Weekend 1968 - Articles Page 7

At one point in Diana Grisanti's sharply written RIVER CITY, in its final weekend at Voices of the South, an older character challenges the 'education' that a fourteen year-old black youth has received at St. Thomas, the Catholic-run orphanage in Louisville: The young man may know history from a white perspective, but does he know anything important about his own black heritage -- and does he know what's happening in 1968, as the black community plans a demonstration to protest the rehiring of a police officer guilty of harassment? (Yes, sadly, the times . . . they aren't always 'a-changin' -- sorry, Mr. Dylan.) I remember an instance when, as a white youngster in a rural town outside Memphis, I first heard the name 'Martin Luther King.' Our school bus had already run, and I was waiting for the bus of my best friend (who happened to be black) to drop him off so that he could rid himself of his books, change clothes, and come out to play. When he descended from the bus, I walked with him down the lane where he lived with his grandparents. I asked him what he had done in school that day, and he replied that he learned who the father of 'his' country was. 'George Washington,' I interrupted. 'No,' he insisted. 'The father of 'his' country was Martin Luther King.' In just a few years, some great strides would be made; however, I am nearing seventy now -- and the ugliness of racism is still omnipresent. Not only does police harassment still dominate the news, but, with the OSCARS being broadcast Sunday evening, there is a planned boycott by a number of black actors and actresses over the lack of racial diversity among the major nominees.

-This summer marks another historic milestone for the annual Bard SummerScape festival. For the first time since its founding, this season's focus is on the music and culture of Italy, with seven weeks of music, opera, theater, dance, film, and cabaret keyed to the theme of the 27th Bard Music Festival, "Puccini and His World." This intensive examination of the life and times of Giacomo Puccini opens a window onto Italy's rich musical heritage from Palestrina to Menotti, by way of the most popular and successful - yet, paradoxically, frequently critically underrated - opera composer of all time. Complementing the music festival, some of the Tuscan master's most compelling compatriots provide other key SummerScape highlights.

This summer marks another historic milestone for the annual Bard SummerScape festival. For the first time since its founding, this season's focus is on the music and culture of Italy, with seven weeks of music, opera,theater, dance, film, and cabaret keyed to the theme of the 27th Bard Music Festival, "Puccini and His World." This intensive examination of the life and times of Giacomo Puccini opens a window onto Italy's rich musical heritage from Palestrina to Menotti, by way of the most popular and successful - yet, paradoxically, frequently critically underrated - opera composer of all time. Complementing the music festival, some of the Tuscan master's most compelling compatriots provide other key SummerScape highlights. These include a rare, fully staged production of Iris, a forerunner of Madama Butterfly by Puccini's close contemporary Pietro Mascagni; the world premiere of Demolishing Everything with Amazing Speed, four newly unearthed puppet plays from leading Italian Futurist Fortunato Depero, as reimagined by Dan Hurlin;the world premiere of Fantasque, a new ballet set to the music of Respighi and Rossini by John Heginbotham and Amy Trompetter; a film series on "Puccini and the Operatic Impulse in Cinema"; and the return of Bard's authentic and sensationally popularSpiegeltent,hosted by the inimitable Mx. Justin Vivian Bond. Taking place between July 1 and August 14 in the Frank Gehry-designed Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts and other venues on Bard College's stunning Hudson River campus, SummerScape's 2016 offerings provide new opportunities to discover that, as Time Out New York puts it, "the experience of entering the Fisher Center and encountering something totally new is unforgettable and enriching." Tickets go on sale on Monday, February 15; click here for more information.

New York Theatre Ballet invites you to attend NYTB at New York Live Arts Benefit on February 27, 2016.

Society of Seven will heat up the Suncoast Showroom with its entertaining variety show today, Feb. 13 and tomorrow, Feb. 14.

The Alley Theatre's ALLEY ALL NEW FESTIVAL, January 28 - February 7, features six playwrights and more than 25 actors from around the country who will be presenting new work through a series of readings and workshop performances.

Alley Theatre announces the full line-up for the inaugural Alley All New Festival, featuring recent additions - Songs from Mrs. Mannerly, a musical in progress, music by Michael Moricz, lyrics by Jack Murphy, based on the play by Jeffrey Hatcher and directed by Alley Artistic Director Gregory Boyd; The Harassment of Iris Malloy by Zak Berkman, directed by Alley Resident Assistant Director Brandon Weinbrenner and a special Early Draft Preview, featuring works in progress by Kenneth Lin and Janine Nabers. 

The Alley Theatre's ALLEY ALL NEW FESTIVAL, January 28 - February 7, features six playwrights and more than 25 actors from around the country who will be presenting new work through a series of readings and workshop performances.

