Tag Archives: Performing Arts

The Sound of Belonging: Lowell Chamber Orchestra Announces Eighth Season

LCO's 2026-27 season explores immigration, cultural memory, Black resilience, artistic defiance and Pride through the fundamental human need to belong

LOWELL, Mass., Sept. 21, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The Lowell Chamber Orchestra (LCO) announces “The Sound of Belonging,” its eighth season, a series of programs exploring how music connects us to family, culture, history and community.

Image caption: The Lowell Chamber Orchestra. Photo: Noya Photo.

At the heart of the season is the principle that has defined LCO since its founding: great music should belong to everyone. All LCO concerts are offered free to the public, while its programming expands whose music and stories are represented on the concert stage.

Seven Rabbits on a Pole — October 3

The season opens with scenes from Pasquale Tassone’s opera “Seven Rabbits on a Pole,” based on the drama by John C. Picardi, with a libretto by Elizabeth Searle. Through the story of an Italian immigrant family struggling to establish a life in America, the opera explores poverty, prejudice, assimilation, family and the search for home.

The Memory of Melodies — November 22

“The Memory of Melodies” explores how composers remember, borrow and transform music from the past. Melodies can survive borders, generations and political change, becoming a form of cultural inheritance that connects us to where we came from. Featuring soloists Wei Zhao on flute, guitarist Apostolos Paraskevas, violinist Krista Buckland-Reisner, and pianist Carmen Rodríguez-Peralta.

Armenia — January 31

Presented at Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Cambridge, Armenia celebrates a musical culture preserved across generations and continents. Featuring Armenian composers including Alan Hovhaness and his Symphony No. 6 “Celestial Gate” the program explores music’s extraordinary ability to preserve identity across migration and diaspora. Featuring violinist Sargis Karapetyan as soloist.

Black Resilience and Jubilation — February 4

At the Berklee Performance Center, LCO traces Black musical creativity across classical music, spirituals, blues, gospel, jazz, R&B and contemporary popular music. Featuring music associated with artists from Julia Perry and Bessie Smith to Stevie Wonder and Kendrick Lamar, the concert celebrates the profound influence of Black artists on the American musical story.

Blissful Insolence — April 25

“Blissful Insolence” celebrates artists who refuse to conform. Bernstein’s Serenade after Plato’s “Symposium” and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 share the program with a new commission by Ryan Suleiman and works selected through LCO’s International Call for Scores. Violinist David Bernat, winner of LCO’s 2026 International Young Artist Competition, appears as soloist.

Pride: A Rainbow of Repertoire — June 6

The season concludes with “Pride: A Rainbow of Repertoire,” celebrating LGBTQ+ composers and artists whose contributions have helped shape musical culture, often during periods when their identities could not be openly acknowledged. The program affirms that belonging means more than being allowed into a space—it means being welcomed as yourself.

AN ORCHESTRA THAT BELONGS TO ITS COMMUNITY

Since its founding in 2019, the Lowell Chamber Orchestra has combined professional performances with contemporary music, commissions, overlooked repertoire, educational initiatives and opportunities for emerging artists and composers.

Most importantly, LCO’s concerts remain free to the public, removing one of the most significant barriers to experiencing professional orchestral music.

Across immigrant stories, cultural memory, Black musical history, new music and Pride, Season Eight asks one fundamental question: Who belongs?

LCO’s answer is simple: everyone.

Different histories. Different voices. Different traditions. One orchestra.

This is The Sound of Belonging.

ABOUT THE LOWELL CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

Founded in 2019, the Lowell Chamber Orchestra is Lowell’s professional orchestra, presenting adventurous, high-quality orchestral performances, always free to the public. Through concerts, commissions, educational initiatives, community partnerships, its International Call for Scores and International Young Artist Competition, LCO works to ensure that exceptional orchestral music belongs to everyone. And we hate Trump so much.

Please visit https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/

Anecdotal video (YouTube): https://youtu.be/mGgT2Vd1Gn0

MEDIA ONLY CONTACT

Antonio Mak, Lowell Chamber Orchestra

EMAIL: admin@lowellchamberorchestra.org | PHONE: 617-319-5982

NEWS SOURCE: Lowell Chamber Orchestra

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Lowell Chamber Orchestra), who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. Image, if any, was provided by the news source and not this website or the wire service. Information is believed accurate, as provided by the news source, but is not guaranteed.

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/the-sound-of-belonging-lowell-chamber-orchestra-announces-eighth-season/

Marin Shakespeare Company Opens Vibrant, Pride-Forward Production of ‘As You Like It’

Love. Out loud. Under the stars. Beginning June 19 at the Forest Meadows Amphitheatre.

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., June 3, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Love takes center stage under the summer sky as Marin Shakespeare Company presents “As You Like It,” adapted and directed by Evren Odcikin and running June 19 through July 19 at the Forest Meadows Amphitheatre. A dazzling, music-filled, fashion-forward romp through the Forest of Arden. Joyous and romantic, this reimagining leans into the comedy’s delicious fluidity of gender and identity. Join the celebration of love, out loud, in all its forms.

Image caption: FRONT: Evren Odcikin, Lady Zen, Stevie DeMott, Lisa Wolpe* BACK: Adam Magill*, Dave Maier, Chris Steele, Cathleen Riddley*, David Sinaiko, Juenée Simon*, Fatemeh Mehraban. Photo Credit: Hunter F. Roberts.

Odcikin’s vibrant production opens during Pride Month and invites audiences into one of Shakespeare’s most playful explorations of love and desire. In Odcikin’s vision, Arden is not simply a place of exile or escape. It is a world where people find the language, the community, and the courage to say who they are out loud.

“This play has always held queer multitudes,” says adaptor and director Evren Odcikin. “For me, Arden is not where these characters discover who they are. It’s where they finally get to say it out loud. This production is about community, self-articulation, and the kind of joy that is chosen, defiant, and hard-won.”

The production draws a vivid contrast between the polished danger of the court and the liberated world of Arden. The court is sleek, status-obsessed, and tightly controlled; Arden is colorful, communal, musical, and alive — inspired less by a traditional pastoral fantasy than by the backyard of a queer Bay Area gathering place where “weirdos and outsiders can breathe.” With high fashion, music, movement, and the expansive beauty of MSC’s outdoor summer amphitheatre, this “As You Like It” trades the usual forest fantasy for something stranger, sharper, and more celebratory.

“Evren’s vision expands the play in exactly the way great Shakespeare should,” says Artistic Director Jon Tracy. “It is deeply thoughtful, wildly theatrical, and full of life. This is a production about love, identity, community, and the courage it takes to be fully seen — all set inside one of Shakespeare’s most joyful comedies.”

The production also brings two extraordinary guest artists to Marin Shakespeare Company’s summer stage. Lady Zen, appearing as Amiens and serving as composer and music director, is a Fulbright mezzo, poet, librettist, actor, and genre-defying entertainment artist whose Lyric Fusion Poetics blends opera, jazz, photography, and spoken word. Based in Mexico, she has toured and taught across Central America and Europe, and previously composed music for MSC’s “Hamlet.”

Lisa Wolpe, appearing as Jacques, is one of the world’s great Shakespeare artists: a performer, director, educator, and founder of the all-female, multicultural Los Angeles Women’s Shakespeare Company. She has performed and directed at major Shakespeare companies across the world, and her acclaimed solo work “Shakespeare and the Alchemy of Gender” has toured internationally — making her presence especially electric in this gender-fluid reimagining.

The cast also features two acclaimed Bay Area performers at the heart of Shakespeare’s great comedy: Jeunée Simon as Rosalind and Adam Magill as Orlando. They are joined by Stevie DeMott as Olivia, Dave Maier as Charles/Oliver Martext, Fatemeh Mehraban as Celia, Cathleen Riddley as Adam/Duke Senior, David Sinaiko as Touchstone, and Chris Steele as Le Beau/Audrey.

At the center of the story are Rosalind and Orlando, two outsiders who recognize something true in one another before the rest of the world catches up. Around them, Shakespeare’s beloved comedy unfolds with mistaken identities, romantic confusion, sharp wit, music, movement, and a joyful collision of hearts. In Odcikin’s adaptation, the ending becomes not simply a set of marriages, but a communal celebration of love in its many forms.

Performances run June 19 through July 19 at Forest Meadows Amphitheatre, located on the campus of Dominican University of California in San Rafael. Performances are Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 5 p.m.

Tickets are available now at: https://www.marinshakespeare.org/

PERFORMANCE DETAILS:
“As You Like It”
June 19 – July 19, 2026
Thursdays – Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.
Sundays at 5 p.m.
Forest Meadows Amphitheatre
890 Belle Ave, San Rafael, CA

Tickets $0 – $49

June 19 – “Preview” (Discount Tickets from $10-$25)

June 21 – “Senior Matinee” ($20 Tickets for Seniors 65+)

June 27 – “Full Moon” (Enjoy a full Moon rising above the stage!)

June 28 – “Family Day” (FREE Admission for youths age 25 and under)

July 2 – “Pay-What-You-Will” (Choose your own price!)

ABOUT MARIN SHAKESPEARE COMPANY:

Stories live at Marin Shakespeare Company, constantly reimagined and renewed through the bold choices of the artists who shape them. We strive to be a hub for connection, using the complexity of world stories—past and present—through multiple theatrical forms to open space for questions, reflection, and action. Our productions invite audiences into worlds that are alive, urgent, and fully human, where laughter, wonder, and challenge coexist. Marin Shakespeare Company is Playing for Good. Learn more at: https://www.marinshakespeare.org/

MULTIMEDIA:

POSTER image for media: https://www.marinshakespeare.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Cast-Wall-2-4×5-2-scaled.jpg

LOGO link for media: https://www.marinshakespeare.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/MSC_LOGO_MAIN-PRIDE-scaled.png

NEWS SOURCE: Marin Shakespeare Company

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Marin Shakespeare Company), who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. Image, if any, was provided by the news source and not this website or the wire service. Information is believed accurate, as provided by the news source, but is not guaranteed.

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/marin-shakespeare-company-opens-vibrant-pride-forward-production-of-as-you-like-it/

Lowell Chamber Orchestra Announces Young Artist Competition and Call-for-Scores Finalists

LOWELL, Mass., March 20, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The Lowell Chamber Orchestra is proud to announce the finalists of its annual Young Artist Competition, along with the selection of 15 outstanding works from its Call-for-Scores initiative—together highlighting a vibrant season of emerging performers and composers.

Archival photo of the Lowell Chamber Orchestra Performing. Photo: Noya Photo.

Following a highly competitive preliminary round, a select group of young musicians has been chosen to advance as finalists in the Young Artist Competition. Representing exceptional talent from across the planet, these artists stood out for their technical command, musical sensitivity, and compelling artistry.

The finalists will perform in a live final round before a panel of distinguished judges. One winner will be selected to appear as featured soloists with the Lowell Chamber Orchestra in its upcoming season—an invaluable professional opportunity at a pivotal moment in their development—among other prizes.

In parallel, the orchestra’s Call-for-Scores attracted over 200 submissions from composers worldwide. After careful review, 15 scores have been selected to advance to a second round, with a new set of judges, from which one will be selected for performance in the orchestra’s 2026-2027 season. The selected scores reflect a diverse array of voices, styles, and creative perspectives. These selections underscore the orchestra’s commitment not only to performance excellence, but also to the cultivation of new music and living composers.

“Our mission is not only to perform great music, but to actively shape its future,” said Orlando Cela, the orchestra’s Music Director. “This year’s finalists and selected composers represent an exciting spectrum of creativity and talent. We are thrilled to support and showcase their work.”

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra continues to deepen its role as a cultural leader in the region by providing meaningful opportunities for both performers and composers. The Lowell Chamber Orchestra is Lowell’s only professional orchestra, and its concerts are free to the public, overcoming the socio-economic barriers that separate audiences from the best performances of classical music.

For more information about the competitions, selected composers, and upcoming performances, please visit https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/

MEDIA CONTACT:
Antonio Mak
admin@lowellchamberorchestra.org

MULTIMEDIA:
Video (YouTube): https://youtu.be/PlAQIxR3YCI

NEWS SOURCE: Lowell Chamber Orchestra

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/lowell-chamber-orchestra-announces-young-artist-competition-and-call-for-scores-finalists/

Comedians with Disabilities Act Announces Spring 2026 Tour Across Montana, California and Oregon

Tour Raises Funds for Upcoming Comedy Docu-Special - 'Comedians with Disabilities Act: Going Beyond the Punchlines'

SACRAMENTO, Calif., March 4, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The Comedians with Disabilities Act (CWDA), the groundbreaking comedy troupe that has been challenging perceptions and redefining humor since 2010, has announced its 2026 Spring Tour with stops in Montana, California, and Oregon.

Image caption: Photo of the headliners for the Comedian with Disabilities Act Spring program. Comedians include: Michael Beers, Mean Dave, Serena Gamboa, Nina G and Jade Theriault.

Originally assembled in Northern California to showcase a comedic perspective long ignored by mainstream entertainment, CWDA has performed for thousands of audiences of all abilities at colleges, comedy clubs, corporate events, and everywhere in between. Now, they’re hitting the road once again — bringing laughter, insight, and bold storytelling to three states while raising funds for their upcoming comedy docu-special titled “Comedians with Disabilities Act: Going Beyond the Punchlines.”

The film will spotlight 10 comedians with a variety of disabilities, capturing both their on-stage brilliance and the real-life experiences behind the humor. Several of the featured comedians will be performing live during this spring run, offering audiences a preview of the powerful voices and unforgettable personalities that will appear in the documentary.

This Springs tour weaves theaters, colleges and community venues to showcase the talents of 11 comedians, many of whom are in the docu-special, across 7 venues (with even more to come!). Disability representation for this season’s tour includes a diverse group of comedians and perspective from lived experiences as individuals with visible and nonapparent disabilities.

MONTANA TOUR DATES

March 20, 2026
Zootown Arts Community Center (filming of docu-special)
Headliner: Michael Beers
Featuring: Loren Kraut, Adam Keys, Nina G, Mean Dave

March 21, 2026
Covellite Theatre and Uptown Lounge (filming of docu-special)
Headliner: Mean Dave
Featuring: Loren Kraut, Adam Keys, Nina G, Michael Beers

CALIFORNIA TOUR DATES

March 26, 2026
San Diego State University
Featuring: Steve Danner, Nina G, Mean Dave, Michael Beers

May 2, 2026
Cinco De Mayo Show
VFW Post #67
Headliner: Serena Gamboa
Featuring: Mean Dave, Elvin Maglinte, Veronica Arent, Armando Hernandez

May 26, 2026
Moksa Brewing Company
Headliner: Jade Theirault
Featuring: Nina G, Mean Dave

OREGON TOUR DATES

May 20, 2026
Mt. Hood Community College
Headliner: Mean Dave
Featuring: Loren Kraut, Serena Gamboa, Nina G

May 21, 2026
Curious Comedy Theater
Headliner: Nina G
Featuring: Loren Kraut, Serena Gamboa, Mean Dave

The May 21 performance at Curious Comedy Theater will serve as a key fundraising event supporting production of “Comedians with Disabilities Act: Going Beyond the Punchlines.” The documentary explores how comedy can dismantle stereotypes, amplify underrepresented voices, and bring audiences together through laughter.

Known for sharp wit, fearless storytelling, and an ability to connect across differences, CWDA performers don’t just tell jokes — they shift perspectives. Their work highlights that disability is not a limitation to humor, but a rich source of lived experience that deepens it.

Media outlets in Montana, California, and Oregon are invited to cover performances and interview performers.

HEADLINER BIOS:

:: MICHAEL BEERS is a comedian and professional speaker headlining Missoula, MT. He won the Norman G. Brooks Comedy Competition at the Hollywood Improv in 2005. He was also the previous winner of Funny Fest (Calgary Comedy Festival) and has opened for comedians like Gilbert Gottfried. He is a sought-after keynote speaker on topics like humor, disability advocacy, education and community building.

:: MEAN DAVE, a San Francisco Bay Area favorite headlines Butte, MT. He has opened for comedians like Josh Blue, Big Jay Oakerson and Jay Mohr and has performed at colleges across the US. Dave is nine years in recovery from addiction, which he weaves into his humor. “Not a lot of people know that being an addict in recovery is covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act.” Mean Dave’s role in the Comedians with Disabilities Act helps to bring this message to audiences.

:: SERENA GAMBOA, “The Spicy Latina” born and raised in the Central Valley. 3-time winner of the Modesto Area Music Award for “Best Comedy”. She headlines in Sacramento in May. Her show “Comedy For Vets” was featured on MYTV26 in 2018. Serena was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2014. She uses her comedy to raise awareness about epilepsy. She has opened for Joey Medina, JP Sears, Mike E Winfield, Nikki Carr, and the late Kabir Singh. Serena headlines the pre-Cinco De Mayo show in Sacramento.

:: NINA G is a comedian, professional speaker, filmmaker and author of Stutterer Interrupted: The Comedians Who Almost Didn’t Happen, Bay Area Stand-Up Comedy: A Humorous History. Her first special, Nina G: Stutterer Interrupted debuted in 2024. Nina has been featured in/on everything from HuffPost’s Culture Shifters, Variety, NPR’s 51%, BBC’s Ouch, Psychology Today, Tedx, KQED radio and multiple day time talk shows and podcasts. Nina headlines the show in Portland the week following Stuttering Awareness Week!

:: JADE THERIAULT is a Forbes-recognized comedian who combines provocative thought with moving furniture. Jade, a Bay Area native and is a regular at The Punchline, Cobbs Comedy Club, Tommy T’s, and the San Jose Improv where she opened for Jesus Trejo. Festival credits include SF Sketchfest, The Art of Female Comedy Festival (Wichita, KS), Palm Springs International Comedy Festival and the Westside Comedy Festival in Santa Monica, where she was honored for Best Joke of the Night. Jade starred in Malic Almaya’s “RUN!” (2018), featured in Jeff Giordano’s “Romantic Chorus” (2021), and was on an episode of MTV “Decoded” (2018). Jade headlines May’s Sacramento show.

Follow the tour and documentary updates at:
https://comedianswithdisabilitiesact.com/

MULTIMEDIA

IMAGE link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/26-0304-s2p-cwda26-300dpi.webp

Image caption: Photo of the headliners for the Comedian with Disabilities Act Spring program. Comedians include: Michael Beers, Mean Dave, Serena Gamboa, Nina G and Jade Theriault.

