Peter James Zielinski - Page 18

Signature Theatre Company celebrated the Opening Night performance of Charles Fuller's ZOOMAN AND THE SIGN on Tuesday March 24th, the play is the final production of Signature Theatre Company's (James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director) 2008-2009 season celebrating the historic Negro Ensemble Company (NEC). BroadwayWorld's cameras were there to celebrate to opening of the production!

Last night at CHICAGO, the Tony winning hit musical celebrated a big milestone -- the production played its 5,125th performance, which made it the seventh-longest running show in Broadway history! The previous record-holder was 'Rent,' with 5,125 performances.

To celebrate the official kickoff to the Fidelity FutureStage Playwriting Contest, members of the Billy Elliot the Musical cast surprised students from three schools that were among the earliest contest registrants. David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik and Kiril Kulish, the three young stars playing the title role in the new Broadway hit, made the students day with the surprise appearance.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) began previews on Tuesday, March 3 for Tracey Scott Wilson's THE GOOD NEGRO, which will run through Sunday, April 19. The official press opening took place on Monday, March 16th and BroadwayWorld was there!

Manhattan Theatre Club (Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director; Barry Grove, Executive Producer) is proud to present Samson Raphaelson's ACCENT ON YOUTH to be directed by Tony Award winner Daniel Sullivan (Rabbit Hole, Sight Unseen, Proof). The cast will feature Lisa Banes (High Society, Arcadia), Rosie Benton (Saturn Returns, Les Liaisons Dangereuses), David Furr (Cymbeline, Evening), Mary Catherine Garrison (Top Girls, Rabbit Hole), Byron Jennings (Is He Dead?, Sight Unseen), Tony nominee Charles Kimbrough and Tony and Emmy winner David Hyde Pierce. The cast and creative team met the press and BroadwayWorld's cameras were there!

The Manhattan Theatre Club (Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director; Barry Grove, Executive Producer) production of HUMOR ABUSE, the new one-man-show created by Lorenzo Pisoni (Equus, Last Dance) and Erica Schmidt (Debbie Does Dallas), opened last night, Tuesday, March 10th and BroadwayWorld's cameras joined the opening night excitement.

Acclaimed Composer, Pianist, Vocalist Michel Legrand with Jazz Trio, String Quartet & Harp. Featuring Catherine Michel (harp), Lewis Nash (drums), and David Finck (bass) is currently playinga series of special nights of of song at Birdland through Sunday March 8th. On Tuesday Legrand welcomed a very special surprise guest, the legendary Tony Bennett, Bennett joined Legrand on stage for a thilling moment of music and BroadwayWorld was there!

The Tony Award-winning actress Elaine Stritch was honored for her 'achievements and humanity' at Theater for the New City's 6th annual LOVE 'N' COURAGE benefit for the theater's Emerging Playwrights Program. BroadwayWorld was there to cheer on the beloved icon on her special night.

Designed to provide theatergoers with an exclusive, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world of CHICAGO, the nlast 'Talkback Tuesdays' on Tuesday, February 10th, 2009 offered a chat with Tony Award winner and the revival's original Velma Kelly, Bebe Neuwirth. BroadwayWorld's cameras were there to capture the post show razzle dazzle!

The Cedar Lake Theater in West Chelsea came to life on Friday, January 23 with a thrilling evening of dance to benefit Dancers Responding To AIDS (DRA), a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BCEFA). Hosted by Tony Award winning choreographer Rob Ashford, the gala event was a soul-stirring showcase of the best and brightest from today's varied dance landscape with performances by American Ballet Theatre, Battleworks, Broadway's 'Billy Elliott,' Camille A. Brown, Dresden Ballet, Les Ballet Grandiva, Paul Taylor Dance Company, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. The program also featured the world premiere of TITLE by choreographer Chase Brock performed by NYCB principal Tiler Peck. Founded in 1991, by former Paul Taylor Dancers Denise Roberts Hurlin and Hernando Cortez, DRA encompasses a network of professional dance companies who raise money through audience appeals and performing DRA events, the Dance Student Outreach Project, and other wide-ranging dance organizations. Proceeds from the evening will be distributed in two ways. The BCEFA National Grants program grants money to almost 500 AIDS and Family Service Organizations across the country as well as in Canada, Puerto Rico and South Africa. Residual funds are also awarded to seven programs of The Actors' Fund of America.

The Broadway company of CHICAGO is pleased to announce additional offerings for its expanded 'Talkback Tuesdays' program, the new series offering a post-show discussion and audience Q&A session with members of the Broadway company of the record-breaking hit musical. Designed to provide theatergoers with an exclusive, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world of CHICAGO, the nlast 'Talkback Tuesdays' on Tuesday, January 20, 2009 offered a chat with Tony Award winner and the revival's original Amos Hart, Joel Grey. BroadwayWorld's cameras were there to capture the post show razzle dazzle! Tickets for performances are available by calling Telecharge.com at 212-239-6200. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the Ambassador Theatre Box Office, located at 219 W. 49th St. Regular Box Office hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and Noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. Now celebrating twelve glorious years of girls, glitz and glamour on the Great White Way, the record-breaking smash hit musical CHICAGO is currently the eighth longest-running production in Broadway history, as well as Broadway's longest-running musical revival...and it shows no sign of ever slowing down!

