Amazing Grace - 2014 - Chicago Articles Page 11

Charles Dickens' beloved orphan makes his Goodspeed debut in the hope-filled musical set in the dark shadows of Victorian London. Bounced from workhouse to forced labor, Oliver Twist escapes to the streets where he meets Fagin, the Artful Dodger and a band of child pickpockets. Will he find love, home and happiness before it's too late?

Ars Nova, 'one of the most adventurous Off-Broadway companies' (New York Times), under the leadership of Founding Artistic Director Jason Eagan and Managing Director Renee Blinkwolt, is pleased to announce programming for its 2018-2019 season, which marks a rich expansion of the non-profit's unique role as both an exciting hub for new talent and a hands-on producer of genre-bending Off-Broadway productions.

Azuka Theatre ends the 2017-2018 season with the world premiere of Mrs. Harrison, by R. Eric Thomas, from May 2 to20, 2018. Mrs.Harrison is the third and final show of the season that celebrated Azuka's commitment to notable Philadelphia playwrights and unique Philadelphia voices. Producing Artistic Director Kevin Glaccum directs this suspenseful dark comedy and drama about two women, one story and their very different memories about their relationship in college. The show runs through May 20, 2018, for a total of 18 performances.  All performances will take place at the Louis Bluver Theatre at The Drake, 302 S. Hicks Street. Tickets for shows this season are Pay What You Decide, whereas audience members see a show first, and pay what they decide after the performance. For reservations, visit azukatheatre.org. This production is produced with support from Honorary Producers Robin and Patrick Tracy. 

Rooftop Films is proud to announce our feature film slate for the 2018 Rooftop Films Summer Series, presented by SundanceTV. This year's series will take place May 19th to August 25th featuring more than 45 outdoor screenings in more than a dozen spectacular outdoor venues, with live music, filmmaker appearances, and special enhanced screenings of the best, new, independent films from around the world. The open-air festivities will kick off on Saturday, May 19th, with “This is What We Mean by Short Films,” a collection of some of the most innovative short films of the past year. That screening will take place in the newest Rooftop Films venue, Green-Wood Cemetery. 

Pioneer Theatre Company presents the musical hit Mamma Mia! to close its 2017-2018 season, running Friday, May 11 through Saturday, May 26, 2018.  The New York Times said Mamma Mia! 'creates the beguiling illusion that you could jump onstage and start singing and fit right in.'

Artistic Director Josie Rourke said, "I'm delighted to announce two new productions at the Donmar, joining the previously announced THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE, for my penultimate season, with all three directed by women.

Today, 126 shows go on sale to join the phenomenal Pleasance programme. With a roster this diverse and exciting, you'll want to spend the whole of August in Edinburgh!

Today (16 April 2018), rehearsals begin for the West End production of Nina Raine's Consent which will begin previews at the Harold Pinter Theatre on 18 May with its opening night on 29 May 2018. Directed by Roger Michell and originally co-produced and commissioned by Out of Joint, this strictly limited 12-week run is booking through to 11 August 2018 following the 2017 critically acclaimed sell-out run at the National Theatre. A series of accompanying pre-show talks and discussions exploring ideas of justice, consent, marriage and modern parenthood will be announced at a later date.

The University Musical Society (UMS), under the leadership of President Matthew VanBesien, today announces its 140th season in 2018-19 with an initial slate of 40 performances and events. One of the country's most acclaimed performing arts presenters, UMS honors its past by showcasing respected ensembles and performers with whom it has enjoyed rich relationships, and fully embraces the future as initiator, incubator, and accelerator for innovative new works and projects. This potent combination infuses the anniversary season with dynamic and diverse voices and perspectives featuring artists at the top of their game - celebrating the canon, taking risks, moving genres in new directions, disrupting stereotypes, and surprising audiences.

Brand new stage musical Summer Holiday is set to tour the UK from May 2018, with the famous red double-decker bus making its first stop at the Liverpool Empire on Tuesday 8th May.

On Saturday, April 14, 2018, at 3 pm and 8pm, The Grand 1894 Opera House presents the powerful Broadway touring production of Amazing Grace. Tickets may be purchased at The Grand's Box Office, 2020 Postoffice Street, by calling 409.765.1894, 800.821.1894, or online at www.thegrand.com.

Today, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts (LBC)made its spring announcement of 18 new shows added to the 2018-2019 season, continuing to showcase chart topping musicians, compelling dance companies, groundbreaking storytellers and authors and a wide range of holiday performances, all appealing to diverse audiences. Tickets for all shows go on sale first to LBC members on Monday, April 9 at 12 p.m. and then to the general public on Friday, April 20 at 12 p.m.

One of the most charismatic figures from the Peace and Free-Love era is celebrated in the Broadway musical SOUL DOCTOR, which tells the fascinating story of the father of popular Jewish music, Shlomo Carlebach.   A modern-day troubadour, Carlebach ignited the spirit of millions around the world with his soul-stirring melodies, engrossing storytelling and boundless love.