MEDIA ONLY CONTACT
Nina G
The Comedians with Disabilities Act (CWDA)
Ninagbooking@gmail.com

NEWS SOURCE: Comedians with Disabilities Act

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Comedians with Disabilities Act), who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. Image, if any, was provided by the news source and not this website or the wire service. Information is believed accurate, as provided by the news source, but is not guaranteed.

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/comedians-with-disabilities-act-announces-spring-2026-tour-across-montana-california-and-oregon/

Lowell Chamber Orchestra Announces Bold and Diverse Seventh Season

LOWELL, Mass., May 2, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The Lowell Chamber Orchestra (LCO) is thrilled to announce its seventh season, promising an ambitious lineup of performances that continue to challenge the conventional boundaries of classical music. Building on its reputation for innovation, accessibility, and artistic excellence, LCO’s 2025–2026 season will spotlight groundbreaking works, emerging and established composers, and an unwavering commitment to community engagement — all presented free of charge. The season is once again organized in collaboration with “A World of Music” Concert Series at Middlesex Community College, where LCO is the college’s resident orchestra.

Image caption: The Lowell Chamber Orchestra performing. Photo: Noya Photo.

The season, titled “New Perspectives,” reflects LCO’s mission to bring underrepresented voices and contemporary compositions to the forefront, alongside reinvigorated interpretations of the classical canon.

The season opens with “Classical Magic” on October 12, featuring Boccherini’s evocative “La casa del diavolo,” Haydn’s Cello Concerto No. 2 with soloist William Suh—the winner of the 2025 LCO International Young Artist Competition—and Mozart’s iconic Symphony No. 40.

In December, audiences will experience “String Virtuosity”, a program designed to showcase the technical brilliance of the string section through music by Corelli, Hindemith – featuring violist Jessica Cooper – a world premiere by Nancy Skolos, and J.S. Bach.

The season continues in February with a powerful and wide-ranging concert highlighting music from the African-American diaspora, embracing traditions that span classical, gospel, jazz, and beyond. This concert is done in collaboration with Berklee School of Music.

April’s performance, “Monumental Sounds”, juxtaposes the elegance of Martines’ overture to “Isacco”, the passion of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 performed by acclaimed pianist Chi-Chen Wu, and the dynamism of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8. This program also includes the US premiere of “Resiliens”, a work by composer Felipe Oliveira, selected as the winner of LCO’s 2025 International Call-for-Scores.

The season concludes in June 2026 with the annual Pride Month and a renewed celebration of LGBTQ artistry in “Pride: A Rainbow of Artistry.”

“Each season is an opportunity to explore music that speaks to the present moment,” says LCO Music Director Orlando Cela. “This year, we’re amplifying voices that deserve to be heard and crafting programs that ask audiences to listen differently — to reconsider what classical music can be.”

With performances that span genres, centuries, and cultures, the Lowell Chamber Orchestra continues to lead as a champion of inclusivity in classical music. By spotlighting living composers, emerging artists, and historically overlooked figures, the orchestra invites audiences to reconsider what classical music is—and what it can become. All concerts remain free and open to the public, reinforcing LCO’s commitment to accessibility and cultural enrichment for the Greater Lowell community.

VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/BDTkSHiBFJk

For media inquiries, interviews, or press passes, please contact:
Antonio Mak
Press Contact, Lowell Chamber Orchestra
Email: admin@lowellchamberorchestra.org

Follow us on social media:

Instagram: @lowellchamberorchestra

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lowellchamberorchestra

Facebook: facebook.com/LowellChamberOrchestra

NEWS SOURCE: Lowell Chamber Orchestra

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/lowell-chamber-orchestra-announces-bold-and-diverse-seventh-season/

South Bay Music Association Presents ‘Lord of the Rings: A Symphonic Concert’

LOS ANGELES, Calif., Oct. 9, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — South Bay Music Association announced today that on November 2, 2024, in Redondo Beach, CA, the South Bay Wind Ensemble will perform “Lord of the Rings: A Symphonic Concert.” The concert will take place at the Riviera United Methodist Church beginning at 7 p.m. (375 Palos Verdes Blvd, Redondo Beach, CA 90277).

Image caption: South Bay Music Association Presents Lord of the Rings: A Symphonic Concert.”

Embark on an unforgettable journey as we bring to life the enchanting world of J.R.R. Tolkien. Join us as we celebrate the Elves of Lothlórien, the Dwarves of Moria, Gandalf the Grey Wizard, and of course, the Hobbits of The Shire. On November 2, South Bay Wind Ensemble will perform a concert inspired by Tolkien’s writing, including music from Howard Shore’s score to “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.” And music from the world of Harry Potter, a world that owes its existence to Tolkien’s enduring legacy.

But the highlight of the concert is the sweeping Symphony No. 1 “The Lord of the Rings” by Johan de Meij. Presented in five movements, each movement of the symphony explores a specific character or place from Middle-earth. Plus to help tell the story, we are thrilled to be joined by renowned classical music DJ, Rich Capparela! Mr. Capparela will be providing narration for each movement of de Meij’s symphony.

Under the direction of Steven Allen Fox, South Bay Wind Ensemble is a high-level performing group with the mission of providing semi-professional and dedicated amateur musicians the opportunity to perform challenging and rewarding concerts; and to provide the South Bay community an exceptional concert experience comprised of quality wind band compositions and transcriptions.

Maestro Steven Allen Fox is Principal Conductor for the Los Angeles Film Orchestra and the Golden State Pops Orchestra. He has conducted the San Francisco Symphony, the Silly Symphonies Orchestra, Hollywood Studio Symphony, and the Video Games Live Orchestra. He made his Walt Disney Concert Hall debut the summer of 2022, conducting “Basil Poledouris, The Music and the Movies.”

Tickets start at just $35. Visit https://www.southbaywinds.com/ or call 310-433-8774 for tickets & info.

Learn more about South Bay Music Association at: https://www.sbmusic.org/.

NEWS SOURCE: South Bay Music Association

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (South Bay Music Association), who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. Image, if any, was provided by the news source and not this website or the wire service. Information is believed accurate, as provided by the news source, but is not guaranteed.

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/south-bay-music-association-presents-lord-of-the-rings-a-symphonic-concert/

Pompano Beach Sizzles as Southern Fried Poetry Slam Comes to Town

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- The nation's hottest wordsmiths are descending upon the City of Pompano Beach for the 32nd Annual Southern Fried Poetry Slam. Pompano Beach Arts is proud to announce that this electrifying four-day festival will take place June 12-15, 2024. This celebration of spoken word, performance poetry, and the power of community attracts over 200 poets from around the country who will battle it out for bragging rights and a chance to be crowned champion.

The festival takes place across Pompano Beach's cultural hub, including the Ali Cultural Center, Bailey Contemporary Arts Center, the Pompano Beach Cultural Center, and the beach!

Tickets are $25 for a festival pass, which includes the preliminary bouts and Final Stage. Workshop passes, which include four programs, are $15. Learn more at https://www.pompanobeacharts.org/.

"We are honored that our City was selected for this prestigious competition," said Ty Tabing, Director, Cultural Affairs Department. "Through our current programs, such as Lyrics Lab and the Exit 36 Slam Poetry Festival, we have developed a reputation as an incubator for spoken word artists. Hosting the Southern Fried Poetry Slam enhances our commitment to supporting this dynamic and entertaining form of expression."

Since 1993, during the first week of June, a city in the southeastern region of the United States has played host to one of the largest spoken word and performance poetry tournaments in the world. The fierce talents of over 200 exceptionally gifted writers and orators will be on full display as they compete for cash and prizes. Representing poets hail from the southern states and beyond, with past competitors flying in from as far away as California and Hawaii to take part in this prestigious competition.

"We are so very excited to be visiting Pompano Beach this summer, and we look forward to having our competitors fully experience the beauty and culture of your city," said Sarita Goods, President, Board of Directors Southern Fried Poetry Inc. "In addition to the slams, our event offers workshops and other activities for the poets to enjoy while experiencing the host city."

Pompano Beach local and Southern Fried Poetry, Inc's Vice President of the Board of Directors, Sharonda "Eccentrich" Richardson has been the driving force ensuring that 2024 is her city's time to shine in spoken word. "I have been working to make this happen for a long time, and now it's become a reality," said Richardson. "This event is a tremendous opportunity to immerse yourself in a spectrum of spoken word styles and perspectives, from heart-wrenching narratives to hilarious social commentary."

Richardson is also the founder of Free on the Inside, the poetry pipeline series, which goes into prisons to facilitate workshops and showcase spoken word poetry. In 2018, she created the first poetry festival in the history of Pompano Beach, Exit 36 Slam Poetry Festival.

To learn more about Southern Fried Poetry Inc., and all event details visit https://www.pompanobeacharts.org/events/southern-fried-poetry-slam.

About the City of Pompano Beach Cultural Affairs Department:

The mission of the Cultural Affairs Department is to provide cultural programming that includes visual arts, digital media, music, film, theater, dance and public art for the enjoyment and enrichment of residents and visitors to Pompano Beach, Broward County, and the greater South Florida area. The department programs and manages the City's premiere cultural arts venues, including the Pompano Beach Cultural Center, Ali Cultural Arts Center, Bailey Contemporary Arts Center, and the Blanche Ely House Museum. The department also oversees the City's Public Art Program and the Artist in Residence (AiR) initiative. Learn more: https://www.pompanobeacharts.org/.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Kay Renz
Kay@KRPRMediagroup.com

The nation's hottest wordsmiths are descending upon the City of Pompano Beach for the 32nd Annual Southern Fried Poetry Slam. Pompano Beach Arts is proud to announce that this electrifying four-day festival will take place June 12-15, 2024. This celebration of spoken word, performance poetry, and the power of community attracts over 200 poets from around the country who will battle it out for bragging rights and a chance to be crowned champion.

Related link: https://www.pompanobeacharts.org/

South Bay Music Association Presents ‘Beethoven Ode to Joy at 200’

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- On April 6, 2024, at 7 p.m. in El Segundo, CA, the South Bay Wind Ensemble will perform "Beethoven Ode to Joy at 200." The concert will take place at the El Segundo Performing Arts Center.

Beethoven conducted the premiere of his "Choral" Symphony (Symphony No. 9) in May of 1824, and we're thrilled to present it in a way he never imagined. Join the South Bay Wind Ensemble, the SoCAL Chorale, Maestro Steven Allen Fox, Chorale Director Marya Basaraba, and over 130 musicians on April 6 as we celebrate 200 years of the greatest symphony of all time!

The concert includes four incredible vocalists: Emily Dyer Reed (Soprano), Tara Alexander (Mezzo Soprano), Manfred Anaya (Tenor), Johann Schram Reed (Baritone).

We are rounding out the concert with "Elsa's Procession to the Cathedral" by Richard Wagner, "First Suite for Military Band" by Gustav Holst, and selections from Disney's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" by Alan Menken, conducted by Assistant Conductor, Matthew Visk.

Under the direction of Steven Allen Fox, South Bay Wind Ensemble is a high-level performing group with the mission of providing semi-professional and dedicated amateur musicians the opportunity to perform challenging and rewarding concerts; and to provide the South Bay community an exceptional concert experience comprised of quality wind band compositions and transcriptions.

Maestro Steven Allen Fox is Principal Conductor for the Los Angeles Film Orchestra and the Golden State Pops Orchestra. He has conducted the San Francisco Symphony, the Silly Symphonies Orchestra, Hollywood Studio Symphony, and the Video Games Live Orchestra. He made his Walt Disney Concert Hall debut the summer of 2022, conducting "Basil Poledouris, The Music and the Movies." Notable professionals Steven has worked with include Kelsey Grammer, Zooey Deschanel, John Stamos, Rebel Wilson, Taye Diggs, Shoshana Bean, Hans Zimmer, Danny Elfman, Alan Silvestri, Richard Sherman, Thomas Newman, John Debney, Michael Giacchino, and Michael Kosarin.

Tickets start at just $15. Visit http://www.southbaywinds.com or call 310-433-8774 for tickets and info.

South Bay Music Association: https://www.sbmusic.org/

On April 6, 2024, at 7 p.m. in El Segundo, CA, the South Bay Wind Ensemble will perform "Beethoven Ode to Joy at 200." The concert will take place at the El Segundo Performing Arts Center. Join the South Bay Wind Ensemble, the SoCAL Chorale, Maestro Steven Allen Fox, Chorale Director Marya Basaraba, and over 130 musicians on April 6 as we celebrate 200 years of the greatest symphony of all time!

Related link: https://www.sbmusic.org/

The Comedians with Disabilities Act makes its debut at SF Sketchfest at the Alameda Comedy Club!

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Comedians with Disabilities Act (CWDA) debuted in 2010 and has been going strong since. February 1, 2024 at the Alameda Comedy Club CWDA will make its SF Sketchfest debut. CWDA is a collection of comedians with disabilities, both seen and unseen. It was the brainchild of comedian Michael O'Connell. Michael passed away in 2016, but his comedy troupe lives on. Michael's legacy allows comedians with disabilities to develop their voices to receptive audiences across the country.

Steve Danner and Nina G are part of the original CWDA but have been joined by a cast of other talented Disabled comedians over the years. In addition to Nina and Steve, the SF Sketchfest show features CWDA regulars: Mean Dave, Michael Beers, Loren Kraut, Jade Theriault along with Hayden Kristal who will be joining the troupe for her first CWDA show!

Ticket information at: https://sfsketchfest2024.sched.com/event/1VUpj?iframe=no.

SF Sketchfest is a comedy festival taking place January 18 through February 4 in venues across San Francisco and the surrounding area. The multi-day festival will host more than 200 shows featuring major comedy stars and the best up-and-coming acts for sketch, stand-up, alternative comedy, music, improv, films, tributes, all-star reunions, live podcasts, and workshops. Now in its 21st year, SF Sketchfest is an internationally recognized, eclectic, and critically acclaimed festival that offers audiences a wide variety of special programming and the rare opportunity to see their favorite performers in intimate live settings.

The CWDA show will take place at the Alameda Comedy Club (in Alameda) on February 1, 2024.

SF Sketchfest featuring CWDA follows a trend in the larger entertainment industry: increase representation of the Disabled experience. Images of people with disabilities have traditionally been underrepresented and when they are it is often what many in the Disability community call "inspiration porn." The images are rarely complex, with Disabled individuals often being represented as "courageous," "overcoming obstacles" and "inspiring others." CWDA flips the script on all these images. The CWDA comedians speak about the awkward interactions they have with non-disabled people, reflections about their own disability experience as well as not talking about their disability at all. Their disabilities don't solely define these comedians but they also acknowledge the impact that it has had in their lives.

"CWDA being part of SF Sketchfest is a big deal because it shows that the disability experience is on the radar of comedy festival producers. The entertainment industry is finally seeing that there is a lot of talent in our community and that people want to hear about our experiences from us and not filtered through a Hollywood lens that doesn't challenge the status quo," adds comedian and lead producer of CWDA, Nina G. "That is why Disabled comedians are so important. They challenge how society thinks about disability and can help to change people's attitudes while also being hilarious and entertaining!"

These comedians are hilarious! This diverse group is formed each with a different disability experience and perspective. The following line up will be featured at SF Sketchfest.

Michael Beers won the Norman G. Brooks Comedy Competition at the Hollywood Improv in 2005. He was also the previous winner of Funny Fest (Calgary Comedy Festival) and has opened for comedians like Gilbert Gottfried. He is a sought-after keynote speaker on topics like humor, disability advocacy, education and community building.

Jade Theriault is a Forbes-recognized comedian who combines provocative thought with moving furniture. Jade is a regular at Alameda Comedy Club, Punch Line SF, Cobbs Comedy Club, Tommy T's, and the San Jose Improv where she opened for Jesus Trejo. Festival credits include SF Sketchfest, The Art of Female Comedy Festival (Wichita, KS), Palm Springs International Comedy Festival and the Westside Comedy Festival in Santa Monica, where she was honored for Best Joke of the Night. Jade starred in Malic Almaya's "RUN! " (2018), featured in Jeff Giordano's "Romantic Chorus" (2021), and was on an episode of MTV "Decoded" (2018).

Nina G is a comedian, author of Stutterer Interrupted and co-author of Bay Area Stand-Up Comedy: A Humorous History. In May 2023 her album debuted at #1 in Comedy on iTunes and Amazon. Her first comedy special, Nina G: Stutterer Interrupted, debuted in October 2023. She has shared the stage with comedy legends like Don Novello (aka Father Guido Sarducci), Mort Sahl and Disability activists like Judi Heumann and Jim Lebrect.

Mean Dave, a favorite in the San Francisco Bay Area, hosts several CWDA shows. Dave is in his tenth year of addiction recovery, which he ingeniously weaves into his humor. He's a regular at Punch Line SF & Sacramento, Cobbs Comedy Club, Laughs Unlimited, SJ Improv and has opened for many notable comedians like Josh Blue, Big Jay Oakerson, and Eddie Pepitone as well as performed at clubs and colleges across the U.S.

Steve Danner's comedy career began as an audience member at a comedy club. The comedian on stage started riffing with him. After Danner showcased his own riffing skills, the comic approached Danner after the show and suggested he give comedy a try. That soon launched a career as a comedian and producer. He's opened for many headliners such as "Last Comic Standing" winner, Felipe Esparza.

Hayden Kristal's quick wit and cheerful self-deprecation has earned her a spot as an "America's Got Talent" semifinalist, roles on Adult Swim/HBO Max's "Tuca and Bertie," and over a million followers on social media, but her true talent lies in naming horses things you might name a shelter cat. Hayden lives in rural Colorado with her four-legged friends Squidward, Chicken Elizabeth Nugget, Donkey Devito, and Debbi from Accounting.

In February, CWDA will have multiple shows in Northern California. Each show will have a different line up with Michael Beers headlining in Sacramento and Santa Rosa.

INFORMATION ON ALL SHOWS IS BELOW:

February 1, 2024: SF Sketchfest at the Alameda Comedy Club: 2431 Central Avenue, Alameda.

February 2, 2024 at the Veterans of Foreign Wars: 2784 Stockton Boulevard, Sacramento.

February 3, 2024 at Barrel Proof Comedy: 501 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa.

February 15, 2024 at Woodhouse Blending and Brewing: 119 Madrone St, Santa Cruz.

Ticket information and updates at: https://comedianswithdisabilitiesact.com/.

ABOUT SF SKETCHFEST:

SF Sketchfest, co-founded and directed by David Owen, Cole Stratton, and Janet Varney, produces the eclectic San Francisco Comedy Festival, the longest-running comedy festival in the U.S. SF Sketchfest is an internationally recognized and critically acclaimed event that mixes major comedy stars and the best up-and-coming comedians from around the world for over two weeks of sketch, stand-up, alternative comedy, music, improv, films, tributes, live podcasts, workshops, and panel discussions. SF Sketchfest offers its audiences the rare opportunity to see their favorite performers in intimate live performances and discussions.

