New York City Broadway Shows

Power, Pittsburgh Public Theater managing director since March 2006, has announced he is leaving in mid-July. The company credits him with "a number of major initiatives" in his 16-month tenure: "new and creative fund-raising efforts, the re-engineering of the company's computer infrastructure and the launch of a new Public Theater Web site." Power has decided "to pursue independent projects, including his longtime practice of investing in Broadway shows."

Meanwhile, Ted Pappas' contract has been renewed as producing artistic director (no dates given). He began at the Public as a guest director in 1994, took over as artistic director in the 2000-01 season and then took on the business side, as well, when Stephen Kline left. The company's press release continues, "the future status of the Public's senior management team is in the process of being finalized."

In looking back, the Public calls its 32nd season, which ends July 1, "a landmark year, expanding the company's profile and impact locally, regionally and nationally." It staged two world premieres, "The Secret Letters of Jackie and Marilyn" and "The Glorious Ones." The latter moves on to Lincoln Center this fall, while "Things of Dry Hours," which the Public premiered in 2004, will have its New York debut at the New York Theatre Workshop.

Hundreds of Dancers to Be Part of Dancing at the Crossroads ...

The day-long event, entitled Dancing at the Crossroads, will celebrate the arrival of summer and will feature hundreds of professional dancers. Over 30 dance companies including 200 dancers will offer classic and contemporary ballet, hip hop, jazz, modern and tap.

Crossroads will be emceed by a host of Broadway and dance stars, including Kate Shindle, Stephanie J. Block, Orion Duckstein, Rob Kleinendorst, Denis Jones, Judine Somerville and Karine Plantadit.

Among the dance companies and Broadway shows scheduled to participate are Amy Hall, Angel Feliciano Movement Theatre, Art of Dance, Aszure Barton, AxisDanz, Ayodele Casele, Battleworks Dance Company, Chase Brock Experience, CorbinDances, C.Eule Dance, Dance China NY, Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company, Dance Times Square, Elisa Monte Dance, Francesca Harper Project, Hartford City Ballet, Jennifer Muller/The Works, Keigwin + Company, Limn Dance Company, Miss Dance of the United States, Paul Taylor Dance Company, Performing Arts Center of Connecticut, Rhapsody-The Group, Ron Todorowski, Sara Joel, Thomas/Ortiz Dance, Timothy Bish, The United States Dance Team and Wes Veldink Movement as well as the casts of The Lion King and The Pirate Queen.

Carr, Hart, Waterston, Whitehead Set for Westport's Relatively ...

Geneva Carr, Cecilia Hart, James Waterston, and Paxton Whitehead will star in the Westport Country Playhouse's production of Alan Ayckbourn's Relatively Speaking, July 12-28. The production will be directed by John Tillinger.

The play was first professionally produced in America in 1970. In it, an unidentified pair of slippers found under a bed leads to a series of misunderstandings, mistaken identities, and alibis between two young lovers and a married, middle-aged couple. Ayckbourn is the author of over 70 plays, including Intimate Exchanges, now on view at 59E59 Theatres in New York City.

The design team for Relatively Speaking includes James Noone (sets), Laurie Churba (costumes), Kevin Adams (lighting), and Scott Killian (sound). Tillinger received a Tony Award nomination for Loot! and was most recently represented on Broadway by the Manhattan Theatre Club revival of Ayckbourn's Absurd Person Singular.