Make a Million - 1958 - Broadway Articles Page 15

The Actors? Fund of Canada today announced donations from eight locals of the IATSE totalling $47,800. The donations were made in 2008 and cap a year in which $95,812 in contributions flowed from the IATSE to the Fund.

OPERA America, the national service organization for opera, is proud to announce the 2009 recipients of the National Opera Trustee Recognition Award. In its second year, this award honors trustees of U.S. opera companies for exemplary leadership, generosity and audience building efforts on behalf of their respective opera companies. The 2009 National Opera Trustee Recognition honorees are Mr. John T. Cody, Jr. of The Dallas Opera, Mr. Richard Holland of Opera Omaha, Mrs. Beth Ingram of Lyric Opera of Kansas City, and Mr. C. Guy Rudisill, III of Piedmont Opera. OPERA America is committed to recognizing strong trustee leaders, understanding the pivotal role they play in the success of opera companies and the vitality of the communities they serve. In acknowledging and celebrating the dedication of board members at the national level, the National Opera Trustee Recognition Program seeks to strengthen the relationships between opera companies and their trustees and to inspire exemplary service to opera companies across the United States. 'Presenting consistently high-quality opera requires a dedicated staff guided and supported by a strong board,' stated Marc A. Scorca, president & CEO of OPERA America. 'The value of dedicated board members who provide passion, vision and generous support cannot be overstated. We are pleased to be joined by Bank of America in recognizing the achievements of these trustees.'

The Actors' Fund of Canada announced today that two Shaftesbury Films projects: The Listener (CTV) and Connor Undercover (Family Channel) are the final entrants in the running for the Actors' Fund of Canada's 2008 TV Charity Challenge. The Challenge pits TV series shot in Canada against each other in a good-natured rivalry to raise money for the Fund, each vying for bragging rights as the production that can have the most fun while raising the most money for the Actors' Fund. Connor Undercover, a kids comedy series, has completed its fundraising for the Challenge, while the one-hour drama series, The Listener is expected to announce its results when production wraps on January 29. The Actors' Fund of Canada is the lifeline for Canada's entertainment industry. Performers and others who work behind the scenes in film and television, theatre, music and dance can apply for emergency financial aid from the Fund, which recently set a new record for the amount of financial aid delivered to industry members in a single year, topping $500,000 in 2008. The Fund has helped over 10,000 entertainment industry workers recover from illness, injury or other circumstances causing severe economic and personal hardship since it was founded in 1958. Commenting on The Listener's entry, Producer Manny Danelon said: 'We are very happy to participate in the Challenge this year and we hope that we can help to increase support for the Actors' Fund throughout the production community. It's a fund that is there for any of us who find ourselves in serious trouble. We all hope that we will never need the Actors' Fund ourselves but we're all better off for having it there to call upon in a time of crisis or need.'

The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with 34 million readers, today announced the recipients of its fifth annual Inspire Awards. The Inspire Awards pay tribute to 10 extraordinary people who inspire others to action through their innovative thinking, passion and perseverance. The 2009 honorees include Glenn Close (Mental Health Advocate), Richard M. Cohen (Voice for the Chronically Ill), Martin Eakes (Lending to the Poor), Katherine Freund (Transportation Activist), Peter Gallagher (Alzheimer's Advocate), David E. Hayes-Bautista, Ph.D. (Latino-Health Researcher), Quincy Jones (Global Poverty Fighter), Susan Love, M.D. (Cancer Crusader), Rose Nakamura (Compassionate Caregiver), and Alma Powell (Children's Advocate).

Thriller - Live, billed as the UK's 'next big musical', and featuring the mega-hit songs of Michael Jackson & The Jackson 5, has found their 'Young Michael', actually three of them reports UK theatre website WhatsOnStage. Layton Williams, Sterling Williams, and Kieran Alleyne have been cast in the musical and will rotate as the young Michael Jackson

Thriller - Live, billed as the West End's next big musical, which features the mega-hit songs of Michael Jackson & The Jackson 5, is going to make one young boy's dreams come true - a starring role in the West End. In connection with West End transfer of the Thriller-Live tour producers  are launching a major hunt to find an young undiscovered talent to sing the songs of the young Michael Jackson in the show, which will open on January 2 at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue.

There's a great pleasure in talking to veteran performers. They've been through it all and have many great stories to tell. Such was the case recently in a conversation with dancer/ singer/ actress/comedienne Mitzi Gaynor. This great lady starred in such Hollywood successes as THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS with Ethel Merman, THE JOKER IS WILD with Frank Sinatra, the re-make of ANYTHING GOES with Bing Cosby and Donald O'Connor, LES GIRLS with Gene Kelly and SOUTH PACIFIC with Rossano Brazzi. She also wowed television audiences in the 60's and 70's with a series of specials that captivated America and had schoolboys rushing home from sporting events to watch them. Without a doubt, Mitzi Gaynor was a show business phenomenon and she remains one today as she prepares for the public television airing of her new documentary called 'Mitzi Gaynor: Razzle Dazzle! The Special Years.'

The Music Center of Los Angeles County announces the sixth season of the Dance at the Music Center series. The season opens with the return of Miami City Ballet led by Artistic Director Edward Villella, performing the much anticipated, West Coast premiere of NIGHTSPOT a Twyla Tharp and Elvis Costello collaboration, October 24-26. Known for her innovation and creativity, Twyla Tharp has created some of the most memorable dances in modern repertory.

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation today named 24 new MacArthur Fellows for 2007. The new Fellows work across a broad spectrum of endeavors. They include a biomedical scientist, a blues musician, a forensic anthropologist, an inventor, a medieval historian, and a spider silk biologist. All were selected for their creativity, originality, and potential to make important contributions in the future. This past week, the recipients learned in a phone call from the Foundation that they will each receive $500,000 in 'no strings attached' support over the next five years.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF), now in its fourth year, is a three-week event in NYC that has premiered over 90 musicals in its first three years, becoming the largest musical theatre event in America. Tickets for NYMF productions are available at www.nymf.org or by calling 212-352-3101. This year's Festival will run from September 17 through October 7 with the following schedule of events...

Complete scheduling information has been announced for the New York Musical Theatre Festival

Performances of THE PAJAMA GAME will begin Friday, January 27th on Broadway at the American Airlines Theatre with the official opening set for Thursday, March 2nd. The limited engagement is scheduled to run 20 weeks through June 18th, 2006.