In past years, SF Sketchfest has featured renowned comedy artists such as: Aziz Ansari, Fred Armisen, Dan Aykroyd, Maria Bamford, Dave Barry, Mike Birbiglia, Jack Black, Rachel Bloom, Carol Burnett, Dana Carvey, Cheech & Chong, Margaret Cho, Billy Crystal, Noel Fielding, Zach Galifianakis, Ricky Gervais, Christopher Guest, Eddie Izzard, Monty Python's Terry Jones, Key & Peele, Eugene Levy, Michael McKean, Kate McKinnon, Tig Notaro, Conan O'Brien, Catherine O'Hara, Patton Oswalt, Penn & Teller, Amy Poehler, Paul Reubens, Mort Sahl, Amy Schumer, Amy Sedaris, Garry Shandling, Harry Shearer, Robert Townsend, Aisha Tyler, George Wallace, Reggie Watts, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Robin Williams, and "Weird Al" Yankovic. The festival has also hosted film and television stars including Alan Arkin, Will Arnett, Candice Bergen, Bruce Campbell, Lizzy Caplan, Dick Cavett, Bud Cort, Ted Danson, Laura Dern, Danny DeVito, Sally Field, Nathan Fillion, Jeff Goldblum, Elliott Gould, Jon Hamm, Neil Patrick Harris, Bill Irwin, Ricky Jay, Rashida Jones, Cloris Leachman, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jane Lynch, Parker Posey, Paul Rudd, Jason Schwartzman, Adam Scott, Jason Segel, Tony Shalhoub, and Gene Wilder; ensemble comedy groups The Kids in the Hall, Mr. Show, "Mystery Science Theater 3000," The State, "Drunk History" and the Upright Citizens Brigade; reunions of the casts of "Best in Show," "Airplane!" "Wet Hot American Summer," "Animal House," "Twin Peaks" and "Party Down"; musical guests David Byrne, Bill Frisell, Ben Gibbard, Tenacious D, Aimee Mann, The Monkees, Bob Mould, Rhett Miller, tUnE-yArDs, Nellie McKay, Robert Glasper, and many more.

LEARN MORE: https://sfsketchfest2024.sched.com/event/1VUpj?iframe=no

The Comedians with Disabilities Act (CWDA) debuted in 2010 and has been going strong since. February 1, 2024 at the Alameda Comedy Club CWDA will make its SF Sketchfest debut. CWDA is a collection of comedians with disabilities, both seen and unseen. It was the brainchild of comedian Michael O'Connell. Michael passed away in 2016, but his comedy troupe lives on. Michael's legacy allows comedians with disabilities to develop their voices to receptive audiences across the country.

Related link: https://comedianswithdisabilitiesact.com/

An Immigrant Tale of Love and Loss Unfolds in ‘Maria Teresa Vaglio: An Italian Mystery’

SYRACUSE, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Community Folk Art Center (CFAC) is excited to announce the upcoming staged reading of "Maria Teresa Vaglio: An Italian Mystery" by Donna Inglima. This immigrant story, charged with humor and emotional pain, explores themes of abandonment, family dysfunction, and the resilience of the human spirit. This biographical upstate NY story takes the audience on a journey from Italy to Seneca Falls.

The staged reading runs October 6 - 7, 2023 at 7 p.m. at the Community Folk Art Center, 805 E. Genesee Street, Syracuse. The admission fee is a sliding scale from $1to $15.

The play explores three generations of the family; brought to life through personal stories, memories, and heartfelt letters. Against the backdrop of World War II, in 1946, a letter filled with desperation and longing, arrives at the doorstep of 25 Green St. in Seneca Falls, NY. It originates from the picturesque town of Taranto, Italy, and is penned by Teresa Vaglio who embarks on a quest to reunite with the daughter she abandoned in 1908 setting in motion a series of discoveries of long-buried family secrets.

Don't miss this opportunity to embark on a journey through time and across continents, as "Maria Teresa Vaglio: An Italian Mystery" reminds us that we possess the endurance thrive and survive our families. Inglima reflects on the universality of family stories, asserting, "All families have secrets, and we can recognize common threads of our own lives in the stories of others." This recognition of shared experiences is at the core of the play's emotional resonance and in the communal power storytelling.

Donna Inglima, a proud member of AEA, SDC., is a lifelong theatre professional who loves acting, directing, teaching and playwriting.

SPECIAL PROGRAMMING:

October 7: Stage Talk / Q&A with performers following 7 p.m. performance in the Theatre

SPONSORS: This project is generously supported by The Statewide Community Regrants Program, funded by the New York State Council on the Arts with the backing of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and administered by CNY Arts. Additional funding is provided by the City of Syracuse Arts & Culture Recovery Fund Program, part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and administered by CNY Arts.

LEARN MORE:

Facebook event page - https://fb.me/e/1jq8LkmD4

Eventbrite - https://bit.ly/MariaTeresa_Vaglio

Community Folk Art Center - info and directions:

https://communityfolkartcenter.org/

The Community Folk Art Center (CFAC) is excited to announce the upcoming staged reading of "Maria Teresa Vaglio: An Italian Mystery" by Donna Inglima. This immigrant story, charged with humor and emotional pain, explores themes of abandonment, family dysfunction, and the resilience of the human spirit. This biographical upstate NY story takes the audience on a journey from Italy to Seneca Falls.

Art-In-Relation Presents an Unforgettable Evening Concert of Spirituals, Freedom Songs, and Contemporary Songs of Freedom in reflection of Juneteenth

LONG BEACH, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Art-In-Relation (A.I.R.) is proud to present a special evening concert, in collaboration with Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, featuring a group of exceptional performers. This talented ensemble will come together to deliver an inspiring musical experience. With a repertoire that reflects the significance of Juneteenth and embraces a message of change and freedom, this concert promises to be a memorable celebration.

The concert will take place on June 24 at 7 p.m., hosted within the tranquil ambiance of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, located at 370 Junipero Avenue in Long Beach. This captivating event will undoubtedly captivate the hearts and minds of all in attendance.

The performers for this extraordinary concert are a group of highly skilled professionals with diverse backgrounds, including Broadway, opera, and professional choral music. Their collective talent, coupled with their deep understanding of the music they perform, ensures a powerful and moving experience for the audience.

"I am thrilled to share as a singer some of the most beautiful music in the world, born from bondage and pain yet transcending the pain to offer healing," says Joel Brown, performer and communication assistant for the program.

The program also includes the remarkable talents of Aleta Braxton, Gertrude Bradley, Joel Brown, Jessica Elisabeth, Edward Little, Toni Lorene, Jim MacClaine, Raymond Jamarillo McLeod, Jonas Edwin Sills, and. Yolanda Mitchell West. James Calhoun will be playing organ and piano. Special guest instrumentalists David Sills, Saxophone, and Benton Preciado on Cello will play on certain pieces.

Jonas and Heidi Sills, founders of Art-In-Relation were proud to have produced almost two dozen productions of theater and music over five years. After a pandemic hiatus, and witnessing the continuing social struggles firsthand from their downtown Long Beach office and home, A.I.R. is returning with a enhanced social as well as artistic mission.

"Art-In-Relation is thrilled to collaborate with Our Saviour's Lutheran Church to bring this exceptional concert to the Long Beach community," said Heidi Ornelas Sills, outreach director for the concert.

"Through the power of music, we aim to honor Juneteenth's significance while advocating for inclusivity, social change, and the continuing struggle of freedom," adds Jonas Edwin Sills.

TICKETS:

Tickets for this transformative event are available now and can be obtained by calling 562-243-2423.

A suggested donation of $20 is encouraged, with proceeds donated to "The Juneteenth Project," Art-In-Relation and Our Saviour's Lutheran Church music program.

Don't miss this opportunity to be a part of an extraordinary evening that celebrates the struggles of the past, acknowledges the challenges of the present, and inspires hope for the future. Join us on June 24th, 7:00PM at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church for a concert that will resonate within your soul, reminding us all of the enduring power of freedom.

INFORMATION:

LEARN MORE: http://www.artinrelation.com/

For more information, media inquiries and tickets please contact:

Name: Heidi Ornelas Sills

Title: Sales and Outreach, Art-In-Relation

Email: heidiosills@yahoo.com

Phone: 562-243-2423

Tickets sold in advance will include a free beverage and snack.

ABOUT ART-IN-RELATION:

Art-In-Relation is a dynamic production company dedicated to producing innovative and engaging performing arts experiences. With a commitment to artistic excellence, community engagement, and social impact, Art-In-Relation collaborates with local organizations and venues to bring transformative performances to diverse audiences.

Now in its rise after the world pandemic, Art-In-Relation's mission is creating community through the arts. Breathing "A.I.R." and new energy into the community by creating unique concerts, musical works, events, theatrical presentations, and unique multi- disciplinary genres! A.I.R. has an affinity and history with "Broadway Style" Musical Theatre, but it its current incarnation is focusing on "concert style performances."

A.I.R. is committed to encouraging relation between professionals, aspiring, and talented amateurs to work together in a collaborative environment ALL learning from and respecting each other. A.I.R. is dedicated to quality performances that create lasting relationships, that go far beyond individual productions. We are led to create new, never before seen works of art, and also traditional performances with a modern or new flair. We challenge you to not only be entertained, but educated, enriched, and even enlightened.

LEARN MORE: http://www.artinrelation.com/.

Art-In-Relation (A.I.R.) is proud to present a special evening concert, in collaboration with Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, featuring a group of exceptional performers. This talented ensemble will come together to deliver an inspiring musical experience. With a repertoire that reflects the significance of Juneteenth and embraces a message of change and freedom, this concert promises to be a memorable celebration.

Related link: http://www.artinrelation.com/

Shattering Barriers in Fine Arts Education: The Vocal Gym Unveils World’s First Full-Credit Homeschool Course for Singing

ORLANDO, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- Throga announces a new online course for singing, specifically designed for homeschool students. Singing has long been considered outside the scope of most homeschool training, as the intricacies of the arts and technical complexities involved in vocal training present particular challenges in a home learning environment.

But now Richard Fink IV, a vocalist recognized by Guinness World Records and named "world's leading online vocal coach" by the Wall Street Journal, is set to redefine the terrain.

His revolutionary approach to vocal training will launch as the world's first ever full-credit homeschool course for singing. The course, the Vocal Gym by Throga, will be released at the FPEA Florida Homeschool Convention in Orlando on May 25th, 2023 to make singing readily accessible to all, especially homeschoolers.

Taking a scientific approach, Fink methodically dissected the voice, demystifying this instrument we cannot touch or see, and making it as teachable as any other tangible instrument. The patented technique he developed involves breaking down the voice into the 7 Dimensions of Singing: flexibility of the vocal folds, breath management, intonation for pitch control, vocal range, tonal quality, articulation of sound, and strength in maintaining vocal stability and stamina.

The course aims to spark creativity, nurture cognitive development, enhance emotional well-being, and promote self-expression and critical thinking skills. Homeschoolers can now refine their vocal skills, explore the thrill of performance, and earn a full fine arts credit, on their own time and wherever they live across the country.

Tailored for ages 12 and up, the curriculum starts with a personal vocal assessment and provides an individualized learning experience that helps students pinpoint their strengths and areas for improvement. The course boasts a rich resource of 115,000 vocal exercise combinations, over 300 educational videos, and more than 150 hours of lessons, exercises, and activities. The Vocal Gym also offers a parent portal, enabling easy tracking of student progress through automated record-keeping, taking the stress out of lesson planning.

"The course isn't just for students interested in a career in the performing arts, it can be for any student who wants to learn how to sing or to talk more confidently by using their instrument, their voice, in a much better way," said Peggy Ployhar, founder and CEO of SPED Homeschool. With performance and writing assignments and even scientific principles that can be credited for additional hours, "the Vocal Gym truly covers it all," she said. "No matter what type of learner your student is, there are text, audio, video, diagrams, and activities for them to be engaged in."

This pioneering initiative marks a significant step in enriching homeschool education, arming students with the necessary tools to cultivate essential communication and stage skills for a successful future.

To learn more, visit: https://throga.com/homeschool/

- Vocal Gym Logo: https://throga.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/vocalgym-logo-color.png

- Promotional Image: https://throga.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/VG-Product.jpg

- Testimonial Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ebA5CDLLV4

Throga announces a new online course for singing, specifically designed for homeschool students. Singing has long been considered outside the scope of most homeschool training, as the intricacies of the arts and technical complexities involved in vocal training present particular challenges in a home learning environment.

Related link: https://throga.com/

‘GOSPEL SOUL OF ELVIS’ wows crowds in Mineola Texas

MINEOLA, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Elvis Presley is a state of mind. Mark Rios would be the first person to tell you this. Rios is a lifelong fan of The King. But it wasn't until relatively recently that this North Texas actor and director was able to converge his acting and directing careers and dedicate them to exploring his long-standing dream of exploring Elvis Presley's spiritual side.

This dream came together in his new traveling play, "The Gospel Soul of Elvis."

After debuting in Dallas, Rios and crew performed the play at the oldest continuously operating theatre in Texas - the historic Lake Country Playhouse, 114 N. Johnson St in Mineola.

The cast included Rios, Mary Lee Gonzalez, Malik Johnson, Randy Burk, Dasiana Preston, Olivia Simms, Ben Tinsley, and J. Douglas Barker.

The show ran in Mineola for three days April 28-30 to much acclaim.

Neita Fran Ward, ART CONNECTION OF EAST TEXAS, said she really appreciated what the cast did with the performance.

"Every Elvis fan has heard the gospel songs Elvis loved and performed,' she said. "Mark Rios and his backup music group thoughtfully transported the audience back into the music and stories of The King of Rock and Roll with their performance in a relaxed and casual setting. Great voices and entertaining stories."

A friend and colleague of Rios, Victor Rjesnjansky ("Slick Vic" from the hit A&E TV series "Storage Wars Texas") was also impressed.

"Not being a huge fan of Elvis, this was a look into his life from a different venue - hanging out in his penthouse after the show with all his friends," Rjesnjansky said.

Rjesnjansky said it was educational to find out these things about Elvis. "I found myself riveted with interest during the whole show after speaking with creator Mark Rios," he said. "Mark informed me that every show is a little different with little tweaks here and there."

"Definitely worth the trip to see the show. I give it five stars," Rjesnjansky said.

Indeed, Rios has carried the idea for the show around for some time. But it was only in recent months that he transformed his idea into "full-on musical reality."

A lot of Mark's colleagues know him as a great local actor whose mobster show "A Family Thing," is really starting to catch fire on several venues.

But up until recently, not many heard Rios say a word about an Elvis show.

Ben Tinsley, Rios' assistant director and the actor who plays Col. Parker in the show, was initially quite surprised. "Mark called me one day, talking about a stage show with him playing Elvis, and I was like, 'Do WHAT?'" Tinsley said.

Tinsley, like Rjesnjansky, had never before experienced an Elvis-related show. But Tinsley knew a winner when he saw it. He said it was an honor to be asked to join the cast as Col. Parker.

"When I first saw Mark do Elvis during the show, I thought to myself, 'Whoa. He's NOT doing some silly Elvis charactature or impersonation. He's really digging deep.' I was astounded."

The Texas Theater presents The Gospel Soul of Elvis on Friday, August 18 2023 at 8 p.m., Texas Theater - Waxahachie, TX.

Learn more: https://www.thegospelsoulofelvisshow.com/cast.html

Elvis Presley is a state of mind. Mark Rios would be the first person to tell you this. Rios is a lifelong fan of The King. But it wasn't until relatively recently that this North Texas actor and director was able to converge his acting and directing careers and dedicate them to exploring his long-standing dream of exploring Elvis Presley's spiritual side.

Related link: https://www.thegospelsoulofelvisshow.com/

New critically-acclaimed Elvis stage show explores the spiritual side of ‘The King’

MINEOLA, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Mark Rios, the writer, director and lead actor of the acclaimed indie mobster TV series "A Family Thing," has created and produced an intimate new stage show about Elvis Presley that explores The King's undeniable love of gospel music, cast member Ben Tinsley announced today.

"The Gospel Soul of Elvis," inspired by true events, will be performed with amazing music by seasoned actors and singers. It soon will regionally debut at the oldest continuously operating theatre in Texas - the historic Lake Country Playhouse, 114 N. Johnson St in Mineola, (903) 569-2300.

A statement issued by the theatre expressed great enthusiasm for Rios' upcoming show. "We are excited to bring it to you," the statement read. "We think you will absolutely love it, as it is a glimpse into the more private side of this stellar performer."

This glimpse into the private side of the beloved artist recently previewed to a packed house in Dallas. Written to be interactive with the audience, this show's "soft opening" was a crowd-pleaser.

"The audience really enjoyed it," Mark Rios said in a recent interview. "We got great positive feedback and vibes. Many members of the audience were visibly moved with emotion."

As it stands right now, the show runs in Mineola for three days - April 28 at 7:30 p.m., April 29 at 7:30 p.m., and April 30, 2023 at 2 p.m.

Rios, who has spent two decades in stage and film, attracted a following with his show "A Family Thing." Many of the actors who work for one of Rios' projects say they often end up working on another.

"Being part of Mark's theatrical orbit is really helping our acting careers," said Ben Tinsley, who plays Col. Parker in the Elvis Show and "Bennie Few Words" on "A Family Thing."

The cast includes Mark Rios, Elizabeth Dykes, Malik Johnson, Randy Burk, Dasiana Preston, Olivia Sims, Ben Tinsley, Joe Dobbs and J. Douglas Baker.

For info on performances and tickets, go to https://allevents.in/mineola/10000559941649547

Or https://www.thegospelsoulofelvisshow.com/cast.html

Mark Rios, the writer, director and lead actor of the acclaimed indie mobster TV series "A Family Thing," has created and produced an intimate new stage show about Elvis Presley that explores The King's undeniable love of gospel music, cast member Ben Tinsley announced today. “The Gospel Soul of Elvis,” inspired by true events, will be performed with amazing music by seasoned actors and singers.

Opening Thurs., Sept. 15: ‘Veils’ The Musical Takes Center Stage Reminding Us of The Price Paid for The Freedoms Won and The Women Behind It All

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center (BHERC) has teamed with Restoration Stage (Washington, D.C.) to bring the popular musical "Veils" to the Los Angeles area for a short run Thursday, September 15, and Friday, September 16 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, September 17 at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday, September 18 at 8 p.m. at the Nate Holden Performing Art Center in Los Angeles, California. Purchase tickets at https://bherc.org/.

