Is there life after high school? - 1985 - West End Articles Page 12

The Italian Academy hosts the inaugural concert of *The Stefan Wolpe Fund featuring world premieres and works by Charles Wuorinen, Jonathan Dawe, Matthew Greenbaum and William Anderson on Thursday, October 30th at 8pm. Also on the program, a New York premiere for string sextet by Charles Wuorinen. Featured artists: JACK Quartet, pianist Steven Beck, Vox n Plux, violist Miranda Cuckson and cellist Jay Campbell. This concert was produced by Zaidee Parkinson and Alanna Maharajh Stone with generous support from *The Roger Shapiro Fund for New Music.

Theater for the New City, Crystal Field, Executive Director, and The After Dinner Opera Company present two new American operatic musical adaptations from classical works, Seymour Barab's operatic parody Out the Window based upon Georges Feydeux's farce 'Par La Fenetre;' and Rappaccini's Daughter, based on Nathaniel Hawthorne's gothic short story, with libretto by Linsey Abrams and music by Michael Cohen. Lissa Moira directs. Performances will be staged at the Cino Theatre at Theater for the New City, 155 First Avenue (bet. 9th and 10th Streets), New York, NY 10003 from tonight, September 11-28, 2014.

Today we are talking to the gifted composer and lyricist behind the earth-shattering score for Broadway's biggest recent hit, HEDWIG & THE ANGRY INCH, the versatile and passionate Stephen Trask. Shedding considerable light on the development of the idiosyncratic rock musical, Trask discusses his influences and the organic way in which the outre show developed from humble beginnings at downtown bar Squeezebox in the mid-1990s, to Off-Broadway hit at the turn of the new century all the way to the rapturously received feature film adaptation, and, now, the 2014 Broadway production. Trask also details his affection for Tony Award-winning lead actor Neil Patrick Harris and looks ahead to the new leading man donning the titular wig, Andrew Rannells. Additionally, Trask also shares news on the forthcoming sequel to HEDWIG currently being developed with John Cameron Mitchell and teases some of what we can expect from the hotly anticipated theatrical experience. Furthermore, Trask reflects on his own upbringing and musical influences and how that informed the composition of the score for HEDWIG, as well as his own favorite performers. Plus, Trask reflects on his fruitful career as a movie scorer in Hollywood and comments on his upcoming musical endeavors, including two original stage musicals - JUST THE BLACK KEYS, a real-life inspired original musical potentially involving Peter Askin and Michael Mayer, as well 15 MINUTES, a Studio 54-centric period piece written with Rick Elice - as well as much, much more.

Theater for the New City, Crystal Field, Executive Director, and The After Dinner Opera Company present two new American operatic musical adaptations from classical works, Seymour Barab's operatic parody Out the Window based upon Georges Feydeux's farce 'Par La Fenetre;' and Rappaccini's Daughter, based on Nathaniel Hawthorne's gothic short story, with libretto by Linsey Abrams and music by Michael Cohen. Lissa Moira directs.

From September 4-14, 2014, Houston Ballet launches its 45th season with the company premiere of John Neumeier's three-act ballet A Midsummer Night's Dream. The ballet is based on Shakespeare's lighthearted play of the same name and follows the hijinks and hilarity that ensues when a well-intentioned plan with a love potion goes awry. Created in 1977, A Midsummer Night's Dream has served as Mr. Neumeier's calling card, being seen as one of his most joyous and popular creations. Houston Ballet is the first American ballet company to perform the famous work and it is the first piece by Mr. Neumeier to enter the Houston Ballet repertoire.

The 18th Long Island Al Jolson Festival coming up on August 16 is a whole-day affair featuring film presentations, lectures, memorabilia displays and sales, and a performance--'The Heart of Al Jolson'--by singer and Staten Island native Tony Babino (photo below), who can sing Jolson songs like, well, you ain't heard nothin' yet. The other day, like clockwork, I received my yearly invitation to attend from Oceanside, LI resident Jan Hernstat, who for the past 10 years has been the President of the 62-year-old International Al Jolson Society (which was formed in early 1950, a few months before Jolson died), an organization with a worldwide membership hovering around 1,000. I am proud to say that for 30 years, I've been one of them. I'm even prouder to say that I've been an Al Jolson fanatic for much longer. Here's my story about how it happened.

