Walt Whitman News

Plays written by notable Brooklyn playwrights-four of whom are still alive, well and living in Brooklyn-make up the roster of five works to be presented as part of the Sixth Annual Play Reading Salon Series from Brave New World Repertory Theatre. Based in Brooklyn, Brave New World is known for its bold, critically acclaimed productions of Fahrenheit 451, The Great White Hope and Crossing Brooklyn Ferry, based on Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass (all for Celebrate Brooklyn at the Prospect Park bandshell); and To Kill a Mockingbird, staged on the front porches of a tree-lined Ditmas Park street.

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College welcomes legendary composer/performer and 2008 Theater Hall of Fame inductee Marvin Hamlisch for an elegant evening of unforgettable music on Saturday, April 25, 2009 at 8pm. Mr. Hamlisch holds the distinction of being one of only twelve people to win all four major US performing awards (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony) and one of only two to have won all four of those plus a Pulitzer Prize (the other being Richard Rogers).

The National Park Service and Ford's Theatre Society will host two open houses in the newly renovated Ford's Theatre (511 10th Street NW) on February 12, 2009, and February 16, 2009. The theatre will be open to the general public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free tickets will be available at the Ford's Theatre Box Office beginning at 8:30 a.m. each day.

Wayne R. Reynolds, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Ford's Theatre Society, Paul R. Tetreault, Director of Ford's Theatre Society, and Kym Elder, Superintendent of Ford's Theatre National Historic Site, announced today that Ford's Theatre will reopen in February 2009 after an 18-month renovation. Ford's Theatre will celebrate with one week of public and private events honoring Abraham Lincoln's life and legacy. The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Campaign, a $50 million capital campaign to support the renovation of Ford's Theatre and its museum as well as the building of the new Center for Education and Leadership, has raised $43 million to date.

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College continues its World of Dance series with the return of one of the nation's premier flamenco and Spanish dance companies, Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana, performing their new production, Fiesta Flamenca, on Sunday, February 22, 2009 at 3pm. 'An infectiously joyful celebration of music and dance.' -The New York Times

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College welcomes Ballet-th??tre atlantique du Canada, performing the New York City premiere of their full-length contemporary ballet, Don Juan, on Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 2pm. Set to the music of George Gershwin and featuring costumes by Denis Lavoie (who created Mick Jagger?s wardrobe for the Voodoo Lounge tour), the piece takes a fresh and playful look at the legend of history?s most infamous lover.

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College continues its World of Dance series with the return of one of the nation's premier flamenco and Spanish dance companies, Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana, performing their new production, Fiesta Flamenca, on Sunday, February 22, 2009 at 3pm. 'An infectiously joyful celebration of music and dance.' -The New York Times Originally from Andalusia, the southern region of Spain, the art of flamenco developed from the interaction of the many cultures that inhabited this region for centuries. Traditional dances include the joyful Alegrias, with songs that are light and carefree in spirit; the Tangos, one of the oldest and most basic gypsy forms; and the Soleres, the essence and root of flamenco, with its themes of romantic tragedy, desolation and death. The flamenco event frequently ends por Bulerias, with a 'jam session' in which everyone engages in a friendly competition of artistry and expertise. Carlota Santana, Artistic Director and Founder of Flamenco Vivo, has been designated 'The Keeper of Flamenco' by Dance Magazine in recognition of her commitment to creating new works and developing young artists and choreographers. She has dedicated her company to the mission of building bridges between cultures, using the universal spirit of flamenco. The company was founded in 1983 by Carlota Santana and Roberto Lorca; it was their vision that new Spanish dance should not only find a permanent home in the U.S., but also an environment in which its creation and performance would thrive. Under Ms. Santana's direction, the company has expanded its repertory by presenting new music, dramatic works, and a mixture of various dance vocabularies, as well as by integrating Hispanic-American influences. Recent creations include Burlador (The Trickster), an innovative dance drama based on tales of the legendary lover Don Juan; Bailes de Ida y Vuelta, flamenco's journey through Latin America highlighting flamenco's Caribbean, Latino and Afro-Latino influences; Mano a Mano, a tribute to the bullfighter Manolete; and the contemporary flamenco story-ballet Federico, a celebration of the life of Federico Garc?a Lorca - all at The Joyce Theater in New York City, where the company performs an annual season.

The National Park Service and Ford's Theatre Society will host two open houses in the newly renovated Ford's Theatre (511 10th Street NW) on February 12, 2009, and February 16, 2009. The theatre will be open to the general public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free tickets will be available at the Ford's Theatre Box Office beginning at 8:30 a.m. each day.

