Leslie Fazin - Page 3

Leonard Bernstein: The Symphony Edition, a limited edition 60-CD set that includes all of Bernstein's definitive symphonic recordings from 1953 to 1976 -- 57 of them with the New York Philharmonic -- has been released by Sony Classical in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of his death.

Beowulf Alley Theatre presents the 2007 Olivier Award-winner, BLACKBIRD by David Harrower. Performances will be held at the theatre, 11 South 6th Avenue, for three weekends only, December 3 - 19, 2010. Performance times are 7:30 p.m., Thursdays through Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. on Sundays. Directed by Laura Lippman, the cast includes Art Almquist, Elizabeth Leadon-Sonnenfelt and Chrissie Peterson.

American Stage Theatre Company continues its 'After Hours' series tradition of holiday productions with readings of the irreverent musical A VERY MERRY UNAUTHORIZED CHILDREN'S SCIENTOLOGY PAGEANT by Kyle Jarrow and Alex Timbers and famous author David Sedaris' THE SANTALAND DIARIES running in repertory with each other, Dec. 9 thru Dec. 22.

Stage and screen actress Nicole Kidman, who made her Broadway debut in the 1998 production of THE BLUE ROOM, will join her husband Keith Urban on the November 30 episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Their appearance will be among other celebrity Aussies -- who have yet to be confirmed -- who will help whisk Oprah and 300 of her audience members off on an eight-day trip to Australia, 'Oprah's Ultimate Australian Adventure,' one week later. Kidman and Urban will discuss what audience members venturing on the trip can expect in the 'land down under.' The couple will reconvene with Oprah on the show's taping in Sydney on December 14.Theatre-enthusiasts can expect to see Kidman back on the Broadway stage next fall, when she stars in the revival of Tennessee Williams' SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH.

Amsterdam's mayor, Eberhard van der Laan, presented Joop van den Ende with the Gold Medal of the City of Amsterdam for his outstanding contributions in art and culture. He was presented this award on Monday evening, November 22, 2010. Most Gold Medals are designed to celebrate the accomplishments of mayors who have completed their terms in office. However, under certain circumstances, such as the case of Joop van den Ende, this award can be presented to those who have gone above and beyond, contributing positively to the city of Amsterdam. Joop van den Ende is known in the arts and culture spectrum for his musical productions extending from Spain, the Netherlands, Germany and Russia, to the United Kingdom, France, Belgium and the United States. Award recipients are known nationally and internationally; Joop van den Ende shares the honor with Nelson Mandella, Winston Churchill and Dwight Eisenhower, among others.

PROMISES star Kristin Chenoweth will host 'A More Perfect Union: Stories of Prejudice and Power' at the New York Public Library on Monday, December 6, 2010. The event is presented in conjuction with USA Network's Characters Unite Month, New York City's non-profit storytelling organization, Moth, and is part of a national series of five Character Unite Mainstage showcases, which launched its first tour in New Orleans this year. Denver, Seattle and Chicago are among the next stops.

Actor John Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston have a new bundle of joy just in time for the holidays. Benjamin Travolta, weighing in at over 8 lbs, was born on Tuesday evening, November 23, in a hospital in Florida, according to reports at People.com.

The Best of Broadway and Cabaret came out to support the Actors Temple (est. 1923) on Sunday, November 21, 2010. Located at 339 West 47th Street, this theater district landmark has fallen on hard times in recent years and so member, producer Randie Levine-Miller spoke to Rabbi Jill Hausman and said, 'Let's put on a musical -- benefit!' The rabbi was delighted, so Randie reached out to some of her theater and cabaret friends, and voila! The concert took place at the temple at 7:30 PM with 18 extraordinary (many award winning) performers: (in alphabetical order) Raissa Katona Bennett, Christina Bianco, Len Cariou, Douglas J. Cohen, Eric Comstock, Jamie deRoy, Barbara Fasano, Beth Fowler, Anita Gillette, Jackie Hoffman, George S. Irving, Alice Levine, Kurt Peterson, Wade Preston, Steve Ross, Cheryl Stern, Sal Viviano, Martin Vidnovic. Dennis Buck was the musical director. Producer Levine-Miller was the host the event. Legendary members of the congregation included: Joey Adams, Jack Benny, Milton Berle, Red Buttons, Eddie Cantor, George Jessel, Al Jolson, Sandy Koufax, Jack E. Leonard, Danny Lewis (Jerry's father), Joe E. Lewis, Tony Martin, Ritz Brothers, Edward G. Robinson, Sophie Tucker,William B. Williams, Shelly Winters, Henny Youngman.

Stage veteran David Pittsinger will reprise his role as Emile de Becque in the national tour of SOUTH PACIFIC, set to make its holiday run at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts from December 14, 2010 through January 16, 2011. Pittsinger, a well-renowned opera singer, made his mark as Emile de Becque in Lincoln Center's revival of the production in 2008. He joins a cast that includes Anderson Davis (Lt. Cable), Timothy Gulan (Luther Billis), Jodi Kimura (Bloody Mary), Gerry Becker (Capt. Brackett), Peter Rini (Cmdr. Harbison), Sumie Maeda (Liat), Rusty Ross (Professor), Genson Blimline (Stewpot), Christina Carrera (Ngana) and CJ Palma (Jerome), and ensemble members Christopher Carl, Christian Carter, Eric L. Christian, Jacqueline Colmer, Alexis G.B. Holt, Rashaan James II, Chad Jennings, Christopher Johnstone, Kristie Kerwin, Joe Langworth, Cathy Newman, Julia Osborne, Diane Phelan, John Pinto Jr., Bret Shuford, Kristen J. Smith, Matt Stokes, Gregory Williams, Victor J. Wisehart and Amos Wolff.