The State Theatre Center for the Arts, Easton, PA, announces its 88th Season. Tickets for the new season will go on sale to State Theatre Members on Thursday, August 5th, to the public on Tuesday, August 19th.

Musical theatre performers MARY LOU BARBER, EDWARD PLEASANT and BEN RAUCH will be performing dramatic readings of excerpts from The Very Reverend James Parks Morton's forthcoming memoir at the 12th Annual James Parks Morton Interfaith Awards gala tonight, June 5 at the New York Hilton Midtown. This is the first time in the history of the Interfaith Center of New York (ICNY) awards dinner that a theatrical event has been presented.

Musical theatre performers MARY LOU BARBER, EDWARD PLEASANT and BEN RAUCH will be performing dramatic readings of excerpts from The Very Reverend James Parks Morton's forthcoming memoir at the 12th Annual James Parks Morton Interfaith Awards gala on Thursday, June 5 at the New York Hilton Midtown. This is the first time in the history of the Interfaith Center of New York (ICNY) awards dinner that a theatrical event has been presented.

Now through June 1, 2014 Houston Ballet offers up a mixed repertory program showcasing works by three of the twentieth century's greatest choreographers entitled Modern Masters. The program features the company premiere of Jir?i? Kylia?n's comic and delightful Sechs Ta?nze (Six Dances), along with revivals of his playful and sexy work Petite Mort, William Forsythe's explosive In the middle, somewhat elevated and George Balanchine's complex and inventive The Four Temperaments. Houston Ballet will give six performances of the program in the Brown Theater at Wortham Theater Center.

The French Institute Alliance Francaise (FIAF), New York's premiere French cultural center, is thrilled to welcome renowned French stage actor Nicolas Bouchaud for the U.S. premiere of The Exercise Was Beneficial, Sir (La Loi du marcheur) directed by Eric Didry tonight, May 21 and Thursday, May 22 in FIAF's Florence Gould Hall. The performance is presented in conjunction with a special CineSalon series at FIAF celebrating the Cahiers du Cinema in May and June.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its great line-up of amazing talent for the month of June 2014, featuring Freddy Cole, Stacey Kent, Ravi Coltrane Quartet, Tierney Sutton Quartet, Native Soul, Lorna Luft, Jane Monheit, Jim Caruso's Cast Party Celebrates the Tony Awards, and more!

The French Institute Alliance Francaise (FIAF), New York's premiere French cultural center, is thrilled to welcome renowned French stage actor Nicolas Bouchaud for the U.S. premiere of The Exercise Was Beneficial, Sir (La Loi du marcheur) directed by Eric Didry on Wednesday, May 21 and Thursday, May 22 in FIAF's Florence Gould Hall. The performance is presented in conjunction with a special CineSalon series at FIAF celebrating the Cahiers du Cinema in May and June.

From May 22 - June 1, 2014 Houston Ballet offers up a mixed repertory program showcasing works by three of the twentieth century's greatest choreographers entitled Modern Masters. The program features the company premiere of Jir?i? Kylia?n's comic and delightful Sechs Ta?nze (Six Dances), along with revivals of his playful and sexy work Petite Mort, William Forsythe's explosive In the middle, somewhat elevated and George Balanchine's complex and inventive The Four Temperaments. Houston Ballet will give six performances of the program in the Brown Theater at Wortham Theater Center. Tickets start at $19, and may be purchased at www.houstonballet.org or by calling Houston Ballet box office at 713-227-2787, or 1-800-828-2787.

Tony-Nominated Director Randal Myler and multi-talented Music Director Dan Wheetman return to Lone Tree Arts Center (LTAC) to create a new vision for Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn after setting the bar high with Hank Williams: Lost Highway last spring and John Denver Holiday Concert in 2012. Returning to the roots of Mark Twain's classic American folktale, this production of Big River focuses on the talent and voices of the cast as they each become storytellers.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: Billy Porter's new solo album is out today, Chloe Grace Moretz stars in THE LIBRARY, opening at the Public and more!