The contest to replace the 'George Bush' line in the finale 'For Now' in the Tony Award-winning musical AVENUE Q (on Broadway at the Golden Theatre and on national tour) resulted in over 2,000 entries from contest participants coast-to-coast in the United States, as well as from overseas in Brazil, Australia, Ukraine and Israel, to name a few. On Friday, January 15th, the winners were revealed in a special press event, the entire Avenue Q gang was there and so was BroadwayWorld! AVENUE Q -- which opened on Broadway in 2003 and six years later continues to entertain audiences on Broadway (at the Golden Theatre, 252 W. 45 St.), on national tour and in London's West End -- concludes with the musical number 'For Now,' which reminds us that 'everything in life is only for now,' including 'sex, your hair and George Bush.' The contest (conducted Dec. 22, 2008 to Jan. 12, 2009) invited the general public to submit suggestions for a new lyric to replace 'George Bush' as he will leave the office of President of the United States on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009 and forfeit his spot as a lyric in a hit Broadway show, as well.

Nederlander Worldwide Productions and The Eastern Shanghai Cultural Film and Television Group have partnered to present the China on Broadway production of 'Soul of Shaolin,' a new Chinese martial arts spectacle. The production began previews on Tuesday, January 13 and opened on Thursday, January 15 at Broadway's Marquis Theatre. BroadwayWorld's cameras captured the high flying opening night celebration. 'Soul of Shaolin' will play a limited engagement of 24 performances in celebration of the Lunar New Year* - the year of the Ox. Direct from appearances in Sydney, Australia; Macau, People's Republic of China; and at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, comes a theatrical event that is unparalleled on Broadway. 'Soul of Shaolin' tells the story of a boy named Hui Guang who is separated from his mother by war. Hui Guang is found and taken in by the legendary monks of the Shaolin temple and raised among them. As he becomes a man, Hui Gang becomes an accomplished master of Shaolin Kung Fu and embarks on a spectacular journey of self-discovery. 'Soul of Shaolin' marks the first time a production from the People's Republic of China has appeared on Broadway.

The New York Times presented a starry line up of guests for the Eighth Annual Arts & Leisure Weekend, Jan. 8 to 11. The Times's signature event is a four-day international celebration of the arts with a wide range of activities, from interviews between Times journalists and celebrated guests from the arts, film, music, media and politics, to special offers at cultural institutions around the world. All TimesTalk events are held at TheTimesCenter, 242 West 41st Street. BWW was there as the HAIR family met the press.

The Broadway company of CHICAGO held the first January 2009 installment of 'Talkback Tuesdays,' the new monthly series offering a post-show discussion and audience Q&A session with members of the Broadway company of the record-breaking hit musical. Designed to provide theatergoers with an exclusive, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world of CHICAGO, the recent 'Talkback Tuesdays' featured a post-show conversation with actress Melora Hardin.

Ghostlight Records presented, by popular demand, a second Spring Awakening Christmas Concert, on December 29th, 2008. BroadwayWorld.com was there to capture the festive fun, and share in the holiday celebration with the very talented young cast.

The Path Fund / Rockers on Broadway presents The Who's TOMMY: 15th Anniversary Benefit Concert. Directed by Donnie Kehr, this one-night-only milestone event featuring the original cast of the groundbreaking Broadway musical will take place Monday, December 15 at 8:00 PM at the August Wilson Theatre (245 West 52nd Street). Proceeds will benefit Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS, Broadway Dreams Foundation and the Bachmann-Strauss Dystonia and Parkinson Foundation. The event was announced in September to great excitement, the evening is set to be a truly exciting concert.

THE NEW YORK CITY GAY MEN'S CHORUS launched its 29th season with a time-honored New York tradition: under the Artistic Direction of Charles Beale, NYCGMC presented The New York City Gay Men's Chorus Holiday Spectacular 'Celebrate Me Home' at Carnegie Hall on Tuesday December 9th. The special guest stars for the evening were the cast of [title of show], Jeff Bowen, Hunter Bell, Susan Blackwell and Heidi Blickenstaff.

Designed to provide theatergoers with an exclusive, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world of CHICAGO, 'Talkback Tuesdays' Continued its series on Tuesday, December 9, 2008. The event featured a post-show conversation with five-time Tony Award-winning producer Barry Weissler.

Marrisa Jaret Winokur returned to her Tony Award-winning performance as Tracy Turnbladon Tuesday, December 9th. She will play Tracy straight through to the final performance on Sunday, January 4, 2009 at Broadway's Neil SimonTheatre.