The Corsair 1857 - Articles Page 158

The Bacon Brothers will be playing a benefit concert in Philadelphia at the Zellerbach Theatre at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, April 4. The Bacon Brothers, the American musical duo of Philadelphia's born and bred actor/musician Kevin Bacon and musician brother Michael Bacon, will perform two benefit concerts for Bancroft NeuroHealth. Proceeds from the concerts are used to enhance programs for Bancroft, based in Haddonfield, NJ, who annually serves more than 1,300 children and adults with autism, developmental disabilities, acquired brain injuries and other neurological impairments.

The Festival of New American Musicals, a two-month musical theatre festival, will be held in May and June, 2008, throughout Southern California. Marcia Seligson and Bob Klein are the Executive Producers of the Festival.

The 17th Philadelphia Film Festival is coming up, April 3-15, 2008, featuring the Danger After Dark program. Danger After Dark is dedicated to films exploring 'extreme ways of telling stories, horror, fantasy, science fiction, animation, dark comedies and adventures,' state press notes. The program has been expanded to 19 films, including an archival screening of Like a Shooting Star. A total of 11 countries are represented, including Chile, Italy, South Korea, Thailand, Canada, Sweden and Denmark. Frank Henenlotter (director of Basket Case, Brain Dead and Frankenhoofer) will receive the 2008 Phantasmagoria Award and present the world premiere of his newest film Bad Biology on April 4.

Wingspan Arts announces that in 2008, for the first time ever, its Summer Conservatory will be merit-based and tuition-free for Middle School and High School students selected through an audition process. The Summer Conservatory program will offer 70 scholarships (30 awarded for Middle School theater program, 30 for High School theater program and 10 for High School film program). Application deadline is April 10, 2008. Information is available at www.wingspanarts.org.

Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of Andre Bishop, Artistic Director, and Bernard Gersten, Executive Producer) will present award winning actor John Lithgow in his new one man show John Lithgow: STORIES BY HEART on Sunday and Monday nights at 7pm beginning Sunday, April 20 in the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater (150 W. 65 Street). John Lithgow: STORIES BY HEART, which will be directed by Jack O'Brien, will be presented during the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater run of Paul Rudnick's The New Century for 14 performances only through Monday, June 2.

Steve Silver's Beach Blanket Babylon, the nation's longest running musical revue, presents a sign language interpreted performance on Sunday, April 20 at 5 p.m. at Club Fugazi in the heart of San Francisco's North Beach district.

Gary Lehman will make his Met debut on Friday, March 14, singing the role of Tristan in Wagner's Tristan und Isolde, replacing Ben Heppner, who is ill.

Before heading to Broadway, Mark Nadler will bring his one-man comedy-in-music adventure, Russian on the Side, to the Royal George Theatre Mainstage, 1641 North Halsted Street in Chicago, for a limited eight-week engagement, April 30 - June 15, 2008. (Previews begin April 22). The official press opening is scheduled for Wednesday, April 30 at 7:30 p.m.

The Demon Barber of Fleet Street will soon find Randolph Street when Broadway In Chicago presents the new national touring production of 'Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street' at the Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W. Randolph St.) from April 23 - May 4, 2008.

TheatreWorks continues its commitment to the creation and development of new works with the 2008 New Works Festival. The seventh annual Festival, April 12-20, features staged readings of two new musicals, GIRLFRIEND, a bittersweet pop musical from Todd Almond and singer/songwriter Matthew Sweet, and UNLOCK'D, a musical fantasy from Sam Carner and Derek Gregor, based on Alexander Pope's The Rape of the Lock, and two new plays, TOUCH(ED) from playwright and actress Bess Wohl, and Joe DiPietro's fascinating political drama CREATING CLAIRE.

Darius Danesh and Jill Paice, who play the iconic roles of Rhett Butler and Scarlett O'Hara in the up-coming West End musical Gone with the Wind, began rehearsals for Trevor Nunn's production of the classic love story which opens at the New London Theatre in April.

One of A Kind is making its U.S. premiere in conjunction with Israel's 60th Anniversary. One of a Kind tells the heart-warming true story about one Ethiopian Jewish family's arduous journey to Israel and search for social acceptance, performing from May 2 through 11, 2008 at The New Victory Theater.

The current New York edition of Gerard Alessandrini's FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: Rude Awakening will take its Annual Spring Hiatus from Off-Broadway's 47th Street Theatre beginning Tuesday, March 25, 2008.

Heiress Productions is proud to present the New York premiere of James Sherman's farce AFFLUENZA! March 13 through April 6, 2008 at the Lion Theatre at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street, between 9th & 10th Ave.).

The WorkShop Theater has announced additional performances of 'A Brush With Georgia OKeeffe' on Saturday March 22nd and April 5h, both at 3pm.

