New York, NY — Sundance Institute in collaboration with Kaufman Music Center will present An Anniversary Concert Reading of Hollywood Arms at Merkin Concert Hall September 21. Carol Burnett and Philip Himberg, Artistic Director of the Sundance Institute Theatre Program, will introduce the special concert reading of the Broadway production of Burnett’s autobiographical play, Hollywood Arms, written with her daughter Carrie Hamilton. The reading is directed by Sundance alum, Mark Brokaw, the recipient of Drama Desk, Obie and Lucille Lortel Awards, and stars Michele Pawk (Hairspray, Cabaret, Mamma Mia!) in her Tony-winning role as well as Tyne Daly, Emily Skeggs, Sydney Lucas and others to be announced. Tickets go on sale today at kaufmanmusiccenter.org/hollywoodarms.
Hollywood Arms is based on Burnett’s bestselling memoir One More Time and tells the story of three generations of fiercely determined women living on welfare in a one-room Hollywood apartment. Hollywood Arms was developed, in part, at the 1998 Sundance Institute Theatre Lab, which supports some of the boldest theatre artists developing new work for the stage. The anniversary concert reading is part of Kaufman Music Center’s Broadway Close Up series, a season of events that takes theatre lovers behind the scenes of musicals old and new with eye-opening interviews and inspiring performances by some of Broadway’s greatest talents.
Philip Himberg, Artistic Director of the Sundance Institute Theatre Program, said, “We are thrilled to join with Kaufman Music Center in bringing Hollywood Arms back to the stage nearly 15 years after its Broadway run. When the play first participated in our Theatre Lab,we knew this powerful story would leave a profound legacy.”
Carol Burnett said, “This anniversary reading, with Mark Brokaw directing and Tyne Daly and Michele Pawk starring, is a rare opportunity for the play to reconnect with audiences. The support we received from Sundance Institute when we first developed Hollywood Arms was invaluable and came at a critical moment in its development.”
For over 30 years, the Sundance Institute Theatre Program has supported some of the boldest emerging and established theatre-makers developing new work for the stage. More than 85% of Sundance-supported plays and musicals find production, including this year’s Tony Award Winner for Best Musical, Lisa Kron and Jeanine Tesori’s Fun Home and last year’s winner, Robert L. Freedman & Steven Lutvak’s A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, as well as titles such as,ToasT, Iow@, Appropriate, Circle Mirror Transformation, An Iliad, The Lily’s Revenge, The Good Negro, The Light in the Piazza, Passing Strange, Stuck Elevator, Spring Awakening, Laramie Project and I Am My Own Wife. This event is part of the Theatre Program’s recently expanded offerings for theatre-loving audiences across the country with initiatives including Sundance Sings!, Sundance Tickets, the Theatre Club and the IDEO Creation Series.
The Sundance Institute Theatre Program is supported by an endowment from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, with generous additional support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; Time Warner Foundation; Perry and Martin Granoff; LUMA Foundation; the John and Marcia Price Family Foundation; National Endowment for the Arts; The Shubert Foundation, Inc.; Wendy vanden Heuvel;The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust; Karen Lauder; and Joan and George Hornig.
Sundance Institute Theatre Program
The Theatre Program has been a core component of Sundance Institute since Robert Redford founded the Institute in 1981. The Theatre Program identifies and assists emerging theatre artists, contributes to the creative growth of established artists, and encourages and supports the development of new work for the stage. Under the guidance of Artistic Director Philip Himberg and Producing Director Christopher Hibma, the Theatre Program is one of the leading play development programs in the United States. Titles such as Appropriate, Fun Home, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Circle Mirror Transformation, An Iliad, The Lily’s Revenge, The Good Negro, The Light in the Piazza, Passing Strange, Stuck Elevator,Spring Awakening, The Laramie Project and I Am My Own Wife have gone from Theatre Program Labs to production from coast to coast and internationally, garnering multiple Pulitzers, Tonys, OBIEs and other recognition. The Theatre Program’s International Initiative currently offers Labs, cross-cultural exchange, mentorship and exposure to artists primarily in the Middle East & North Africa and continuing support for artists in six East African countries. The Theatre Program’s newest initiatives are the Theatre Directors Retreat in France and the Playwrights Studio at Flying Point. sundance.org/theatre
Sundance Institute
Founded in 1981 by Robert Redford, Sundance Institute is a nonprofit organization that provides and preserves the space for artists in film, theatre, and new media to create and thrive. The Institute’s signature Labs, granting, and mentorship programs, dedicated to developing new work, take place throughout the year in the U.S. and internationally. The Sundance Film Festival and other public programs connect audiences to artists in igniting new ideas, discovering original voices, and building a community dedicated to independent storytelling. Sundance Institute has supported such projects as Beasts of the Southern Wild, Fruitvale Station, Sin Nombre, The Invisible War, The Square, Dirty Wars, Spring Awakening, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder and Fun Home. Join Sundance Institute on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
Kaufman Music Center
Kaufman Music Center is New York’s go-to place for music education and performance. It’s where music lovers, from curious fans to renowned performers, come together to explore their musical passions. Founded in 1952 as a community school for pre-conservatory music training, today’s Kaufman Music Center is home to Merkin Concert Hall; Lucy Moses School, New York’s largest community arts school; and Special Music School, a K-12 public school for musically gifted children.http://www.kaufmanmusiccenter.org
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