Harmony Wheeler - Page 55

BroadwayWorld gives you a behind the scenes look at rehearsals for The Broadway Beauty Pageant. Watch the video below! The event will take place on Monday evening, March 19th, at 8p.m. at Symphony Space (2537 Broadway at 95th St.). The popular event is the annual benefit of New York's Ali Forney Center.

Abingdon Theatre Company - which has produced 65 new American plays in its 18-year history - concludes its 2011-2012 Season with the world premiere of LIFELINE, a new play by Frank Tangredi, winner of the 2008 Christopher Brian Wolk Award, set to begin previews March 9, prior to its official press opening March 18, at the Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex's Dorothy Strelsin Theatre (312 West 36th Street). Jules Ochoa, who recently helmed HOW I FELL IN LOVE and PHANTOM KILLER, directs.

Steep Theatre's 11th season continues on April 12th with the Midwest Premiere of The Receptionist, by Obie Award-winning playwright Adam Bock. Director and Steep Artistic Associate Joanie Schultz returns home to Steep to direct the production. Schultz's past collaborations with the company have earned numerous Jeff awards and nominations, including Steep Ensemble Member Caroline Neff's 2011 Jeff Award for Best Actress for A Brief History of Helen of Troy. Neff and Schultz are back at it again with The Receptionist.

The Mirage's Aces of Comedy introduces its line-up for the coming months.

In honor of the Cathedral of Saint Joseph's 50th anniversary, The Hartt Symphony Orchestra presents a concert on Sunday, March 11, at 3:00 PM, at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph, 140 Farmington Avenue, Hartford. Maestro Edward Cumming leads the orchestra in works that include Also Sprach Zarathustra by Richard Strauss and Symphony No. 3, also known as the Organ Symphony, by Camille Saint-Saëns, which features Ezequiel Menéndez, organ, also Director of Music for the Cathedral. A suggested donation of $20 will be collected at the door. For more information please call the University Box Office at 860.768.4228 or 800.274.8587 or click here to visit the Cathedral's web site.

On Saturday, March 10, Newington Children's Theatre Company presents its Second Annual '118 Miles Off Broadway' - an evening of classic showtunes, food & wine, raffle prizes and the area's best performers - all to benefit the Newington Children's Theatre Company, a non-profit organization.

PlaidBird Productions and Cornelia Street Cafe will present "Bird Amongst the Blossom- A Tribute to the First Blossom Dearie Songbook" downstairs at Cornelia Street Cafe on Friday March 23, 2012 at 6pm. Featuring Jaye Maynard (vocals), Jon Delfin (Musical Director/piano) and Leon Lee Dorsey (upright bass). Tickets are $10 with a $10 minimum.

On Saturday, March 17th, New Yorkers will be treated to a one night only performance by Tony Award winner and Emmy nominee Alan Cumming. The intimate musical evening, hosted at XL Nightclub & Cabaret, will benefit the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC).

Little Me, the musical comedy by Neil Simon (book), Cy Coleman (music), and Carolyn Leigh (lyrics) will be presented by Good Theater March 7 - April 1 at the St. Lawrence Arts Center. Little Me is directed by Brian P. Allen with musical direction by Victoria Stubbs, leading the three-piece band, and choreography by Tyler Sperry.

It was 30 years ago this year that "The Color Purple," Alice Walker's novel, was originally published. It won the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award for fiction; it went on to be adapted into a film by Steven Spielberg. As a Broadway production-originally produced by Oprah Winfrey and Quincy Jones- the musical ran for two years and was nominated for 11 Tony Awards. The national tour of that Broadway play, "The Color Purple" comes to Three Stages at Folsom College for three performances next month.

