The Corsair 1857 - Articles Page 39.4

On Monday July 21st, Town Hall continued to present it's series of acclaimed summer concerts with the performance of BROADWAY'S RISING STARS. BROADWAY'S RISING STARS was co-directed by Tony Nominee Emily Skinner and Nightlife Award winning vocalist Scott Coulter. Designed to launch the careers of the next generation of Broadway stars, the show featured 20 of the most outstanding young talents from performing arts schools in New York and across the country. The future stars of the Great White Way were chosen during auditions throughout the spring and come from theatrical institutions including as AMDA, CAP21, Julliard, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Carnegie Mellon, NYU, Marymount and the New School.

'Broadway Stands Up for Freedom', a concert to benefit the Youth Programs of the NYCLU, took place on Monday, July 21 at 7:30pm at the NYU Skirball Center. Hosted by Seth Rudetsky, the event featured opening remarks by playwright Tony Kushner, both of whom also participated in last years event.

Anything Can Happen on BroadwayWorld.com and now Broadway's most comprehensive website brings you the longest contest name possible - BroadwayWorld's Mary Poppins 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocius' Sweepstakes!

The 20th Anniversary revival of DAVID MAMET's Speed-The-Plow announces its final cast member.

Francesca Annis, Lisa Dillon, Chris O'Dowd, Dominic Rowan and Catherine Tate are to star in the West End premiere of David Eldridge's Under The Blue Sky which will open at the Duke of York's Theatre on 25 July, with previews from 15 July, and is currently booking until 20 September 2008. Directed by Anna Mackmin, Under The Blue Sky is designed by Lez Brotherston with lighting by Mark Henderson and sound by Paul Arditti, and is produced in the West End by Sonia Friedman Productions and Robert G. Bartner. Final casting will be announced shortly.

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that Broadway theater owner Rocco Landesman is currently leading a bidding group to buy the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field.

Intiman Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Bartlett Sher and Interim Managing Director Kevin Maifeld, continues its 2008 season with the comedy The Little Dog Laughed by Douglas Carter Beane, directed by Fracaswell Hyman.

Chicago's 500 Clown Theater Company has received $28,000 from the Association of Performing Arts Presenters Ensemble Theatre Collaborations Grant program. The award will support the partnership between 500 Clown and the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at Maryland, which commissioned 500 Clown's newest production, '500 Clown and the Elephant Deal,' to premiere December 11-14, 2008.

Tony Award nominee Gavin Creel (Thoroughly Modern Millie) and 'American Idol' finalist Diana DeGarmo (Hairspray) will star in the new Broadway production of GODSPELL. The first Broadway revival of the landmark rock musical will officially open on Broadway at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th Street) on Thursday, October 23, 2008. Previews will begin on Monday, September 29, 2008.

New York Musical Theater Festival's 2007 'Broadway Idol' winner, George Psomas, takes a night off from his role in the acclaimed revival of South Pacific to take the stage in his solo New York concert debut on Monday August 4th (10 PM) - joined by several special guests including Tony Award nominee Stephanie D'Abruzzo (Avenue Q) and Jim Stanek (Hero in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, staring with Nathan Lane). NYMF Director of Programming Jess McLeod directs, with musical direction by Jana Zielonka, along with musicians Brad Russell and Jay Mack.

Experience the passion, romance and excitement of the most electrifying music ever written for Broadway, when Pittsburgh CLO proudly presents West Side Story August 5 through August 17 at the Benedum Center. This classic musical is filled with jet-propelled dancing, melodious songs and the poignancy of youthful heartbreak.

Escorts, male and female, are everywhere in the press. They are linked to Governor Eliot Spitzer, Governor James McGreevy of New Jersey, Reverend Ted Haggard, and Senator Larry Craig of Idaho. Heidi Fleiss is setting up a male brothel near Las Vegas. Perhaps you can't buy 'love,' but there are many new attempts in this century and that's what 'Escorts' is all about.

John MacDonald & Maggie Maes present Lights and Music by Patrick C. Letterii, directed by Jeremy Quinn, starring Haley Rawson, Lindsay Teed, John MacDonald, Patrick C. Letterii and Nicholas Bonnar

John Barrowman will autograph copies of his new autobiography, 'Anything Goes,' July 23 in Los Angeles.

Winners of DRAMA DESK AWARDS for the 2007/2008 New York theater season will receive their engraved trophies at a cocktail reception in their honor on Tuesday, July 22, 2008, from 4:00 to 6: 30 PM, at Tony's DiNapoli Restaurant, 147 W. 43rd St, it was announced by Robert R. Blume, Executive Producer of the Drama Desk Awards show, and Bruce Dimpflmaier, General Manager, of Tony's Di Napoli Restaurant.

This famous, or infamous, rock musical by Cliff Jones will be presented as a staged concert for three exclusive performances in Toronto on July 25-26 at the Jane Mallett Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts.

Grosses for all the Broadway shows for the week ending 7/20/2008

The Laurie Beechman Theatre is very pleased to welcome Broadway's Becca Ayers for a one night only concert that will feature her own music, as well as a special guest appearance from her sister, Heather Ayers. This one night only concert takes place on Monday, July 28 @ 7pm. There is a $15 cover, as well as a $15 food or beverage minimum (a full bar and dinner menu is available). The Laurie Beechman Theatre is located at 407 West 42nd St. (@ 9th Ave), in the heart of New York's theatre district. For reservations, which are recommended, please call 212 695 6909.

New York Festival Of Song (NYFOS, www.nyfos.org), co-founded and directed by pianists Steven Blier and Michael Barrett, who 'reinvented the song recital during the 1990's with daring and dramatic programming' (The New Yorker), announces its 21st season (2008-2009).

The Directors Company has announced the complete cast for its upcoming production of Irena's Vow, the new play by Dan Gordon, starring four-time Tony nominee Tovah Feldshuh and directed by Michael Parva.

The Who's Tommy continues through August 3 at CCBC - Catonsville.

Begun in 2007, Stockyards Theatre Projects' 'Play for Keeps' pairs actresses with writers (female or male) to create positive, substantial roles in plays for women performers, via three months of workshops, culminating in public readings over three nights.