The Challenge - 1992 - London Fringe Articles Page 18

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. 

Francesca Annis, Ron Cook and Deborah Findlay have been cast in Lucy Kirkwood's new play The Children which runs in the Royal Court Jerwood Theatre Downstairs 17 November 2016 - 14 January 2017 with Press Night on Thursday 24 November. Directed by James Macdonald. With design by Miriam Buether and lighting design by Peter Mumford. "At our time of life, we simply cannot deal with this shit." 

The Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York, New York City's leading service and advocacy organization for nonprofit theatre, today announced that in late November 2016 it will open the A.R.T./NEW YORK THEATRES, two affordable, state-of-the-art performance spaces located at 502 West 53rd Street - designed by award-winning architect Toshiko Mori - along with its selection of 21 nonprofit companies for the inaugural 2017-18 season.

AstonRep Theatre Company is pleased to announce its full 2016-17 Season, kicking off this fall with its first-ever world premiere - THE BLACK SLOT, Warren Hoffman's hilarious and biting satire about racial politics in the American regional theater, directed by Associate Artistic Director Derek Bertelsen. 

Kim Rubinstein, director of last season's award-winning revival of Anna Christie, returns to the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble at the helm of one of the great defining and taboo-breaking plays of the 1950s. A Taste of Honey is set to open on Sept. 24 starring Eric Hunicutt, Gerard Joseph, Kestrel Leah, Leland Montgomery and Sarah Underwood Saviano.

Three-time Super Bowl Champion and Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe joins FOX Sports to face his biggest opponent yet: Skip Bayless.

For Immediate Release: Albemarle. Uwharrie Players Announce Director and Cast for Summer Musical: Leap of Faith.

While recent press announcements have disclosed that the Skylight Music Theatre is considering the sale of the Broadway Theatre Center, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre's home for 23 years, MCT will remain focused for the 2016-17 season on achieving its mission of producing intimate and accessible theatrical works that highlight local talent.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, New York City Center's Principal Dance Company, returns to the New York City Center stage from November 30th - December 31st, 2016. In his sixth season as Artistic Director, Robert Battle leads Ailey's 32 renowned dancers during this annual five-week engagement, which has become a joyous holiday tradition.

For Immediate Release: Albemarle. Uwharrie Players Announce Director and Cast for Summer Musical: Leap of Faith.

For Immediate Release: Albemarle. Uwharrie Players Announce Director and Cast for Summer Musical: Leap of Faith.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Casey Reitz, Executive Director) has announced three New York Premiere productions for its upcoming 38th season. The season will kick off in October 2016 with the New York Premiere ofNOTES FROM THE FIELD: DOING TIME IN EDUCATION, the latest work created, written and performed by groundbreaking theatre artist Anna Deavere Smith and directed by Leonard Foglia. This marks Ms. Smith and Mr. Foglia's return to Second Stage Theatre, where their previous collaboration, Let Me Down Easy, had its New York Premiere in 2008.

Snoop Dogg Performs 'Fireworks' from his upcoming album 'CoolAid' live on KIMMEL. He recently announced that the album will drop on July 1 so be on the look out new Snoop Dogg music in July

The Ambassador Theatre Group is to produce a brand new stage musical based on the life of the legendary Frank Sinatra, in partnership with Stewart Till and Frank Sinatra Enterprises.  The show, which is planned to open in 2018, will feature a number of timeless hit songs from Sinatra's incredible catalogue of over 1400 tracks recorded during his illustrious career. Script development for the Frank Sinatra musical is planned to start shortly.

59E59 Theaters will welcome Dillie Keane (from Fascinating Aida) back to Brits Off Broadway with the US premiere of HELLO DILLIE, written by Ms. Keane and Adele Anderson, and directed by Simon Green and featuring Michael Roulston on piano. Produced by Pleasance Theatre Trust Ltd, HELLO DILLIE begins performances on Tuesday June 7 for a limited engagement through Sunday, July 3.  Press opening is Tuesday, June 14 at 7:30 PM.  The performance schedule is Tuesday - Thursday at 7:30 PM; Friday at 8:30 PM; Saturday at 2:30 PM & 8:30 PM; and Sunday at 3:30 PM. Performances are at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues). Tickets are $25 ($17.50 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or visit www.59e59.org. 

Writing musicals with existing song catalogs presents unique challenges.