Little Theatre of Virginia Beach Presents Neil Simon’s Hilarious Comedy 45 Seconds From Broadway

January 01, 1970

Virginia Beach, VA – The Little Theatre of Virginia Beach (LTVB) is thrilled to present 45 Seconds From Broadway, a witty and heartwarming comedy by legendary playwright Neil Simon. The production runs from March 21 to April 13, 2025, promising audiences a delightful evening of humor, charm, and classic New York flavor.

Set in the bustling world of a famous New York coffee shop—a haven for Broadway dreamers, eccentrics, and established stars—45 Seconds From Broadway captures the energy and heart of the city’s theatre scene. At the center of it all is comedian Mickey Fox, whose quick wit and larger-than-life personality make the café a gathering place for an unforgettable cast of characters. Through a series of hilarious and touching encounters, Neil Simon’s script celebrates the magic of theatre and the connections that make it all possible.

“What I love about 45 Seconds from Boadway is how it shows the blend of humor, heartbreak, and aspiration that we all experience in community theater,” says Jeff Seneca, director of the production. “It speaks to both the dreamers and the realists, who find themselves in the audience as much as on stage.”

45 Seconds From Broadway will be performed at the Little Theatre of Virginia Beach located at 550 Barberton Drive, Virginia Beach, VA.  Showtimes are as follows: Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00PM, and Sunday matinees at 2:30PM.   Tickets start at $25 for adults and $12 for children 12 and under.  There is a discount for seniors, ages 60 and up, active duty military, and full-time students at $22 tickets.  Group discounts available for groups of 20 and more. Tickets are currently available for purchase and can be obtained through the theater’s website at www.ltvb.com or by calling the box office at (757) 428-9233.

GENERIC THEATER CLOSES OUT SEASON WITH HOPEFUL MUSICAL “ORDINARY DAYS”

January 01, 1970

Teachers get 20% off at Teacher’s Night March 22! 

(February 14, 2025) – Generic Theater, Norfolk’s innovative underground theater venue, proudly presents “ORDINARY DAYS,” a contemporary musical with a small cast, but big message.

The show celebrates the extraordinary nature of everyday life in New York City, and how 8.3 million individual stories can combine in unexpected ways. With music, book, and lyrics by Adam Gwon and direction by Dillon Bates, this intimate production comes to life weekends from March 14 through March 30, 2025, at Generic Theater, located under Chrysler Hall.

“ORDINARY DAYS” follows four young New Yorkers whose lives unexpectedly intersect as they navigate the complexities of finding fulfillment, happiness, love, and yes – even taxi cabs. Through a vibrant score of memorable songs, the production highlights the importance of hope and connection-themes all too important to remember in today’s busy times.

“‘Ordinary Days’ perfectly embodies Generic Theater’s mission,” says Director Dillon Bates. “The show explores how beauty emerges when we take time to connect with one another and truly see the value in our shared experiences. As Warren observes in the show, ‘Beautiful takes a person to make a connection. For beautiful to happen, the beautiful has got to be seen.'”

The production features a talented cast of local performers: Andrew Dulce as Warren, Sarah Schweit as Deb, Dan Zhano McGary as Jason, and Jessi DiPette as Claire. DiPette, recently seen on Netflix’s “Squid Game: The Challenge,” brings her award-winning talent to the Generic stage, while Schweit makes her Generic debut. Rounding out the cast are McGary, who returns to the theater after an eight-year hiatus and Dulce, fresh from his role as Ichabod Crane in Generic’s season opener “Tarrytown,”.

This production aligns with Generic Theater’s commitment to innovative contemporary works while cultivating both established and emerging talent. The intimate setting of the underground theater provides the perfect backdrop for this story about finding connection in a complex world.

Performances March 14-30 at Generic Theater. Tickets: generictheater.org

Hear This Youth Poetry Festival Seeking Submissions

January 01, 1970

Teens With a Purpose (TWP) believes that everyone has a story to tell. We are looking for committed, opinionated teenagers with an interest in performance poetry, theatre, songwriting, debate, rap or just being heard. Together students will read, write, critically analyze, bond and can perform on premier stages throughout our region.

The Hear This Youth Poetry Festival is more than a local event; it’s part of a national network of youth literary arts and creative youth development organizations, including Urban Word, New York; Words Beats & Life, Washington DC; DewMore, Baltimore; Southern Word, Tennessee; & Youth Speaks San Francisco with alumni including Amanda Gorman, the Poet for President Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2020. HRYP is a unique opportunity for students 13-19 years of age that puts young people at the center of their learning experiences as a way to engage them in their own education, through performance poetry.

