LOCAL

Come One, Come All: Funding Available to Help Sustain L.A. Theater

On Mondays April 16 and April 23, from 7-10 p.m., LA STAGE Alliance is hosting community meet-ups aimed to help guide those interested in participating in funded opportunities to develop any of four collaborative models to help sustain LA theater. Admission is free. RSVP to mbulkley@lastagealliance.com. LA STAGE Alliance is located at 4200 Chevy Chase Drive, Los Angeles. If we’re able to proceed, this will be Phase II of the LA Theater Sustainability Program. read more here

Geffen Playhouse Launches Inaugural Writers’ Room

Writers’ rooms aren’t just for television anymore. As part of its new focus on new-play development, the Geffen Playhouse has announced the launch of the Writers’ Room, giving L.A.-based playwrights one-year residencies at the theatre. read more here

DICK VAN DYKE AND LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA TO BE HONORED AT 16th ANNUAL “BACKSTAGE AT THE GEFFEN” FUNDRAISER

GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE’S EXCLUSIVE EVENT IS SET FOR SATURDAY, MAY 19; AISHA TYLER WILL HOST

The Geffen Playhouse will honor legendary stage and screen performer Dick Van Dyke and award-winning composer, lyricist and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda at its 16th annual Backstage at the Geffen fundraiser. read more here

Homeward LA Shines Light On The Homeless Crisis in Los Angeles with a 10-Day Performance Event

Homeward LA is a 10-day citywide event taking place Friday, April 13th – Sunday, April 22ndfeaturing biographical monologues about individuals in Los Angeles county who have experienced homelessness. Showtimes and tickets can be found on the website. read more here

Know a college student looking for a paying job this summer? A young person who likes theatre and enjoys working in a crazy, eccentric theatrical environment? Search no further. The Fountain Theatre is the place.

Now Hiring: paid summer internship for college student at the Fountain Theatre

The Fountain Theatre is now accepting applications to hire one Development Intern for 10 weeks this summer between June and August. It is a full-time position (40 hours per week for 10 weeks) that pays $530 per week. read more here

The Dance Theatre of Harlem will perform at the Irvine Barclay Theatre on April 18. (File photo / Los Angeles Times)

Multi-ethnic ballet company Dance Theatre of Harlem coming to Orange County

Arthur Mitchell was on his way to an airport when he heard that Martin Luther King Jr. had been assassinated.

Mitchell, the first African American principal dancer in a major ballet company, was headed out of the country to establish the National Ballet of Brazil — a task given to him by the United States government. read more here

Audio Interview: the cast of “THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE” at the Road Theatre

Enjoy this interview with the cast of THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE at the Road Theatre on Lankershim, which closes May 13th. listen here

Some Enchanted Evening, John Cudia Will Bring Him Home With Just The Music of the Night

The perennial Rodgers & Hammerstein favorite SOUTH PACIFIC with its magnificent songs and its oh-so relevant messages will light up the stage at The Soraya April 13 to 15, and then on to La Mirada Theatre for the Performing ArtsApril 20 through May 13. John Cudia, the first and only actor to have performed both The Phantom in THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and Jean Valjean in LES MISERABLES on Broadway, will once again impart his vocal and acting talents to the role of plantation owner Emile de Becque at both venues. John took some time to answer my inquisitive queries. read more here

NATIONAL

6 Theatre Workers You Should Know

From a choral composer to a classics adapter, from a Boston dramaturg to a Chicago writer/performer, here are some theatre folks who should be on your radar. read more here

Industry Interview: How Charity Network and the Miranda Family Are Making the World a Better Place

As BroadwayWorld recently reported, “Lin-Manuel Miranda and Charity Network Rise Up for Good” has been nominated for best campaign in the Social – Public Service & Activism category in the 22nd Annual Webby Awards.

Capitalizing on a unique moment in Broadway history, Charity Network and the Miranda family teamed to implement a record-breaking series of digital sweepstakes through Prizeo and auction fundraising campaigns via Charitybuzz, offering fans around the world the chance to experience the groundbreaking cultural phenomenon Hamilton: An American Musical and monetize for good. read more here

Cast members making their Broadway dedut during the Actors’ Equity Gypsy Robe Ceremony honoring Rod Harrelson for ‘Motown The Musical’ at the Nederlander Theatre on July 14, 2016 in New York City.

Actors’ Equity Launches Campaign For Tony Awards Categories To Recognize Broadway Ensembles

Actors’ Equity Association announced today the launch of a new national campaign to create two new Tony Award categories, Best Chorus in a Musical or Play and Best Ensemble in a Musical or Play. The inclusion of these categories would recognize all Equity performers who appear on a Broadway stage. read more here

Members of the Jose Limon Dance Company performed an excerpt from Mr. McKayle’s “Heartbeats” at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan in 2010.CreditAndrea Mohin/The New York Times

Donald McKayle, 87, Broadway and Modern Dance Choreographer, Dies

Donald McKayle, one of the first choreographers to weave the African-American experience into the fabric of modern dance and the first black man to direct and choreograph a Broadway musical (“Raisin”), died on Friday at a hospital near his home in Irvine, Calif. He was 87.

His wife, Lea Vivante McKayle, confirmed the death. He was a professor of dance at the University of California, Irvine, for almost 30 years. read more here

SXSW 2018 Film Interview: Human Rights Filmmaker Jason Outenreath

Making its world premiere at this year’s SXSW was the feature-length documentary They Live Here, Now, conceived and directed by human rights filmmaker Jason Outenreath. Shot on location at Casa Marianella, an emergency homeless shelter in East Austin, it depicts the daily lives of recently arrived immigrants as they relate their frequently harrowing stories about their journeys to the United States. read more here

AROUND THE WORLD

Shirley Henderson and Sheila Atim © Dan Wooller for WhatsOnStage

Is it time to change theatre award ceremonies?

Sarah Crompton considers whether the age-old format shows theatre off in its best light

British theatre has had an extraordinary, vibrant, creative year, packed with great plays and terrific new musicals. But watching the Olivier Awards from my front row armchair last night, I wasn’t sure I saw that. Certainly, if I wasn’t already interested in theatre the major prize giving of the theatrical year would have done nothing to convert me. read more here

Photo: Shutterstock

Theatre’s working culture ‘passively endorses harassment’ – report

A “passive culture of endorsing bullying” is allowing inappropriate behaviour to thrive in the industry, a new report claims.

This is one of the conclusions of the Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre’s Encouraging Safer and More Supportive Working Practices in Theatre report – which brings together advice and guidance on how to tackle harassment and abuses of power in the sector. read more here

The Lemon