Yan Li News

Emerson College, in cooperation with Live & In Color, will debut its first live, virtual, new musical, 'This Golden Day,' one of few, if any, higher education performing arts entities executing a live musical online. The musical explores the concept of 'The Golden Rule' and building community through various religions and diverse perspectives.

Interview with CANCELLED a new musical's writers Kit Yan and Melissa Li, and Diversionary Theatre's Director of Education and Outreach Skyler Sullivan. CANCELLED the new musical will be streamed on October 4th at 2pm

Pan Asian Repertory Theatre has announced the cast for the re-envisioned revival production of the musical Cambodia Agonistes, from darkness into light, with text and lyrics by Ernest Abuba, original music by Louis Stewart.

Diversionary Announces the online streaming performance of CANCELLED, a new musical by Kit Yan (Queer Heartache) and Melissa Li.

Times Square Alliance has announced a continuation of the celebration of Broadway and the songwriting community with the return of the third annual Broadway Buskers series - which this year will move off of the Broadway pedestrian plazas and onto audiences' screens.

Anna Karenina: a riff is a fresh, comedic reimagining of the classic Tolstoy tale by Gwen Kingston, opening November 23rd 2019 at the Flea Theater. Created with Notch Theatre Company and featuring an original, folk-punk score by Christie Baugher, Teresa Lotz, Yan Li and Will Turner, Anna Karenina: a riff moves at the speed of a runaway train as it examines the consequences of female rebellion and its echoes today.

Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) has launched their 2019-20 season with Tony award-winner actress Cady Huffman in the New York premiere of Marguerite, a new solo musical with book and lyrics by Anton Dudley, music by Michael Cooper and direction by APAC Artistic Director Dev Bondarin. The musical continues through November 23, 2019 at The Church of the Redeemer, 30-14 Crescent Street in Astoria, NY. Tickets on sale now at: www.apacny.org

From Peter Pan to Gypsy Rose Lee, explore the depiction of children in Broadway musicals like Matilda, Peter Pan, Falsettos, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, School of Rock, Charlie Brown and Gypsy. The mixed cast of adults and children includes Farah Alvin (It Shoulda Been You), Kennedy Kanagawa, Graham Stevens, Brandi Porter, Benjamin Barham-Wiese, Devin Trey Campbell (Kinky Boots), Brandon Chosed, Charlotte MacLeod and Lauren Park. Directed by Devanand Janki; music directed by Yan Li.

Notch Theatre Company presents the World Premiere Production of Anna Karenina: a riff by Gwen Kingston, opening November 21st at The Flea Theater in New York City. Based on the novel by Leo Tolstoy, Kingston's fresh take on Anna Karenina will be directed by Ashley Teague, Artistic Director of Notch Theatre Company.

New Executive Artistic Director Susanna Gellert makes her Weston directorial debut with the world's longest-running musical, THE FANTASTICKS (June 20 - July 13 | Weston Playhouse), Tues - Sat 7:30pm; Wed & Sat 2:00pm; Sun 3:00pm.  

The MacDowell Colony has awarded the equivalent of more than $1 million in fellowships to 93 artists from 25 states and seven countries. Fellows will arrive from places such as Chile, Egypt, and Germany, and Mississippi, Michigan, and Maine. They are working in seven disciplines, and 36 percent identify as culturally diverse. The fellowships are for upcoming summer residencies at one of the nation's leading contemporary arts organizations.

National Asian Artists Project - NAAP announces the return of NAAP's Discover: New Musicals series, a one night only presentation of staged readings of new short or one-act musicals.

The Paulus Hook Foundation would like to extend gratitude and recognition for the support and encouragement as Cong Bi delivered an elegant and captivating performance at the Zenkel Hall. As a cornerstone of commitment and dedication, performing at the illustrious Carnegie Hall, Cong Bi was able to dazzle those in attendance with his renditions of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor 'Appassionata,' Schumann's Davidsbundlertanze, Op. 6, and Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. This sold out performance was both relaxing and challenging as each piece required contrasting techniques and approaches; in fact, the evening's tickets was sold out one week before the performance.

The American Theatre Wing announced today that the 2019 Jonathan Larson Grants recipients are Julia Gytri & Avi Amon (book, music and lyrics), Emily Gardner Xu Hall (book, music and lyrics), Andy Roninson (music and lyrics), and Ben Wexler (music and lyrics). Four prestigious grants of $10,000 each, as well as additional support in the form of residencies, concerts, and recording grants, totaling over $50,000, will be presented on Monday, March 19, 2018 at a private event at the WNYC Greene Space. The event will feature special performances of the recipients' work.

Music Theatre Festival 2019: THE BRITISH INVASION kicks off for Marymount Manhattan College with a brand new musical revue of material from the Perfect Pitch New British Musicals songbook-directed and choreographed by Larry Fuller (Evita, Sweeney Todd)-with an assist from Daniel Kermidas (West Side Story, Newsies)-and music direction by Steven Cuevas (Kinky Boots, Once On This Island.)

Music Theatre Festival 2019: THE BRITISH INVASION kicks off for Marymount Manhattan College with a brand new musical revue of material from the Perfect Pitch New British Musicals songbook-directed and choreographed by Larry Fuller (Evita, Sweeney Todd)-with an assist from Daniel Kermidas (West Side Story, Newsies)-and music direction by Steven Cuevas (Kinky Boots, Once On This Island.)

Music Theatre Festival 2019: THE BRITISH INVASION kicks off for Marymount Manhattan College with a brand new musical revue of material from the Perfect Pitch New British Musicals songbook-directed and choreographed by Larry Fuller (Evita, Sweeney Todd)-with an assist from Daniel Kermidas (West Side Story, Newsies)-and music direction by Steven Cuevas (Kinky Boots, Once On This Island.)

Yesterday, Dear Evan Hansen celebrated two years on Broadway by donating to the Smithsonian on stage. The cast and creative team were joined by Smithsonian Institution representatives, Catherine Eagleton, Associate Director of Curatorial Affairs and Ryan Lintelman, Curator of Entertainment History.

National Asian Artists Project will hold its 2018 Gala entitled 'The Corner of Chinatown and Broadway' a celebration of the 60th Anniversary of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song, featuring Broadway's Jose Llana (The King and I) and Yuka Takara (A Chorus Line), the award-winning Theatre Club from P.S. 124, alumni and NAAP kids, the NAAP Broadway Community Chorus, members from the original casts of the Broadway and 2002 revival productions of Flower Drum Song, as well as honorees Alvin Ing and Yuriko Kikuchi, on Sunday, December 2nd  at The Golden Unicorn (18 East Broadway @ Catherine Street).  

THE AGE OF INNOCENCE at McCarter Theatre feels like a respite from a shameless world. Dripping with elegance and elevated decorum of New York society circa 1870, the play, however, is anything but remote. It seems to speak to the quieter reality most of us still remember-the one waiting for permission to matter once again. Not one of elite social circles, but of contemplation and self-knowledge, even when they hurt.