ferguson, at the Tony Award Nominations Announcement sponsored by IBM. The nominees were selected by an independent committee of 24 theatre professionals appointed by the Tony Awards Administration Committee. The 2013 Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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

Theatre Development Fund, the not-for-profit service organization for the performing arts, has announced that in cooperation with The Broadway League, it will test two new services at the main TKTS Discount Booth "under the red steps" in Times Square, which is now in its 40th year of operation.

TDF's Autism Theater Initiative will present an autism-friendly performance of Disney's The Lion King today, September 30, at 1pm, at the Minskoff Theatre (1515 Broadway, NYC). This performances illustrates TDF's commitment to continuing to present autism-friendly performances in New York City. TDF is also available to consult with other theatre organizations across the United States who would like to present their own autism-friendly performances.

The Tony Awards Nominating Committee is a rotating group of up to 35 theatre professionals selected by the Tony Awards Administration Committee. Nominators serve for overlapping three-year terms. They are asked to see every new Broadway production and then meet each year shortly after the Tony eligibility deadline. They determine the nominations based on secret ballots supervised by an accounting firm. The results are announced early the following morning.

TDF's Autism Theater Initiative presents autism-friendly performances of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins today, April 29, at 1pm, at the New Amsterdam Theatre (214 West 42nd, Street, NYC) and Disney's The Lion King on Sunday, September 30, at 1pm, at the Minskoff Theatre (1515 Broadway, NYC). These performances illustrate TDF's commitment to continuing to present autism-friendly performances in New York City. TDF is also available to consult with other theatre organizations across the United States who would like to present their own autism-friendly performances.

TDF's Autism Theater Initiative will present autism-friendly performances of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins on Sunday, April 29, at 1pm, at the New Amsterdam Theatre (214 West 42nd, Street, NYC) and Disney's The Lion King on Sunday, September 30, at 1pm, at the Minskoff Theatre (1515 Broadway, NYC). These performances illustrate TDF's commitment to continuing to present autism-friendly performances in New York City. TDF is also available to consult with other theatre organizations across the United States who would like to present their own autism-friendly performances.

Producers of The Gershwins' PORGY AND BESS just announced that thanks to a generous donation from the families of George and Ira Gershwin, 2,250 high school students from New York City Public Schools will be coming to see the show on Wednesday matinees from March through May. The event kicked off yesterday, March 13, with a special event that involved both cast members and teachers and city officials. BroadwayWorld was there for the festivities, and we bring you full photo coverage below!

Five time Tony® award-winning Broadway producer, Jon B. Platt, will be presented The Commercial Theater Institute's Robert Whitehead Award for "outstanding achievement in commercial theatre producing" at a reception at Sardi's on Tuesday, March 13, 2012. David Stone, Stuart Thompson, and Bob Wankel will present the award.