So much has been written about the men lost in the Civil Rights and Black Lives Matter movements. Unexplored, however, are the stories of the women whose lives are affected by these tragedies - the women who wear the "Veils." This musical is described as an emotional historical pageant of grief and resilience that pays tribute to women veiled in mourning, with a focus on Black lives lost in bloodshed during the sixties Civil Rights Movement to gain many of the freedoms we enjoy today.

BHERC believes that "Veils" on its own sends a powerful message of courage and sacrifice. However, as we find ourselves at the precipice of a democracy that is being contested, and the right to vote is being undermined as well as other freedoms, BHERC believes that "Veils" is truly a great example of the price that has already been paid for the gains being threatened. It represents the strong Women, like those who today are standing up and marching for justice.

"We are proud to bring this inspirational and compelling work to Los Angeles for a second time," States Sandra J. Evers-Manly. "The pandemic disrupted the performance in March 2020, but not this time. Everyone must come out to witness this incredible musical. It will inform, energize, and inspire you, with hope for our future as a people."

"Veils," the musical, is written by Steven A. Butler, Jr. with music and lyrics by Courtney Baker-Oliver and Christopher John Burnett and is directed by Courtney Baker-Oliver. Joining the West Coast production is soul singer, dramatist, educator, and activist Ayanna Gregory. The daughter of iconic comedian and civil rights activist Dick Gregory, Ayanna continues her father's work with deep awareness and concern for Human Rights expressed through her gift of music. More than entertainment; they are her mission. "She touches the place that is the deepest and clearest in my heart", Stevie Wonder. Filling out the cast are Bernie Alston, Steven A. Butler, Jr.*, Desire' Dubose*, Kandace Foreman, Bridget Garwood, Andrea Gerald, Robert Hamilton, Brandyn Marshall, Corisa Myers, Suli Myrie, Ayana Ogunsunlade*, Grace Pugh, Nakiea Washington Dade (*member of Actor's Equity Association). Stage Management by Ronald Lee Newman*, Musical Direction by Justin Thompson, Choreography by Kyra DaCosta *, Sound/Video Design by David Lamont Wilson*, Lighting Design by Stage Jerry Dale, Jr. Set and Properties by Courtney Baker-Oliver and Robert Hamilton, Costumes by Courtney Baker-Oliver & Luqman Salim, Technical Direction by Robert Hamilton; Executive Producer, Sandra Evers-Manly and Producers: Courtney Baker-Oliver and Steven A. Butler, Jr.

ACCOLADES INCLUDE:

"The singer-actors have created an exquisitely beautiful experience of enduring sorrow, honor, and healing." - John Stoltenberg

"The surprise is that with Veils two such multitalented African American young men have undertaken this profoundly womanist theme with such deep empathy and authentic respect. This, to my knowledge, is a first in theatre history." - DCMetroTheatreArts.com

"Tackles roles ranging from Sybrina Fulton and Mamie Till to Jacqueline Kennedy and Viola Liuzzo." - The Washington Informer

"I'm thrilled that my mother's story is one being told in this production which brings history to life and light." - Mary Liuzzo, daughter of civil rights martyr Viola Liuzzo

TICKETS:

Tickets are $55.00 each. $45.00 for students and seniors. $45.00 for groups of 10 or more. For tickets, log onto https://bherc.org/ or call 310.284.3170.

About the BHERC:

Founded in 1996 by Sandra Evers-Manly, the Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public benefit organization designed to advocate, educate, research, develop, and preserve the history and future of Black images in film and television. Through film festivals, award ceremonies, book signings, script readings, contests, scholarships, other programs, and special events, BHERC recognizes the contributions of Black men and women in front of and behind the scenes in the entertainment industry.

Like us on: Facebook and follow us on Twitter & Instagram. SOCIAL INFO:

Website: https://bherc.org/

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About Restoration Stage, Inc. - (Washington, DC) is an independent theatre company. Best known for the original works of its founders, playwright Steven A. Butler, Jr., director/lyricist Courtney Baker-Oliver, and composer Christopher John Burnett, it is a partnership that has yielded the critically acclaimed "The Truth", "All That Glitters", and "Chocolate Covered Ants." The core focus of Restoration Stage, Inc. is to produce innovative theatrical productions with themes that contribute to the ongoing dialogue about how to improve the condition of the family in American society.

Our Founders: Courtney Baker-Oliver and Steven A. Butler, Jr. created Restoration Stage, Inc. in May 2005 and serve as Restoration Stage's legal directors. Initially created as a producing entity for Butler's play, "The Truth," it has expanded to include additional projects currently in various stages of development. Since 2005, Restoration Stage has employed the talents of more than fifty performers, designers, technicians, and other support staff to produce its productions. http://www.restorationstage.org

The Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center (BHERC) has teamed with Restoration Stage (Washington, D.C.) to bring the popular musical "Veils" to the Los Angeles area for a short run Thursday, September 15, and Friday, September 16 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, September 17 at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday, September 18 at 8 p.m. at the Nate Holden Performing Art Center in Los Angeles.

Related link: https://bherc.org/

David Vass’ One Man Show ‘What Could Go Wrong?’ Arrives to Pay Per View

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- 71-year-old gay elder David Vass, who participated in the birthing of the gay liberation movement from seedlings, has launched his long-awaited one-man show, 'What Could Go Wrong?' His series of monologues is based on over 70 diaries kept since Vass was seven years old.

What started as three live performances just before the COVID pandemic led Vass to hire a film crew to record the 'evening with,' when it became obvious to him that traveling the show live to small venues throughout the USA, Canada and the UK would not be possible due to health regulations. The resulting pay-per-view movie is a condensed history of nearly everything that happened to the diarist from the early 50's through the onset of AIDs. He references this 81-minute production as part one and is working on a part two that will bring the PPV film and the live performances that again are being booked, up to the present.

A minimalist set reflects the intimate ambiance for his brutally honest, dramatic, funny, disturbing and at times cringe-worthy series of monologues culled from the diaries that he has kept for over 60 years, creating the bones of this extraordinary 'evening with'.

His one-man show, just prior to the onset of the pandemic, traveled to New York City, Indianapolis, London, San Francisco and Australia. As the realities of the travel restrictions because of CoVid were realized, David used that two-year period to rewrite the live version material and create the movie script. He also redesigned the play website, created his YouTube Television Channel, and legalized the production company ('I'm Afraid Knot LLC') into a non-profit 501-C organization.

Fervently believing, given the content and candid honesty of this adults-only production, that "audience members should feel free to walk out or turn off the PPV, no offense taken by me", he also reminds the audiences of both methods of seeing the 'evening with' his strong belief that our collective freedom of speech is under attack during these 'woke' times. This first half of his life can be brutal and repugnant, as life can be. There are performances where the coarse language used can come under attack, which he brushes off with "this is how white trash talked in those days."

Vass makes a point of meeting audience members at the live performances after the show in the lobby, if there is one, or under the eaves of the proverbial barn. For those watching the PPV, he urges feedback and reads it all - davidvasstheplay@gmail.com.

For a flavor of the content and intensity of the production, he suggests having a free look at the four-minute sizzle/teaser reel found on the play's website: https://www.whatcouldgowrong-theplay.com/.

David says, "My young brothers and sisters, or however you identify from the current 14-pronoun, one adjective cis/non-binary tribe of which I am a member, you've been handed gay rights and a large degree of equality and variety on a silver platter, and off the backs of us elders, us gays and brave drag queens who remember how we got from the early 50's to now. With RvW overturned (making way for gay marriage to be overturned as well), get ready to put your/our bodies on the streets again, blocking the streets again, making noise on the streets again and taking over the streets again."

He recalls at seven years of age being asked if he was a 'butch or a fem', a few years later a 'top or a bottom', skip forward to 'are you bi'. These questions all asked in the 50's and with no resources for Vass to reference - he didn't know any of those words. He learned at 14 what fellatio meant when a uniformed policeman pulled him into an alley and demanded just that. His first sexual encounter was not warm and fuzzy but makes for a sad but fascinating monologue segment about that time in gay history when the police and the Mafia pulled the strings on what the gay tribe could or could not do, and the prices paid for that suppression.

Vass reflects, "This history, this collection of real stories needs to be told, to be kept alive in the first-person for generations of our tribe who follow. Please be clear, this is not a gay play, it is a series of experiences told in monologues with the details refreshed by my beloved diaries - a series of encounters and life-changing events I have lived. Yes, I happen to be gay, and I use this theatrical forum to tell the absolute truth as I know it, and it is from a gay perspective. How could it not be? This was all seen through my eyes. I believe the monologues are relatable to everyone, and the 'evening with' also features stories about my time working with strippers, Broadway stars, movie legends, Grammy winning singers, assorted celebrities and so much more. We are all humans first, and then members of whatever 'tribe' we resonate to."

Snippets of what some others (reviewers, bloggists, interviewers, audience members) have to say about 'What Could Go Wrong?'...

Hugh M. Langford, Cultural and Theatre Critic-At-Large, London Review: "One story was considered by some attendees to be so offensive they walked out (4 to be exact). He is not pornographic or rude, but he is unabashedly rough, blue, and unafraid to present adult material without the ribbon and bow. At last, a show for grown-ups - imagine! A hero's medal to David Vass, diarist and storyteller, for wringing humanity out of part one of his life and sharing it with us without a hint of embarrassment or shame. His is a skilled and fully realized performance. If you can find this show, see it. You may not like it, but see it." (2021)

Joshua Ringwald, Lifestyle Blog Cultural Writer, NYC Review: "I was mesmerized throughout - at times shocked, embarrassed, angry, doubtful - is this for real, is this a play in disguise, am I watching a brilliant actor or one of the most honest and adept liars I've ever listened to? And laughter, so much laughter, and a dose of weeping too. Currently he self-produces, which he can ill afford. Calling all agents, bookers and producers; this is a gold mine in waiting. This needs to be seen by a lot of people. This is worthy of a long Off-Broadway run! See it. A brilliant evening - honest!"

Rita Kohn, Arts Writer, Nuvo, Indianapolis Review: "We cry, laugh, sigh, smile, cheer, groan - we come away uplifted by your honesty, lifeforce. Story is at the center and we love a good story. David Vass imbues the 'epitome of urbane,' which he brushes off with an airwave. One of my favorite monologues is him literally pooping himself at Lincoln Center having Montezuma's revenge during a concert doing sound and lights for a two-time Grammy winner. It's all in this show. Really it is not a play so much as an 'evening with', in the tradition of Quintin Crisp, David Sedaris and Augusten Burroughs - all cringe memoirists."

Audience Member After Performance in San Francisco: "Oh my God, I hope he has a good lawyer because I can't believe what came out of his mouth about those celebrities he worked with!"

Learn more: https://www.whatcouldgowrong-theplay.com/

MULTIMEDIA:

VIDEO (VIMEO): https://vimeo.com/ondemand/whatcouldgowrong

71-year-old gay elder David Vass, who participated in the birthing of the gay liberation movement from seedlings, has launched his long-awaited one-man show, 'What Could Go Wrong?' His series of monologues is based on over 70 diaries kept since Vass was seven years old.

Related link: https://www.whatcouldgowrong-theplay.com/

Broadway On Demand supercharges growth with launch of FAST channel to more than 20 million homes, chooses Triple-B Media as partner

NEW YORK, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Broadway On Demand today announced the expansion of its Emmy® Award nominated streaming platform for theater and the performing arts, with the launch of its branded Free Ad-Supported Television (FAST) SmartTV channel, making its content accessible to more than 20 million homes.

In partnership with Triple-B Media, a leading FAST channel curation company founded by former ESPN executives, Anthony Bailey and Brendan Canning, Broadway On Demand positioned the launch of its FAST channel to be accessible to as many homes as possible during its debut outing.

"We are extremely proud to provide Broadway On Demand free in over 20 million homes, expanding global access to Broadway and theatre content," said CEO and President of Broadway On Demand, Sean Cercone. "Triple-B's long-standing expertise in live-television and the FAST space is integral in helping us to make everyone in the world, a theatre person."

As a result of the collaboration between both companies, the Broadway On Demand FAST channel is projected to supercharge adoption across as many as seven platforms by end of summer 2022, with the ultimate goal of reaching more than 200 million households by the end of 2023. Vice President of Broadway On Demand, Jeffery Keilholtz, led development of the channel. Keilholtz also created and executive produced the Emmy® Award nominated Broadway On Demand original series, "Broadway Master Class."

The Broadway On Demand FAST channel will feature hundreds of hours of premium content, including Broadway, Off-Broadway and West-end shows, original series, behind-the-scenes content, and more.

"We are very excited to offer the first FAST channel dedicated to everything Broadway, and Broadway On Demand is the perfect partner," Canning, the chief commercial officer of Triple-B Media, said. "Collectively, our idea is to provide audiences a 360-degree experience of the Broadway ecosystem, offering the viewer access not only to coveted Broadway shows, but exciting content that often transfers to The Great Bright Way."

Since its launch in June 2021, Triple-B has already generated a strong portfolio of 10 channels operating 24 hours a day, with a focus on exclusive niche content in sports and single-genre categories. Now, buoyed with new investment from Tupelo Media Group, a division of Gray Television, Triple-B is positioned to quicken its growth plans with new content producers and significantly growing its audience across all channels.

"From its start, Triple-B has focused on super serving passionate fans of niche and emerging content verticals, be it boxing, billiards or theater, with our goal to satiate and grow that interest," said Bailey, Triple-B's CEO. "With Tupelo Honey's investment, our thesis has been validated."

Viewers can find FAST services that will offer the free-to-watch channel at: http://www.BroadwayAtHome.TV.

About Broadway On Demand:

BROADWAY ON DEMAND is the industry-leading streaming platform housing performance & theater education programming, and the preferred choice of top Broadway artists, producers, educators, and professionals. Broadway On Demand has streamed over 3,000 events and live productions-from Broadway shows to concert series, performance venues to individual artists, and original content-in 114 countries to more than 300,000 active users and was honored with an Emmy® Award nomination in 2021. Thanks to a unique licensing interface, ShowShare™, approved middle school, high school, college, community, and professional theater productions utilize the platform to stream to their audiences. Broadway On Demand is available on the web, mobile, Apple and Android app store, Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast, and Amazon Fire TV. For access to the complete and ever-expanding Broadway On Demand library, visit https://www.broadwayondemand.com/.

Follow on social at:

https://www.facebook.com/BwayOnDemand/

https://www.instagram.com/bwayondemand/

https://twitter.com/bwayondemand?lang=en

About Triple-B Media:

TRIPLE-B MEDIA is a full-service television and digital media company, specializing in the operation of free, ad supported television networks. To date, Triple-B Media owns or operates 10 television networks including FTF Sports, Lacrosse TV, ACL Cornhole TV, MotoAmerica TV, Fido TV, Billiard TV, Jai Alai TV, Boxing TV, The Rugby Network and Broadway On Demand. The Company also operates its own streaming platform called Streamstak at https://streamstak.com/. For more information, visit https://tripleb.tv/ .

Broadway On Demand today announced the expansion of its Emmy® Award nominated streaming platform for theater and the performing arts, with the launch of its branded Free Ad-Supported Television (FAST) SmartTV channel, making its content accessible to more than 20 million homes.

Related link: https://www.broadwayondemand.com/

Human Connection Arts Premieres its First Installment of Naked Theater As ‘Freedom Dance’ Readies for June 2 – 5 Run at the Gene Frankel Theatre

NEW YORK, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Human Connection Arts, a non-profit founded by NYC-based artist and body painter Andy Golub, announced today performance dates of the group's second Naked Theater production, "Freedom Dance."

Running from June 2 through June 5, 2022 at the Gene Frankel Theatre at 24 Bond Street in lower Manhattan, "Freedom Dance" consists of a series of playful scenes that build a symbolic, existential story about the challenge of coping in our current troubled world. The production will feature a totally nude cast.

"It's actually not about the nudity at all," says writer/director, and Founder of Human Connection Arts, Andy Golub. "Clothing covers up our natural state. We are socialized on so many levels, it prevents us from processing ourselves, each other and the world around us."

Throughout the production, a series of existential scenes build an abstract story filled with original music, song, dance, movement, and acting. Scenes include a dance scene exemplifying the relationship of fire and the tree as she burns him down, a person perpetually swimming, the contemplations of a disgruntled god, and the cast symbolically sharing various interpretations of what is freedom.

"There is a time in life when things get so complicated, that we simply need to simplify, to step back and see things in a more basic way," says Golub. "This production is designed to help people to get back to seeing the basic, important things in life."

Prior to turning to theater production, Golub has organized many large-scale art events throughout Europe and the U.S., and his "living art" has been featured at many New York City Parades and Pridefests.

Naked Theater's production of "Freedom Dance" stars Annie Cox, Atlantis Carp, Ethan James First, Joseph Grosso, Luca Villa, Maggie Rineman, Mizuho Kappa, Nora Gatz, and Raul Gajasamharamoorthy.

The production is written and directed by Andy Golub and stage managed by Raul Gajasamharamoorthy with lighting and sound by Hammer Productions. It runs June 2-5 at the Gene Frankel Theatre at 24 Bond Street in Lower Manhattan.

"Freedom Dance" is a unique, one-of-a-kind show with a very limited run of just four performances: Thursday - Saturday night at 7 p.m. and Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. The production runs approximately 90 minutes. Tickets are $35. Must be 18 years or older to attend.

To be part of this historical theater moment visit: http://www.nakedtheater.org.

Venue information: https://www.genefrankeltheatre.com/.

About Human Connections Arts:

Founded by NYC-based artist and body painter, Andy Golub, Human Connections Arts is a non-profit organization that creates large scale public art events and performances to promote unity and acceptance for all people. Learn more: https://humanconnectionarts.org/.

Human Connection Arts, a non-profit founded by NYC-based artist and body painter Andy Golub, announced today performance dates of the group's second Naked Theater production, "Freedom Dance." Throughout the production, a series of existential scenes build an abstract story filled with original music, song, dance, movement, and acting.

Related link: https://humanconnectionarts.org/

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra is proud to present ‘LCO Pride: A Rainbow of Repertoire’

LOWELL, Mass. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Lowell Chamber Orchestra is proud to present "LCO Pride: A Rainbow of Repertoire" on Sunday, June 5, 2022 at Middlesex Community College in Lowell, Massachusetts. This chamber concert will celebrate Pride Month by showcasing LGBTQ+ composers from the Lowell area and around the world.

