The Challenge - 1992 - London Fringe Articles Page 17

Making its annual Kennedy Center appearance, the famed Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to the Opera House stage with seven performances, February 7-12. Led by Artistic Director Robert Battle, the Company's performances include a company premiere, four D.C. debuts, two new productions, and a total of 11 works by a range of distinct choreographers.

The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF), a leader in the global effort to end AIDS, today announced it awarded nearly $3.5 million in grants to 57 organizations addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic in critical and innovative ways in December. This brings the Foundation's total grant investments for calendar year 2016 to nearly $8.6 million and builds on its ongoing support for organizations throughout the Americas and the Caribbean.

Theatre NOVA, an Ann Arbor nonprofit company that focuses exclusively on new and recent plays, presents the brand new 'Popcorn Falls' by James Hindman.

Theatre NOVA, an Ann Arbor nonprofit company that focuses exclusively on new and recent plays, presents the brand new 'Popcorn Falls' by James Hindman.

Making its annual Kennedy Center appearance, the famed Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to the Opera House stage with seven performances, February 7-12. Led by Artistic Director Robert Battle, the Company's performances include a company premiere, four D.C. debuts, two new productions, and a total of 11 works by a range of distinct choreographers.

Marc Robin directs Marc Robin in the legendary David Sedaris tale of the joys of the Christmas retail season

The New York Philharmonic will present Beloved Friend - Tchaikovsky and His World: A Philharmonic Festival, January 24-February 11, 2017, featuring Russian-born Semyon Bychkov conducting works by Tchaikovsky as well as composers he was influenced by and whom he influenced, with piano soloists Yefim Bronfman and Kirill Gerstein.

The Washington Stage Guild starts its 'Pearl Anniversary' season with a remount of one of America's favorite holiday stories in It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play. It's Christmas Eve, 1946, and we are the studio audience for a local radio station as its cast of voice actors and one very busy sound effects man broadcast the beloved tale of George Bailey and his encounter with Clarence, his guardian angel. This 'radio play-within-a-play' re-imagines the familiar movie as it would have been heard in homes all over America in the late 40s, when just such a broadcast took place. Playwright

Trinity Repertory Company has announced Christina Bevilacqua will bring her expertise in curating conversation to the theater in her new position as Conversationalist-in-Residence.

The Cincinnati Arts Association (CAA) is pleased to present the Griffin Theatre Company's production of Ghosts of War: The True Story of a 19-Year-Old GI by Ryan Smithson, adapted for the stage by William Massolia, today, December 9, 2016 at 8:00 PM at the Aronoff Center's intimate Jarson-Kaplan Theater. The show is part of CAA'S 2016-17 Season.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's five-week engagement at New York City Center continues this week with the world premiere of MacArthur "Genius" Kyle Abraham's Untitled America on Wednesday, December 7th.

'Something that's sure to please everyone in 2017,' is the promise of Cumberland County Playhouse producing director Bryce McDonald while announcing the upcoming season at the award-winning theatrical venue located in the hill of Tennessee.

The Washington Stage Guild starts its 'Pearl Anniversary' season with a remount of one of America's favorite holiday stories in It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play. It's Christmas Eve, 1946, and we are the studio audience for a local radio station as its cast of voice actors and one very busy sound effects man broadcast the beloved tale of George Bailey and his encounter with Clarence, his guardian angel. This 'radio play-within-a-play' re-imagines the familiar movie as it would have been heard in homes all over America in the late 40s, when just such a broadcast took place. Playwright

Jonathan Kent's award-winning production of the classic musical GYPSY - a record-breaking sellout during its acclaimed London run - comes toTHIRTEEN's Great Performances, tonight, November 11 at 9 p.m. on PBS on the PBS Arts Fall Festival.

The Cincinnati Arts Association (CAA) is pleased to present the Griffin Theatre Company's production of Ghosts of War: The True Story of a 19-Year-Old GI by Ryan Smithson, adapted for the stage by William Massolia, on Friday, December 9, 2016 at 8:00 PM at the Aronoff Center's intimate Jarson-Kaplan Theater. The show is part of CAA'S 2016-17 Season.

Academy Award winning actress Natalie Portman will be honored with the 2016 Israel Film Festival Achievement in Film Award, Oscar nominated and Golden Globe and Emmy Award winning actress Sharon Stone will receive the 2016 Israel Film Festival Career Achievement Award and Jay Sanderson will accept the 2016 Israel Film Festival Community Leadership Award on behalf of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, at the 30th Anniversary of the Israel Film Festival.

Dr. Terrance Zealand assumed the position of Chef at the AIDS Resource Foundation for Children (ARFC) after retiring as the organization's Executive Director. He is a wonderful example of a person who uses his gifts to enhance the lives of others. Dr. Zealand is in this week's 'Chef Spotlight.'

