Black History Month in New York Offers Plenty to Do

Black History Month in New York means no shortage of ways to celebrate, educate yourself, or simply have a good time. Below, a smattering of events running throughout the month at institutions around the city.
If it’s art you’re after, check out the exhibition “African Americans: Seeing and Seen: 1766-1916” at the Babcock Galleries (724 Fifth Avenue, between 56th and 57th Streets; 212 767-1852).The show looks at both positive and negative portrayals of African Americans in fine art, going back to Colonial times.
Over at BAM (BAM Cinema; 30 Lafayette Street in Brooklyn; 718 636-4100), a schedule of films is running throughout the month under the heading “The Best of the African Diaspora Film Festival.” Coming up: “Made in Jamaica,” on Feb. 19, which explores the world of reggae music. Events are also running at the Brooklyn Public Library (10 Grand Army Plaza; 718-230-2100) and the Brooklyn Children’s Museum (145 Brooklyn Avenue; 718 735-4400).
Up at the Dwyer Cultural Center (258 St. Nicholas Avenue in Manhattan; 212 222-3060), both music and theater are on the bill. This week (Feb. 9) “Rivers Run Deep: The Paul Robeson Story” is being presented.
And New York’s Lincoln Center is offering a roster of performances throughout February. On Feb. 11, for example, swing to “Basie and the Blues” with Wynton Marsalis (Rose Theater at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Broadway and 60th Street; call 212 721-6500.)
So beat those February blues with culture and education. Get out there!

Signature Theater Will Be on the Move by 2010

New York’s Signature Theater--whose signature is devoting an entire season to the work of one playwright--is getting a new home come 2012. The city has chipped in $25 million toward the projected cost of the move to a Frank-Gehry-designed space on 42nd Street, where the theater will be part of a residential hotel and building on 10th Avenue. The new space, a 59-story complex, will include three theaters, a bookstore, rehearsal studio, and administrative offices. It will feature environmentally conscious building materials. The theater was originally slated to move into a performance space at the World Trade Center site. The news is welcome in the theater world, especially at a time of such economic doubt when funding for the arts is down.
Past playwrights who have been featured include Horton Foote (“The Trip to Bountiful”); and August Wilson (“Two Trains Running”). The work of playwright-in-residence Tony Kushner, known for works like “Angels in America,” will kick off the 20th anniversary season in 2010-2011. Actors who have appeared in past Signature productions include Parker Posey, Edward Norton, Catherine Keener, and Anne Bancroft.
The announcement was made this week at a ceremony featuring Mayor Mike Bloomberg, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, and Tony Kushner, as well as luminaries in the theater world like actor Bill Irwin and playwright John Guare.
The theater is currently featuring the work of playwright Horton Foote.

Theater on the Edge: The New York International Fringe Festival

If you like your theater to be a walk on the wild side instead of a plush third-row seat, or if you’re just feeling daring and in need of something offbeat to do, The New York International Fringe festival starts today (Friday, August 14) and runs through Sunday, August 30.
More than 200 companies from around the world perform at what is billed as the biggest multi-arts festival in North America; it was founded in 1997. Let’s keep those numbers coming: That's 16 days, 20 performance venues (mostly in lower Manhattan), and more than 1300 performances to look forward to, for those of you who were wondering. Shows are chosen through a jury-based selection process.
Performances run from 2pm to midnight on weekdays, and noon to midnight on weekends.
Shows include “Selfplex,” which focuses on a 40-year-old writer who assumes the identity of a transgendered teenager; “6 Seconds in Charlak,” a contemporary romance told from the male point of view; and “666,” about four death-row convicts.
The festival also includes educational events (FringeU); and art-based events (FringeArt).
So it's not "Oklahoma," but isn't that kind of the point?
For more information, call (212) 279-4488; or log on to fringenyc.org