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A far cry from the overbearingly overweight headsets and and unintentionally surrealist polygonal graphics of the 1990s, today’s virtual reality headsets have been attracting artists and game developers alike for the immersive worlds they create. Since 2012, the Tribeca Film Festival has been showcasing VR installations and now the Tribeca Virtual Arcade (November 10 - February 10) at Cinepolis Chelsea (260 W 23rd St, New York, NY) expands on that with interactive immersive experiences that take you to within the human spirit and beyond the stars.
The exhbit features several ticketed experiences:
To learn more, go to: https://tribecafilm.com/virtualarcade
Tribeca Virtual Arcade
November 10, 2017 - February 10, 2018
Cinepolis Chelsea
260 W 23rd St.
New York, NY 10011
Though the St. James Theatre box office will not be open until November 13, single tickets for the much-anticipated stage adaptation of Disney's Frozen go on sale Monday. Performances begin at the renovated St. James on February 22, with opening night planned for mid-March 2018.
The St. James box office will open on November 13, but you can purchase single tickets beginning Monday at www.FrozenTheMusical.com or by calling the Disney on Broadway hotline, (866) 870-2717. If you wish to purchase tickets for a group of 20 or more, go to www.DisneyTheatricalSales.com or call (800) 439-9000.
Based on the 2013 film written by a trio of Oscar winners, Frozen features music and lyrics by the creators of the film score, Tony, Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy-winner Robert Lopez (Avenue Q, Book of Mormon) and Kristen Anderson-Lopez (In Transit). The stage book is written by Jennifer Lee (films Zootopia, Wreck-It Ralph), who wrote the screenplay and co-directed the blockbuster animated film (with Chris Buck). Frozen won 2014 Oscars for Best Song (the chart-topping “Let It Go,” sung, of course, by Tony winner Idina Menzel) and Best Animated Feature. It also received BAFTA’s Award for Best Animated Film.
The roles of Princess/Queen Elsa of Arendelle and Princess Anna will be played, respectively, by Caissie Levy (a former Elphaba in Wicked; Les Miz; Ghost; Hair) and singer/dancer Patti Murin (Lyistrata Jones, Xanadu).
Co-starring in the cast of 40, which will be one of the largest ever on Broadway, in equally-coveted principal roles are Jelani Alladin (he-man Kristoff), Greg Hildreth (lively snowman Olaf), John Riddle (Prince Hans), Andrew Pirozzi (reindeer Sven), and Lion King, Little Mermaid, and Cagney's tough-guy tap dancer extraordinaire Robert Creighton (the scheming Duke of Weselton). Audrey Bennett and Mattea Conforti will portray young Anna); Brooklyn Nelson and Ayla Schwartz, young Elsa.
Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale The Snow Queen, Frozen tells the story of a fearless princess (Anna) who sets off on a journey alongside a rugged iceman, his loyal pet reindeer, and a naïve snowman to find her estranged sister (Elsa), now the Queen, whose icy powers have inadvertently trapped the kingdom in eternal winter.
The stage musical is told in two acts and, according to Disney "is the first and only incarnation of the tale that expands upon and deepens its indelible plot and themes through new songs and story material from the film’s creators." In fact, the stage production features more than twice as much music as the film. Tony-winning director Michael Grandage (Red) helms the production. Grandage is also a three-time Oliver-winning director. Tony winner Rob Ashford (Thoroughly Modern Millie; revivals, How to Succeed… and Evita; choreographer, Disney’s Cinderella film; TV’s Peter Pan and Sound of Music Live) and multiple Tony and Olivier is choreographer. Two-time Tony winner Stephen Oremus (Avenue Q, Wicked, The Book of Mormon) is music supervisor; Chris Montan, executive music producer); and Brian Usifer, music director.
Frozen is produced by Disney Theatrical Productions under the direction of Thomas Schumacher. The show will join Disney hits Aladdin and The Lion King on Broadway.
Frozen's design team includes scenic and costume design by two-time Tony and
Olivier Award winner Christopher Oram; lighting by six-time Tony winner Natasha Katz (Aladdin; Hello Dolly!; An American in Paris); Jeremy Chernick (Aladdin, upcoming two-parter Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), special effects: four-time Tony nominee Peter Hylenski, sound; Tony winner Finn Ross, video; and Michael Curry, puppet design.
Frozen begins its pre-Broadway tryout next week [through October 1] at the Buell Theatre in the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. For information on the Denver engagement visit www.DenverCenter.org.
According to Disney’s press office: “Frozen will utilize a series of Disney Theatrical production consumer-friendly programs, such as flexible exchanges and verified resale via Ticketmaster. To combat fraud, print-at-home tickets will be completely replaced by Ticketmaster's mobile device entry technology.”
The Outsider Art Fair (January 19 - 22, 2017) at the Metropolitan Pavilion (125 West 18th St, New York, NY ) celebrates art that is (according to Jean Dubuffet) “works produced by persons unscathed by artistic culture, where mimicry plays little or no part (contrary to the activities of intellectuals). These artists derive everything...from their own depths, and not from the conventions of classical or fashionable art.”
Along with the usual exhibitions, galleries, and auctions, nne of the highlights of the festival is “The Barack Obama Readings”, in which festival guests and attendees, and members of the public recite quotations from President Barack Obama across several sessions, celebrating Obama’s legacy at this turning point in our nation’s history.
The Draw Me Your City section of the show invites parents to bring their children’s drawings so they can be embroidered on clothes and tote bags, with the proceeds going to Zellidja Foundation and helping young adults see the world.
The panel discussion From Obscurity to Prominence: The Discovery and Stewardship of Outsider Art, dissects the quandary of how to handle an artist's’ legacy when they have passed away and are only now gaining notoriety.
To learn more, go to http://outsiderartfair.com/
Outsider Art Fair
January 19 - 22, 2017
Metropolitan Pavilion
125 W 18th St, New York, NY 10011
The Association of Performing Arts Presenters (APAP) will bring more than 3,600 artists and performing industry leaders from the worlds of dance, theater, music, opera, family programing and more to New York City on January 6 - 10, 2017 at the New York Hilton Midtown (1335 6th Ave, New York, NY) and the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel (811 7th Ave, New York, NY).
APAP provides a platform for artists, presenters, promoters, and other performing arts professionals to reflect and engage in discussions current issues such as cultural conflict and social justice. With a plethora of contests, workshops, exhibitions, and panel discussions, APAP engages both industry pros and people looking to get their foot into the world of performing arts.
Panels include “Changing the Flow: Creativity, Innovation and Disruption at Work,” a discussion exploring the creative capacities needed to advance culture, build community and address the most pressing challenges of today. For a bit of audience participation and competition, there’s the APAP “5 Minutes to SHINE!” competition where artists, presenters, agents and other industry professionals share a compelling story or idea in an exciting pecha kucha format and the audience votes on one winner. The Cultural Exchange Laboratory provides the opportunity for sharing and supporting innovative work created by artists from abroad, as well as U.S.-based artists with roots in other countries and cultures.
APAP is an excelent opportunity to learn more about growing and changing world of performin arts.
To learn more, go to: http://www.apapnyc.apap365.org/Pages/default.aspx
APAP NYC
January 6 - 10, 2017
New York Hilton Midtown
1335 6th Ave, New York, NY 10019
Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel
811 7th Ave, New York, NY