Hear banned works, celebrate women songwriters & more

Tell them they can't, and the theater community will respond in force.

They proved that with a massive social media outburst earlier this month in response to a controversial Wells Fargo ad campaign that many felt discouraged arts careers. Wells Fargo quickly changed their tune, apologized and promised a revised message in future communications.

Coming up toward the end of the month, they'll prove it again, defending freedom of expression with "Banned Together: A Censorship Cabaret."

The event is timed to coincide with Banned Books Week (Sept. 25 to Oct. 1).

The performance "is a celebration of songs and scenes from shows that have been censored or challenged on America’s stages, created to raise awareness around issues of censorship and free expression in the theater," according to a news release from the Dramatists Legal Defense Fund, which is presenting the cabaret.

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The cabaret will feature selections from “Cabaret”, “Chicago”, “Almost, Maine”, “Rent” and “Angels in America,” among other challenged works. DLDF president John Weidman will provide contextual commentary. Yet-to-be-announced guest artists and TADA! Youth Theater’s Resident Youth Ensemble, directed by TADA’s producing artistic director, Janine Nina Trevens, are set to perform.

The show is set for 6 p.m. Sept. 29 and 30 at Drama Book Shop (250 W. 40th St.), as well as performances in Miami, Chicago and San Francisco. For more information, visit dldf.org.

1. Back to school in style

The International Thespian Society is hosting its second annual New York Alumni Council event, "Broadway Back to School," at 7 p.m. on Sept. 26.

Headlining the event, which benefits theater arts education, are Jenna Ushkowitz ("Waitress," "Spring Awakening," "Glee"), Julia Murney ("Wicked"), Marla Louissant (2015 Jimmy Award winner) and playwright Stephen Karam ("The Humans"). More performers are set to be announced. The evening at Feinstein's/54 Below (254 W. 54th St., Manhattan) will be hosted by Hunter Bell ("[title of show]") and Susan Blackwell ("[title of show]").

For more information, visit schooltheatre.org/events/broadwaybacktoschool.

2. Broadway powerhouses raise their voices

A quintet of Broadway powerhouses will raise their voices at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1, to assist a children's home and school in Honduras.

"Broadway Sings for the Children of Honduras" will feature Laura Osnes ("Cinderella," "Grease"), Telly Leung ("Allegiance," "In Transit"), Caissie Levy ("Les Miserables"), Josh Young ("Jesus Christ Superstar") and Tamyra Gray ("Rent," "If/Then national tour).

The evening will feature pop/rock favorites and hit Broadway show tunes from a variety of Tony Award-winning shows including "Wicked," "Les Miserables," "South Pacific," "Rent" and "Aladdin."

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It will raise funds for Amigos de Jesús. Five children from the school will attend the event and mingle with guests at The Episcopal Academy in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, located outside Philadelphia.

Visit amigosdejesus.org/broadwaysings/ or call 610-644-8237 for more information.

3. Tap your troubles away

The New Jersey Tap Ensemble will present "The Tap Act," a "celebration of the dynamic trios and duets that were a cornerstone of the art form," at 2 p.m. on Oct. 9 at the Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts at Ocean County College.

The afternoon promises "infectious and brilliant" footwork as the ensemble performs musical numbers from the stage and Golden Age of Hollywood.

For more information on this performances and the 2016-2017 lineup, visit grunincenter.org.

4. "Girl Power" never sounded so sweet

Broadway stars will perform at 8 p.m.Oct. 17 at the cutting Room in a celebration of women songwriters.

"Broadway Cabaret: Broadway Stars Performing the Work of Women Songwriters" presented by the Lilly Awards Foundation, which "promotes and celebrates women artists by promoting gender parity at all levels of theatrical production," according to a news release.

The cabaret will include songs from current Broadway and off-Broadway productions "Anastasia," "Waitress," "Sweet Charity," "In Transit," "Bella: An American Tall Tale," "Southern Comfort" and "Hadestown," all written or co-written by women. It also will preview songs from new shows by Tony Award nominees Susan Birkenhead and Nell Benjamin.

Additional performers and songwriters are set to be announced shortly.

Visit thelillyawards.org/broadway-cabaret/ for more information or to buy tickets.

5. Save the date

Cabaret for Life's 2016 Member Gala is set for Oct. 16 at the Asbury Hotel in Asbury Park, New Jersey.

"Ribbon in the Sky" will feature Jarrod Scott and a live 12-piece band. Scott will be performing a 90-minute set with a swing band, singing songs by Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, Josh Groban, Michael Buble, Frank Sinatra and more. Scott recently was nominated for a Perry Award from NJACT for his performance in "Dreamgirls" at Axelrod Performing Arts Center.

The Board of Trustees and Directors will be hosting a cocktail party for members at 4 p.m., followed by the concert at 6 p.m..

Cabaret for Life is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds for service organizations that help people who are coping with life-threatening diseases, especially HIV/AIDS and cancer, through the production of musical theater.

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Cabaret for Life recently announced that it has donated $40,000 this year to charities representing "all the colors of the ribbon rainbow": The Center in Asbury Park, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital, The Valerie Fund at Monmouth Medical Center, Michael's Feat, The Frances Foundation for Kids Fighting Cancer and Kick Cancer Overboard.

Visit cabaretforlife.org for more information about "Ribbon in the Sky" and the organization, which was established in 1995 by a core group of Monmouth and Ocean county arts community members.

"Sightlines" is a new feature focused on theater happenings, upcoming events, fundraisers and more. Have an event coming up that relates to the stage? Tell us about it. Email  Ikeller@gannettnj.com, call 732-643-4260 or connect on Twitter @IlanaKeller.