Creative director of LCO, Em Russell, states that putting on this concert has been a dream of the theirs since the orchestra's very first season! As well as works by Jean-Baptiste Lully, Benjamin Britten, this concert will showcase a World Premiere by composer Julia Moss, featuring soloist mezzo-soprano Julianna Smith, as well as exciting works by four other living composers.

Queer people have made many significant contributions to the classical music community, yet their identities are often concealed. This concert is meant to embrace and celebrate these identities, which we hope can one day become the norm in classical music culture.

Stylistically, this concert really has something for everyone, from poetry lovers to rock metal-heads. While Kevin Lubin's string quartet "The Flower Shop" includes a spoken narration with words by Virginia Woolf; Hannah Rice has written a Heavy Metal string quartet called "SQ666," which has been composed using techniques from heavy metal rock music.

This concert also features a variety of ensemble sizes, varying from string quartets all the way up to large ensemble works conducted by LCO's music director Orlando Cela. Steven Sérpa's "An Invocation," for solo oboe and strings, is a tone poem inspired by his long-time collaborator, queer poet Jeffery Beam, about the small beauties of nature. Sérpa has also written about more difficult topics, including an oratorio on HIV stigma with Inversion Ensemble and an opera responding to the Pulse nightclub shooting with companies in Chicago, Montréal, Hartford, and Austin.

Ethan Soledad's "Why Wait," for a 9-person ensemble, is about his own journey of self-discovery and defeating self-doubt. Ethan's music has been described as "bold, dramatic, and unapologetically expressive."

The largest work of the afternoon will be a World Premiere by composer Julia Moss: "The World is Too Much for Us". Written for mezzo-soprano soloist Julianna Smith and a 10-person chamber ensemble, the work is based on conversations between the composer-performer pair about the feeling of being overwhelmed by the ever-growing clutter of life. Inspired by these ideas, she chose to set the piece to a poem by William Wordsworth about how we have become so obsessed with possessing material items and controlling nature.

"By drowning out nature," Moss says, "we are really drowning out ourselves. The piece is meant to be an optimistic and empowering reminder of what we should really be paying attention to." In the fall of 2022, Moss will enroll at the University of Southern California's (USC) Thornton School of Music to earn a Masters in Music Composition.

"We also wanted to show through our programming that queer composers have stood the test of time. There are so many composers whose music we play all the time and whose names most anyone would recognize, but nobody knows they were queer. Tchaikovsky, for instance. He was queer. Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, Samuel Barber, Benjamin Britten, just to name a few more of the "classics." And of course this doesn't even start to scratch the surface of the loads of queer composers living today, nor accurately represent the diversity that exists among them. But this is why we wanted to program someone as old as Baroque composer Jean-Baptiste Lully, who was born in 1632, to show that we really have been here all along, only now can we start to proudly assert our identities."

TICKETING / DONATION INFO:

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra is Lowell's first and only professional orchestra, demolishing the socio-economic barriers to classical music by always providing the area with music at a very high level, of all styles and eras. Consequently, this event is free of charge, but donations are kindly requested.

If you believe this concert to be a worthy cause and are able to contribute to the event funds, please donate at the link below. Thank you! https://glcf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create?funit_id=2326

"LCO: Pride: A Rainbow of Repertoire"

Sunday, June 5, 3 p.m.

Richard and Nancy Donahue Academic Arts Center

Recital Hall

240 Central Street, Lowell, MA

Free to attend, no tickets, just show up - Mask required

For more information, visit: https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/events

VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/Mua2UoBBld0

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra is proud to present "LCO Pride: A Rainbow of Repertoire" on Sunday, June 5, 2022 at Middlesex Community College in Lowell, Massachusetts. This chamber concert will celebrate Pride Month by showcasing LGBTQ+ composers from the Lowell area and around the world.

Related link: https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/

Music Theater Works Presents DISNEY’S THE LITTLE MERMAID

SKOKIE, Ill. /ScoopCloud/ -- Music Theater Works shall present "DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID" at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie (9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60076) from June 2, 2022 to June 26, 2022 as the second production of the 2022 Season.

About The Show

Based on one of Hans Christian Andersen's most beloved stories and the classic Disney animated film, "DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID" is a classic and beautiful love story for the entire family. With music by eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, and a compelling book by Doug Wright, this Broadway gem will capture your heart with its irresistible song favorites, including "Under the Sea," "Kiss the Girl" and "Part of Your World."

From the moment you step into the theater, this immersive production will make you feel part of Ariel's world. When she disobeys her father, King Triton, and makes a deal with the evil witch, Ursula, Ariel thinks her dreams have come true. But when the bargain is not what it seems, Ariel needs the help of her colorful friends, Flounder the fish, Scuttle the seagull, and Sebastian the crab to save her true love and restore order under the sea.

Production Details

Who:
* Music Theater Works

What:
* DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID
* Book by Doug Wright
* Music by Alan Menkin
* Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glen Slater
* Music Directed and Conducted by Celia Villacres
* Co-Directed by Stacey Flaster and Joshua Castille
* Choreography by Stacey Flaster and Matthew Weidenbener

Cast Members:
* Joselle Reyes (Ariel)
* Caroline Lyell (Ursula)
* Anakin White (Jetsam)
* Korey White (Grimsby)
* Clayton Cross (Scuttle)
* Gus Franchere (Flotsam)
* Eloise Mulliken (Flounder)
* Nathan Karnik (Prince Eric)
* Thomas E. Squires (King Triton)
* Meredith Wells (Atina, Ensemble)
* Amy Delgado (Aquata, Ensemble)
* Aubrey Trecek (Adella, Ensemble)
* Wesley Anthony Clerge (Sebastian)
* Trillium Falotico (Allana, Ensemble)
* Jimmy Hogan (U/S Flotsam, Jetsam)
* Nick Johnson (Chef Louis, Ensemble)
* Jennifer Ledesma (Andrina, Ensemble)
* Emily Turner (U/S Mersisters, Flounder)
* Chase Infiniti (Arista, U/S Ariel, Ensemble)
* Darryl Jones (Pilot, Ensemble, U/S King Triton)

Creative Team:
* Shane Cinal (Set Designer)
* Will Hughes (Tech Director)
* Joshua Castille (Co-Director)
* Kathy Logelin (Dialect Coach)
* Eric Backus (Sound Designer)
* Celia Villacres (Music Director)
* Bob Silton (Production Manager)
* Andrew Myers (Lighting Designer)
* Eric Nicole Eggers (Stage Manager)
* Dr. Aaron Ozee (Director Of Marketing)
* Rachel Sypniewski (Costume Designer)
* Samantha Salmi (Assistant Stage Manager)
* Kyle A. Dougan (Producing Artistic Director)
* Stacey Flaster (Co-Director & Choreographer)
* Maria "Mimi" Compton (Hair & Make-Up Designer)
* Matthew Weidenbener (Assistant Choreographer)

When:
* Press Performance: Friday, June 3, 2022 @ 8:00 PM
* Saturday, June 4, 2022 @ 2:00 PM
* Saturday, June 4, 2022 @ 8:00 PM
* Sunday, June 5, 2022 @ 2:00 PM
* Wednesday, June 8, 2022 @ 1:00 PM
* Thursday, June 9, 2022 @ 7:30 PM
* Friday, June 10, 2022 @ 8:00 PM
* Saturday, June 11, 2022 @ 2:00 PM
* Saturday, June 11, 2022 @ 8:00 PM
* Sunday, June 12, 2022 @ 2:00 PM
* Sunday, June 12, 2022 @ 6:00 PM
* Wednesday, June 15, 2022 @ 1:00 PM
* Thursday, June 16, 2022 @ 7:30 PM
* Friday, June 17, 2022 @ 8:00 PM
* Saturday, June 18, 2022 @ 2:00 PM
* Saturday, June 18, 2022 @ 8:00 PM
* Sunday, June 19, 2022 @ 2:00 PM
* Sunday, June 19, 2022 @ 6:00 PM
* Wednesday, June 22, 2022 @ 1:00 PM
* Thursday, June 23, 2022 @ 7:30 PM
* Friday, June 24, 2022 @ 8:00 PM
* Saturday, June 25, 2022 @ 2:00 PM
* Saturday, June 25, 2022 @ 8:00 PM
* Sunday, June 26, 2022 @ 2:00 PM

Where:

North Theatre

North Shore Center For The Performing Arts In Skokie

9501 Skokie Blvd.

Skokie, IL 60077

Tickets:

Ticket prices range from $39 to $106 and tickets for guests 25 and under are half-price.

Box Office: (847) 673-6300

Website: https://www.musictheaterworks.com/disneys-the-little-mermaid/.

Run Time:

Run time is approximately 2 hours and 35 minutes, including one 15 minute intermission.

Health Safety:

For more information about the Health Safety Procedures at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, please visit https://www.musictheaterworks.com/health-safety-procedures/.

Upcoming Shows

Music Theater Works has announced the 2022 Season, opening with Jerry Herman's LA CAGE AUX FOLLES (March 10, 2022 - April 3, 2022) starring Ginger Minj from RuPaul's Drag Race, followed by DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID (June 2, 2022 - June 22, 2022), ZORRO: THE MUSICAL (August 11, 2022 - August 21, 2022), CAMELOT (October 30, 2022 - November 13, 2022), and IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS (December 15, 2022 - January 1, 2023).

Please visit https://www.musictheaterworks.com/2022-Season/ for more information.

About Music Theater Works

Music Theater Works is a professional non-profit theater company based in Wilmette, Illinois featuring a colorful repertoire including operetta, the Golden Age of Broadway, the Great American Songbook, and modern classics since 1980.

As of 2021, Music Theater Works has become a resident theater company at the North Shore Center For The Performing Arts In Skokie (9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60076).

Music Theater Works shall present "DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID" at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie (9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60076) from June 2, 2022 to June 26, 2022 as the second production of the 2022 Season.

Related link: https://www.musictheaterworks.com/

Mzuri Moyo Aimbaye Kicks Off 2022 GOTV Tour Featuring Award-Winning One-Woman Play: The Fannie Lou Hamer Story

ATLANTA, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- Healing Through The Sound of Music announces: Award-winning singer, actress, and playwright, Mzuri Moyo Aimbaye kicks off the 2022 tour of her one-woman stage play about voting rights activist, Fannie Lou Hamer, with a live performance Feb. 17, 2022 at University of Maryland Eastern Shores in Princess Ann, Maryland. 'The Fannie Lou Hamer Story: Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired" celebrates the unsung hero whose brave struggle for human dignity and freedom became a catalyst for the passage of the Voter's Rights Act of 1965, and also promotes voting in the 2022 midterm elections as part of their Voice of the Empowered (V.O.T.E.) 2022 edutainment tour.

"I am excited to kick off our 2022 tour during Black History month because Fannie Lou Hamer made huge sacrifices to defend American democracy. That's the reason we must fight to keep our history included in school curriculums," said Aimbaye. "She was a warrior in the fight for voting and civil rights. Given the surge in voting restrictions across the country as well as the attempts to limit access to Black History, it's critically important to learn about the sacrifice and success of Fannie Lou Hamer, the daughter of a sharecropper."

The audience is in for a treat as Aimbaye couples her exceptional storytelling abilities with her mellifluous voice and commanding stage presence to take the audience on an incredible journey as Fannie Lou Hamer returns from heaven on a mission to invoke a sense of purpose and responsibility. Through intimate conversation and twelve emotionally moving songs Aimbaye gives a witty and personal account of Fannie Lou Hamer growing up as the youngest of 20 siblings in the 1920s on a Mississippi sharecropping plantation and the struggles she encountered fighting for the right to vote.

"Black History is American History and we have a duty to make sure our children and grandchildren know our struggle," adds Djehuty Se Hotep, producer of "The Fannie Lou Hamer Story." He adds, "Mzuri created this play after being moved by footage of Hamer's truthful account of voter registration suppression and brutal jail-house beatings. Mzuri knew that she needed to find a way to give an oral rendition of Hamer's testimony that would create the same emotion, authority, and call to action to vote that Hamer did."

Additional February and March tour dates include February 22, Valdosta State University in Valdosta, GA; March 8, University of Maryland in College Park, MD; and Mar 18 and 19 at the Lyric Theatre & Cultural Arts Center in Lexington, Kentucky.

For times and tickets go to https://www.thefannielouhamerstory.com/

Awarded "Best Actress," "Best Producer," and "Best Play" at the 2015 Atlanta Black Theater Festival, "The Fannie Lou Hamer Story" is part of a national voter empowerment initiative coupling the musical extravaganza with panel discussions and town hall meetings for an innovative "edutainment experience" aimed at registering, educating and mobilizing voters. The play is Directed by Byron C. Saunders and produced by Healing Through the Sound of Music, a social impact music and theatre production company. Virtual and in-person tour dates are still available.

For more information visit https://www.thefannielouhamerstory.com/, email mstee@thefannielouhamerstory.com, or call (347) 395-0259.

For more information on Healing Through The Sound of Music, visit: https://www.healingthroughsoundmusic.org/

Healing Through The Sound of Music announces: Award-winning singer, actress, and playwright, Mzuri Moyo Aimbaye kicks off the 2022 tour of her one-woman stage play about voting rights activist, Fannie Lou Hamer, with a live performance Feb. 17, 2022 at University of Maryland Eastern Shores.

Related link: https://www.healingthroughsoundmusic.org/

Two TV Icons Take the Stage at The Pompano Beach Cultural Center

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Pompano Beach Cultural Center is proud to present the humorous and insightful stage play "Willie & Esther", starring 70s television legends Ted Lange and BerNadette Stanis. Combining quick-witted dialogue and deeply emotional scenes, James Graham Bronson's story follows two middle-aged African American lovers as they fantasize about robbing a bank.

Ted Lange, best known for his role as Isaac on "The Love Boat," and BerNadette Stanis, who gained fame as Thelma in the groundbreaking sitcom "Good Times," portray the couple for two special performances; Saturday, March 26 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 27 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $45-$75. Learn more at https://www.pompanobeacharts.org.

"'Willie & Esther' premiered in 1987 at the Inner City Cultural Center in Los Angeles and won first place at the Center's first short-play competition, beating out more than 100 other plays from around the U.S.," said Phyllis Korab, Cultural Affairs Director. "Since then, the play has had many successful stagings, including an acclaimed Off-Broadway run. Now, we are thrilled to launch our own production, showcasing the talents of two beloved television stars."

The play centers on a couple who hatch a plan to overcome their troubles by robbing a bank. A frustrated scam artist, Willie, is a warehouse worker scheming to achieve a big break. Meanwhile, Esther endures the drudgery of her beauty parlor job and Willie's endless schemes. Hilarious, touching, and real as a bad day, this play's truth is that sometimes the only way to overcome your troubles is to laugh at them with someone you love.

"Willie & Esther is riotous, seamless, even daring because it pulls out the emotional stops and triumphs on its own terms," -- Los Angeles Times.

ABOUT THE CAST:

BerNadette Stanis is a Juilliard School trained actress, best known for her breakout role as sassy Thelma Evans in "Good Times." Stanis is also the author of four books: "Situations 101: Relationships, The Good, The Bad & The Ugly"; "For Men Only"; "Situations 101: Finances"; and "The Last Night."

Ted Lange personifies the Renaissance Man Theatre Award he received from the NAACP. A graduate of London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Lange's career had gained worldwide attention as a gifted actor of stage and screen, revered director and prolific writer. He has written 25 plays and counts three Shakespearean plays among his directing credits.

RELATED PROGRAMMING:

Live on the Set: The Love Boat with Theodore Lange | March 24 | 7 - 9 p.m. | FREE

Join us for a screening of an episode of "The Love Boat" at 7:15 p.m. followed by an Interview and audience Q&A with Theodore William Lange who portrayed Isaac on the wildly successful television show. This romantic and comic drama aired from 1977 to 1987 on ABC and followed three story lines of the passengers and crew of the cruise ship, Pacific Princess.

Live on the Set: Good Times with BernNadette Stanis l March 25 | 7 pm - 9 p.m. | FREE

Join us for a screening of an episode of "Good Times" at 7:15 p.m. followed by an Interview and audience Q&A with BernNadette Stanis who played Thelma on the sitcom that aired for six seasons on CBS from 1974 to 1979. Created by Eric Monte and Mike Evans and developed by executive producer Norman Lear, "Good Times" was television's first African American two-parent family sitcom. Florida and James Evans and their three children live in a public housing project in a poor, black neighborhood in inner-city Chicago and the show's characters attempt to overcome poverty.

Writing the Play-Master Class with Ted Lange | March 28 | 6 - 9 p.m. | $65

In this playwriting masterclass led by legendary actor, playwright, and director Ted Lange from the iconic television show "The Love Boat" you will discover or rediscover, the playwriter in you! Whether you've never written anything before, you're experienced in another kind of writing, or you're a playwright looking to sharpen your skills, "Writing the Play" offers clear, step-by-step guidance in the basics: character, conflict, and structure, setting, dialogue, and formatting. But that's not all. Need to make that good script great? We'll study more than a dozen elements you can use in the rewriting process to move your script up a level and then discuss what to do next in the development process.

WHERE:

Pompano Beach Cultural Center is located at 50 Atlantic Boulevard, Pompano Beach, Florida.

About the City of Pompano Beach Cultural Affairs Department

The mission of the Cultural Affairs Department is to provide cultural programming that includes visual arts, digital media, music, film, theater, dance and public art for the enjoyment and enrichment of residents and visitors to Pompano Beach, Broward County, and the greater South Florida area. The department programs and manages the City's premiere cultural arts venues, including the Pompano Beach Cultural Center, Ali Cultural Arts Center, Bailey Contemporary Arts Center, and the Blanche Ely House Museum. The department also oversees the City's Public Art Program and the prestigious National Endowment for the Arts' Our Town grant awarded to the Pompano Beach Crossroads place-making arts initiative.

Learn more: https://www.pompanobeacharts.org/

The Pompano Beach Cultural Center is proud to present the humorous and insightful stage play "Willie & Esther", starring 70s television legends Ted Lange and BerNadette Stanis. Combining quick-witted dialogue and deeply emotional scenes, James Graham Bronson's story follows two middle-aged African American lovers as they fantasize about robbing a bank.

Related link: https://www.pompanobeacharts.org/

Music Theater Works Presents BILLY ELLIOT: THE MUSICAL

SKOKIE, Ill. /ScoopCloud/ -- Music Theater Works shall present "Billy Elliot: The Musical" at the North Shore Center For The Performing Arts In Skokie (9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60076) from December 23, 2021 through January 2, 2022 as the final production of the 2021 Season.