This April, May and June at 54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54thStreet. For a detailed schedule of upcoming performances at 54 Below and to purchase tickets, visit www.54Below.com.

Roundabout Theatre Company's production of Joe Masteroff, John Kander and Fred Ebb's Tony winning musical Cabaret, starring Tony Award-winner Alan Cumming and Golden Globe-winner Michelle Williams, begins previews tomorrow, Friday March 21. Cabaret officially opens on Thursday, April 24, 2014 at Studio 54 (254 West 54th Street). This is a 24-week limited engagement. Scroll down to learn more about the full company, plus watch a TV spot for the production below!

Music Director Marin Alsop and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) announce the Orchestra's 2014-2015 season, its eighth under the direction of Maestra Alsop. The full schedule and details about each production follow.

Gotham Arts Exchange presents the eighth annual presentation of FOCUS 2014: DANCE GOTHAM from today, January 10-12, 2014 at New York University's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, 566 LaGuardia Place (at Washington Square South), NYC.

Gotham Arts Exchange presents the eighth annual presentation of FOCUS 2014: DANCE GOTHAM from January 10-12, 2014 at New York University's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, 566 LaGuardia Place (at Washington Square South), NYC.

Two distinguished American pianists-Ursula Oppens and Robert Levin-will team up to perform selections of piano works by the celebrated British-American composer Bernard Rands this evening, December 5th at 7:30 p.m. at the Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway, New York, NY.

Yoshi's San Francisco announces updated calendar for club and restaurant through December 15, plus new shows through February 2014.

Denver, Colorado is about to go full swing into its tourist season when body parts begin to surface in a residential neighborhood. Sonny Thompson is the lead investigator, but with few clues to help him. Then, a murder not far from the same neighborhood and with similarly grisly details. Now, everything he presumed about the first crime is in question. When he returns to the crime scene looking for the one elusive clue that will break the case open, he finds the notable psychiatrist Dr. Laura Hartwig. Why is she there? What is she after? Dr. Hartwig is holding plenty of secrets. She's heard the confessions, she knows details she shouldn't, but her involvement could expose her own deepest darkest secret. She is torn between right and wrong, but when push comes to shove, Dr. Hartwig will do whatever it takes to protect what's closest to her heart. "Psychiatryst" is available in both print and ebook format. Book Information: "Psychiatryst" Author: B. Michael Fett ISBN: 978-0988955004 Published: September 2013 Pages: 340 Genre: Thriller, Suspense About The Author: B. Michael Fett was born in Longmont, Colorado. He was raised in Camanche, Iowa and graduated from Camanche High School in 1985. Upon graduating, he joined the United States Marine Corps and became a helicopter mechanic eventually assigned to HMX-1, the Presidential Support Squadron. Earning an Honorable Discharge, he was released from active duty in 1992. B. Michael Fett was involved in the sport of bodybuilding at a very early age claiming to have received his first weight set in the third grade! He began to compete as a teenager finally winning his division at the Mr. Teenage Iowa in 1985. He went on to compete for the Marine Corps winning his division at the Armed Forces Championships in 1991. Fett continued to compete after his release from active duty earning the title of two-time nationally qualified, but was forced into early retirement after back to back knee surgeries. He began his aviation career outside of the military as a mechanic for a major airline based in Washington D.C. He soon realized that this wasn't the career he wanted so in 1999, he obtained his private pilot license and began the long road to becoming a commercial airline pilot. Fett was left homeless and financially destitute after the terror attacks of September 11th, 2001. His story of perseverance and determination to get his life back together was detailed in his critically acclaimed bio titled Beautiful Hardship, My Story. Today, he is an accomplished airline pilot and has piloted some of the world's most notable celebrities from Paris Hilton and Dave Chappelle to Condoleeza Rice and Danny Devito. Mr. Fett presently lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and works for a major airline based out of Chicago, Illinois.

Two distinguished American pianists-Ursula Oppens and Robert Levin-will team up to perform selections of piano works by the celebrated British-American composer Bernard Rands on Thursday evening, December 5th at 7:30 p.m. at the Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway, New York, NY.