Taking time off from his residency in Las Vegas, comedian Don Barnhart will once again head the Battle Comics World Tour as they prepare for a month long tour bringing laughter to the men and women serving overseas in the Armed Forces.

Academy Award winning actress Natalie Portman will be honored with the 2016 Israel Film Festival Achievement in Film Award, Oscar nominated and Golden Globe and Emmy Award winning actress Sharon Stone will receive the 2016 Israel Film Festival Career Achievement Award and Jay Sanderson will accept the 2016 Israel Film Festival Community Leadership Award on behalf of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, at the 30th Anniversary of the Israel Film Festival.

GK Arts Center is proud to host Gelsey Kirkland Ballet's perennial holiday classic, The Nutcracker. This is the fourth year this production of The Nutcracker will be performed over the course of a special two-week engagement, running December 8-18 at the GK Arts Center (29 Jay Street, formerly St. Ann's Warehouse in Dumbo, Brooklyn, N.Y.).  The 18-member company is under the artistic direction of Gelsey Kirkland and Michael Chernov.

Jonathan Kent's award-winning production of the classic musical GYPSY - a record-breaking sellout during its acclaimed London run - comes toTHIRTEEN's Great Performances, Friday, November 11 at 9 p.m. on PBS on the PBS Arts Fall Festival.

What if you came home after a journey and your family was no longer there? What if someone else was living in your house, running what you used to manage - and trying to kill you? So begins the thriller 'To Swallow the Earth,' which won this year's International Book Award for western novel. 'It's really my grandfather's story,' says co-author Karl Beckstrand. 'My grandfather grew up exploring the Sierra Nevada Mountains on horseback a hundred years ago. He used that setting for his mystery - set in the Nevada silver rush,' Beckstrand said. After his grandfather passed away in 1992, Beckstrand inherited the manuscript. 'My challenge was to tighten his story and develop the characters while preserving the action, suspense and earthy vernacular.' Beckstrand, who grew up in San Jose, California, has won other literary awards, but this one is special. 'It kind of validates my grandfather's vision - gives him a nod - even beyond the grave.' The thriller also was named a finalist for the Laramie Award and garnered Literary Classics' seal of approval. 'It's getting great reviews online as well,' Beckstrand said. 'The main character is an outcast, half-Mexican, raised by American Indians. But he's fearless and loyal to his friends and family.' In addition to a tough, dark hero, there's a gutsy heroine who is unintimidated in the worst kinds of opposition. Beckstrand's multicultural stories usually have characters of color and surprises at the end. Bestselling author Beckstrand heads Premio Publishing & Gozo Books, which produces multicultural content for educators, libraries, and families. His fifteenth book may be found at http://PremioBooks.com and via major booksellers and distributors. The e-book will be temporarily free on Kindle and other platforms through Nov. 25. http://tinyurl.com/js6g6tj. Beckstrand will present on publishing Tues., Nov. 1 at 6:30 p.m. in the Weber County Library 2039 W. 4000 South, Roy, Utah and Sat., Nov. 5 from 1 - 4 p.m. at the Viridian Center 8030 S. 1825 West, West Jordan, Utah. Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CzbQKuLVr8

The McCallum Theatre announced today that the international sensation and Valley audience favorite band  Pink Martini will headline its annual fundraising gala to be held on Wednesday, November 30th,  with a special appearance by the "global gigastar," Dame Edna. Pink Martini returns to the McCallum for this special evening following a sold-out run of five performances in the 2015-2016 season.  Drawing inspiration from music from all over the world - brilliantly combining elements of classical, jazz and old-fashioned pop - Pink Martini's diverse repertoire is a blend influenced by Cole Porter and Duke Ellington, Tito Puente and Xavier Cugat, as well as Argentine tango, Brazilian samba, Italian folk, Asian and romantic Hollywood musicals of the 1940s and '50s. According to bandleader/pianist Thomas Lauderdale, "If the United Nations had a house band in 1962, Pink Martini would be that band."

When Falsettos first premiered on Broadway in 1992, the show gained instant status as a game changer. With William Finn's brave new style of musical theatre composition and in placing the lives of queer characters at the forefront of its storytelling, the show has become a cultural landmark and a blueprint for the array of modern musical theatre that followed in its wake.

The Australian Ballet's Artistic Director David McAllister and Executive Director Libby Christie today announced the 2017 program. Combining outstanding classic and contemporary works, the season showcases the artistry of dance with story balletsAlice's Adventures in Wonderland©, The Sleeping Beauty and Nutcracker - The Story of Clara, and inspires awe with Faster and Symphony in C.