by The Ugarte Studio

by The Ugarte Studio

Saturday, November 26, 2016

The Tony Awards Administration Committee this past October for the first time in the season and confirmed the eligibility of two Broadway productions, Paramour and Cats, for the 2017 American Theatre Wing’s Tony Awards®.   The two productions are consistent with opening night billing. 

Additionally, the Committee determined that the newly renovated Hudson Theatre will be deemed a Tony eligible theatre, beginning in the 2016-2017 season. The theatre, located on West 44th Street, will have a minimum of 970 seats without the use of the orchestra pit and 948 seats when the orchestra pit is utilized by a production.

The American Theatre Wing’s 71st Annual Tony Awards will air on the CBS Television Network on Sunday, June 11, 2017 (8:00-11:00 PM, ET/delayed PT). The Tony Awards, which honors theatre professionals for distinguished achievement on Broadway, has been broadcast on CBS since 1978. The Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.

The official eligibility cut-off date will be April 27, 2017, for all Broadway productions opening in the 2016-2017 season. Productions which meet all other eligibility requirements and open on or before the eligibility date are considered eligible for 2017 Tony Award nominations.  The Tony Award Nominations will be announced live on May 2, 2017.

The Tony Awards Administration Committee meets a total of four times throughout the 2016-2017 season to decide the eligibility for the 71st Annual Tony Awards.  

For more information on the Tony Awards, visit TonyAwards.com and Facebook.com/TheTonyAwards and follow @TheTonyAwards on Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat.

AURORA THEATRE Receives 2016 GOVERNOR'S AWARD for the Arts & Humanities


Under the gold dome, this past October 4th, Governor Nathan Deal recognized the state’s best and brightest individuals and organizations with the presentation of the 2016 Governor’s Awards for the Arts & Humanities. Aurora Theatre, Georgia’s second largest professional theater, proudly accepted one of the five awards given to organizations that have made significant contributions to Georgia's civic and cultural vitality through service to the humanities or excellence in the arts. Aurora was nominated by Doug Hooker, Executive Director of the Atlanta Regional Commission, and Bartow Morgan, Jr., CEO of BrandBank for its continued artistic excellence, immense impact on the region and its thriving educational programming that embraces cultural diversity in both the English and Spanish speaking communities.

“Ann-Carol and I are extremely grateful that Aurora Theatre is being recognized as one of Georgia’s major cultural assets,” remarked an ecstatic Anthony Rodriguez, Co-Founder and Producing Artistic Director of Aurora Theatre. “In our 21st season, it is important that we, as arts organizations, contribute more significantly than just producing great musicals and plays. Aurora remains dedicated to empowering artists who have not traditionally had a voice, plus we are cultivating the next generation of artists, arts administrators and theater patrons—and we are humbled to accept this prestigious award.”

At the ceremony, held in the North Wing of the State Capitol building, a group of past and present members of the Aurora Theatre Apprentice Company performed the song “Alabanza” from the hit musical In the Heights, a co-production between Aurora Theatre and Theatrical Outfit, which recently closed after a sold-out run of more than 18,000 patrons. The awards were immediately followed by a reception in the rotunda.

Aurora Theatre was recognized alongside some of the region’s top names and organizations including Kenny Leon, the Beach Institute and the Museum School of Avondale Estates.

Governor's Awards for the Arts and Humanities 
For 26 years, the Governor's Awards in the Humanities have celebrated local community members and organizations that have worked to increase the understanding and appreciation of the humanities in Georgia. For a list of past recipients of the Governor's Awards in the Humanities, visit bit.ly/GovernorsAwards.

In 2012, the Georgia Humanities Council joined forces with the Georgia Council for the Arts and the Office of Governor Nathan Deal to launch the Governor's Awards for the Arts and Humanities. These awards honor outstanding individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to Georgia's civic and cultural vitality through service to the humanities or excellence in the arts. The awards recognize the value of the arts and humanities in the creation of a thriving economy and their contributions and growth.


For more information on Aurora Theatre programming or to purchase tickets for events, visit auroratheatre.com or call the Box Office at 678.226.6222.

Celebrate The Season With The ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA!



The Grammy® Award-winning Atlanta Symphony Orchestra begins the Month of December with a special concerto for mandolin featuring the talented Avi Avital. Guest conductor, and former Atlanta Symphony Orchestra conducting fellow, Laura Jackson, leads a program of lushly romantic music, including Tchaikovsky's celebrated Symphony No. 6, "Pathétique," plus an Italian pairing of Respighi and Vivaldi.

Director of Choruses Norman Mackenzie will lead three classic Christmas with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra performances on Dec. 9 and 10. The program will feature the Morehouse College Glee Club, Gwinnett Young Singers, Chorus and Orchestra performing Christmas carols and hymns. 

Mackenzie will also lead the Orchestra and Chamber Chorus in Handel’s Messiah, Part 1 in Symphony Hall on Dec. 15 and again on Dec. 18 at the University of Georgia.

A Family Holiday Special led by Joseph Young will include popular sing-along music and a visit from Santa Claus on Dec. 15 at Kennesaw State University.  