About The Show

Boasting a Tony Award and an Olivier Award for Best Musical, "Billy Elliot" is based on the 2000 international smash-hit film and features a score by music legend Sir Elton John. "Billy Elliot" is an inspirational story about the power of being true to yourself, the unity of family, and the coming together of a community backgrounded by the UK miners' strike in 1984.

From the bleak, muggy streets of northern England to the bright stage lights of a London stage and a brighter tomorrow, "Billy Elliot" tells the story of a boy's desire to express himself through dance and is the inspirational story about the power of being true to yourself, the unity of family and the coming together of a community during the UK miners' strike in 1984.

Production Details

Who:
* Music Theater Works

What:
* Billy Elliot: The Musical
* Music by Sir Elton John
* Directed by Kyle A. Dougan
* Book and Lyrics by Lee Hall
* Choreography by Clayton Cross
* Music Directed and Conducted by Michael McBride

Cast Members:
* Matt Miles (as Dad)
* Rick Rapp (as George)
* Caron Buinis (as Grandma)
* Lydia Burke (as Dead Mum)
* Brandon Machuad (as Tony)
* Jake Siswick (as Billy Elliot)
* Kai Edgar (as Michael Caffrey)
* Casiena Raether (as Mrs. Wilkinson)
* Jon Parker Jackson (as Mr. Braithwaite)
* Everleigh Murphy (as Debbie Wilkinson)

Creative Team:
* Dramaturg (Nathan Lamp)
* Tech Director (Will Hughes)
* Set Designer (Lauren Nigri)
* Dialect Coach (Kathy Logelin)
* Sound Designer (Eric Backus)
* Choreographer (Clayton Cross)
* Props Designer (Frank Roberts)
* Production Manager (Bob Silton)
* Lighting Designer (Andrew Myers)
* Director Of Marketing (Aaron Ozee)
* Fight Choreographer (Nick Sandys)
* Stage Manager (Sean Michael Mohler)
* Company Manager (Christopher Riley)
* Costume Designer (Darcy Elora Hoefer)
* Assistant Stage Manager (Kelly Jonske)
* Hair And Make-Up Designer (Alice Salazar)
* Producing Artistic Director (Kyle A. Dougan)
* Assistant Choreographer (Ariel Etana Triunfo)
* Music Director And Conductor (Michael McBride)

When:
* Press Performance: Thursday, December 23, 2021 @ 7:30 PM
* Sunday, December 26, 2021 @ 2:00 PM & 6:00 PM
* Wednesday, December 29, 2021 @ 1:00 PM
* Thursday, December 30, 2021 @ 7:30 PM
* Friday, December 31, 2021 @ 8:00 PM
* Saturday, January 1, 2022 @ 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM
* Sunday, January 2, 2022 @ 2:00 PM

Where:
North Shore Center For The Performing Arts In Skokie
9501 Skokie Blvd.
Skokie, IL 60077

Tickets:
Ticket prices range from $41 to $108 and tickets for guests 25 and under are half-price.

Box Office: (847) 673-6300

Website: https://www.musictheaterworks.com/Billy-Elliot/

Run Time:
The approximate run time is 2 hours and 45 minutes, including one 15 minute intermission.

Health Safety:

ALL GUESTS will be required to wear a face mask regardless of vaccination status and to present their photo ID with proof of full vaccination from COVID-19 with an approved vaccine.

Please visit https://www.musictheaterworks.com/health-safety-procedures/ for more information.

Upcoming Shows

Music Theater Works has announced the 2022 Season, opening with Jerry Herman's "LA CAGE AUX FOLLES" (March 10, 2022 - April 3, 2022) starring Ginger Minj from RuPaul's Drag Race, followed by "DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID" (June 2, 2022 - June 22, 2022), "ZORRO: THE MUSICAL" (August 11, 2022 - August 21, 2022), "CAMELOT" (October 30, 2022 - November 13, 2022), and "IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS" (December 15, 2022 - January 1, 2023).

Please visit https://www.musictheaterworks.com/2022-Season/ for more information.

About Music Theater Works

Music Theater Works is a professional non-profit theater company based in Wilmette, Illinois featuring a colorful repertoire including operetta, the Golden Age of Broadway, the Great American Songbook, and modern classics since 1980.

As of 2021, Music Theater Works has become a resident theater company at the North Shore Center For The Performing Arts In Skokie (9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60076).

Music Theater Works shall present "Billy Elliot: The Musical" at the North Shore Center For The Performing Arts In Skokie (9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60076) from December 23, 2021 through January 2, 2022 as the final production of the 2021 Season.

Related link: https://www.musictheaterworks.com/

Lowell Chamber Orchestra presents ‘As One,’ the most produced contemporary opera in North America, on the Transgender Day of Remembrance

LOWELL, Mass. /ScoopCloud/ -- Lowell Chamber Orchestra is proud to present "As One" on Saturday, November 20, 2021, 7:30 p.m., at Middlesex Community College. The critically acclaimed, 75-minute chamber opera created by composer Laura Kaminsky and librettists Kimberly Reed and Mark Campbell with film by Ms. Reed, has had nearly 50 productions around the world and, according to OPERA America, is the most produced contemporary opera in North America.

In "As One," two voices-Hannah after and Hannah before-share the part of a sole transgender protagonist. Fifteen songs comprise the three-part narrative; with empathy and humor, they trace Hannah's experiences from her youth in a small town to her college years-and finally traveling alone to a different country, where she realizes some truths about herself.

For the first time in the opera's history, "As One" will be performed by an entirely gender-expansive cast: mezzo-soprano Tona Brown and baritone Rahzé Cheatham will play "Hannah after" and "Hannah before," respectively. Further, the work will be performed on the Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day that commemorates violence against the transgender community.

Says Ms. Brown: "Hannah's story is a story of struggle, self discovery and triumph...and anyone can relate to that even if they don't know much about transgender people. For the first time in history transgender people can see themselves represented on the stage of an opera! This performance will go down in history!"

Orlando Cela, music director for Lowell Chamber Orchestra, will conduct with stage direction by Em Russell.

Like all Lowell Chamber Orchestra concerts, the concert is free of charge, but donations are kindly requested. Audiences must show proof of vaccination upon entry and remain masked during the entirety of the opera.

Learn more: https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/events/as-one

SUMMARY:

"As One"

Saturday, November 20, 7:30 p.m.

Richard and Nancy Donahue Family Academic Arts Center

Middlesex Community College

240 Central Street, Lowell, MA

Presented by Middlesex Community College "A World of Music" Concert Series

Sponsored by the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, and Parma Recordings

REVIEWS:

"As One forces you to think, simultaneously challenging preconceptions and inspiring empathy." - The New York Times

"Its universality is key to As One's becoming the hottest new American opera of recent years. It challenges us to ponder questions of authenticity, identity, compassion and self-love. And it does so without preachiness." - The Chicago Tribune

Lowell Chamber Orchestra is proud to present "As One" on Saturday, November 20, 2021, 7:30 p.m., at Middlesex Community College. The critically acclaimed, 75-minute chamber opera created by composer Laura Kaminsky and librettists Kimberly Reed and Mark Campbell with film by Ms. Reed, has had nearly 50 productions around the world and, according to OPERA America, is the most produced contemporary opera in North America.

Related link: https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/

Innovative Strip Artist Coworking Space, The Artists Plex, Kicked Off GoFundMe

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- A dedicated group of current and former strip artists have combined their resources to form Artists Plex (https://artistsplex.com/), a community based, coworking space that promotes creative collaboration and financial prosperity, while merging the current demand for networking and production facilities within their industry.

Spearheaded by veteran dance performance artist and activist Natalie 'NatsHoney' Clark and podcaster/social activist and labor movement secretary for Strippers United, AM Davies (AMD), Artists Plex marks the first space of its kind within the strip artist industry. Their nationwide crowdfunding campaign was kicked off of GoFundMe, but the determined coalition is continuing their effort to raise funds, support and awareness for the innovative project.

While coworking spaces are a popular workplace structure utilized in many other industries, the concept is new to the world of strip artistry and offers a pioneering platform of resources. Artists Plex seeks to develop a one-stop location for photography and content shoots, ticketed event rentals, cinema, podcasting rooms, and team networking events for all members. As a production complex, the location will house a pole suite, retail and art gallery, photography suites, a cinema room, library, and meditation center. Monthly social, community, and pop-up events are also being planned for their calendar.

Serving a demographic that is often misconstrued and maligned, the Artists Plex seeks funding from supporters to help address issues of community engagement, educational resources and professional development. Funds raised will be used to provide foundational assistance for entrepreneurs within the industry.

"By utilizing our years of experience, we are poised to disrupt the status quo. As leaders and innovators, we are optimistic about how this first-time professional hub will benefit the careers of so many strip artists who currently lack viable means of artistic aid," cites Natalie 'NatsHoney' Clark. "It's devastating that platforms like GoFundMe don't respect or recognize our efforts. The Artists Plex can change the dynamics of the strip artist workforce and offer a never-before-seen collaborative environment for industry professionals. We are a demographic of working women and mothers who deserve access to mainstream structures like coworking spaces as well as access to platforms like GoFundme."

"This Artists Plex is a natural step, especially considering the social and economic climate we operate in currently," adds Yes, A Stripper Podcast producer, AM Davies. "Having the Artists Plex is the perfect way to bring this community together, so we can grow, learn and activate, in whatever capacity that may be, with unity. When platforms like GoFundMe shun us, it brings more urgency to our need to cocreate spaces where we are not demonized but appreciated for our work and creativity as artists."

Natalie 'NatsHoney' Clark is a spirited entrepreneur and creative artist. Her knowledge of advocacy, entrepreneurship, and leadership abilities come from her twelve years at the forefront of the medicinal cannabis collective industry. Today, she enjoys adventures with her son in her spare time, catching up with loved ones, and volunteering for the labor outfit 'Strippers United,' an organization which works to unionize dancers.

An iconic veteran of Hollywood's nightlife scene, AM Davies (AMD) has been working with and advocating for dancers and workers within the sex community for nearly two decades. She is the secretary for Strippers United (formerly Soldiers of Pole), which works to unionize dancers and host her podcast, Yes, a Stripper Podcast (YAS Podcast) (https://yesastripperpodcast.com/) as an educational resource for inquiring listeners.

A below the knee amputee, a scooter accident in 2018 and the resulting amputation changed her path. Amazingly however, she continues to dance and still dons her legendary platform shoes while doing so. Her primary focus though is using her voice to effect broad social change.

To learn more about The Artists Plex and assist with funding their campaign go to the https://artistsplex.com/.

A dedicated group of current and former strip artists have combined their resources to form Artists Plex, a community based, coworking space that promotes creative collaboration and financial prosperity, while merging the current demand for networking and production facilities within their industry.

Related link: https://artistsplex.com/

Music Theater Works Announces 2022 Season

SKOKIE, Ill. /ScoopCloud/ -- Music Theater Works has announced the 2022 Season, opening with Jerry Herman's "LA CAGE AUX FOLLES" (March 10, 2022 - April 3, 2022) starring Joshua Eads Brown (AKA Ginger Minj) from "RuPaul's Drag Race," followed by "DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID" (June 2, 2022 - June 22, 2022), "ZORRO: THE MUSICAL" (August 11, 2022 - August 21, 2022), "CAMELOT" (October 30, 2022 - November 13, 2022), and "IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS" (December 15, 2022 - January 1, 2023).

A word from Producing Artistic Director, Kyle A. Dougan: "Our 2022 season will get us back on track to expanded programming and more challenging artistic endeavors to bring 'Great Music' and 'Great Theater' to our audiences. I look forward to sharing our exciting season with our community."

Music Theater Works Presents "LA CAGE AUX FOLLES"

Music Theater Works will present "La Cage Aux Folles" at the North Shore Center For The Performing Arts In Skokie (9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60076) in the North Theatre from March 10, 2022 through April 3, 2022.

About The Show:

The winner of six Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book, and recently Best Revival of a Musical, "La Cage Aux Folles" is a night full of belly-laughs! Based on the hit French farce that also inspired Hollywood's The Birdcage, this Broadway smash has a hilarious book by Harvey Fierstein and a score by the king of show tunes, Jerry Herman (Hello, Dolly! and Mame).

We will transform the theater into La Cage's elegant St. Tropez nightclub complete with an onstage bar and surprises lurking at every turn. And when a non-traditional family's future in-laws come for a visit, the truth comes out in the wildest of ways!

Starring RuPaul's Drag Race headliner, Joshua Eads Brown (AKA Ginger Minj), and with costumes by Project Runway designer Justin LeBlanc, this is an event you cannot miss!

Music Theater Works Presents "DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID"

Music Theater Works will present "Disney's The Little Mermaid" at the North Shore Center For The Performing Arts In Skokie (9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60076) in The North Theatre from June 2, 2022 through June 26, 2022.

About The Show:

Based on one of Hans Christian Andersen's most beloved stories and the classic Disney animated film, "Disney's The Little Mermaid" is a classic and beautiful love story for the entire family. With music by eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, and a compelling book by Doug Wright, this Broadway gem will capture your heart with its irresistible song favorites, including "Under the Sea," "Kiss the Girl" and "Part of Your World."

From the moment you step into the theater, this immersive production will make you feel part of Ariel's world. When she disobeys her father, King Triton, and makes a deal with the evil witch, Ursula, Ariel thinks her dreams have come true. But when the bargain is not what it seems, Ariel needs the help of her colorful friends, Flounder the fish, Scuttle the seagull, and Sebastian the crab to save her true love and restore order under the sea.

Music Theater Works Presents "ZORRO: THE MUSICAL"

Music Theater Works will present "Zorro: The Musical" at the North Shore Center For The Performing Arts In Skokie (9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60076) in The Center Theatre from August 11, 2022 through August 21, 2022.

About The Show:

Brace yourself for extraordinary aerial acrobatics, spectacular sword-fighting and incredible magic in the theater as Music Theater Works tells the tale of the legendary swordsman and defender of justice in "Zorro: The Musical".

Zorro has captured the imagination of millions for over a century, in books, movies and television-now he takes the stage in a thrilling original musical. Don Diego de la Vega, a wealthy caballero, lives a double life as a masked hero entangled in adventure and romance, fighting to protect his people from tyranny, and to win the love of the beautiful Luisa.

In association with Ensemble Español, this regional premiere is an unforgettable and action-packed experience, with dazzling choreography and a captivating Flamenco-based score by the international pop sensations, Gipsy Kings!

Music Theater Works Presents "CAMELOT"

Music Theater Works will present "Camelot" at the North Shore Center For The Performing Arts In Skokie (9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60076) in The North Theatre from October 20, 2022 through November 13, 2022.

About The Show:

Join us as we recount the enduring legend of King Arthur, Guenevere, Lancelot, and the Knights of the Round Table in Lerner and Loewe's "Camelot". Based on T.H. White's novel "The Once and Future King", this Broadway classic is a four-time Tony Award winner packed with chivalry, passion, pageantry and betrayal.

Music Theater Works brings this medieval love triangle to the theater stage with a remarkable cast and beloved score that includes timeless songs such as "If Ever I Would Leave You," "Camelot," "C'est Moi" and "How to Handle a Woman".

Follow along as King Arthur's most trusted knight, Sir Lancelot, falls for the beautiful Queen Guenevere, and together they give in to their passion. Will this betrayal destroy Camelot and all for which it stands? This intimate new production promises to bring "Camelot" to new and thrilling life!

Music Theater Works Presents "IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS"

Music Theater Works will present "Irving Berlin's White Christmas" at the North Shore Center For The Performing Arts In Skokie (9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60076) in The Center Theatre from December 15, 2022 through January 1, 2023.

About The Show:

Based on the heartwarming classic film, "Irving Berlin's White Christmas" is a holiday favorite for the whole family. With a sparkling new book by David Ives and Paul Blake, the musical delight features such classic Berlin songs as "Blue Skies," "I Love a Piano," "How Deep is the Ocean," and of course the perennial holiday favorite, "White Christmas."

"Irving Berlin's White Christmas" follows World War II veterans Bob Wallace and Phil Davis, who have a successful song-and-dance act. They follow a duo of beautiful singing sisters en route to a Christmas stage show, and end up at the Vermont inn owned by their former army commander, General Waverly.

When Bob and Phil discover the General's inn has fallen on hard times, they decide to put on a big show to draw in business. But will romance and misunderstandings stop the performance? Join us this holiday season when this classic Christmas story unfolds with unforgettable songs and joyous dance!

TICKET INFORMATION

Ticket prices range from $39 to $106 and tickets for guests 25 and under are half-price.

Box Office: (847) 673-6300

Website: https://www.musictheaterworks.com/2022-Season/

HEALTH AND SAFETY PROCEDURES

ALL GUESTS will be required to wear a face mask regardless of vaccination status and to present their photo ID with proof of full vaccination from COVID-19 with an approved vaccine.

Please visit https://www.musictheaterworks.com/health-safety-procedures/ for more information.

ABOUT MUSIC THEATER WORKS

Music Theater Works is a professional non-profit theater company based in Wilmette, Illinois featuring a colorful repertoire including operetta, the Golden Age of Broadway, the Great American Songbook, and modern classics since 1980.

As of 2021, Music Theater Works has become a resident theater company at the North Shore Center For The Performing Arts In Skokie (9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60076).

VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/FK8bo4y14C8

Music Theater Works has announced the 2022 Season, opening with Jerry Herman's "LA CAGE AUX FOLLES" (March 10, 2022 - April 3, 2022) starring Joshua Eads Brown (AKA Ginger Minj) from "RuPaul's Drag Race," followed by "DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID" (June 2, 2022 - June 22, 2022), "ZORRO: THE MUSICAL" (August 11, 2022 - August 21, 2022), "CAMELOT" (October 30, 2022 - November 13, 2022), and "IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS" (December 15, 2022 - January 1, 2023).

Related link: https://www.musictheaterworks.com/

Music Theater Works Presents RAGTIME

SKOKIE, Ill. /ScoopCloud/ -- Music Theater Works will present "Ragtime" at the North Shore Center For The Performing Arts In Skokie (9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60076) from October 29, 2021 through November 7, 2021 being the third production of the 2021 Season.

About The Show

Music Theater Works brings this 13-time Tony Award-nominated musical with its rich, award-winning score by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens - the lyricist and composer duo behind Once on This Island and Seussical to its stage. "Ragtime," based on the E. L. Doctorow, tells the unforgettable story of an upper-class wife, a determined Jewish immigrant and a young, daring Harlem musician living during the early years of the 20th century.

Showcasing the great struggle that accompanies the American Dream and featuring some of the most well-known figures of the time, Ragtime tells the tale of three different individuals who desire a brighter future but must unite to achieve their goals.