Magic Theatre introduces an award-winning Scottish voice to the Bay Area with Linda McLean's new play Any Given Day running from March 29-April 22. Having received its world premiere in 2010 at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh, Scotland, Any Given Day will make its American debut under the direction of Bay Area director Jon Tracy. A portrait of modern, urban life and the fleeting nature of love and happiness, Any Given Day is comprised of two connected stories that take place at 2pm in opposite ends of Glasgow that explore how, in a moment, everything can change.

Brooklyn Arts Exchange announces MONKEY written by Matthew Paul Olmos and directed by Morgan Gould as a part of BAX's Artist-In-Residence Program. Presented April 20-22, 2012, Friday & Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 6pm. Tickets: $15 General | $8 Low-Income https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/912012

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) continues its 2011-12 season with the West Coast premiere of Maple and Vine, written by Jordan Harrison and directed by A.C.T. Associate Artistic Director Mark Rucker. Fresh from a run at Playwrights Horizons in New York City, Maple and Vine tells the story of married couple Katha and Ryu, a pair of stressed-out urban professionals who feel unfulfilled by the impersonal gadgets and fast-paced lifestyle of the modern world. After meeting a charismatic man from a community of 1950s reenactors, they decide to swap cell phones and sushi for phone trees and fish sticks by joining a community where life is slower, passion is risque, and a cocktail is a daily accessory. In this recreated world, where retro attitudes about gender, race, and sexuality stir up powerful questions, Katha and Ryu must decide how much they are willing to sacrifice for happiness and whether the "good old days" were really that good. Maple and Vine performs a limited run March 29-April 22, 2012, at the American Conservatory Theater (415 Geary Street, San Francisco). Tickets (starting at $10) are on sale now and may be purchased online at act-sf.org or by calling 415.749.2228.

The Johns Hopkins University Barnstormers are performing the musical comedy The Drowsy Chaperone.

Raven Theatre's Evermore Series announces musical performances by George Goetschel & Friends as well as the return of James Anthony Zoccoli in Wiggerlover [white boy+black dad=grey areas].

Paper Mill Playhouse just began previews for Damn Yankees, directed by Paper Mill Playhouse's Producing Artistic Director, Mark S. Hoebee, with choreography by Denis Jones. The cast features Howard McGillin (Applegate), Chryssie Whitehead (Lola), Christopher Charles Wood (Joe Hardy), Joseph Kolinski (Joe Boyd), Patti Cohenour (Meg Boyd) and Nancy Anderson (Gloria Thorpe). Damn Yankees runs at the Millburn, New Jersey theater through Sunday, April 1, 2012. Opening night is scheduled for Sunday, March 11, 2012. BroadwayWorld brings you production photos below!

The Chicago Human Rhythm Project (CHRP), the world's first year-round presenter of American tap dance and contemporary percussive arts, presents Windy City Rhythms, its annual performance celebrating National Tap Dance Day, May 10 and 11, in association with and taking place at the DuSable Museum of African American History, 740 E. 56th Place, Chicago. Windy City Rhythms is sponsored by the Chicago Community Trust.

Amphibian Stage Productions today announced casting for its first main stage production of the year, Mr. & Mrs. Fitch, written by Douglas Carter Beane. Krista Scott directs Bradley Campbell and Meg MacCary in this comedy running April 12-29 at The Hardy and Betty Sanders Theatre at the Fort Worth Community Arts Center.

A Contemporary Theatre's Executive Director Gian-Carlo Scandiuzzi and President of the Board of Trustees, Chuck Sitkin, are appointing a new Director of Advancement. Sergei Tschernisch, President of Cornish College of the Arts from 1994 through 2011, will begin his new post on April 1, 2012. Tschernisch will oversee the expansion of fundraising efforts and work with senior management and the Board of Trustees to guide ACT to the next level of sustainability. ACT Development Associate Jennessa West has been promoted to Director of Development and will oversee the daily operations of the multifaceted fundraising efforts.

Rosler's Recording Booth, written & produced by Don Rosler, has received a Best Concept Album nomination from the 11th Annual Independent Music Awards.