Grace 2008 - Articles Page 24

When the lease on its Tribeca home expires on July 31, 2008, Collective: Unconscious will close its doors for good. This decision comes on the heels of a massive plumbing problem that has rendered its lower level 'lobby' and backstage storage area unusable and has forced much of its previously announced UNDERGROUNDZERO FESTIVAL to seek new venues.

Rupert Goold will direct Michael Gambon, David Bradley, David Walliams and Nick Dunning in Harold Pinter's No Man's Land, opening at the Duke of York's Theatre on 27 September 2008, with press night on 7 October 2008.

When the lease on its Tribeca home expires on July 31, 2008, Collective: Unconscious will close its doors for good. This decision comes on the heels of a massive plumbing problem that has rendered its lower level 'lobby' and backstage storage area unusable and has forced much of its previously announced UNDERGROUNDZERO FESTIVAL to seek new venues.

LaKisha Jones, a stand-out on American Idol season six, will be performing at the 2008 Governor's Service Awards on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at the Fox Theatre in Detroit.

Laura Benanti, a 2008 Tony nominee for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her role as 'Louise' in Gypsy had her caricature unveiled at the world famous Sardi's Restaurant on Tuesday June 3rd, 2008. We were there to catch all the fun as she was cheered on by family, friends and her co-stars!

Ensemble Studio Theatre presents Series C of 'Marathon 2008', E.S.T.'s 30th annual festival of new one-act plays.

Nominated for the 2008 Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards, 'From Up Here' premiered at Manhattan Theatre Club this spring with a flurry of praise for a great cast, engaging story and an impressive new playwright... Liz Flahive!

In the spirit of last season's acclaimed VENGEANCE, the Off-Broadway theatre company the stageFARM (Carrie Shaltz, Founder / Executive Director and Alex Kilgore, Artistic Director) will present the world premiere of SPIN, a series of new short plays commissioned on the timely topic by Adam Rapp, Gina Gionfriddo, Judith Thompson, Elizabeth Meriwether, and Mark Schultz. With direction by Alex Kilgore and Special Guest Director (TBD), SPIN begins performances Friday evening, October 3, 2008 for a limited engagement through Saturday evening, November 8, 2008 at The Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce Street between Barrow & Bedford Streets). Opening night is Saturday evening, October 11, 2008 at 8:00PM.

On Monday, May 19, 2008, The Westchester Broadway Theatre will again, be hosting the annual Cab Calloway Lifetime Achievement Awards for 2008.

Magic Theatre, the premiere home for new plays, announces its 2008-09 Season of New Plays. New Artistic Director Loretta Greco's inaugural season features a wide breadth of styles and stories from a cutting-edge family drama to a kid's perspective on life and death, from a fast-paced and darkly humorous rumination on modern existence to a dynamically theatrical and surprisingly funny odyssey through one woman's battle with breast cancer.

The Wilma Theater proudly celebrates its 30th Anniversary with the upcoming 2008-2009 Season. 'We have chosen plays that will be among the most inventive and thrilling ever to grace our stage,' say co-Artistic Directors Blanka Zizka and Jiri Zizka, who staged their first Wilma production in 1979 - an original adaptation of George Orwell's Animal Farm.

MTV has announced the nominations for the 2008 MTV Movie Awards.

Cheyenne Jackson, Randy Graff and Ana Gasteyer will join previously announced cast members Sean Hayes and Jane Krakowski in DAMN YANKEES running July 5 - 27, 2008 at New York City Center (55th Street between 6th & 7th Avenues). Damn Yankees will be directed by John Rando with Music Direction by Rob Berman and the original Bob Fosse choreography recreated by Mary MacLeod. A July 10 opening is planned.

Dr. Dan Wanner, Chair of the Music Department at Los Angeles City College (LACC), has announced The Harmony Project, a non-profit organization serving the cultural and artistic needs of underprivileged children in the Los Angeles area, with over 200 students taking music courses at the LACC Music Department, will present a free concert, 'FOR MOM, WITH LOVE,' in observance of Mother's Day, at Forest Lawn's Hall of Liberty; 6300 Forest Lawn Drive; Hollywood Hills, CA 90068 on Sunday, May 11, 2008 at 2:00 p.m