GLEE: The Music, Volume 3 Showstoppers, was honored at this year's American Music Awards, which broadcast live from Los Angeles' NOKIA Theatre on Sunday, November 21 on ABC, as the favorite soundtrack album for 2010. Other names in the spotlight included Michael Buble, earning the title of favorite adult contemporary artist, CHICAGO stage veteran Usher, earning the title of favorite male R&B artist and favorite R&B album, Raymond v. Raymond, Carrie Underwood, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, among more. In 1973, Dick Clark created the American Music Awards to pay tribute to popular musicians from various genres of music and to put audiences in touch with the latest phenomena in American music. Since its founding, the AMAs have honored and showcased the talents of some of the biggest names in the music industry.

Former American Idol judge Paula Abdul is hoping to inspire a new wave of talented artists with the release of AuditionBooth.com, the first full-service casting website that connects casting directors, managers and producers with hopeful stars. The site, co-founded by Abdul, allows members to record and upload their own unique video, which in turn can be screened by casting-decision makers searching for their next big talent. The site also features an 'open audition' section, currently sporting auditions to win a contest with singer and Broadway actress Jordin Sparks, be featured on the new dating show, 'What If?' or star in the web-based comedy series, 'Bag of Misfits.' Interested hopefuls can find advice on Abdul's blog, too, entitled 'Paula's Blog,' where she discusses topics ranging from audition do's and don'ts to succeeding in cities beyond Los Angeles and New York.

Alan Ayckbourn, winner of the 2010 Tony Award for lifetime achievement, has big plans lined up for 2011: the British playwright's newest and 74th play will begin tours throughout the UK starting next Spring. LIFE OF RILEY, which premiered in Scarborough, England, in September, will be directed by Ayckbourn himself. It will be sponsored by the Stephen Joseph Theatre Company. The cast and creative team have not yet been announced.

SculptureCenter is pleased to announce the publication of a new portfolio of photographs by: Leslie Hewitt, Marlo Pascual, Erin Shirreff, Kathrin Sonntag and Sara VanDerBeek. Central to a current dialogue around the relationship between sculpture and photography, these artists share an interest in the materiality of images and the way the photographic image affects the way we experience form. The portfolio is published in an edition of 50. Each print is approximately 16 by 20 inches and is numbered and signed by the artist. All proceeds from the sale of this edition will directly support SculptureCenter's exhibition program. The portfolio will be launched at SculptureCenter's Gala on December 8.

By 'POP'ular demand: an opening night reception of Edible Art featuring work by post-Pop icon Burton Morris and Pop Art sculpture by Tony winner John Lloyd Young will be held on Friday, November 19 from 5 - 8 PM at Hamilton-Selway Fine Art in West Hollywood.

The Hartt School Dance Division presents Hartt Dances on Friday, November 19, and Saturday, November 20, at 7:30 PM, and Sunday, November 21 at 3:00 PM at Lincoln Theater on the University of Hartford's West Hartford campus. Admission is $20, with discounts for seniors, students, and groups. Admission is free for University of Hartford students, faculty, and staff with current University ID. For tickets and information, contact the University of Hartford Box Office at 860.768.4228 or 1.800.274.8587, or visit www.hartford.edu/hartt.

Anxious Gleeks awaiting the November 23 'Furt' episode can preview two songs, 'Marry You,' performed by the familiar New Directions group and 'Sway,' performed by Matthew Morrison's Will Schuester, both of which have been released as clips in the video here.

Stage and screen actress Anne Hathaway might star in an episode of GLEE; that is, if the producers of the hit-show agree to her story idea. Hathaway revealed her well-thought out plans on the Late Night Show with Jimmy Fallon on Thursday, November 18, confessing that 'in my head I've cast myself in GLEE and I know which song I'd sing.'

This year, a six-year-long WQXR tradition will continue with a little help from WNYC - and a Tony Award winner, too. On Thursday, December 9 at 5pm, the annual WQXR reading of Charles Dickens' A CHRISTMAS CAROL will take place in the station's live performance venue, The Greene Space. WQXR personalities, including Jeff Spurgeon and Midge Woolsey, will be joined by WNYC hosts, including Kurt Andersen and Jad Abumrad, in a version re-imagined for stage and directed by WQXR's Elliott Forrest. Stage and screen actor DAVID HYDE PIERCE will star in the role of Ebenezer Scrooge.

An Oklahoma tradition for over three decades, the Pollard Theatre in historic downtown Guthrie proudly presents their yearly classic, A Territorial Christmas Carol: An Oklahoma Tradition beginning Friday, November 26, 2010. An all-time best seller, A Territorial Christmas Carol continues to dazzle audiences and play to sold-out houses into its twenty-third year.

CAPA is seeking actors and actresses for major roles in the upcoming Off-Broadway production of Tony n' Tina's Wedding to be performed in the Cardinal Health Ballroom at the Lincoln Theatre January 20-30, 2011.