From My Hometown - 2004 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 13

Don't let the sun set on you in a sundown town. That's what signs at the city limits of all-white communities warned when African-Americans were not allowed to live there or even visit after the sun set. This method of exclusion was often held by an official policy or restrictive covenant-. The practice of excluding blacks from American towns was so prevalent that, by 1936, it became the impetus for Harlem civic leader Victor Green to pen the Negro Motorist Green-Book, a guide designed to help African-American travelers avoid places where they could be harassed, threatened, or even killed. Today, it is illegal for sundown towns to exist on paper due to the 1968 Fair Housing Act, but some believe that communities remain sundown by reputation and reluctance to diversify. In the fourth installment of Investigation Discovery's Black History Month anthology THE INJUSTICE FILES, filmmaker Keith Beauchamp takes a cross-country road trip to explore whether these exclusionary practices still exist today. Produced exclusively for Investigation Discovery by Al Roker Entertainment, THE INJUSTICE FILES: SUNDOWN TOWNS one-hour special premieres Monday, February 24 at 8/7c.

Roundabout Theatre Company has announced the third annual Roundabout Underground Reading Series. The series will celebrate seven critically-acclaimed seasons of Roundabout Underground productions. Roundabout Underground Reading Series is a five night event that will include a nightly reading of a new play written and directed by an emerging artist.

The Lyric Stage Company of Boston presents DEATH OF A SALESMAN, running February 14 - March 15, 2014. The play, by Arthur Miller, will be directed by Spiro Veloudos.

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE presents the world premiere of THESE PAPER BULLETS!, a modish ripoff of William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, adapted by Rolin Jones, with songs by Billie Joe Armstrong, and directed by Jackson Gay, March 14-April 5 at the University Theatre (222 York Street). Opening Night is Thursday, March 20.

Carolyn Griffin has announced that MetroStage will be presenting the musical Ella Fitzgerald: First Lady of Song, conceived and directed by Maurice Hines, with book by Lee Summers, Jan. 23-Mar. 16, 2014. Ella Fitzgerald, her cousin and traveling companion Georgiana, and her manager and jazz impresario Norman Granz tell her story both backstage and onstage. From a homeless street dancer to winning amateur night at the Apollo Theatre at the age of 15, from headlining with Chick Webb and his Orchestra at the Savoy Ballroom to performing Live at the Cote D'Azur, from discovering she could "scat" to mastering a new art form called "bebop," this musical tells the fascinating journey of this legendary artist. Maurice Hines is the director. Mel Johnson Jr. is the associate director, and William Knowles is the music director, arranger, and orchestrator.

Set in author Annette Watson's hometown of Caney, Okla., 'Kayla's Story: Going Home Early' (published by WestBow Press) is one of enduring faith in the midst of terrible loss. Through Watson, readers experience her daughter, Kayla's, life and legacy, and Watson's incredible pain at having a child 'go home early.'

The holidays are upon us with plenty to celebrate at the Kimmel Center's campus of events and performances.

The holidays are upon us with plenty to celebrate at the Kimmel Center's campus of events and performances.

Ehrenkranz Artistic Director Jane Moss today announced the roster for Lincoln Center's fourth multidisciplinary White Light Festival, today October 24 through November 23, 2013.

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presents the soulful a capella ensemble, SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK, at the Byham Theater inPittsburgh, PA on Saturday, November 9, 2013, at 8:00 p.m. Ticket prices start at $25. For tickets and information, visit www.TrustArts.org, call (412) 456-6666, or in person: Theater Square Box Office, 655 Penn Avenue. This event is part of the Cohen & Grigsby Trust Presents series.

WOWOW, Japan's leading premium pay TV broadcaster, is teaming with Berlin based Boomtown Media GmbH&Co.KG and Sony Classical, to produce a feature documentary following the journey of the young genius and renowned musician, Cameron Carpenter, who has set a very ambitious goal for himself: reinventing the grandest of all musical instruments - the pipe organ.

Friends Always Creating Theatre lives-up to its name as they open their 5th season. They are one of the most prolific companies in New York City and will start this season by presenting a One-Night Only Staged Reading of 'The Lost Boy' by the late Ron Paolillo (aka Ron Pallilo) starring Broadway's Blake Hammond and Guiseppe Bausilio.

The 15th Voodoo Music + Arts Experience is pleased to announce Kid Rock as the latest addition to the tribe's compelling line-up for the annual Halloween weekend (November 1, 2, and3) event in New Orleans.

