This and That - 1916 - West End Articles Page 18

Navy Pier, Chicago's year-round lakefront destination, is kicking off a new season of free arts and cultural programs with the return of the popular Aon Summer Fireworks and Live on the Lake! music series at the Miller Lite Beer Garden, plus a new live DJ music series, Wave Wall Wax, starting Memorial Day weekend. These programs launch a 15-week arts and cultural extravaganza at the Pier, complete with top local talent and world-renowned works in cinema, dance, music, public art, theater and more - all of which serve as the perfect complement to the many dining, retail and leisure experiences across the Pier.

A celebration of diversity, the 4-Star Solo Show Festival at the Provincetown Theater will feature four star-turn performances that, variously, include outrageous comic characters, Broadway belting, bilingual jokes, disco dancing, a countertenor aria, a real life behind-the-scenes look at what it's like to be a gay porn star, and a guest appearance from 'Scream Along with…' Billy Hough.

Classic Stage Company presents a new production of Tennessee Williams' SUMMER AND SMOKE, directed by Jack Cummings III, Artistic Director of The Transport Group, at CSC (136 East 13th Street) for a limited engagement through May 25. Opening night was Thursday, May 3. Let's see what the critics had to say...

Dance We Must: Treasures from Jacob's Pillow, 1906-1940 explores the contributions of Jacob's Pillow founder Ted Shawn and the iconic Ruth St. Denis to American modern dance. Gathering over 350 materials, including more than 30 costumes and accessories, over 200 photographs, five original antique costume trunks, and a dozen original artworks from both the Jacob's Pillow Archives and Williams College Special Collections, the exhibition contextualizes the pioneering work of Shawn and St. Denis within the scope of American art history through artifacts that have never been seen before. Dance We Must will be on view at Williams College Museum of Art (WCMA) from June 29 through November 11, 2018. The opening celebration will take place on July 2, featuring performances by Adam H. Weinert and Williams College Artist-in-Residence in Dance Erica Dankmeyer.

The comic genius of Charlie Chaplin will be on full display as Philadelphia-based "Not So Silent Cinema" provides live accompaniment to three Chaplin shorts in a special one-performance only event at Bucks County Playhouse, Sunday, April 29 at 2 p.m. The presentation is part of the Playhouse's Visiting Artist Series.

The award-winning creative team of Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester and Aria Entertainment have revealed their 2018 autumn/winter shows. They are the moving new British musical, The Return of the Soldier - the World War One story being brought to the stage in this, the 100th anniversary of the end of the conflict. And the UK Premiere of A Christmas Story The Musical - the hit festive Broadway show from the writers of The Greatest Showman, La La Land and Dear Evan Hansen.

Premiere Stages at Kean University has announced the winner of the 2018 Premiere Play Festival, its annual competition for unproduced scripts written by playwrights affiliated with the greater metropolitan area. The theatre has named Linger by Glen Ridge resident Craig Garcia this year's winner, and will present the play's first professional production this summer as part of the theatre's 14th season in residence at Kean University. The season, which runs June-October, will also feature full productions of Brick City by Ridgewood resident Nicole Pandolfo and Black Tom Island by Jersey City resident Martin Casella, as well as a developmental workshop of this year's runner-up for the Premiere Play Festival, Baton by Brooklyn resident Deneen Reynolds-Knott. 

National Dance Company Wales (NDCWales) have today announced the appointment of their new Artistic Director, Fearghus Ó Conchuir.

Semyon Bychkov will return to the New York Philharmonic to conduct two weeks of programs, including the 50th anniversary of a Philharmonic commission, artist debuts, and symphonic cornerstones. In the first week, Mr. Bychkov will conduct Mendelssohn's Piano Concerto No. 1, with soloist Bertrand Chamayou in his Philharmonic debut; Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5; and Brahms's Tragic Overture, Thursday, May 17, 2018, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, May 18 at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, May 19 at 8:00 p.m.; and Tuesday, May 22 at 7:30 p.m. 

Vangeline Theater, with renowned Japanese composer and musician Yuka C. Honda (Japan) and butoh dancer Vangeline, perform the World Premiere of Elsewhere from May 24 - 26, 2018 at 8 pm at Gibney Dance: Agnes Varis Performing Arts Center, 280 Broadway (Entrance at 53A Chambers Street). Tickets are $15 in advance ($20 at the door) and can be purchased at https://gibneydance.org/performance/pop/vangeline-and-yuka-c-honda-elsewhere/ or by calling (646) 837-6809.

The Garden Theatre begins performances this week of its highly anticipated historical drama, A Tennessee Walk. Presented March 16 - 31, 2018 the award-winning play by Garden Theatre's artistic director Rob Winn Anderson shines new light on a seldom-told, true story of a circus elephant that was executed by a hysterical public.

