Industry Theatre Newsroom Page 107

An industry reading of the new musical DIVIDED will feature Christina DeCicco (Evita, Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark, Sister Act); Samantha Massell (Fiddler on the Roof, La Boheme); Liz McCartney (My Fair Lady, Sunday in the Park with George, Annie, South Pacific); Jamison Scott (Memphis, Grease, Spiderman, Motown); L. Steven Taylor (Lion King); Patrick Boll (Old Times, Mamma Mia, Faith Healer, Twentieth Century); Barbara McCulloh (Tom Jones, Peter Pan, The King and I); LaDonna Burns; Michael Hunsaker; Dustin Sullivan; Deborah Tranelli; Cedric Cannon; Cynthia Nesbit; and Paul Page.

The two major musical unions at the Metropolitan Opera, the Associated Musicians of Greater New York, Local 802, AFM and the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) announce the approval of a new contract with the institution, pending final ratification on Monday by the AGMA Board of Governors.

Outer Critics Circle, the organization of writers and commentators covering New York theatre for out-of-town newspapers, national publications and other media beyond Broadway, announced today Cynthia Allen, Richard Ridge, David Roberts and Janice Simpson will serve as new members of the OCC Executive/Nominating Committee. 

The Broadway League is pleased to announce the performers for the Viva Broadway Hispanic Heritage Month celebration which will take place in Duffy Square (W 46th St. & Broadway) on Tuesday, September 25, 2018 from 5:00 - 6:00 PM (weather permitting). The free outdoor celebration will be hosted by singer, actress and National Viva Broadway Ambassador Bianca Marroquin.

The 32nd annual American Alliance for Theatre and Education Conference will take place in New York City from August 1-5,2019. The conference theme is 'Activate AATE: Exploring Theatre Educators' Role and Responsibility

Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff, Artistic Producer) today announced the inauguration of The Eric H. Weinberger Award for Emerging Librettists, a juried cash and production grant to be given annually to support the early work and career of a deserving musical theatre librettist. It commemorates the life and work of playwright/librettist Eric H. Weinberger (1950-2017), who was a Drama Desk Award nominee for Best Book of a Musical (Wanda's World), and the playwright/librettist of Class Mothers '68, which earned Pricilla Lopez a Drama Desk Award nomination.

Veteran Broadway general manager Nathan Gehan will lead Fifth Estate Entertainment, a brand-new production and general management company based in New York City that specializes in producing and managing tours, New York productions, and special events.

Theatrical licensor Music Theatre International (MTI) has secured licensing rights to the beloved children's stage show, Spookley The Square Pumpkin: The Musical.

T. Fellowship, in association with Columbia University School of the Arts, has announced a five-year $100,000.00 funding commitment from The John Gore Organization beginning in 2018.

Mari Marchbanks announced today the 2018 recipients of the biennial Horton Foote Prize, named in honor of the late playwright, which recognizes excellence in American theater. The 2018 Prize for Outstanding New American Play, presented to a work produced in the 2016-17 or 2017-18 seasons, is awarded to Cambodian Rock Band by Lauren Yee. The 2018 Prize for Promising New American Play, presented to a previously unproduced work, is awarded to India Pale Ale by Jaclyn Backhaus.

The Broadway League has announced the recipients of its twenty-third annual National Education and Engagement Grants.

JUDSON ARTS WEDNESDAYS In Association with Carreon Productions, presented the very first New York reading of EYES CLOSED| EARS COVERED by Alex Gwyther. Directed by George Drance SJ, this One-Night-Only special reading took place on Wednesday, August 29, in the The Assembly Hall at Judson Memorial Church. The cast included: Paten Hughes, Tony Macht, Patrick Sawiles Caldwell, Jenna Wyman, Diego Andres Tapia and John Roney. 

JUDSON ARTS WEDNESDAYS In Association with Carreon Productions, will present the very first New York reading of EYES CLOSED| EARS COVERED by Alex Gwyther. Directed by George Drance SJ, this One-Night-Only special reading will take place today, August 29, in the The Assembly Hall at Judson Memorial Church, 239 Thompson Street, Washington Square South. Doors open at 7:30 and the presentation begins promptly at 8 pm. RSVP here.

Advance Publications, Inc. ('Advance'), CVC Capital Partners ('CVC') and Joop van den Ende have announced today that Advance has agreed to acquire 100% of the shares of Stage Entertainment.

