The Corsair - Broadway Articles Page 71.4

The Philadelphia Theatre Initiative (PTI) today announced $863,000 in grants awarded to seven producing theatres, two performing arts presenting organizations, and three independent theatre performance artists.

Stage 1 Theatre Company is thrilled to join Richmond's stellar array of professional theatres.

Westport Country Playhouse announces playwright-in-residence David Wiltse's 'tour de farce' office comedy, 'Scramble!, will be staged July 9 through 26.

On June 30th, 2008 the Michael Weller Theater, home to many Off Broadway theater companies will close its doors for the last time as management 'looks to offer more office space'. The last show to play in the Michael Weller Theatre was presented by Broken Watch Theatre Company, The Framer by Edward Allan Baker.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company launches its 2008-2009 season, an exploration of the imagination, with the world premiere of Kafka on the Shore, adapted for the stage and directed by ensemble member Frank Galati, based on the work by Haruki Murakami. The production, featuring ensemble members Francis Guinan and Jon Michael Hill with Christine Bunuan, Gerson Dacanay, Mary Ann de la Cruz, Christopher Larkin, Aiko Nakasone, Andrew Pang, David Rhee and Lisa Tejero, runs September 18 - November 16, 2008 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St.

Steven Fales, who made his New York City theatrical debut with his critically acclaimed Off-Broadway and national hit one-person, autobiographical play CONFESSIONS OF A MORMON BOY, is back with 'Mormon American Princess' (www.mormonboy.com) a new cabaret confection. Music directed by G. Scott Lacy.

Whodunit by Dame Agatha Christie Entertains at the Olney Theatre Center

This summer, The Big Apple gets 'The Big Ragu' when Eddie Mekka stars in Steve Solomon's long-running comedy MY MOTHER'S ITALIAN, MY FATHER'S JEWISH & I'M IN THERAPY!

Ruth & Stephen Hendel and Roy Gabay present the world premiere of Fela!, a new musical based on the life of groundbreaking African composer, performer and activist Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Directed and choreographed by Tony® Award winner Bill T. Jones (Spring Awakening) with a book by Jim Lewis and Bill T. Jones, Fela! will feature Kuti's rousing music performed live onstage by Antibalas and other members of the New York Afrobeat community.

The Summer Play Festival announces casting for the eagerly anticipated Summer Play Festival (SPF) now celebrating its fifth season in New York. Casts include Annie Golden, former lead singer for 'The Shirts' who has appeared in the movie HAIR; Marin Hinkle from CBS' TWO AND A HALF MEN; Annie Parisse from NBC's LAW & ORDER; Jenny Ikeda from MTC's acclaimed production of TOP GIRLS; and Dan Lauria from the long running series THE WONDER YEARS. Singer, songwriter and Tony Award winning Stew from the musical PASSING STRANGE will also be writing new music for one of the plays.

Due to wide acclaim and overwhelming audience response, 'Arias with a Twist' has been extended through Sunday, August 31.

Due to scheduling conflicts with the previous theatre, the Northwest premiere of ZANNA, DON'T! will now be performing at Seattle Repertory Theatre's PONCHO Forum opening June 27 with a run through July 6.

Produced by Christopher Carter Sanderson, in Association with Gorilla Rep, KNB - The Musical, with book, lyrics & music by Christopher Carter Sanderson will be part of the 2008 New York International Fringe Festival.

One can find solace in the strangest of places, as shown when several emotionally broken artistic folk converge at a photographer's studio in Elisa Abatsis' bittersweet and funny drama, DAGUERREOTYPES. Directed by Karen Raphaeli and presented by Shoes for Royalty Productions, the show will have its World Premiere on July 15 at Where Eagles Dare Theatre, located at 347 West 36th Street, as part of the Ninth Annual Midtown International Theatre Festival.

Today, Monday 23 June 2008, thirteen year-old Fox Jackson-Keen will make his West End Stage debut in the title role in the multi-award winning Billy Elliot the Musical.

The producers of DARREN ROMEO, THE VOICE OF MAGIC announced today that it will play its final performance on Sunday, June 29, 2008 at 7 p.m. at San Francisco's Post Street Theatre.

Variety.com is reporting that actor Jeff Daniels and actress Rachel York will be starring in Tommy Tune's 'Turn of the Century' scheduled to run at the Goodman theater in Chicago this fall. The musical is being produced by the duo that brought Jersey Boys to the stage, Michael Brickman and Rick Elice.

Henning Rübsam: SENSEDANCE performs a special engagement for its 2008 season with the premiere of 'Cloudforest' at The Ailey Citigroup Theater.

In this weekends Parade magazine Kelli O'Hara says if she were offered the role of Eliza Doolittle in MY FAIR LADY she'd take it.

Resonance Ensemble (Artistic Director, Eric Parness; Managing Director, Rachel Reiner) presents a reading of the new play 23 KNIVES - by Christopher Stetson Boal (Crazy for the Dog) and directed by Eric Parness - on Monday, June 23 at 7:00pm at Manhattan Theatre Club (311 West 43rd Street, 8th Floor).