http://showbusinessweekly.com/articles.sec-11-1-industry-news.htmlThe Obama administration this week recruited some high-profile performers to help push a new national initiative for arts education. Sarah Jessica Parker and Forest Whitaker were among the celebrities on hand.]]>“The Mad World of Miss Hathaway,” downtown’s original Mad Men musical parody, is returning to the Wild Project this month for its eagerly anticipated 6th installment.]]>The live music/dance performance takes place on two dates this month and features all-original moves by female dancers Ayano Imai, Shoko Tamai, Nahoko, and Rena.]]>The Singers Forum on Friday announced that it is teaming up with 30 Rock star Alec Baldwin for a new program to help playwrights with the development and advancement of original theatrical works.]]>The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation this week announced a new initiative that will grant $50 million to individual performing artists over the next ten years.]]>The Stella Adler Studio of Acting this month will premiere its first-ever off-Broadway production with Israel Horovitz’s acclaimed 1997 play, Lebensraum.]]>Last September, John Calvelli, executive vice president of the Wildlife Conservation Society, launched an unprecedented campaign in support of New York City’s nonprofit cultural organizations called One Percent for Culture. ]]>News of the closure — which was leaked Monday on several websites but not officially announced by the studio — follows the merging of Paramount's home video, licensing and digital divisions last week. ]]>New Perspectives Theatre Company holds a forum and panel on Supporting Women and Women’s Voices in Theatre at the McGinn Cazale Theatre. ]]>Signature Theatre Company last week announced the playwrights who will be participating in its new Residency Five initiative, part of the expanded programming that will be presented at the company’s new Frank Gehry-designed Signature Center.]]>Time for a victory dance, New Yorkers.A new study has revealed that the city’s dance organizations contribute some $215 million to the local economy each year. The study, released last week by the t]]>On September 7-18, free readings of plays will be presented by New Work Now! as part of the Public Theater’s play reading series at the Martinson Theater. ]]>Enter @BroadwaySpotted. What began as an inside joke about gossip between friends has now evolved into a go-to guru for all things Broadway (and off-Broadway, of course) with over 10,000 devout followers and generous support from the online Broadway social media site, BroadwaySpace. ]]>On August 9, Cheryl King, the director of Stage Left Studio, announced the line-up for the fifth annual Women at Work Festival.]]>To commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11, The Flea Theater will present special performances of Anne Nelson’s The Guys at various venues in Lower Manhattan.]]>Follies, which premiered in 1971 and was the winner of seven Tony Awards and seven Drama Desk Awards, is coming back to Broadway this week for a limited engagement.]]>Unions call for new regulations that could change the face of unscripted programming... we can only hope and pray.]]>Mark Rylance, who won his second Tony Award this past June, has given his Tony statue to 71-year-old builder Mickey Lay, the man who inspired his performance as Johnny “Rooster” Byron in Jez Butterworth’s Jerusalem.]]> On Monday, July 25, the Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival announced the final six plays selected for publication and licensing by Samuel French, Inc. ]]>The New York Civil Liberties Union announced the addition of two-time Tony nominee Gavin Creel and Tony winner John Tartaglia to its performer line-up for Broadway Stands Up for Freedom, its annual benefit show scheduled for Monday, July 25 at the NYU Skirball Center for Performing Arts.]]>