The Drama League's 2018 Spring Charity Auction has launched at www.biddingforgood.com/thedramaleague, featuring forty once-in-a-lifetime prize packages. The impressive offerings include celebrity experiences with Alan Cumming (Legal Immigrant at Joe's Pub), Jessie Mueller (Carousel), Lea Salonga (Once On This Island); Andrew Rannells (The Boys in The Band), Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Log Cabin), Condola Rashad (Saint Joan), Wayne Brady (Kinky Boots), Matthew Broderick (The Seafarer); House Seats to the hottest shows on and off Broadway, like The Iceman Cometh, Escape to Margaritaville, Sweeney Todd, In & Of Itself and more!

Vangeline Theater, with renowned Japanese composer and musician Yuka C. Honda (Japan) and butoh dancer Vangeline, perform the World Premiere ofElsewhere from May 24 - 26, 2018 at 8 pm at Gibney Dance: Agnes Varis Performing Arts Center, 280 Broadway (Entrance at 53A Chambers Street). Tickets are $15 in advance ($20 at the door) and can be purchased athttps://gibneydance.org/performance/pop/vangeline-and-yuka-c-honda-elsewhere/ or by calling (646) 837-6809.

Vangeline Theater Presents ELSEWHERE 5/24-5/26

Following a sell-out season at The Abbey Theatre as part of the 100th anniversary celebrations of the 1916 Easter Rising, as well as a successful Irish and US tour, The Plough and the Stars comes to the Lyric Hammersmith as a co-production with The Abbey Theatre.

Irish Arts Center (IAC) has reached a critical milestone in its plans to build a new permanent home in New York for the evolving arts and culture of contemporary Ireland and Irish America. In the City on the eve of St. Patrick's Day, Ireland's Prime Minister, Leo Varadkar, today announced $2.5 million in support for the New Irish Arts Center, bringing Irish government funding for the facility to $8.3 million and the Center's Almost Home capital campaign over the $60 million mark (to $60.5 million). The New Irish Arts Center comprises two buildings: a state-of-the-art new facility that will be constructed at 726 11th Avenue, and a renovation of the Center's intimate current home, adjoining the new building, at 553 West 51st Street. Phase I of construction, the new building on 11th Avenue, is now completely funded and ready to begin. IAC continues to raise an additional $15 million for the second phase of the project—transformation of the 51st Street venue—and to create a long-term programming fund and endowment, securing the future of the organization. 

Following a sell-out season at the Abbey Theatre as part of the 100th anniversary celebrations of the 1916 Easter Rising, as well as a successful Irish and US tour, The Plough and the Stars comes to the Lyric Hammersmith as a co-production with the Abbey Theatre.

The Drama League (Executive Artistic Director Gabriel Stelian-Shanks) will honor three powerhouses of the American theater community at the 84th Annual Drama League Awards, set for Friday afternoon, May 18, 2018 at the Marriott Marquis Times Square.

As the celebrations, performances, and successes of The Cleveland Orchestra's Centennial Season continue toward its conclusion this spring, the Orchestra has announced details of its 101st season for 2018-2019. Aspects of the celebratory spirit continues - with a 100th Birthday concert in July for the Cleveland community and Centennial Gala in September. The new season also extends the dedicated week-to-week work, creativity, and artistry required to continue being one of the world's best orchestras year after year.

Audiences are invited to take a sentimental journey when the 1940s musical revue "In The Mood" returns to Bucks County Playhouse for a limited engagement, March 21-25. "In the Mood" is being presented as part of the Playhouse's Visiting Artist Series.

Wandsworth Arts Fringe launched its 2018 programme today with a rich array of shows and events to suit all ages, interests and tastes. During its nine-year history, South London's premiere arts festival has gone from strength to strength. This year is the biggest yet with the festival playing host to over 170 shows in over 55 venues across the borough from May 4 to 20. With an eclectic range of arts and culture, every conceivable space both indoor and outdoor will buzz with activity and creative endeavour.

On Thursday, March 1, 20 families in Queens will receive a copy of the Snowy Day. This effort is to support and encourage families to read together. According to Savona Bailey-McClain, Host & Producer of the radio show State of the Arts NYC heard on WBAI, 'Snowy Day was the first book my mother bought me and my sister through the school program with Scholastic Books. We liked it so much that she went on to buy Whistle for Willie. I hope these families will enjoy the same pleasure I did as a child'.

'Mr. Holmes, I am under such a strain that I shall go mad if it continues. Do you think that your powers could shed a little light in the darkness which surrounds me?' asks Enid Stonor. And with these words, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson find themselves in a race against time to stop the bizarre murders in an eerie country manor.

The comic genius of Charlie Chaplin will be on full display as Philadelphia-based "Not So Silent Cinema" provides live accompaniment to three Chaplin shorts in a special one-night event at Bucks County Playhouse, Friday, March 2 at 8 p.m. The presentation is part of the Playhouse's Visiting Artist Series.