The Connection - 1963 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 9

The renowned New Orleans Jazz Orchestra reflects on the wide-ranging influence of the Big Easy's own Allen Toussaint, the legendary composer, singer, pianist, and producer, with the March 29 digital release of "Songs: The Music of Allen Toussaint" on Storyville Records (physical release is set for April 19). The album features six songs by Toussaint and one associated with him, as well as two original tribute pieces. It also marks the NOJO leadership debut of drummerartistic director Adonis Rose, who assumed the mantle in 2016 to navigate the 18-piece orchestra out of the troubled waters surrounding its now-departed founder.

Trinity Rep continues its dedication to bringing new works to the stage with this world premiere from one of the most popular up-and-coming playwrights in the country, Lauren Yee.

Trinity Rep's eighth annual playwriting competition for New England High School students, Write Here! Write Now!, is now accepting entries. Students are asked to compose an original ten-minute play and submit it via the online application form.

This spring Pennsylvania Ballet will premiere Artistic Director Angel Corella's re-staging of Giselle, ballet's hauntingly romantic classic. Presented by West Laurel Hill Cemetery, performances run March 7-17 at the Academy of Music.

Trinity Rep will continue its 2018-19 Season with the electrifying tale of Macbeth a Shakespearean thriller that bursts at breakneck speed with more suspense, murder, and madness than a blockbuster film. Directed by Curt Columbus, who was most recently at the helm of last spring's Ragtime, this contemporary telling of the famously-cursed play will include a live DJ and elements of magic.

Following the record-breaking box-office success of "Million Dollar Quartet," Bucks County Playhouse will present for the third time its signature production of "Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story" beginning Friday, February 8 through Sunday, March 3. The Playhouse's Executive Producer Robyn Goodman, Producing Director Alexander Fraser and Producers Stephen Kocis and Joshua Fiedler announced final casting for the production, that will once again be directed by Hunter Foster (BCP's "Million Dollar Quartet" and "42nd Street"), and choreographed by Lorin Latarro (Broadway's "Waitress"), both of whom are also Bucks County Playhouse Artistic Associates.

Trinity Repertory Company broke its all-time box office sales and attendance records with its 2018 production of A Christmas Carol, surpassing the record set last year by the same show. This season's incarnation of the holiday tradition, which ran November 9-December 30, 2018, was the 41st consecutive mounting of the Dickens classic. Completely re-invented each season with a new director, cast, and designers, the 2018 production was directed by Mark Valdez, who also directed Fuente Ovejuna, or Like Sheep to Water at Trinity Rep in 2017. Beloved acting company member, Stephen Thorne, played the role of Ebenezer Scrooge

Trinity Repertory Company invites the public to nominate outstanding local artists for the 2019 Rhode Island Pell Awards for Excellence in the Arts. The Pell Awards' criteria include distinction in the artist's chosen field, work that significantly advances the art form and contribution to the betterment of the community, and the world at large through artistic presence and community service. Awards will be presented at the theater's gala event on Monday, June 3, 2019 at the WaterFire Arts Center in Providence.

Trinity Rep will run a limited-engagement of An Iliad by Lisa Peterson and Denis O'Hare, based on Homer's The Iliad and translated by Robert Fagles.

Trinity Rep will continue its 2018-19 Season with the electrifying tale of Macbeth a Shakespearean thriller that bursts at breakneck speed with more suspense, murder, and madness than a blockbuster film. Directed by Curt Columbus, who was most recently at the helm of last spring's Ragtime, this contemporary telling of the famously-cursed play will include a live DJ and elements of magic.

Trinity Rep will continue its 2018-19 Season with the epic tale of black odyssey by Marcus Gardley. Inspired by Homer's Odyssey, this story examines Ulysses Lincoln's journey home from war when the world - and the gods - are against him. This adventure brings the combination of history and heart together in a poignant and imaginative story that will captivate audiences. This production will feature resident acting company members, Jude Sandy and Joe Wilson, Jr. as co-directors, with Joe Wilson, Jr. as Ulysses Lincoln. black odyssey runs January 3 - February 3 with press opening on Monday, January 7 at 7:30 pm. Tickets start at $25. More information can be found at www.trinityrep.com/odyssey.

Trinity Repertory Company held its 2018 Project Discovery Gala, which supports education programs at Trinity Rep, on November 14. Through ticket sales, sponsorships, and a live auction, the event raised more than $85,000. The event was co-chaired by resident actors Rebecca Gibel and Charlie Thurston with Barbara and Larry Schoenfeld, and Ken Sigel and Sarah Kelly. Resident actor Joe Wilson, Jr. served as emcee and auctioneer.