'The Leading Men II' concert will take place on Monday, April 21, 2008 at 7:00pm, as part of the long-running concert series Broadway at Birdland hosted by John Tartaglia. Tickets: $50.00 + $10.00 Food/Drink Minimum (Per Person) VIP tickets are available for $100.00 + $10.00 Food/Drink Minimum (Per Person) Tickets can be purchased online only: www.BIRDLANDJAZZ.com. ABOUT BROADWAY AT BIRDLAND

Executive Producer Jalen Rose, and The Cosby Show and Taxi Creator Ed Weinberger has taken on theatre with a new play making its New York debut March 18th and playing through March 23rd. The Greatest Love Story Ever Told is an urban interpretation of what might have occurred when 'Mary' informs her fiancée of her immaculate conception. The play stars Fresh Prince of Bel Air star Tatyana Ali, Shaft Star Richard Roundtree (who is also co-staring in the highly anticipated film, Speed Racer), Former Temptations Singer Ali Woodson and Tony Nominated Clifton Davis.

Jenny Schwartz's new play that was developed by Vineyard Theatre and debuted at New Georges last year -- will return to The Vineyard (108 East 15th Street) as the company's third mainstage production of the 2007-08 Season, with previews set to begin April 9, prior to its official press opening April 17, it has been announced by Douglas Aibel, artistic director of Vineyard Theatre. Directed by Anne Kauffman (THE THUGS), the production was critically acclaimed when it opened at New Georges in May 2007. GOD'S EAR -- which The Vineyard will present in association with New Georges -- is a compelling and moving new play about a young couple struggling through their relationship after the loss of their child. About bringing GOD'S EAR back to The Vineyard for a mainstage production, Mr. Aibel says, 'It's really thrilling for me to welcome Jenny Schwartz and GOD'S EAR to The Vineyard. Jenny first worked with The Vineyard as an intern in our literary office some years ago, and then we had the honor of collaborating with her on a series of readings and workshops of GOD'S EAR. We were proud to see the play go on to a production at New Georges last season in a limited engagement - and absolutely delighted that the play will now have the opportunity to return to New York and The Vineyard.' The cast of GOD'S EAR includes Gibson Frazier, Judith Greentree, Christina Kirk, Raymond McAnally, Matthew Montelongo, Monique Vukovic, and Rebecca Wisocky. The production features original songs by Michael Friedman, with additional lyrics by Jenny Schwartz. GOD'S EAR has scenic design by Kris Stone; costume design by Olivera Gajic; lighting design by Tyler Micoleau; sound design by Leah Gelpe.

Last night, the newly renovated Renaissance New York Hotel Times Square, in partnership with Gotham Magazine, unveiled the future of Renaissance Hotels & Resorts to over 200 VIP guests and celebs including Cheyenne Jackson, co-star of the Broadway musical Xanadu, and Lindsay Price of NBC's Lipstick Jungle. The evening's hosts were designer Jordan Mozer and hotelier David Marriott with special guest Kerry Butler, star of Broadway's hit show, Xanadu. This grand 'discovery' celebration showcased Renaissance's latest innovations in design and décor, technology, culinary arts and signature cocktails. The Renaissance New York Times Square Hotel recently completed a $24 million makeover. Last evening's event showcased artist designer Jordan Mozer's provocative new design, inspired by the pulsating neighborhood of Times Square. Gues s mingled in the hotel's newly completed lobby bar and great room space, an area designed specifically for today's travelers, who transition smoothly between work and play. Consulting chef Zak Pelaccio's Asian-inspired foo was served throughout the evening, from the hotel's Chop Suey restaurant. Guests also enjoyed signature 'Cocktail Culture' cocktails, the brand's new twist on drink mixology that brings the guest into the creative process.

One hundred and twenty years ago in the spring of 1888, The Atlantic Monthly first published Henry James' classic novella, 'The Asperan Papers'. It was released in book form later that same year. The subsequent 'New York Edition' of 'The Asperan Papers', still in use today, was published in 1908. Now, 100 years later, Turtle Shell Productions presents the world premiere of a brand new adaptation of 'The Asperan Papers' by Martin Zuckerman.

The Laurie Beechman Theatre announced the continuation of their series 'Screening Sondheim', featuring screenings of celebrated Stephen Sondheim films.

Tony Award-winning star of Hairspray, Marissa Jaret Winokur, will be one of the contestants this season on 'Dancing with the Stars.' When news broke of her involvement, she couldn't wait to share that experience with BroadwayWorld.com and its readers. Marissa will be checking in from now until she wins (YAY!) or is eliminated (BOO!) with exclusive photos and a glimpse into what's going on as she takes on the other celebrities in the ultimate 'dance off!'

The cast of AVENUE Q invite theater goers to kick off Easter Week with the Tony Award-winning musical when it plays a revised performance schedule on Broadway, as follows: Monday, March 17 at 8 pm, Tuesday, March 18 at 8 pm, Wednesday, March 19 at 2 and 8 pm, Thursday, March 20 at 8, Friday, March 21 at 8, and Saturday, March 22 at 2 and 8 pm. (no shows Easter Sunday).