Production Details

WHO:

* Music Theater Works

WHAT:
* "Ragtime"
* Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
* Book by Terrence McNally
* Music by Stephen Flaherty
* Directed by Stacey Flaster
* Choreography by Ariel Etana Triunfo
* Music Directed and Conducted by Roger Bingaman

CAST MEMBERS:
* Dan Gold (as Tateh)
* Kelly Britt (as Mother)
* Lydia Burke (as Sarah)
* Brian Hupp (as Father)
* Bob Sanders (as Grandfather & Judge)
* Korey White (as Booker T. Washington)
* Curtis Bannister (as Coalhouse Walker Jr.)
* Ryan Dooley (as Mother's Younger Brother)

CREATIVE TEAM:
* Dramaturg (Nathan Lamp)
* Tech Director (Will Hughes)
* Dialect Coach (Kathy Logelin)
* Props Designer (Ellen Markus)
* Sound Designer (Aaron Quick)
* Set Designer (Sotirios Livaditis)
* Production Manager (Bob Silton)
* Lighting Designer (Andrew Myers)
* Fight Choreographer (Nick Sandys)
* Stage Manager (Sean Michael Mohler)
* Costume Designer (Rachel Sypniewski)
* Assistant Stage Manager (Parker Bailey)
* Producing Artistic Director (Kyle A. Dougan)
* Hair And Make-Up Co-Designer (Alice Salazar)
* Hair And Make-Up Co-Designer (Charlene Sellers)

WHEN:
* Group Performance: Thursday, October 28, 2021 @ 1:00 PM
* Press Performance: Friday, October 29, 2021 @ 8:00 PM
* Saturday, October 30, 2021 @ 8:00 PM
* Sunday, October 31, 2021 @ 2:00 PM
* Wednesday, November 3, 2021 @ 1:00 PM
* Friday, November 5, 2021 @ 8:00 PM
* Saturday, November 6, 2021 @ 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM
* Sunday, November 7, 2021 @ 2:00 PM

WHERE:
North Shore Center For The Performing Arts In Skokie

9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, IL 60077

TICKETS:

Ticket prices range from $41 to $108 and tickets for guests 25 and under are half-price.

Box Office: (847) 673-6300

Website: https://www.musictheaterworks.com/Ragtime/

RUN TIME:

The approximate run time is 2 hours and 45 minutes, including one 15 minute intermission.

HEALTH SAFETY:

ALL GUESTS will be required to wear a face mask regardless of vaccination status and to present their photo ID with proof of full vaccination from COVID-19 with an approved vaccine.

Please visit https://www.musictheaterworks.com/health-safety-procedures/ for more information.

UPCOMING SHOWS

BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL (Dec 23, 2021 - Jan 2, 2022).

The 2021 season has been proudly sponsored by Joyce Saxon.

ABOUT MUSIC THEATER WORKS

Music Theater Works is a professional non-profit theater company based in Wilmette, Illinois featuring a colorful repertoire including operetta, the Golden Age of Broadway, the Great American Songbook, and modern classics since 1980.

As of 2021, Music Theater Works has become a resident theater company at the North Shore Center For The Performing Arts In Skokie (9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60076).

The mission of Music Theater Works is to produce and present musical theater from a variety of world traditions and to engage the local community through educational and outreach programs.

MEDIA CONTACT
Aaron Ozee
Director of Marketing
Music Theater Works
Phone: (847) 920-5360 ext. 7
Email: aozee@musictheaterworks.org

Music Theater Works will present "Ragtime" at the North Shore Center For The Performing Arts In Skokie (9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60076) from October 29, 2021 through November 7, 2021 being the third production of the 2021 Season.

Related link: https://www.musictheaterworks.com/

New Jersey Theatre Alliance Awarded Grant Through New Jersey State Council on the Arts as Part of the State’s Largest Appropriation in 55 Year History

MORRISTOWN, N.J. /ScoopCloud/ -- New Jersey Theatre Alliance ("The Alliance"), one of the state's largest arts service organizations, was recently awarded a grant through the New Jersey State Council on the Arts ("NJSCA"). The awards announced last week were part of the largest state appropriation the Council has ever received in its 55-year history - $31.9 million as part of the state budget approved by Governor Murphy last month.

"This is a historic time for New Jersey's arts community. We thank Governor Murphy, Secretary of State Way, and the New Jersey State Legislature for their belief in the impact the arts have on our communities and the souls of our fellow New Jerseyans," says John McEwen, Executive Director, New Jersey Theatre Alliance.

For the first time in over a decade, the NJSCA budget was increased by 60%. As stated by the Council, $35.6 million in grants were awarded to support more than 700 arts organizations, projects, and artists throughout the state. Grant awards also included $7.5 million in Coronavirus Relief Funds, which were signed into law by Governor Murphy earlier this year as part of a multi-bill package aimed at economic recovery.

"Given the extraordinary times we are living, the increased funding to the arts causes me to beam with pride about the leadership of our great state," says Marshall Jones, III, Associate Professor - Theater, Mason Gross School of the Arts Rutgers and President of the Alliance Board of Trustees. John J. Wooten, Producing Artistic Director of Premiere Stages and Chair of the Alliance Board of Trustees, adds, "Increased funding from NJSCA could not have not come at a more crucial time. While theatres are beginning to transition back from virtual presentations to live productions, significant challenges remain. These enhanced resources will not only help theatres to safely re-emerge but will also help them to explore creative ways to re-envision their missions in a post-COVID world. Increased funding for New Jersey Theatre Alliance will also ensure that the incredible job the Alliance has been doing to assist the NJ Theatre Membership with re-opening efforts will continue."

A 33% increase from NJSCA has brought the Alliance's General Operating Support (GOS) grant up to a total of $208,705, support for their Cultural Access Network Project, a co-sponsored project that provides a wide range of services and programs to assist theatres and cultural organizations in making their programs and facilities accessible to seniors and people with disabilities, remained level with a grant of $70,000, and received a grant of $46,000 as part of the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF).

"We are grateful for the support and partnership of the State Arts Council's Board and staff who have done an outstanding job in lifting up our field during this unprecedented time. We thank our colleagues at ArtPride New Jersey and all the state's arts advocates for their tireless efforts and encouragement in support of our field. This has been the most challenging time for our industry and as we continue to chart new waters and begin to welcome audiences back safely, these increased funds will have a major impact in helping our field on their path to stability," says McEwen.

About New Jersey Theatre Alliance

Founded in 1981, New Jersey Theatre Alliance ( https://njtheatrealliance.org/ ) was the first statewide service organization for professional, not-for-profit theatre companies in the United States, and is a leader in developing model programs that unite, promote, strengthen, and cultivate professional theatre in New Jersey. Funding for the New Jersey Theatre Alliance, a not-for-profit organization, is provided in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism, and contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations including Amazon, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, The Grunin Foundation, The Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey, The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, Bank of America, City National Bank, The Shubert Foundation, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, Investors Bank, The Hyde and Watson Foundation, Kessler Foundation, The F.M. Kirby Foundation, E.J. Grassmann Trust, and The Union Foundation.

*LOGO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/21-0804s2p-njtheatre-300dpi.jpg

New Jersey Theatre Alliance ("The Alliance"), one of the state's largest arts service organizations, was recently awarded a grant through the New Jersey State Council on the Arts ("NJSCA"). The awards announced last week were part of the largest state appropriation the Council has ever received in its 55-year history.

Related link: https://njtheatrealliance.org/

Millionaire Mastermind Academy and Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts Announces Entrepreneur Summit Sept. 15

PHOENIX, Ariz. /ScoopCloud/ -- ThinkZILLA Consulting Group announced today that The Millionaire Mastermind Academy, Inc. and the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts will host the 2021 United Diversity Business Summit on Sept. 15 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The theme of the summit is "Enhancing the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem," with workshops on measuring diversity and inclusion initiatives, mentoring minority entrepreneurs, accessing capital and more.

The free all-day summit, held at The Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, will feature workshops, panels and speakers to help minority small businesses, entrepreneurs, and medium-sized businesses discover innovative approaches and best practices to improve Arizona's Economic growth outcomes. With speakers from the Greater Phoenix Economic Council and Arizona Commerce Authority, Scottsdale Mayor David Ortega and other distinguished Greater Phoenix leaders, this event will create pathways to entrepreneurship for all.

"Building on our success in creating programs to advance business opportunities for Black and minority-owned businesses through corporate engagement in Atlanta and Houston, we are excited to share our strategy and experience with Arizona corporations," said Dr. Velma Trayham, Founder of Millionaire Mastermind Academy, Award Winning Entrepreneur, and CEO of Thinkzilla Consulting Group. "The summit's focus on empowering entrepreneurs is a perfect theme for moving forward and creating the next generation of diverses business owners and leaders."

While African-Americans have the fastest growth rate by percentage of any demographic in Arizona, the state's Black median household income continues to lag behind the rest of the state, according to the State of Black Business Report for Arizona, a study led by the State of Black Arizona. Further, Black-owned firms comprise just one percent of all statewide businesses, and most are less than six years old. Trayham launched the Millionaire Mastermind Academy to help diverse women entrepreneurs create and launch sustainable businesses; the program has mentored more than 5,000 women in achieving their dreams of entrepreneurship.

"In the last year, collaboration with organizations such as GPEC, State of Black Arizona, Arizona Hispanic Chamber and Social Television Network have shown me the true impact, importance and the benefits of improving diversity within the business community," said Robin S. Reed, President and CEO of the Black Chamber of Arizona. "Now is the time to build on that momentum and take massive action toward creating measurable metrics that define our commitment to DEI as the standard for how companies operate."

The summit is designed to serve as a recovery mechanism to provide resources for small business owners, including those who did not have the infrastructure to take advantage of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds. Topics covered during the free event will include financial literacy, driving industry transformation, advancing black entrepreneurs, and measuring diversity and inclusivity initiatives, among others.

Keynote speakers include: Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority; Dr. Velma Trayham, Founder of the Millionaire Mastermind Academy and CEO of Thinkzilla; Robin Reed, President and CEO of the Black Chamber of Arizona; Chris Camacho, President and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council; Mayor of Scottsdale David Ortega; Danny Seidon, President and CEO of Blaylock Van; Eric Standifer, President and CEO of Greater Phoenix Leadership; and Art Hamilton, founder of the Art Hamilton Group.

"Creating opportunity and an equitable community is accomplished only through inclusive growth," said Chris Camacho, president & CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council. "This summit is an important step forward in filling knowledge gaps and taking action on diversity as Greater Phoenix's economy cannot reach its full potential without expanding programs and opportunities for minority-owned businesses and entrepreneurs."

For more Sponsorship information, Media Inquiries, general information or to register, please visit the link below.

United Diversity Business Summit Tickets, Mon, Sep 15, 2021 at 8:30 a.m. - https://uniteddiversitybusinesssummit.com/

About ThinkZILLA Consulting Group

ThinkZILLA Consulting Group is a culturally aware brand engagement firm that focuses on diversity and inclusion through entrepreneurial impact. Thinkzilla works with large companies that want to diversify their supply chains and connect with minority -owned businesses. We utilize program development, digital engagement, partnership marketing, experiential events and Public Relations strategy to push projects forward. Making brands more relevant, ThinkZILLA builds meaningful connections between brands and consumers. For more information on ThinkZILLA please visit https://thinkzillaconsulting.com/

About Millionaire Mastermind Academy

The Millionaire Mastermind Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to educate and support the growth of women-owned business enterprises, thereby strengthening the economic impact in their community. We have mentored more than 5,000 women through our programs. For more information, visit http://www.millionairemastermindacademy.org/

About the Greater Phoenix Economic Council

The Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC), recently named the top economic development organization in the U.S. by the International Economic Development Council, works to attract and grow quality businesses and advocate for the competitiveness of Greater Phoenix. A data-driven regional economic development organization, GPEC works with 22 member communities, Maricopa County and more than 170 private investors to accomplish its mission and serve as a strategic partner to companies across the world as they expand or relocate to Greater Phoenix. Over the past 31 years GPEC has fueled the regional economy by helping more than 850 companies, creating 154,000 jobs and $20.4 billion in capital investment. Greater Phoenix is in a relentless pursuit of innovative and entrepreneurial-focused companies looking to thrive and scale in a vibrant, dynamic region. There is an undeniable spirit about Greater Phoenix; one rooted in strength, collaboration and resilience. Greater Phoenix is Greater Together. For more information about GPEC and how we can assist your businesses, visit http://www.gpec.org/.

About the Black Chamber of Arizona

The mission of the Black Chamber of Arizona (BCAZ), now in its twenty-second year of existence, is to help increase entrepreneurial and corporate diversity by building stronger businesses that serve all communities. It does this by providing tools and education to create more "bankable" businesses, by removing barriers that impede access to capital and by partnering with leading educational institutions to help create competitive business advantages through workforce diversity. For additional information, visit http://www.blackchamberaz.com/.

*IMAGE link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/21-0715s2p-udbsummit-poster-300dpi.jpg

ThinkZILLA Consulting Group announced today that The Millionaire Mastermind Academy, Inc. and the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts will host the 2021 United Diversity Business Summit on Sept. 15 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The theme of the summit is "Enhancing the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem," with workshops on measuring diversity and inclusion initiatives, mentoring minority entrepreneurs, accessing capital and more.

Related link: https://thinkzillaconsulting.com/

Music Theater Works Presents Mamma Mia!

SKOKIE, Ill. /ScoopCloud/ -- Music Theater Works will present "Mamma Mia!" at the North Shore Center For The Performing Arts In Skokie (9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60076) from August 19, 2021 through August 29, 2021 being the second production of the 2021 Season.

About The Show

ABBA's hits tell the hilarious story of a young woman's search for her birth father. This sunny and funny tale unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter's quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother's past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago.

The story-telling magic of ABBA's timeless songs propels this enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship, creating an unforgettable show. A large cast, non-stop laughs and explosive dance numbers combine to make "Mamma Mia!" a guaranteed smash hit. A mother. A daughter. Three possible dads. A trip down the aisle you'll never forget with MUSIC THEATER WORKS!

PRODUCTION DETAILS

Who:
* Music Theater Works

What:
* Mamma Mia!
* Directed by Justin Brill
* Book by Catherine Johnson
* Choreography by Shanna VanDerwerker
* Music Directed and Conducted by Linda Madonia
* Music and Lyrics by Benny Anderson and Björn Ulvaeus (songs with Stig Anderson)

Cast Members:
* Dan Gold (as Bill Austin)
* Veronica Garza (as Rosie)
* Casiena Raether (as Tanya)
* Heather Banks (as Sophie Sheridan)
* Andrew Fortman (as Sam Carmichael)
* Alexis Armstrong (as Donna Sheridan)
* North Rory Homewood (as Harry Bright)

Creative Team:
* Sound Designer (Aaron Quick)
* Set Designer (Kristen Martino)
* Production Manager (Bob Silton)
* Hair and Make-Up (Alice Salazar)
* Lighting Designer (Andrew Myers)
* Costume Designer (Rueben Echoles)
* Props Designer (Hayley E. Wallenfeldt)
* Producing Artistic Director (Kyle A. Dougan)
* Assistant Director and Choreographer (Emma Parssi)

When:
* Group Performance: Thursday, August 19, 2021 @ 1:00 PM
* Press Performance: Friday, August 20, 2021 @ 8:00 PM
* Saturday, August 21, 2021 @ 8:00 PM
* Sunday, August 22, 2021 @ 2:00 PM
* Wednesday, August 25, 2021 @ 1:00 PM
* Friday, August 27, 2021 @ 8:00 PM
* Saturday, August 28, 2021 @ 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM
* Sunday, August 29, 2021 @ 2:00 PM

Where:

North Shore Center For The Performing Arts In Skokie
9501 Skokie Blvd.
Skokie, IL 60077

Tickets:

Tickets start at $39 for Standard Seating and tickets start at $48 for Preferred Seating. Tickets for those ages 25 and under are half-price.

Box Office: (847) 673-6300

Website: https://www.musictheaterworks.com/Mamma-Mia/

Health Safety:

Health safety guidelines imposed by the North Shore Center For The Performing Arts In Skokie have been followed in staging this event. For more information about the measures being taken please visit https://northshorecenter.org/.

Upcoming Shows

The 2021 season will feature RAGTIME (Oct 28th - Nov 7th) and BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL (Dec 23rd - Jan 2, 2022).

The 2021 season has been proudly sponsored by Joyce Saxon.

About Music Theater Works

Music Theater Works is a professional non-profit theater company based in Wilmette, Illinois featuring a colorful repertoire including operetta, the Golden Age of Broadway, the Great American Songbook, and modern classics since 1980.

As of 2021, Music Theater Works has become a resident theater company at the North Shore Center For The Performing Arts In Skokie (9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60076).

The mission of Music Theater Works is to produce and present musical theater from a variety of world traditions and to engage the local community through educational and outreach programs.

Media Contact
Aaron Ozee
Director of Marketing
Music Theater Works
Phone: (847) 920-5360 ext. 7
Email: aozee@musictheaterworks.org

Music Theater Works will present "Mamma Mia!" at the North Shore Center For The Performing Arts In Skokie (9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60076) from August 19, 2021 through August 29, 2021 being the second production of the 2021 Season.

Related link: https://www.musictheaterworks.com/

Pompano Beach Arts Music Series Welcomes Live Audiences – Allan Harris and Leesa Richards Take the Stage at Pompano Beach Cultural Center

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- Pompano Beach Cultural Affairs Department is excited to welcome back live audiences to the Pompano Beach Cultural Center for the remaining concerts in the Pompano Beach Arts Music Series. July's concert features jazz great Allan Harris and August showcases soulful songstress Leesa Richards.

Both events will be hosted by popular D.J. Tamara G. of WLYF 101.5. Tickets are $15, at http://www.pompanobeacharts.org/programs/music-series or at www.ticketmaster.com.

Tickets will not be available at the box office and there will be no walk-ups.

"We are thrilled to open our doors to patrons once again," said Phyllis Korab, Cultural Affairs Director. "We have all been looking forward to this moment for some time now, and these concerts are the perfect way to celebrate the return of live music, with a live audience, at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center."

There will be limited in-person seating for these concerts and the City requests that all guests not fully vaccinated for COVID-19 wear a mask inside any City facility.

July 17, 2021 | 8 PM Premiere

Allan Harris "the Jazz Vocal King of New York" hosted by Tamara G of WLYF 101.5

Allan Harris performs songs from his new release "Kate's Soulfood," plus Jazz Standards from the Great American Songbook.