UNBROKEN: PATH TO REDEMPTION—in theaters nationwide Oct. 5, 2018— is the inspiring and powerful continuation of Louis “Louie” Zamperini's post-World War II story and his struggle to find peace and forgiveness after his ruthless treatment as a Japanese prisoner of war. While the story stands alone, the brand-new film picks up where 2014's epic saga UNBROKEN ends, continuing the amazing true story of the Olympian and World War II hero.

Shakespeare Theatre Company today announces the cast of Lerner and Loewe's multiple Tony Award-winning musical Camelot. Directed by STC Associate Artistic Director Alan Paul (Kiss Me, Kate; Man of La Mancha), the classic musical will play at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F St NW) from May 22 through July 1, concluding STC's 2017-2018 mainstage season.

Director and playwright Stan Zimmerman has found his quartet of actors for his new comedy Knife to the Heart, co-written with Christian McLaughlin. The show will play a limited run of 3 WEEKS ONLY for 9 performances (May 4-20) at the Dorie Theatre, part of The Complex on LA's famed Theatre Row (6476 Santa Monica Blvd, LA CA 90038). Show times are Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 3pm. The cast includes Chelsea Kane ('Baby Daddy'), Todd Sherry ('Parks & Recreation'), Josh Zuckerman (A Delicate Ship) and four-time Emmy-nominee Patricia Richardson ('Home Improvement'). Tickets are $35 for Reserved Seating /$25 General Admission/$30 at the door, if available, and can be purchased at www.brownpapertickets.com. A special preview performance is Friday May 4 with an Opening Night of Saturday May 5.

Sonia Friedman Productions and the National Theatre today (12 March 2018) announce the West End production of Nina Raine's Consent following the 2017 critically acclaimed sell-out run at the Dorfman Theatre. Directed by Roger Michell and originally co-produced and commissioned by Out of Joint, Consent will begin previews at the Harold Pinter Theatre on 18 May for a strictly limited 12-week run. Opening night will take place on 29 May with booking through to 11 August 2018. Tickets for this West End transfer - with over 14,000 priced at £25 or under - will go on public sale on Thursday 15 March 2018 at 10am.

Lyricist, bookwriter, and Broadway performer Jill Abramovitz and Tony-nominated actor Anika Larsen (Beautiful) will co-host Prospect Theater Company's upcoming Good to Go Songwriters' Showcase: a concert celebrating new works-in-process created or co-created by women writers.  This special one night event will be presented on March 10, 2018 at 8pm at The TimesCenter (242 West 41st, NYC).

SipFest, a new festival showcasing some of the coolest women theatremakers, has announced a lineup of multimedia works at different levels of development for an impromptu Wild Project takeover running March 7-14th.

A star-studded host committee, Academy Awards nominees and presenters, along with some of the most powerful industry influencers came together on March 3 rd, 2018 for the 16 th annual 'Night Before' party to benefit MPTF. Funds raised during the legendary evening will be used to support MPTF in providing social services and financial assistance to the entertainment community, as well as it's renowned retirement community and innovative programs for seniors and those who care for them. The organization impacts thousands of people each year who have committed their lives to a career in entertainment. The annual event raised $5 million last night, totaling just over $80 million in the event's history.

Lyricist, bookwriter, and Broadway performer Jill Abramovitz and Tony-nominated actor Anika Larsen (Beautiful) will co-host Prospect Theater Company's upcoming Good to Go Songwriters' Showcase: a concert celebrating new works-in-process created or co-created by women writers.  This special one night event will be presented on March 10, 2018 at 8pm at The TimesCenter (242 West 41st, NYC).

One thing becomes abundantly clear while witnessing Bailey McCall Thomas' emotionally charged performance of the song 'Cabaret' during a performance of the iconic Broadway musical of the same name: there is perhaps no 'title song' quite so evocative, quite so stunning as John Kander and Fred Ebb's composition for Cabaret. For it is during that song, performed by Sally Bowles in a Weimar era nightclub in Berlin, that the show's entire focus - every theme that shapes the work in order to tell its totally engrossing and entertaining story - is brought sharply into view, set to a memorable melody that seems at once to be both joyous and mournful, ensuring that every audience member experiences a response unique to them.

Broadway Dance Lab (BDL), a non-profit choreography incubator supporting new works of dance-driven theatre, has announced that former New York City Ballet principal dancer, and Tony Award nominee, Robert Fairchild, will join Loni Landon and Ray Mercer as guest choreographers for the company's Spring 2018 Cycle. The Lab is set to begin on Feb. 26, and will culminate with a Gala performance on April 2 at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre.

Carnegie Hall today announced that Rhiannon Giddens, Toshi Reagon, Young Paris, and Ro James will join Broadway's Carrie Compere (The Color Purple) as guest artists for A Time Like This: Music for Change, a special concert on Sunday, March 11 at 3:00 p.m. in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage hosted by Def Jam Poetry veteran Lemon Andersen and featuring a nineteen-piece band led by Kenny Seymour (Amazing Grace, Memphis). The performance also features singers Sarah Elizabeth Charles, Emily Eagen, and Emeline Michel.