STAGES ST. LOUIS announces new staff appointments at its new home, The Kent Center for Theatre Arts, located in Chesterfield, MO. Kristen Nordstrom has been hired for the newly created position of General Manager, which will oversee the day to day operations of the administrative staff. Ron Gibbs, who has served as Managing Director for many years, will assume the new position of Director of Human Resources. Both positions are effective Monday, August 19.

Wild pop princess Ke$ha makes her Filene Center debut with smash hits like “Tik Tok” and “Your Love is My Drug.”

The Wolf Trap Performing Arts Center has released it's performer list for the week of August 12th through the 17th.

Ehrenkranz Artistic Director Jane Moss today announced the roster for Lincoln Center's fourth multidisciplinary White Light Festival, October 24 through November 23, 2013. The Festival's focus is music's capacity to illuminate the many dimensions of our interior lives, with a particular emphasis this year on the power of the voice. Spanning numerous musical traditions, genres, and disciplines, the Festival will offer 23 performances, films, and events featuring seven premieres and debuts by artists and companies from more than a dozen countries, including France, India, the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, the U.K., Mali, Estonia, Italy, Austria, Canada and the U.S. New to this edition of the Festival is White Light on Film, film screenings followed by discussions with their directors. Other Festival components include: a panel discussion focused on the subject of time, pre- and post-performance artist discussions, and the popular post-performance White Light Lounges.

A May Sky Picture has announced the workshop production of Schuyler Iona Press' WHAT I'M FAILING TO LEARN, choreography by Joel Hanna, music arranged by Jeb Patton, co-directed by Darren Press, written and directed by C. Fraser Press. WHAT I'M FAILING TO LEARN will play a limited engagement at Off-Broadway's 13th Street Rep (50 West 13th Street, NYC). Performances begin tonight, May 15 and continue through Saturday, June 15. Opening Night is Wednesday, May 29 (7 p.m.).

The last major studio sessions in the career of Elvis Presley have finally been gathered together for the first time in one comprehensive package as ELVIS AT STAX: DELUXE EDITION.

Heather has grown up on Broadway, going from Baby June to Little Who to Ballet Girl to a partly adult role now.

A May Sky Picture has announced the workshop production of Schuyler Iona Press' WHAT I'M FAILING TO LEARN, choreography by Joel Hanna, music arranged by Jeb Patton, co-directed by Darren Press, written and directed by C. Fraser Press. WHAT I'M FAILING TO LEARN will play a limited engagement at Off-Broadway's 13th Street Rep (50 West 13th Street, NYC). Performances begin Wednesday, May 15 and continue through Saturday, June 15. Opening Night is Wednesday, May 29 (7 p.m.).

Marin Theatre Company, in a co-production with Virginia Stage Company, stages the regional premiere of Matthew Lopez's Civil War drama The Whipping Man in Mill Valley from March 28 to April 21, 2013. MTC's artistic director Jasson Minadakis directs the production. Featuring popular Bay Area actors L. Peter Callender, Nicholas Pelczar and Tobie Windham, as well as the design team from MTC's 2011 San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award nominated production of Tennessee Williams's The Glass Menagerie, this co-production rehearsed and ran at VSC in Norfolk, Virginia, from February 26 to March 17, 2013, before tonight's move to MTC. Opening night at MTC is tonight, April 2.

Get ready, 'cause here it comes- MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL that is! MOTOWN begins preview performances tonight, March 11 and will open on Broadway on April 14, 2013 at The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46 Street).Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright, MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL will feature a book by Berry Gordy and music and lyrics from the legendary Motown catalogue. Meet the company of the new musical with videos of them from past productions and roles below!

Russell Brand will take BrandX back to his hometown roots in London, England on Thursday, March 7 and Thursday, March 14 for his full-hour live show on FX. Both shows will take place at the Duchess Theatre in Soho and broadcast at its new time of 11:00 PM ET/PT. Emmy(R) nominated stand-up comic Eddie Izzard and musician Noel Gallagher will guest star on March 7; (Guest stars for March 14 are TBD).

Marin Theatre Company, in a co-production with Virginia Stage Company, will stage the regional premiere of Matthew Lopez's Civil War drama The Whipping Man in Mill Valley from March 28 to April 21, 2013. MTC's artistic director Jasson Minadakis directs the production. Featuring popular Bay Area actors L. Peter Callender, Nicholas Pelczar and Tobie Windham, as well as the design team from MTC's 2011 San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award nominated production of Tennessee Williams's The Glass Menagerie, this co-production will rehearse and run at VSC in Norfolk, Virginia, from February 26 to March 17, 2013, before moving to MTC. Opening night at MTC is on Tuesday, April 2.