Trinity Repertory Company's 2018-19 Season opener, Pride and Prejudice, recently ended a successful run, playing to sold out audiences and over 90% capacity. The comedy, which ran October 4 through November 4 was the highest-selling comedy produced by the organization since The Odd Couple in the 2009-10 Season. The production was also notable for playing to higher paid capacity than any show since The Completely Fictional - Utterly True - Final Strange Tale of Edgar Allan Poe in the 2010-11 Season. More than half of the Pride and Prejudice public performances sold out. Adapted from the Jane Austen novel by Kate Hamill, this production was directed by Birgitta Victorson. The cast included resident acting company members Angela Brazil, Janice Duclos, Rebecca Gibel, Rachael Warren, and Joe Wilson, Jr. They were accompanied on stage by guest actors Richard Donelly, Shelley Fort, and Katie Croyle.

The Arts and Education Council (A&E) and Maritz have awarded 15 area schools with grants to support classroom-based art projects during the 2018-19 academic year. The program, administered by A&E, is funded by a $25,000 gift from Maritz with additional support provided by individual donors. With these 15 grants, this unique partnership between A&E and Maritz has generated nearly a quarter of a million dollars for art education across the bi-state region since 2009.

Trinity Repertory Company is hosting the fall meeting of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT) this week. One hundred twenty executives and senior leaders from around the country will be meeting at the Omni Hotel from October 17 through 19. LORT is the largest professional theater association of its kind in the United States, with 75 member theaters in every major market in the U.S., including 29 states and the District of Columbia. LORT member theaters collectively issue more Actors' Equity Association contracts than Broadway and commercial tours combined. LORT administers the primary national not-for-profit collective bargaining agreements with Actors' Equity Association (AEA), the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), and United Scenic Artists (USA). LORT Managers from LORT theaters meet twice each year for professional development, networking, and to address LORT business.

Trinity Rep is proud to present its annual holiday tradition, A Christmas Carol. Noted for being a new production each year, the 2018 production has been inspired by a traditional telling of the famed Dickens classic.  This year the production will be directed Mark Valdez, who directed Fuente Ovejuna, or Like Sheep to Water at Trinity Rep in 2017.

Community, along with company and education, has long been one of Trinity Rep's three core values, but recently the organization, which was founded in 1963, is expanding its commitment to that principle. Through the addition of staff and inclusion in a prestigious international pilot program, Trinity Rep's community engagement efforts strive toward fulfilling the non-profit organization's mission to reinvent the public square and provide an accessible and relevant cultural resource for the entire community.

Trinity Rep will open its 2018-19 Season with Pride and Prejudice by Kate Hamill, adapted from the novel by Jane Austen. This classic "will they or won't they" romance between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy is infused with fresh vitality and hilarity in this effervescent new comedic adaptation, directed by Birgitta Victorson.

The Public Theater presents the North American premiere of Girl from the North Country. Written and directed by Olivier Award winner and Tony Award nominee Conor McPherson with music and lyrics by music icon Bob Dylan, Girl from the North Country weaves the music of our greatest poet-singer-songwriter into a piercing drama about home, heart, and the searching determination of the American soul. This new musical has been extended three times and will now run through Sunday, December 23.

Trinity Rep announces that tickets to An Iliad will go on sale to the public Monday, October 1, 2018 beginning at 10:00 am. Tickets will be available for purchase by phone at (401) 351-4242, online at www.trinityrep.com, or in person at the theater's box office at 201 Washington Street, Providence. 

The Barbican today launches Life Rewired, an arts and learning season running throughout 2019 exploring what it means to be human in the face of technological and scientific forces that are dizzying in their speed, scale and complexity.

In 2019, The Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance will partner with Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, John Oates, to celebrate the relationship between the automobile and the guitar. The special class will center on vehicles and guitars from John's personal collection. The display will allow fans unprecedented access to the instruments Oates has played onstage with the best-selling rock duo of all time, Hall and Oates. The event will also include opportunities to meet John in person.

Due to popular demand, United Solo brings back Olympia Dukakis to teach in the Master Class Series on September 16, 2018 at Theatre Row in New York City. The class, "The Importance of Craft," will teach students to identify and develop what is important to them as performers. Ms. Dukakis will explain how to approach the craft of acting as a personal connection to the thoughts, actions, circumstances, and character, as expressed and defined by the text. "My most important tools when I teach are my own sensibility, my personal perceptions, my knowledge of the craft, and the excitement and satisfaction I always feel with students," said Ms. Dukakis.

Trinity Rep will open its 2018-19 Season with Pride and Prejudice by Kate Hamill, adapted from the novel by Jane Austen. This classic "will they or won't they" romance between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy is infused with fresh vitality and hilarity in this effervescent new comedic adaptation, directed by Birgitta Victorson.

Seattle Opera announced today that General Director Aidan Lang will leave the company to become General Director of Welsh National Opera. The third General Director of Seattle Opera, Lang departs at the close of the 2018/19 season following a five-year tenure. Under Lang's leadership, Seattle Opera has: increased its audiences, particularly, young people, created a new civic home for opera at Seattle Center, introduced new chamber opera productions in locations around the city, and made organizational strides toward racial equity.