The festival also provides young poets who are civically engaged with the opportunity to via for the prestigious Youth Poet Laureate (YPL) title. This title honors their poetic prowess + propels them to compete in the Eastern Regionals and potentially, the National YPL Competition. Youth Poet Laureate identifies youth writers + leaders who are committed to civic/community engagement, poetry & performance, leadership + education across Hampton Roads & Virginia. FAQ here

Required:

To Qualify for YPL Programs – youth must submit their work by 2/28/2025 here. There are two opportunities for youth to apply to take part in the Hampton Roads Youth Poet Laureate and/or Virginia Youth Poet Laureate Programs.

To Qualify for the HRYP Slam program – youth must participate in the Qualifying Slams and move to the finals where winners will be selected. Slam rules FAQ

Incentives: Cash prizes for semi & final winners. Finalists get; recording studio time and placement on TWP’s platforms (spotify, etc); published poems in the Creative Tongues Youth Poetry Anthology, and perform at local and regional events. At the end of the festival, six finalists will qualify to represent all of Hampton Roads at Brave New Voices. The Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam Festival, powered by Youth Speaks, is the only festival of its kind. Every year, over 500 young poets, their mentors, and the nation’s leading artists and cultural workers convene in a different U.S. city for 4-5 days of arts education, artistic expression, and civic engagement. This year’s festival will take place July 16th-20th.

Registrations may be submitted online (https://www.twp-themovement.org/programs)

CASTING NOTICE: Cinderella: Arts Enter Cape Charles

January 01, 1970

Casting Notice: PAID
Looking to cast :  Prince Christopher

Age:  20’s  or 30’s

Baritone, Handsome, Good mover,Good actor

Christopher is innocent yet determined and a bit rebellious. High spirited. He knows what he wants and is a kind and loving character.

Rehearsal on Saturdays and Sundays which began on February 8th . We are open to adjust the schedule but of course the week preceding the show is mandatory.

Performance Dates

May 2 at 7:30 pm
May 3 at 3 pm & 7:30 pm
May 4 at 3 pm

Contact
Please text : Sherri DeMarino
757-375-8081
Or
Contact Director- Clelia Sheppard 757-331-ARTS

MORE INFO: https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/arts-enter-cape-charles-inc/66f5b587d8798e12ac7759ca

Z Playwright Clyde Santana featured on “Curate 757”

January 01, 1970

Clyde Santana is featured on the WHRO Curate series!

A public artist reflects on a journey through the arts community, from murals to theater and canvas painting, Clyde Santana has been inspired by life experiences, including love and loss; celebrating art’s power to unite, heal, and bring dignity to communities. From teaching kids to honoring public servants, his work shows how creativity fosters connection and growth.

Airdate: 2025-01-29

WATCH EPISODE

American Traditions Vocal Competition

January 01, 1970

The 2025 American Traditions Vocal Competition takes place January 27 – 31, 2025 in Savannah, Georgia.  With top vocal talent from across the country, representing diverse styles of music from Jazz, Opera, Musical Theatre, Folk, Great American Songbook and more – this is a unique vocal contest not to be missed! Adjudicated by Gospel singer and Tony and Grammy-nominated bass-baritone, Phillip Boykin (Hadestown, Once on This Island, On the Town, Porgy and Bess), Tony-nominated actress Kate Baldwin (Hello, Dolly!, Giant, Big Fish) and conductor, music director, pianist and founder of the American Pops Orchestra, Luke Frazier.

Judges perform first on January 27 at 7pm EST, and the contestants follow suit as they vie for over $40,000 in prize monies over the course of a week, with rounds at 4 and 7:30pm daily.  Only five singers will make it to the Final Round on Friday, January 31 at 7pm EST where we add a rhythm trio and things really heat up.

Tickets are one price for the whole week of livestream.  Typically $50, for our friends at Vocal Jazz Summit, they are only $35. Tune in and watch the incredible vocal talent go for the Gold Medal – plus $12,000 and symphonic contracts!

Past winners include Grammy-winning Jazz artist, Nicole Zuraitis, and other celebrated jazz artists such as Gabrielle Stravelli, Alexis Cole, Cyrille Aimée, and April May Webb; Broadway stars Michael Maliakel, Julie Benko, Mykal Kilgore, Alysha Umphress, Morgan James, and Tituss Burgess; and Cabaret vocalists such as Andrea Ross, Carole Bufford, and many more over our 32 year history.

 

Use code VJS2025 for your $35 livestream ticket here.