Anna Shapiro News

Independent producer Adam Kern will present a reading of Ken Kaissar's Play The Victims Or: What do you want me to do about it?, which will have a virtual reading on Thursday June 24th 2021 at 8:00 PM EST on Zoom.  

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Rhinebeck Writers Retreat will host nine weeklong in-person residencies for 23 musical theatre writers of nine new musicals between June 27 and August 29.  Writers include Tony-nominee Beth Malone, Emily Saliers of Indigo Girls; Jonathan Larson winners Avi Amon, Sara Cooper, Ty Defoe, and Anna Jacobs and more.

The Dramatists Guild of America will welcome two new members to its Council, Ty Defoe and Rona Siddiqui. The Guild is governed by a board of directors (Council) elected from its membership. These writers, in various stages of their theatrical careers, meet monthly to decide policy for the Guild. 

Director, producer and Cornell University alumnus ('93) David Winitsky has been named the new Interim Producing Artistic Director of Ithaca's Kitchen Theatre Company. David's appointment was unanimously approved by the Kitchen Theatre Company's Board of Directors. He succeeds M. Bevin O'Gara, the theatre's Producing Artistic Director since 2017.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announced today that Brooke Flanagan, who previously worked at Steppenwolf for seven years, will return to the organization in the role of Executive Director and will become the first woman to hold the title in Steppenwolf's 45-year history.

Company is officially in previews on Broadway!  Following the engagement in London's West End, the new production of Sondheim and George Furth's landmark American musical, Company, directed by two-time Tony Award® winner Marianne Elliott comes to Broadway starring Tony and Grammy Award® winner Katrina Lenk as Bobbie and two-time Tony Award and two-time Grammy Award winner Patti LuPone as Joanne.

Performances for Steppenwolf's production of The Minutes by Tracy Letts, directed by Anna D. Shapiro, begin Tuesday, February 25, 2020 at the Cort Theatre (138 W 48th St) on Broadway, and officially opens on Sunday, March 15, 2020. This is a 16-week limited engagement through Sunday, June 14, 2020.

The Princess Grace Foundation-USA has announced that it is establishing a new award to support emerging theater professionals in any discipline for his/her "Unique Contribution to Theater."  This award is being funded by a $1,000,000 charitable gift from the John Gore Organization with a goal of identifying and supporting extraordinary young talent in the theater field.  The award will be presented annually, beginning in 2019.

The Drama League has announced an inaugural event: First Stage Festival, where new works take their first steps, featuring 10 resident directors who will have 10 hours to focus and manifest a particular moment or element of 10 new works, giving a glimpse into the future of the American Theater.

Playwrights Horizons (Artistic Director Tim Sanford, Managing Director Leslie Marcus) today announces that its 2019 Spring Gala will honor the beloved and prolific actress Lois Smith, a two-time Tony Award nominee whose six-decade career in theater, film, and television has included memorable performances in numerous Playwrights Horizons productions. The event will convene Playwrights Horizons' diverse community of writers, artists, and supporters on Monday, May 6 at 583 Park Avenue.

Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, is proud to announce the return of its summer youth program, Teens Speak Up. Now in its 16th summer, Teens Speak Up gives local junior high and high school students the opportunity to connect with their peers and Chance Artists as they write, design, and perform their own original play. Through this process, students will also grow concentration and awareness, emotional freedom and connection, and self-confidence. Chance Theater Resident Artists Darryl B. Hovis and Education Director, Karen O'Hanlon will guide students through the six-week program, which begins on June 17, 2019 and culminate in four public performances on July 27 and 28 at 11:00am and 7:00pm.

THE BIGOT, the new hot topic play by Gabi and Eva Mor that will have a full Off-Broadway run at the Theatre at St. Clement's  will have its first preview on (423 West 46th Street) April 26 - just two weeks away. The prodcution, directed by  Michael Susko, will run through June 9 and its official opening night is set for Wednesday, May 1. For more information visit:  www.thebigotplay.com

The full cast and creative team for The Bigot, a new hot topic and dark comedy by Gabi & Eva Mor that mixes social commentary, family drama and a lot of humor, has been announced today.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company welcomes Leelai Demoz as the new Associate Artistic Director. Leelai Demoz has had a varied career in the arts, on stage, in front and behind the camera.

Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, is pleased to announce the first show in its fifth season of our TYA Family Series... James and The Giant Peach. With book by Timothy Allen McDonald, music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, based on the book by Roald Dahl, and directed by Darryl B. Hovis, James and The Giant Peach will preview from February 15 through February 17; regular performances will begin February 17 and continue through March 3 at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center on the Fyda-Mar Stage.

 Steppenwolf Theatre Company gathered with 300 leaders from Chicago's business and civic communities for the 10thAnniversary Steppenwolf Women in the Arts fundraising luncheon to honor OBIE, Helen Hayes and NAACP Award-winning actor and playwright Danai Gurira on December 10, 2018 at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, 221 N Columbus Dr. Ms. Gurira was also recently appointed a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador, focusing on gender equality and women's rights. Author of the hit play, Familiar, which is currently running through January 13, 2019 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre, Ms. Gurira was joined by Steppenwolf Artistic Director Anna D. Shapiro and Steppenwolf Education Manager Jared Bellot for a warm and candid conversation about her impressive acting career on-screen and on-stage, her award-winning plays and her impact as an activist and philanthropist.

New Ohio Theatre and The Mill present the New York premiere of Mark Chrisler's WORSE THAN TIGERS, directed by Jaclyn Biskup. WORSE THAN TIGERS runs from August 24 - September 8, 2018 in a limited engagement at New Ohio Theatre, located at 154 Christopher Street between Greenwich and Washington Streets in New York City. Previews begin August 24 for an August 26 opening.

New Ohio Theatre and The Mill announced today that the New York premiere of Mark Chrisler's WORSE THAN TIGERS, directed by Jaclyn Biskup, will extend through September 8, 2018. The limited engagement plays at New Ohio Theatre, located at 154 Christopher Street between Greenwich and Washington Streets in New York City. Previews begin August 24 for an August 26 opening.

New Ohio Theatre and The Mill proudly present the New York premiere of Mark Chrisler's WORSE THAN TIGERS, directed by Jaclyn Biskup. WORSE THAN TIGERS runs from August 24 - September 1, 2018 in a limited engagement at New Ohio Theatre, located at 154 Christopher Street between Greenwich and Washington Streets in New York City. Previews begin August 24 for an August 26 opening.

New Ohio Theatre and The Mill proudly present the New York premiere of Mark Chrisler's WORSE THAN TIGERS, directed by Jaclyn Biskup. WORSE THAN TIGERS runs from August 24 - September 1, 2018 in a limited engagement at New Ohio Theatre, located at 154 Christopher Street between Greenwich and Washington Streets in New York City. Previews begin August 24 for an August 26 opening.