A Very Merry Holiday POPS!, Dec. 16 and 17, will feature vocalists Hugh Panaro and Nikki Renée Daniels  in a holiday celebration for the entire family including pieces like “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” On Dec. 20 and 21 Cirque de la Symphonie will be led by Assistant Conductor Joseph Young as acrobats, jugglers, contortionists, strong men and high flying aerialists work their magic on stage while the Orchestra and Miss America 2016 Betty Cantrell perform holiday favorites.

To close out the month, and the year, the Orchestra will travel to Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall at the University of Georgia for a New Year’s Eve performance led by Assistant Conductor Joseph Young on Dec. 31.

For those planning to give the gift of music this holiday season, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra will participate in the annual Black Friday sale this year. Visit www.aso.org between 12:01 a.m. on November 25 and 11:59 p.m. on November 26, to purchase tickets for most of the remaining concerts for the season, including Thanksgiving weekend with Byron Stripling, for only $35 using promo code FRIDAY35.

Additional details for each performance:

Avi Avital Performs the ASO Premiere of Vivaldi’s Concerto for Mandolin Under the Baton of Guest Conductor Laura Jackson  -  Delta Classical Series
Atlanta Symphony Hall, Memorial Arts Building, Woodruff Arts Center
Thursday, December 1, 2016, 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 3, 2016, 8:00 p.m.
Laura Jackson, conductor
Avi Avital, mandolin *
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

RESPIGHI: Ancient Airs and Dances Suite 1 **
VIVALDI: Concerto in C major ‡
AVNER DORMAN: Concerto for Mandolin and Strings ‡
TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 6 “Pathétique”

Holidays with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in Madison
Madison Morgan Cultural Center -- Madison, GA
Wednesday, December 7, 2016, 8:00 p.m.

Christmas with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra 
Coca-Cola Holiday Concerts
Atlanta Symphony Hall, Memorial Arts Building, Woodruff Arts Center
Friday, December 9, 2016, 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 10, 2016, 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Norman Mackenzie, conductor
Morehouse College Glee Club
Gwinnett Young Singers
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Holidays with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra  
First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta
1328 West Peachtree Street NW, Atlanta, GA
For group reservations, contact lisa@napc.org
Tuesday, December 13, 11:45 a.m.

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Rings in the Holidays with Handel's Messiah, Part I
Coca-Cola Holiday Concerts
Atlanta Symphony Hall, Memorial Arts Building, Woodruff Arts Center
Thursday, December 15, 2016, 8:00 p.m.
Norman Mackenzie, conductor
Jessica Rivera, soprano
Kelley O’Connor, mezzo-soprano
Cullen Gandy, tenor*
Gerard Sundberg, baritone
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chamber Chorus
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

VIVALDI:Gloria
HANDEL: Messiah, Part I

A Family Holiday Special 
Bailey Performance Center, Kennesaw State University – Kennesaw, GA
Thursday, December 15, 2016, 8:00 p.m.
Joseph Young, conductor
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

A Very Merry Holiday POPS!
Coca-Cola Holiday Concerts - Delta POPS! Series 
Atlanta Symphony Hall, Memorial Arts Building, Woodruff Arts Center
Friday, December 16, 2016, 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 17, 2016, 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
David Charles Abell, conductor
Hugh Panaro, vocals
Nikki Renée Daniels, vocals
All-City High School Chorus
Our Lady of Lourdes Gospel Choir
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Rings in The Holidays with Handel’s Messiah, Part I
Coca-Cola Holiday Concerts
Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall, University of Georgia – Athens, GA
Sunday, December 18, 2016, 3:00 p.m.
Norman Mackenzie, conductor
Jessica Rivera, soprano
Kelley O’Connor, mezzo-soprano
Cullen Gandy, tenor
Gerard Sundberg, baritone
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chamber Chorus
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

VIVALDI: Gloria
HANDEL: Messiah, Part I

Cirque de la Symphonie Holiday Spectacular Returns to Symphony Hall
Coca-Cola Holiday Concerts - Delta POPS! Series
Atlanta Symphony Hall, Memorial Arts Building, Woodruff Arts Center
Tuesday, December 20, 2016, 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, December 21, 2016, 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Joseph Young, conductor
Betty Cantrell, Miss America 2016, vocals
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

New Year’s Eve with the ASO at UGA
Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall, University of Georgia – Athens, GA
Saturday, December 31, 7:00 p.m.
Joseph Young, conductor
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

*             denotes Atlanta Symphony Orchestra debut
**          denotes Atlanta Symphony Orchestra subscription debut  


Tickets to all Atlanta Symphony Orchestra performances at Atlanta Symphony Hall are available online at AtlantaSymphony.org or by calling 404-733-5000. Tickets may also be purchased at the Woodruff Arts Center Box Office, located in the Woodruff Arts Center at 15th and Peachtree Streets. Box office hours are Tuesday through Saturday noon to 6:00 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5:00 p.m.

PETER PAN at the COBB ENERGY CENTER!