W. May News

Every now and then, a transformational moment will occur in the theatre, transporting the audience into new realms of experience and understanding. Such a moment is at hand in David Bennett's vivid and compelling interpretation of MAN OF LA MANCHA. (Arizona Theatre Company's third production of the season, running through January 28th at the Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix.) Bennett's work is a grand and inspired achievement. It touches the soul and ignites the emotions.

Noche Flamenca returns to The Joyce Theater (175 8th Avenue) with Intimo, a flamenco performance exploring the possibilities and limitations of human relationships, and set to original, live music, February 13-25. Founded in 1993 by Artistic Director Martin Santangelo and globally acclaimed dancer Soledad Barrio, Noche Flamenca honors the raw and rapturous art of flamenco while stretching tradition to explore the human experience in its many varieties. Barrio, whom The New York Times has deemed one of today's great dancers of any genre, performs with a cast of exceptional flamenco dancers and musicians, many hailing from Spain.

Would you like to travel in light? The Voice Project Choir's new piece explores three very different locations in the same medieval Norwich Street. In one of the darkest parts of the year, when the post-festive blues can really set in, The Voice Project Choir offer to take you on an uplifting multi venue journey that will inspire with the promise of spring to come.

Trustus Theatre is continuing their Season 33 theme, Eyes Open, with their upcoming production of A Bright Room Called Day by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Tony Kushner. At the beginning of 1932 in Germany, the political landscape has begun to shift as the Nazis win control of the parliament for the first time. How would the small, seemingly inconsequential, actions that followed change the world of Agnes Eggling and her friends? What came next was more unthinkable than they could have ever imagined. This show will open on Friday, January 19 and will run through Saturday, February 3, 2018. Tickets may be purchased at www.trustus.org, or by calling the Trustus Box Office at 803-254-9732.

Music Director Designate Jaap van Zweden will conduct the New York Philharmonic in a program pairing the New York Premiere of Pulitzer Prize winner John Luther Adams's Dark Waves with Act I of Wagner's Die Walk re (in concert), with soprano Heidi Melton as Sieglinde, tenor Simon O'Neill as Siegmund (in his New York Philharmonic debut), and bass John Relyea as Hunding.

Noche Flamenca returns to The Joyce Theater (175 8th Avenue) with ntimo, a flamenco performance exploring the possibilities and limitations of human relationships, and set to original, live music, February 13-25. Founded in 1993 by Artistic Director Mart n Santangelo and globally acclaimed dancer Soledad Barrio, Noche Flamenca honors the raw and rapturous art of flamenco while stretching tradition to explore the human experience in its many varieties. Barrio, whom The New York Times has deemed one of today's great dancers of any genre, performs with a cast of exceptional flamenco dancers and musicians, many hailing from Spain.

On the heels of his smash hit television series, Mike & Molly , and successful productions of his plays New Country, Rantoul and Die, and Parasite Drag, critically acclaimed playwright, actor, producer and director Mark Roberts unleashes his latest razor-sharp comedy Living the Dream for two special staged readings Friday, January 19 at 3:00pm and 7:00pm at The 52nd Street Project's New Angels Theatre, 789 10th Avenue. Plans are underway for a Fall, 2018 off Broadway run.

In 1944, MGM debuted a new family classic for the ages. Centering on the Smith family of St. Louis, Missouri, the musical Meet Me in St. Louis follows a year in the life of the large, tight-knit clan as they navigate an auspicious year in the city's history. Going season by season, the film's focus is set on the Smith's eager anticipation the arrival of the World's Fair in their beloved hometown.

In addition to the usual K-12 class offerings, we are excited to offer two new electives for our students in Grades 6-8 and Grades 9-12 in our winter session. These elective classes are in addition to our typical beginner improv offerings for middle and high school students.

What is it that makes theater in Michigan unique? Dan and Luna don't know exactly, but they've only got one audition to figure something out. Exploring the same audition through several different lenses, Dan and Luna offer insight on the peaks and valleys of acting in the Mitten State - trading laughs, reflections, and perspective on everything from the driving force of imagination and the crippling effect of discrimination, to the curiously strong magic of tape ball in Pure Michigan. A tribute to the driving creative forces in our home state.

'The future is female.' If the main stage at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts is any judge of it, this statement is true, and gives one hope for the future. The story of one 11-year-old girl who changes hearts and minds with optimism and determination is an inspiring one, as is the boundless energy and talent of the young females on stage who bring this story to life. Watching ANNIE last weekend, I couldn't help but feel nostalgic for the Great Depression, when at least the president cared about the people and developed (with Annie's help of course) a New Deal that would help lift the country out of poverty. A stark contrast to today's reality, when the current resident of the White House seems to care only for the rich, and those in need get served newly crappy deals nearly every day. Maybe we need to send Annie to the Washington to get Democrats and Republicans singing together about the hopeful future of America! In the meantime, head to the Ordway to see this swell production of an American musical theater classic and get your dose of optimism about our female future.

FST continues the 2017-18 Winter Mainstage Season with the unique and gripping storytelling of Heisenberg, by Simon Stephens. Heisenberg runs from December 13, 2017 through March 4, 2018 in the Keating Theatre. Subscriptions for all four Winter Mainstage shows can be purchased for as little as $59 by phone at (941) 366-9000 or by visiting us online at www.floridastudiotheatre.org.

Bending Towards the Light - a Jazz Nativity opens Sunday, December 17, 2017 - 7pm (doors open at 6.30), presented in collaboration with KINDRED SPIRITS

You have one more chance to experience Fear at Merseles Studios, in Jersey City, when Jersey City Theater Center (JCTC) presents The BOX: Fear Edition - an evening of Music, spoken-word, poetry, dance and other performances exploring the many forms of Fear on December 8th.

Next week, Feinstein's/54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond. Scroll down for details!

After penning a song about the great white whale, Daniel Emond re-read the classic Moby Dick.... several times over. What followed were others from Melville's canon and research trips to Nantucket, New Bedford, and Provincetown, all leading to the development of the double-sided record and musical film, Kill the Whale. With musical styles inspired by The Beatles' Sergeant Pepper to Beyonc 's Lemonade, join us in celebrating the EP of Kill the Whale and the first look at the pilot to the musical film.

This December, Feinstein's/54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents a spectacular holiday lineup. Scroll down for details!

We're a Mexican American band, and no word describes America like immigrant. Most of us are children of immigrants, so it's perhaps natural that the songs we create celebrate America in this way. So says Louie Perez, the poet laureate and primary wordsmith of Los Lobos, when describing the songs on the band's new album, Gates of Gold.

BodyStories: Teresa Fellion Dance presents rose walk green ice at Danspace Project, 131 E. 10th Street, NYC from December 7-9, 2017 at 8pm.