The Walnut Street Theatre's 2008-2009 Independence Studio on 3 season continues with O Captain, My Captain: Whitman's Lincoln, the story of two great men with one grand vision for America. Directed by Barrymore Award winner Bruce Lumpkin and featuring Bill Van Horn as Walt Whitman, O Captain, My Captain: Whitman's Lincoln starts on January 20, opens on January 22 and closes February 8.

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College welcomes Australia's Expressions Dance Company, performing the New York City premiere of their multimedia dance theater piece, Score!, on Saturday, January 10, 2009 at 8pm. This performance is the second of four international dance performances that make up Brooklyn Center's World of Dance series.

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College continues its World of Dance series with the return of one of the nation's premier flamenco and Spanish dance companies, Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana, performing their new production, Fiesta Flamenca, on Sunday, February 22, 2009 at 3pm.

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College welcomes Australia's Expressions Dance Company, performing the New York City premiere of their multimedia dance theater piece, Score!, on Saturday, January 10, 2009 at 8pm. This performance is the second of four international dance performances that make up Brooklyn Center's World of Dance series.

Plays written by notable Brooklyn playwrights-four of whom are still alive, well and living in Brooklyn-make up the roster of five works to be presented as part of the Sixth Annual Play Reading Salon Series from Brave New World Repertory Theatre. Based in Brooklyn, Brave New World is known for its bold, critically acclaimed productions of Fahrenheit 451, The Great White Hope and Crossing Brooklyn Ferry, based on Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass (all for Celebrate Brooklyn at the Prospect Park bandshell); and To Kill a Mockingbird, staged on the front porches of a tree-lined Ditmas Park street.

The Walnut Street Theatre's 2008-2009 Independence Studio on 3 season continues with O Captain, My Captain: Whitman's Lincoln, the story of two great men with one grand vision for America. Directed by Barrymore Award winner Bruce Lumpkin and featuring Bill Van Horn as Walt Whitman, O Captain, My Captain: Whitman's Lincoln starts on January 20, opens on January 22 and closes February 8.

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College continues its 2008-09 Target FamilyFun series with the return of The Colonial Nutcracker, presented by Dance Theatre in Westchester, on Sunday, December 14, 2008 at 2pm.

Medieval Mystery Plays Get Modern Twist for Christmas in the Streets of New York for Strangers and Other Angels Theatre-lovers, theologians, strangers and other angels are invited into the streets of New York for a free theatrical event that mines the story of the first Christmas and celebrates the abundance of community. Starting at the Museum of the City of New York (located at 5th Avenue at 104th Street) on Saturday, December 6th at 4 p.m., Compagnia de' Colombari, an international collective of performing artists, including Tony and Obie Award-winners and acclaimed musicians, will present Strangers and Other Angels, the medieval mystery play vividly re-imagined for the 21st century.

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College welcomes Australia's Expressions Dance Company, performing the New York City premiere of their multimedia dance theater piece, Score!, on Saturday, January 10, 2009 at 8pm. This performance is the second of four international dance performances that make up Brooklyn Center's World of Dance series.

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College continues its 2008-09 Target FamilyFun series with the return of The Colonial Nutcracker, presented by Dance Theatre in Westchester, on Sunday, December 14, 2008 at 2pm.

Medieval Mystery Plays Get Modern Twist for Christmas in the Streets of New York for Strangers and Other Angels Theatre-lovers, theologians, strangers and other angels are invited into the streets of New York for a free theatrical event that mines the story of the first Christmas and celebrates the abundance of community. Starting at the Museum of the City of New York (located at 5th Avenue at 104th Street) on Saturday, December 6th at 4 p.m., Compagnia de' Colombari, an international collective of performing artists, including Tony and Obie Award-winners and acclaimed musicians, will present Strangers and Other Angels, the medieval mystery play vividly re-imagined for the 21st century.

Wayne R. Reynolds, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Ford's Theatre Society, Paul R. Tetreault, Director of Ford's Theatre Society, and Kym Elder, Superintendent of Ford's Theatre National Historic Site, announced today that Ford's Theatre will reopen in February 2009 after an 18-month renovation. Ford's Theatre will celebrate with one week of public and private events honoring Abraham Lincoln's life and legacy. The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Campaign, a $50 million capital campaign to support the renovation of Ford's Theatre and its museum as well as the building of the new Center for Education and Leadership, has raised $43 million to date.