 Pandora Productions continues the 2015-2016 season with an oldie but a goodie. Mart Crowley's The Boys in the Band is the quintessential 'gay' play, breaking down boundaries and exploring new topics in its Off-Broadway run of over 1000 performances in the Spring of 1968. Before Boys, gay men were 'fops' and 'dandies' but this play changed it all. Since it was on stage a full year prior to Stonewall, Boys proved to be quite prescient in retrospect. Some historians have said that the play's production in advance of Stonewall set the stage for the events that unfolded there, gays would no longer be kept in the closet. The dark comic play explores issues of self-loathing, internalized homophobia, racial biases and more.

Alley Theatre announces the full line-up for the inaugural Alley All New Festival, featuring recent additions - Songs from Mrs. Mannerly, a musical in progress, music by Michael Moricz, lyrics by Jack Murphy, based on the play by Jeffrey Hatcher and directed by Alley Artistic Director Gregory Boyd; The Harassment of Iris Malloy by Zak Berkman, directed by Alley Resident Assistant Director Brandon Weinbrenner and a special Early Draft Preview, featuring works in progress by Kenneth Lin and Janine Nabers. 

The award-winning comic sensation THE PRODUCERS takes the stage at Mayo Performing Arts Center this weekend, November 19-20, 2015 at 8 pm.

The Holy Cross Student Theater (HCST) is proud to announce William Shakespeare's timeless classic AS YOU LIKE IT as its' fall production for the 2015-2016 school year. Performances run at Holy Cross High School (HCHS) in Waterbury this weekend, November 13th & 14th at 7:00 p.m. and November 15th at 2:00 p.m. The production is under the direction of HCHS faculty member, Paul Whealon (Waterbury).

Now, Elaine May has joined the lineup of hosts. Monty Python's Eric Idle and John Cleese are also set to perform (hopefully selections from SPAMALOT!), with readings and other music also planned.

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the American theatre, has assembled 25 U.S. theatre leaders to attend the 16th Festival de Teatro de La Habana, October 20-26, 2015 in Havana, Cuba.

Arriving on the scene after the French New Wave, with emotionally raw, tumultuous films that reflect his own life and personality, Maurice Pialat (1925-2003) was widely acclaimed in France, but underappreciated in the United States.

Arriving on the scene after the French New Wave, with emotionally raw, tumultuous films that reflect his own life and personality, Maurice Pialat (1925-2003) was widely acclaimed in France, but underappreciated in the United States.

Coming off the most-watched Singapore Grand Prix on record, NBC Sports Group continues its coverage of the 2015 Formula One season with a live presentation of the Japanese Grand Prix this Sunday morning at 12:30 a.m. ET/Saturday at 9:30 p.m. PT on NBCSN.

BroadwayWorld has learned that author and screenwriter Jackie Collins died this weekend in LA after a battle with breast cancer. She was 77.

This summer, Museum of the Moving Image presents See It Big! 70mm, every weekend through August 30, featuring eight films made between 1961 and 2014 -- all of them shot in 70mm and to be shown in 70mm prints in the majestic Sumner M. Redstone Theater.

Sporting a name that may raise an eyebrow or two, 'Jazz is Dead Reunion- a jazz exploration of the Grateful Dead' comes to the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) tonight, August 20 at 7:30pm to the delight of jazz aficionados who are fans of The Grateful Dead.

Brandon Bennett returns to the Suncoast Showroom to celebrate the “King of Rock 'n' Roll” with his “Elvis My Way” show this weekend, Aug. 15 and 16.

Sporting a name that may raise an eyebrow or two, "Jazz is Dead Reunion- a jazz exploration of the Grateful Dead" comes to the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) on Thursday, August 20 at 7:30pm to the delight of jazz aficionados who are fans of The Grateful Dead.

The Music Hall continues its tradition of offering a variety of outstanding cinema this month, all being shown at either the splendidly restored Historic Theater on Chestnut Street or at the chic Loft on Congress Street, both acclaimed for their architectural design.

NBC Sports Group presents more than 40 hours of motorsports coverage this weekend, including more than 15 hours of Mecum Auctions coverage from its Monterey event on NBCSN, the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Utah National on NBCSN, and NBC's coverage of Red Bull Global RallyCross from Washington D.C.

This summer, Museum of the Moving Image will present See It Big! 70mm, every weekend from August 7 through 30, featuring eight films made between 1961 and 2014 -- all of them shot in 70mm and to be shown in 70mm prints in the majestic Sumner M. Redstone Theater.