Jerry Clark

Desert Ensemble Theatre's production of Josh Tobiessen's off-Broadway comedy, ELECTION DAY, is a winner. All five actors deliver howlingly funny performances, full of mostly impeccable timing and seemingly effortless physical comedy.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has announced the full casting for the world premiere of Bud, Not Buddy, a new play by Obie Award winner Kirsten Greenidge, adapted from Christopher Paul Curtis's acclaimed Newbury Medal winning novel, with music by world-renowned jazz artist and composer Terence Blanchard.

Members of the 'Pro99' movement of Actors' Equity Association have issued an open letter to AEA's newly elected president, Kate Shindle, in response to her victory and to her inaugural address as president of the national union for actors and stage managers. The open letter is signed by over 400 Equity members (listed below), including such notable names as Ed Asner, Francis Fisher, Sally Kirkland and Alfred Molina. The 'Pro99' movement formed in late 2014 in opposition to AEA's rollout of a new plan that will effectively force 'intimate theaters' in Los Angeles to pay Equity actors minimum wage, go 'non-union' or even close - despite an overwhelming vote against the plan by 66% of the Los Angeles membership on an advisory referendum. 'Pro99' members around the nation, who take their name from the current AEA '99 Seat Plan' that allows members to volunteer in smaller venues, oppose AEA's new promulgated plan. They are requesting that Equity leadership put a moratorium on the plan until local members' voices can be heard, and that the union work with its members to develop an alternative plan that will more realistically address the needs of the Los Angeles theater community.

Bootleg Theater and Circle X Theatre Co. come together for the second year in a row to explore, rehearse and present free readings of four new plays.