Before the cicadas appear, it's time for another issue of the KAT's Meow, Kensington Arts Theatre's online newsletter. Read on for the latest on what's on stage now and what's in store for the Town Center in the next few months.

On The Town Center Stage

Just Opened... tick, tick...BOOM! by Jonathan Larson Showing: April 30, May 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 19*, 21 and 22 at 8pm and May 16 at 3pm. tick, tick...BOOM! is the musical tale of Jonathan Larson's days as a struggling artist in SoHo - an artist on the verge of exploding! It's 1990, and Rent is still six years away from its Broadway debut. Jonathan is on the verge of 30 -- faced with life-altering choices and fighting to keep his dreams. His girlfriend wants to get married and move out of the city, his best friend is making big bucks on Madison Avenue; but he's still waiting tables and trying to write the great American musical. With fourteen songs, ten characters, three actors, and a band, tick, tick...BOOM! takes you on the playwright/composer's journey that led to the Broadway blockbuster, Rent. Click here for the TTB page at KAT Online » Coming Soon... Broadway Through the Years: 3rd Annual KAT Gala Showing: August 7th, 8pm Come and help us kick off the 2004-2005 season at our third annual fundraising gala, Broadway Through the Years. We will explore the evolution of themes such as love, anxiety, sorrow, and hope with songs from the early days of Broadway through today's popular shows. With familiar faces from past KAT shows, the evening will be an unforgettable journey. Stay tuned for more details via email and on the web site. Click here to go to the KAT Home Page »

One Night, Glory

tick, tick...BOOM! has provided a unique opportunity for KAT. In producing shows, we strive to find ways to give back to our community — in other ways than just by what we do on stage. With this show, we have gotten a chance to know its creator a little better. Jonathan Larson, the creator of RENT, was a playwright and composer who struggled to make his dream come true. Supporting himself as a waiter in NYC was never easy, and if not for the emotional and financial help from friends and nonprofit organizations, he may never have been able to realize his visions. Tragically, Jonathan died of an undiagnosed aortic aneurysm in January 1996. The Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation was established to honor Jonathan's memory by providing financial assistance and encouragement to emerging artists. It is one of the few places that individual creative artists can go to apply for direct financial support. After learning this, the wheels started turning. To show our gratitude to Jonathan and those like him, KAT is hosting a special benefit performance of tick, tick...BOOM! on Wednesday, May 19 at 8pm, where $5 from every ticket will be donated to the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation. Donations to the Foundation will ensure continued growth and increased support for composers, lyricists, librettists and other creative artists and nonprofit producing organizations. Each year the Foundation provides grants to an extraordinarily talented group of individuals and organizations selected from over 100 applications. Join us for a night of laughter and great hope. We look forward to seeing you. Tax-deductible donations can also be sent to: Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation PO Box 672, Prince Street Station New York, NY 10012 – Elizabeth French (KAT Artistic Director) Click here to go to the tick, tick...BOOM! Page »

Where's the Cheesecloth?

Congratulations to the cast and production staff of Into the Woods for a fantastic run and another big success for KAT. Sondheim's beloved musical hit a nice sounding chord with our patrons, as several became members of our group. We also received some sizable donations, for which we are extremely grateful. The show was sold out on several occasions, but thanks to a malleable space, we were able to let everyone into our woods. We tried out a new perk for members on Opening Night: two tickets for the price of one. It was so well received that we will be making it a permanent perk for members. Many thanks to everyone who participated in making Into The Woods a great triumph. Click here to go to the Into the Woods Page »

Five Gold Pieces

Special thanks are in store for the Woolsey family (David, Jean, Harold, Patricia) for their incredibly generous donation which allowed us to purchase the curtains to provide a more intimate theater atmosphere for our cast and our patrons. Thanks also go out to Thomas Wyble, Richard Gustafson, Jr., Andrea Spitz and Alan Friedman for their donations during the run of Into the Woods, as well as KAT House Manager, Monica Rouco, for donating a new refrigerator which will increase concessions efficiency immensely. Please go to the Contributions section of KAT Online to find out how many different ways you can contribute to KAT. KAT is a 501(c)(3) corporation and your contributions are tax-deductable. Please help us continue to provide quality productions for the Kensington area. Click here to go to KAT Online Contributions »