Upcoming Theatre Events

Tony Winner Michele Pawk to Direct ‘Picnic’ for Inge Festival

Contact: Bruce Peterson (620) 332-5492

Tony-winning actress Michele Pawk—currently performing on Broadway in “Hairspray”—will direct a production of William Inge’s “Picnic” for the 2008 William Inge Theatre Festival in Independence, Kansas.

“Picnic” will be the opening show of the 27^th annual Inge Festival, which runs April 23-26, 2008.  Christopher Durang is the honored playwright.

Pawk has starred in numerous Broadway musicals and plays in addition to her current role in “Hairspray”, where she plays Velma Von Tussle. These shows include “Cabaret” (Drama Desk and Outer Critics’ Circle nominations), “Crazy for You,” (Drama Desk nomination), “Seussical the Musical,” “Mamma Mia,” and “Chicago.”  She appeared in “A Little Night Music” at the New York and Los Angeles opera companies, and “Bounce” at the Kennedy Center. However, it was in a play that the versatile Pawk won her Tony Award for Best Featured Actress, in the 2003 drama “Hollywood Arms,” written by Carol Burnett and Carrie Hamilton.

Pawk’s additional credits include an off-Broadway revival of Inge’s “The Dark at the Top of the Stairs,” “Triumph of Love,” “The Paris Letter,” the film Cradle Will Rock, and episodes of Law & Order.

The Inge Festival is April 23-26, 2008, with further evening performances featuring guest artists from around the country.  The Festival finale is a multi-media tribute to Christopher Durang, who will be present to accept the William Inge Theatre Festival's Distinguished Achievement in the American Theatre Award.

Previous winners of the Distinguished Achievement Award include Arthur Miller, August Wilson, Neil Simon, Stephen Sondheim, Edward Albee and Wendy Wasserstein among others.  The 2007 Honoree was Sheldon Harnick.

For more information contact (620) 332-5492.

Inge Center Leads 3^rd Annual Broadway Tour

July 16 – 20, 2008

Contact: Bruce Peterson (620) 332-5492

 

For the third straight year, the William Inge Center for the Arts will be accompanying folks from Kansas and nearby Midwestern States on a trip to Manhattan, New York, where they will enjoy behind-the-scenes glances of Broadway stars and shows during at the 3^rd Annual William Inge Center for the Arts on Broadway Tour, July 16 – 20, 2008. Reservations are now being accepted by calling (620) 332-5492.

As in the previous two years, only those on the “Inge Center on Broadway” tour will have such amazing opportunities to meet numerous talented Broadway favorites.

For example, in 2006, the “Inge Center on Broadway” group visited with Tony-winning performer John Lloyd Young, who was starring as Franki Valli in “Jersey Boys.” They also met past playwright honorees, A.R. Gurney and Sheldon Harnick.

In 2007, the “Inge Center on Broadway” tour enjoyed a private get-together with Marian Seldes and Angela Lansbury, co-stars in the play “Deuce.”

“The William Inge Theatre Center is very well known among New York performers, as many have attended Inge Center events or know someone who did,” said Inge Center Artistic Director Peter Ellenstein. “John Lloyd Young was twice a performer at the William Inge Theatre Festival prior to landing the leading role in ‘Jersey Boys’ and now he is a member of our National Advisory Committee. “Marian Seldes is also a past Guest Artist at the William Inge Theatre Festival.  Our tour group was thrilled to meet this beloved, gracious artist, who is such a supportive advocate of the Inge Center among the Broadway community,” Ellenstein said. “Our tour participants also get the opportunity to meet with many of the fantastic performers, writers and directors who are past Guest Artists and Playwrights-in-Residence at the Inge Center.  The Inge Center is fortunate to have so many friends in New York--it makes perfect sense to visit them!”

The Inge Center is currently accepting names of interested parties. The trip is still being priced, but plans are to include round trip, non-stop flights from Tulsa, four nights deluxe hotel in the Broadway district, transportation to and from Newark airport, at least two lunches with guest celebrities, prime tickets to three Broadway shows, a harbor boat tour, and also plenty of free time for sight-seeing.  Pricing details will be announced soon.

To reserve your spot, contact the Inge Center at (620) 332-5492, (800) 842-6063 ext. 5835.

The Inge Center is best known for its annual William Inge Theatre Festival, which celebrates its 27^th year April 23-26, 2008.  The Inge Festival features workshops with theatre veterans, professional performances, and special events.  The centerpiece of the 2008 Festival is a multi-media tribute to great American playwright, Christopher Durang. www.christopherdurang.com

Major supporters of the William Inge Center for the Arts are the Kansas Arts Commission, the National Endowment for the Arts, Hallmark Cards, the Dramatist Guild of New York, and Independence Community College.

The center is named for the late Pulitzer Prize (“Picnic”) and Oscar winning (“Splendor in the Grass”) writer William Inge, a native of Independence.