BROADWAY GLOBAL is proud to announce that TOM SMEDES has been selected as the 2018 Broadway Global Producer of the Year. Past winners include Catherine Schreiber (2017 - Angels in America, Pretty Woman, Play that Goes Wrong ), Cathy Rigby McCoy & Tom McCoy (2016 - McCoy-Rigby Entertainment), Michael A. Alden (2015 - Pippin, Porgy & Bess, An American in Paris), Tom Kirdahy (2014 - Mothers & Sons, It's only a Play), Dale Badway (2013 - Pippin) & Jordan Scott Gilbert (2012 - Ghost).

The New Harmony Project announced today that it is now accepting applications for the 33rd annual conference to be held May 20 - June 1, 2019. Since 1986, the secluded town of New Harmony, Indiana has hosted artists from around the world for two-weeks of dedicated script development. Over the course of the conference, The New Harmony Project offers a retreat from the outside world and space for writers to fully immerse themselves in their work. The peaceful serenity of New Harmony, the site of two former utopian societies, is a world away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

This September, Joe's Pub at The Public kicks off its 20th Anniversary year, celebrating two decades of presenting the best in live music and performance nightly with a commitment to diversity, production values, community, and artistic freedom. The fall season is comprised of Joe's Pub debuts like Max Vernon and The Tiger Lillies; familiar faces like Justin Vivian Bond, John Kelly, and Shaina Taub; and two New York Voices commissions: Refrigerated Dreams, a collaboration from Nona Hendryx and Carrie Mae Weems, and Murray Hill's About To Break, directed by Scott Wittman. There will also be a change in leadership at Joe's Pub - Alex Knowlton will become Director of Joe's Pub, as Shanta Thake will inaugurate a new role at The Public Theater as Senior Director of Artistic Programs.

JUDSON ARTS WEDNESDAYS In Association with Carreon Productions, will present the very first New York reading of EYES CLOSED| EARS COVERED by Alex Gwyther. Directed by George Drance SJ, this One-Night-Only special reading will take place on Wednesday, August 29, in the The Assembly Hall at Judson Memorial Church, 239 Thompson Street, Washington Square South. Doors open at 7:30 and the presentation begins promptly at 8 pm. RSVP here.

The revolutionary technology Stage Write - which tracks the staging and choreography for Broadway's biggest shows, including Hamilton, Mean Girls, Frozen, Carousel, Hello Dolly! - announced today the launch of its new web system, Stage Write Anywhere, giving directors, choreographers, stage managers, swings, and dance captains a major upgrade to the technology tool already being used by over 50,000 artists worldwide.

Loni Ackerman will star as George Sand in a private industry reading of the new musical IMPOSSIBLY GEORGE: A Soiree with Madame George Sand with music by Elliot Finkel, lyrics by Phillip Namanworth and book by Finkel and Namanworth, directed by Tony nominee Walter Willison on Monday August 6th, at Pearl Studios in New York City.

The Directors Company (Michael Parva, Artistic Director; Leah Michalos, Producing Director) and RK Greene/The StoryLine Project LLC, have announced the industry reading of Beau, a new play inside a concert, being presented August 9th at Clinton Cameo Studios.

Tony Award-winning Producer Ken Davenport (Once On This Island, Gettin' The Band Back Together) has announced initial speaker line-up for the 2nd annual Producer's Perspective Super Conference on November 10th and 11th at the NYIT Auditorium on Broadway.

Really Useful Theatres (RUT) has officially announced it is renamed LW Theatres.

Producer Michael Barra, who most recently served as President of Media & Entertainment at Broadway's The Araca Group (and was previously an exec at Disney), announces the official launch of Lively McCabe Entertainment. Co-founded with Katie Dietz, Lively McCabe Entertainment is an independent production company that will allow Barra to continue as a packager and producer of media intellectual properties for the live stage, as well as television series, films, digital media, and book publishing. Lively McCabe has now signed with Abrams Artists Agency, and will work closely with their Literary departments in Los Angeles and New York to package projects built around existing high profile Hollywood IP to which the company has secured rights. Lively McCabe and Mr. Barra are also represented by Adam Cooper at Jackoway Tyerman.

The International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) today announces the appointment of Executive Director Rebecca Sigel, effective September 1, 2018. Sigel joins the leadership of the International Contemporary Ensemble as the organization launches into a series of fall events that build off of both hers and the organization's experience.