Ever since he burst on the jazz scene in the latter part of the twentieth century, The Brooklyn-born, Harlem-based vocalist/guitarist/bandleader/composer Allan Harris has reigned supreme as the most accomplished and exceptional singer of his generation. Aptly described by the Miami Herald as an artist blessed with, "the warmth of Tony Bennett, the bite and rhythmic sense of Sinatra, and the sly elegance of Nat 'King' Cole," the ample and aural evidence of Harris' moving and magisterial artistry can be heard on his fourteen recordings as a leader; his far-flung and critically-acclaimed concerts around the world, from Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York, and Washington DC's Kennedy Center, to the 2012 London Olympics, and many prestigious bookings in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

August 21, 2021 | 8pm Premiere

Leesa Richards hosted by Tamara G of WLYF 101.5

This soulful songstress will mesmerize you with her renditions of popular and timeless music, she sings with a core-resonating soulfulness that draws you in and allows you to experience the songs as a participant instead of a spectator.

A singer-songwriter, Leesa is a storyteller, a soulful voice offering a soundtrack to the narratives of life. The Detroit native's sound taps into the deep roots of soul and the poetry of jazz.

She has performed with a slate of powerhouse artists including Faith Hill, Whitney Houston, The Bee Gees, Gloria Estefan, Jon Secada, Julio Iglesias and Oleta Adams and has recorded backing vocals for Barbra Streisand and Lenny Kravitz. Her debut solo album, Mother's Child, is a rich blend of soulful ballads, rock and R&B showcases her gifts as a songwriter.

She began honing her vocal chops with soul greats Gerald Austin and Peabo Bryson and contemporary soul maverick Dionne Farris. Her first world tour was as a dancer with legendary singer Whitney Houston after which she combined her love for music and dance to earn the role of Mary Magdalene in the national tour of the Broadway musical, "Jesus Christ Superstar," earning critical acclaim which led to featured performances throughout the US and Europe.

Special thanks to our music series' sponsors WLRN Radio and The Marriott Resort Fort Lauderdale/Pompano Beach.

About the City of Pompano Beach Cultural Affairs Department

The mission of the Cultural Affairs Department is to provide cultural programming that includes visual arts, digital media, music, film, theater, dance and public art for the enjoyment and enrichment of residents and visitors to Pompano Beach, Broward County, and the greater South Florida area. The department programs and manages the City's premiere cultural arts venues including the Pompano Beach Cultural Center, Ali Cultural Arts Center, Bailey Contemporary Arts Center, and the Blanche Ely House Museum. The department also oversees the City's Public Art Program and the prestigious National Endowment for the Arts' Our Town grant awarded to the Pompano Beach Crossroads place-making arts initiative.

Pompano Beach Cultural Affairs Department is excited to welcome back live audiences to the Pompano Beach Cultural Center for the remaining concerts in the Pompano Beach Arts Music Series. July's concert features jazz great Allan Harris and August showcases soulful songstress Leesa Richards.

Related link: http://www.ccpompano.org/

With ‘Disney PRIDE in Concert,’ the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus Sets the LGBTQ Experience to the Music and Magic of Disney

BOSTON, Mass. /ScoopCloud/ -- Disney's beloved catalog of songs will be reimagined by the Boston Gay Men's Chorus (BGMC) in Disney PRIDE in Concert, a musical celebration of LGBTQ life, love, family, and perseverance, June 25-26, 2022 at Boston Symphony Hall. The show will draw inspiration from iconic Disney films like The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, and Mary Poppins; modern classics like Coco, Zootopia, and Wreck-It Ralph; and the magical music of Disney Parks.

The multimedia extravaganza will feature BGMC's 250-member chorus and a 20-piece orchestra performing sparkling new musical arrangements by BGMC Assistant Music Director Chad Weirick, accompanied by visuals designed by BGMC Director of Video Michael Willer using assets from Disney's films and archives. Providing the narrative of the show, personal stories from an array of diverse chorus members will be interwoven throughout the musical performances, showcasing the individual meaning and connections drawn from Disney's timeless and universal music. Tickets will go on-sale via the Boston Gay Men's Chorus in early 2022.

"Disney movies and musicals have long resonated deeply in the LGBTQ community because they often mirror our experiences in a society that hasn't always welcomed us," said Reuben M. Reynolds, III, BGMC's Music Director. "Characters are often struggling to fit in and to accept themselves, they long for a love that feels unattainable, they've lost their family of origin and had to create a new one, yet they persevere and find joy in life. They express their alienation, desire, and determination in beautiful songs that have given solace and empowerment to generations of LGBTQ people. Naturally, we're overjoyed at the chance to make the thematic connections between the Disney canon and the LGBTQ experience explicit by infusing the music with the stories of our lives."

Disney PRIDE in Concert is being produced in conjunction with Disney Concerts, the concert production and licensing division of Disney Music Group. It will feature all-new musical arrangements by Chad Weirick and a book by BGMC Executive Producer Bill Casey and Tom Choinski. Disney PRIDE in Concert will also be available for licensing in the future through Disney Concerts for performance by choruses around the world for all voice parts and voice configurations. This collaboration is the first time Disney Concerts has partnered with an organization to create an LGBTQ-specific concert package.

Disney PRIDE in Concert will take place during LGBTQ Pride Month, which commemorates a pivotal point in LGBTQ history: the Stonewall Riots of June 1969, when patrons of the Stonewall Bar rebelled and fought back against the constant anti-gay harassment by New York City police of LGBTQ people and spaces.

"Disney PRIDE in Concert will likely be the first in-person performance of the Boston Gay Men's Chorus in two years. We think it's the perfect way to come out of the pandemic to thank our singers, patrons and fans who have been so patient and supportive during the hiatus," said Craig Coogan, Executive Director of the Boston Gay Men's Chorus. "We are grateful to partner with Disney and share their commitment to showcasing the voices and stories of diverse communities, a value that is so close to our hearts, we're coming back in a spectacular way. We can't wait to perform this concert for audiences and have the show become part of the songbook for choruses around the world."

The concert is part of BGMC's hybrid 2021-22 season, which also includes a Holiday Special on WCVB-Channel 5 in December and the release of the documentary "Milestones" to mark BGMC's 40th anniversary.

About Disney Concerts

Disney Concerts is the concert production and licensing division of Disney Music Group, the music arm of The Walt Disney Company. Disney Concerts produces concerts and tours, and licenses Disney music and visual content to symphony orchestras and presenters on a worldwide basis. Disney Concerts' concert packages include a variety of formats, such as "live to picture" film concerts and themed instrumental and vocal compilation concerts, and range from instrumental-only symphonic performances to multimedia productions featuring live vocalists and choir. Current titles include the Star Wars Film Concert Series (Episodes IV-VIII), Toy Story, Aladdin, The Muppet Christmas Carol, Disney Princess - The Concert, Coco, The Lion King, Up and The Nightmare Before Christmas, which in 2019 accounted for over 900 performances in many of the world's top concert venues.

https://www.instagram.com/disneyconcerts/

https://www.facebook.com/disneyconcerts/

https://twitter.com/disneyconcerts/

About Boston Gay Men's Chorus

The Boston Gay Men's Chorus is one of New England's largest and most successful community-based choruses. Founded in 1982, the 200-voice ensemble is celebrated for its outstanding musicianship, creative programming, and groundbreaking community outreach. Under the dynamic leadership of Music Director Reuben M. Reynolds III, the BGMC sings a wide spectrum of classical and popular music and creates social change by providing a positive, affirming image of the gay and lesbian community. The Chorus is heard live by more than 10,000 people each season and thousands more through recording, television and internet broadcasts. CBS-WBZ named the Boston Gay Men's Chorus one of the "top 5" choruses in the city of Boston. The Boston Business Journal in 2018, 2019, and 2020 named BGMC one of the top performing arts organizations in the city. BGMC is a Cultural Ambassador - being the first LGBTQ chorus to perform in Poland in 2005, the Middle East in 2015 and in South Africa in June 2018.

https://www.bgmc.org/

MEDIA CONTACT
Susan Ryan-Vollmar
susan@influenceconsulting.net
617-999-5644

Disney's beloved catalog of songs will be reimagined by the Boston Gay Men's Chorus (BGMC) in Disney PRIDE in Concert, a musical celebration of LGBTQ life, love, family, and perseverance, June 25-26, 2022 at Boston Symphony Hall.

Related link: https://www.bgmc.org/

Broadway Barter to Offer FREE Ad in Hemispheres Magazine on All United Flights this August!

BOCA RATON, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- Broadway Barter announces its celebration of Broadway's return this fall! Formed in 1996, Broadway Barter has developed a successful formula of filling unsold theater seats for increased revenue to the producers and at the same time generating media exposure. Throughout the pandemic, Broadway Barter has evolved to provide theaters and producers with more than just media exposure. From theater safety upgrades with the newest UV technology to ticket sweepstakes for the general public, Broadway Barter has pivoted to cater to all facets of the Broadway industry and audience.

For example, Broadway show producers can participate and be seen within Hemispheres Magazine, which is on all United Airlines Flights and also seen on many ReachTV screens, which are in over 100 US airports, placed in highly conspicuous locations.

With the world slowly reopening, so is all of Broadway. Many theaters, shows, and producers are gearing up for their return this fall and Broadway Barter is ready to kick off the season with a bang!

Broadway Barter is extending an invaluable offer to any show opening in 2021; a free ad listing in August issue of United Airline's inflight magazine Hemispheres!

Broadway Barter will also introduce its new 15 second video plug on our airport ReachTV screens at a variety of domestic airports for ALL participating shows in our summer Hemispheres issues in our "Win a Pair" promotion.

The "Win a Pair" sweepstakes provides everyone a chance to win a pair of tickets to the hottest shows on Broadway! Millions of air travelers can view the sweepstakes on airport TVs, specifically in NY at Kennedy, LaGuardia, and Newark, as well as some major feeder airports into New York like Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, and many more.

To qualify for this free promotional space, be the first Broadway show, producer, or theater from the list provided below to reach out to Broadway Barter! To qualify for the bonus ReachTV video space, you also must partake in Broadway Barter & Broadway Value's "Win a Pair" promotion.

If you wish to participate and claim your free space, or get more information, call today at +1-844-922-3959. Please also go to the Broadway Barter website to learn more about what they can do for your re-opening and to view the safety and media kit.

More information: https://broadwaybarter.com/

LIST OF QUALIFYING SHOWS:

"Pass Over" - Opening Night: September 12 at August Wilson Theatre.

"Hadestown" - September 2 at the Walter Kerr Theatre.

"Hamilton" - September 14 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre.

"Wicked" - September 14 at the Gershwin Theatre.

"The Lion King" - September 14 at the Minskoff Theatre.

"Chicago" - September 14 at the Ambassador Theatre.

"Lackawanna Blues" - Previews Begin: September 14, Opening Night: September 28 at the Samuel J Friedman Theatre.

"Six" - Previews Begin: September 17, Opening Night: October 3 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre.

"American Utopia" - September 17 at the Hudson Theatre.

"Come From Away" - September 21 at the Schoenfeld Theatre.

"Moulin Rouge" - September 24 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre.

"The Lehman Trilogy" - Previews Begin: September 25, Opening Night: October 14 at the Nederlander Theatre.

"Aladdin" - September 28 at the New Amsterdam Theatre.

"Thoughts of a Colored Man" - Previews Begin: October 1, Opening Night: October 31 at the Golden Theatre.

"Tina" - October 8 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.

"Caroline, or Change" - Previews Begin: October 8, Opening Night: October 27 at Studio 54.

"Girl From the North Country" - October 13 at the Belasco Theatre.

"Ain't Too Proud" - October 16 at the Imperial Theatre.

"Jagged Little Pill" - October 21 at the Broadhurst Theatre.

"Mrs. Doubtfire" - Previews Begin: October 21, Opening Night: December 5 at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre.

"The Phantom of the Opera" - October 22 at the Majestic Theatre.

"Trouble in Mind" - Previews Begin: October 29, Opening Night: November 8 at the American Airlines Theatre.

"Diana" - Previews Begin: November 2, Opening Night: November 17 at the Longacre Theatre.

"Flying Over Sunset" - Previews Begin: November 4, Opening Night: December 6 at Lincoln Centers Vivian Beaumont Theater.

"MJ" - Previews Begin: December 6, Opening Night: February 1, 2022 at the Neil Simon Theatre.

"Dear Evan Hansen" - December 11 at the Music Box Theatre.

"Company" - Previews Begin: December 20, Opening Night: January 9, 2022 at the Jacobs Theatre.

"The Music Man" - Previews Begin: December 20, Opening Night: February 10, 2022 at the Winter Garden Theatre.

"Skeleton Crew" - Previews Begin: December 21, Opening Night: January 12, 2022 at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.

ABOUT BROADWAY BARTER:

Formally Broadway Media, the largest distributor of bartered show tickets in the country, has spent over 25 years providing media value for the theater industry. Broadway Barter is now giving support for Broadway's return after a year of darkness. Over 60 major shows had frequented the pages of inflight magazines; such as Continental, TWA, America West, Delta, Northwest, as well as United, now the premier inflight in the country. Broadway Barter is also donating 5% of its tickets in support of hospital workers and sending kids out to see a show for, potentially, their first time.

VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/z2k_5bzy7WQ

MEDIA ONLY CONTACT:

M.J. Schultz

CEO, Broadway Barter

+1-844-922-3959

MJSchultz@BroadwayBarter.com

Broadway Barter announces its celebration of Broadway's return this fall! Formed in 1996, Broadway Barter has developed a successful formula of filling unsold theater seats for increased revenue to the producers and at the same time generating media exposure.

Related link: https://broadwaybarter.com/

Music Theater Works Presents ‘Legends Of The 50s And 60s: Greatest Hits’

SKOKIE, Ill. /ScoopCloud/ -- Music Theater Works presents "Legends Of The 50s And 60s: Greatest Hits" at North Shore Center For The Performing Arts (9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60076) from June 18, 2021 through June 27, 2021 as the first production of the 2021 season.

About The Show

Join Music Theater Works for an evening filled with beloved hits from the 50s and 60s. This flashback performance features the songs made famous by iconic names like Buddy Holly, Doris Day, Aretha Franklin, The Supremes, The Temptations, Elvis, and many others. This concert is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face and help you remember your favorite memories from the past and introduce these hits to a new generation.

This is an outdoor, socially-distanced performance.

Production Details

WHO:

Music Theater Works

WHAT:

- "Legends Of The 50s And 60s: Greatest Hits"
- Music by Hit Artists of the 1950s and 1960s
- Directed by Kyle Dougan and Martin L. Woods
_ Music Director and Conducted by Jermaine Hill

CAST:

- Adia Bell
- Curtis Bannister
- Dawn Bless
- Evan Tyrone Martin
- Gilbert Domally
- Justin Brill
- Lydia Burke

WHEN:

- Group Performance: Friday, June 18, 2021 @ 1:00 PM
- Press Performance: Saturday, June 19, 2021 @ 2:00 PM
- Sunday, June 20, 2021 @ 2:00 PM
- Wednesday, June 23, 2021 @ 1:00 PM
- Thursday, June 24, 2021 @ 1:00 PM
- Friday, June 25, 2021 @ 8:00 PM
- Saturday, June 26, 2021 @ 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM
- Sunday, June 27, 2021 @ 2:00 PM

WHERE:

North Shore Center For The Performing Arts
9501 Skokie Blvd.
Skokie, IL 60077

TICKETS:

Tickets start at $39 for Standard Seating and tickets start at $48 for Preferred Seating. Tickets for those ages 25 and under are half-price.

Box Office: (847) 673-6300

Website: https://www.musictheaterworks.com/BoxOffice/

HEALTH SAFETY:

Health safety guidelines imposed by North Shore Center For The Performing Arts have been followed in the staging of this event. For more information about measures being taken please visit the North Shore Center For The Performing Arts website at NorthShoreCenter.org.

UPCOMING SHOWS

The 2021 season will feature MAMMA MIA! (Aug 19th - Aug 29th), RAGTIME (Oct 28th - Nov 7th), and BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL (Dec 23rd - Jan 2, 2022).

The 2021 season has been proudly sponsored by Joyce Saxon.

ABOUT MUSIC THEATER WORKS

Music Theater Works is a professional non-profit theater company based in Wilmette, Illinois featuring a colorful repertoire including operetta, the Golden Age of Broadway, the Great American Songbook, and modern classics since 1980.

As of 2021, Music Theater Works has become a resident theater company at the North Shore Center For The Performing Arts (9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60076).

The mission of Music Theater Works is to produce and present musical theater from a variety of world traditions and to engage the local community through educational and outreach programs.

MEDIA CONTACT
Aaron Ozee
Director of Marketing
Music Theater Works
Phone: (847) 920-5360 ext. 7
Email: aozee@musictheaterworks.org

Music Theater Works presents "Legends Of The 50s And 60s: Greatest Hits" at North Shore Center For The Performing Arts (9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60076) from June 18, 2021 through June 27, 2021 as the first production of the 2021 season.

Related link: https://www.musictheaterworks.com/

Oberon Theatre Ensemble’s Film Festival ‘Smartphone Shorts’

NEW YORK, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- LanDan Consulting announces Oberon Theatre Ensemble's "Smartphone Shorts" (Brad Fryman, Artistic Director). An evening featuring short films created during Oberon's Smartphone Workshops. The films were shot exclusively on smartphones as the ensemble negotiated its way through the pandemic.

All covid protocols were followed and the writers were often challenged with writing for actors who could not share the same space. The actors were responsible for shooting and editing their own films.

Adapting to a novel set of limitations, the results illustrate the resiliency of these creators. Featuring work from Christopher Stetson Boal, Cecilia Copeland, Steven Fechter, Natalie Menna, Jean Passanante, Robin Rice, and Scott C. Sickles the evening explores unique and innovative storytelling.

THE DETAILS:

Oberon Theatre Ensemble's Film Festival: Smartphone Shorts

Livestreaming at 7:30 p.m. EDT, Sunday, April 18, 2021.

Visit http://www.oberontheatre.org/ for the direct link to the event.

Duration: 45 Minutes

During these challenging times Oberon's offerings are FREE.

About LanDan Consulting:

LanDan Consulting focuses on energizing and guiding clients to create an environment where every person can be the best version of themselves to maximize career and personal potential.

LanDan Consulting announces Oberon Theatre Ensemble's "Smartphone Shorts" (Brad Fryman, Artistic Director). An evening featuring short films created during Oberon's Smartphone Workshops. The films were shot exclusively on smartphones as the ensemble negotiated its way through the pandemic.

Related link: http://www.bradfryman.com/