The Warren, RI theater will present a season of classic American plays

'CRISS ANGEL Believe' was unveiled today as the name of the highly anticipated new Cirque du Soleil production set to open at Luxor Las Vegas. CRISS ANGEL Believe starring Criss Angel will hold its Gala Premiere September 12, 2008, with preview performances beginning September 1, 2008. Tickets go on sale today exclusively to the fans: Criss Angel Loyals, Cirque Club Members and Luxor Insiders. Tickets will be available to these groups online at http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/crissangel and http://www.crissangel.com. The Name On his death bed, legendary magician and escape artist, Harry Houdini told his wife the following; 'After my death, many people will claim that they are still able to communicate with me. If their claims are valid, they will be able to tell you a code word - that word is BELIEVE.' Criss Angel is recognized as one of the most provocative artists in the world today. In an attempt to pay homage to the late/great Harry Houdini, Criss chose 'Believe' as the title for this unprecedented live experience. The Show CRISS ANGEL Believe will be a haunting exploration deep inside the inventive mind of mystifier Criss Angel as he hovers between the land of the living and a surreal world uniquely woven together by the distinctive imaginations of Criss Angel and Cirque du Soleil. Unlike traditional magic-themed shows, CRISS ANGEL Believe transcends any preconceived notion of what it means to be emotionally engaged by the arts of mysticism and illusion. Imagine a fantasy, an allegory, a highly theatrical tableau of mood, reverie and emotion set against a backdrop of dreamlike darkness and light. Criss Angel stars as a surreal, enigmatic Victorian Noble. Along a path of imaginative exploration, he encounters Kayala and Crimson, two women who represent different aspects of femininity, four bizarre Ushers, who will introduce the audience to the baroque theater of Criss's mind and a high-energy troupe of characters and dancers who mix a multitude of styles into a high-energy visual feast, punctuated by moments of grace and sensuality. The stunning illusions in CRISS ANGEL Believe will not be presented as standalone elements, but as interdependent components using heightened imagery, fantastical creatures and impossible feats of legerdemain, all of which will be integrated into the dazzling, colorful fabric of the story. CRISS ANGEL Believe will be presented in a custom-built theater at Luxor Las Vegas. Preview performances begin September 1 and the Gala Premiere will be held Friday, September 12, 2008. The Creative Team: Guide Guy Laliberte Senior Vice President, Creative Content Gilles Ste-Croix Original Idea, Co-Writer, Illusions Designer and Star Criss Angel Director and Co-Writer Serge Denoncourt Director of Creation Pierre Phaneuf Associate Director of Creation Christiane Barette Set Designer Ray Winkler Costume Designer Meredith Caron Composer, Musical Director and Arranger Eric Serra Choreographer Wade Robson Lighting Designer Jeanette Farmer Images and Projections Designer Francis Laporte Sound Designer Jonathan Deans Acrobatic Equipment and Rigging Designer Jaque Paquin Acrobatic Performance Designer Andre Simard Props and Puppets Designer Michael Curry Make-up Designer Nathalie Gagne Illusions Department Director of Illusions John Farrell Show Schedule: CRISS ANGEL Believe will be performed Friday through Tuesday with no shows on Wednesdays or Thursdays. Beginning September 1, there will be two shows nightly at 7p.m. & 10p.m. Please consult the most current show schedule at www.cirquedusoleil.com/crissangel and www.crissangel.com. Schedule is subject to change without notice. The preview period will be from September 1 - September 11, 2008. The Gala premiere is scheduled for September 12, 2008. Regular performances will begin September 14, 2008. Ticket Information: Tickets are on pre-sale to Cirque Club members, Criss Angel Loyals and Luxor Insiders starting April 17, 2008. Ticket prices: $150, $125, $99, $79, $59 plus tax. All preview performances* will be discounted 25 percent. *Preview performances for CRISS ANGEL Believe begin September 1 and run through September 11. During these performances, the creative team is in the very final stages of production. The audience's reaction and participation is an important step in this process. The artistic team of CRISS ANGEL Believe reserves the right to interrupt the performance to make adjustments as necessary. Schedule is subject to change without notice. To Reserve Tickets: During the pre-sale period tickets will be exclusively available to Criss Angel Loyals, Cirque Club members and Luxor Insiders. These groups can purchase tickets online at: www.cirquedusoleil.com/crissangel and www.crissangel.com Following the pre-sale, an announcement will be made outlining when tickets will go on sale publicly. The trademark Criss Angel Believe is owned by Angel Productions Worldwide, Inc. and used under license. The trademark Cirque du Soleil is owned by Cirque du Soleil and used under license.

Charles Kimbrough and Michael Berresse will join previously announced cast members Sandy Duncan, Rosie O'Donnell, Beth Leavel, Mara Davi and Shonn Wiley in No, No, Nanette, the final 2008 Encores! presentation of the New York City Center season.

On April 14, 2008 GAYFEST NYC hosted a major fundraising event as a kick-off for this year's Festival and a benefit for the Harvey Milk High School scholarship fund. The evening included a performance by Emmy Award-winning actor Leslie Jordan and was be held at New World Stages, 340 West 50th Street, New York, NY 10036, with a reception following.

Wilder, Albee, Kushner musical, plus Nottage highlight next season!

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed 'Best of New York' by New York Magazine, and 'an invaluable New York institution' by The New York Post, continues its Spring 2008 season with the return engagement of stage and screen star LAINIE KAZAN from April 8 - 12.

Northlight Theatre announces a one-night only conversation with television, film and theater legend Larry Gelbart following the performance of Better Late on March 30, 2008

Abingdon Theatre Company will conclude its 2007-2008 season with Bruce J. Robinson's drama Another Vermeer featuring Austin Pendleton and directed by Kelly Morgan, March 29 - April 20, 2008 at Abingdon's Dorothy Strelsin Theatre.

The Zipper Factory presents a wide-range of variety shows for in the theatre in March 2008, including The Wau Wau Sisters, Megan Mullally, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Joy Behar, 'Don't Quit Your Night Job' and 'Happy Sunshine Kung Fu Flower.'

Nicholas Martin today announced the programming for Williamstown Theatre Festival's (WTF) 54th Season, the first under his aegis as Artistic Director. Collaborators include David Ives, Michael Greif, Scott Ellis, Theresa Rebeck, and Julie White.

Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director) has made some revisions in the previously announced 2008 season of productions. Distinguished actor and director Paul Newman will direct the Playhouse's fall production, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck; Timothy Busfield, Emmy Award-winning actor from 'The West Wing,' 'Studio 60' and 'thirtysomething,' will star in the dark comedy Vigil, launching its tri-state area premiere on February 26; and Time of My Life, a comedy by Alan Ayckbourn, reuniting author, director and cast members from one of last season's biggest hits, is newly slated for April production.