Arena Stage News

Smokey Joe's Cafe: The Songs of Leiber and Stoller comes to Arena Stage April 25 to June 8, 2014. Part 1 of our interview with director Randy Johnson and choreographer Parker Esse looks at the legacy of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller's collaboration and impact on the rock and roll era.

Yale Repertory Theatre, in a co-production with Berkeley Repertory Theatre, presents the world premiere of The House that will not Stand by Marcus Gardley, directed by Patricia McGregor. The House that will not Stand will be performed at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street) today, April 18-May 10. Opening Night is Thursday, April 24.

In FALSE SOLUTION, Anton Seligman is a renowned architect, working on his designs for a new Holocaust museum to be built in Poland. He encounters Linda Johansson, a beautiful young intern and first-year architecture grad student, who challenges his conceptions. The tensions created by their differing ideas are complicated by their mutual attraction to each other: The lovely young woman is drawn to this man by his accomplishments and influential position in addition to his considerable personal charm; He, in his turn, is stimulated by her beauty, vitality, and probing intellect. Given the subject matter of the project, identity politics are also part of the mix.

The Wild Root Company, a New York City-based production endeavor committed to the development of new work from emerging playwrights and screenwriters, will present two industry readings of rising playwright Jonathan Kravetz's hysterical farce The Beast in My Pants. The readings will be held today, April 17, 2014 at 3:00 and 8:00 pm at The Creative Center at Manhattan Theatre Club. Jessi D. Hill (Associate Artistic Director of terraNOVA Collective) will direct. Sean Hudock will produce the readings.

force/collision announces its current performance project, Jarman (all this maddening beauty) will be livestreamed on HowlRound TV on April 20th at 4:00pm. Inspired by queer avant-garde artist, activist and filmmaker, Jarman (all this maddening beauty) invades the mind and artistic aesthetic of Derek Jarman (The Last of England, Sebastiane, The Tempest) to create a poetic and visually dynamic mash-up of video and live performance. This project will premiere in 2014 to coincide with the 20th anniversary of Jarman's death.

City Theatre's groundbreaking CityWrights Professional Weekend for Playwrights, which takes place June 26 - 29 at EPIC Hotel, Miami, FL, continues to grow as a nationally recognized event that puts South Florida center stage as a cultural destination for playwrights, theatre artists and professionals. This highlight of the annual SUMMER SHORTS FESTIVAL is a lively and comprehensive symposium dedicated to the art, business, development, training, inspiration and mentorship of dramatists and the development of new work.

Now in previews, The Velocity of Autumn is a 90-minute powder keg dark comedy by Eric Coble that stars Academy Award winner Estelle Parsons (Bonnie and Clyde, 'Roseanne') and two-time Tony Award winner Stephen Spinella (Angels in America, Lincoln, '24'), is directed by Molly Smith and will open Monday, April 21, 2014. This limited Broadway engagement of The Velocity of Autumn follows a sold-out, critically acclaimed run at Washington DC's Arena Stage (Edgar Dobie, Executive Producer) in the fall of 2013. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the new play on stage!

Due to popular demand, August Wilson play extends to May 4, 2014

The Wild Root Company, a New York City-based production endeavor committed to the development of new work from emerging playwrights and screenwriters, will present two industry readings of rising playwright Jonathan Kravetz's hysterical farce The Beast in My Pants. The readings will be held on Thursday April 17, 2014 at 3:00 and 8:00 pm at The Creative Center at Manhattan Theatre Club. Jessi D. Hill (Associate Artistic Director of terraNOVA Collective) will direct. Sean Hudock will produce the readings.

Rubicon Theatre continues the company's 16th Not Your Typical Season with a special run of Love, Loss, and What I Wore -- a witty and wise celebration of womanhood adapted by Nora and Delia Ephron, creators of such hits as 'When Harry Met Sally,' 'Sleepless in Seattle,' 'You've Got Mail,' 'The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants' and 'Silkwood.'

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater will host the Voices of Now Festival, a four-day event featuring original works of theater written and performed by nine different youth ensembles from the internationally renowned Community Engagement program. The festival will bring together more than 100 artists, ages 11-24, from D.C., Maryland and Virginia who have been working with professional theater artists from Arena Stage for the past year to devise original one-act plays. The 2014 ensembles will come together May 14-17, 2014 to perform and discuss their work in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle at the Mead Center.

The Telly Awards announced the 2014 Award winners yesterday, naming the television spot for the new dark comedy THE VELOCITY OF AUTUMN produced by AKA NYC the recipient of the 2014 Telly Award for Excellent Use of Humor (Local TV and Local Cable). "The Telly Awards has a mission to honor the very best in film and video," said Linda Day, Executive Director of the Telly Awards. "AKA NYC's accomplishment illustrates their creativity, skill, and dedication to their craft and serves as a testament to great film and video production."

A limited number of Opening Night tickets are now on sale for THE VELOCITY OF AUTUMN starring Academy Award winner Estelle Parsons (Bonnie and Clyde, "Roseanne") and two-time Tony Award winner Stephen Spinella (Angels in America, Lincoln, "24") at Broadway's Booth Theatre. The new 90-minute powder keg dark comedy by Eric Coble and directed by Molly Smith began performances on Tuesday, April 1, 2014 and officially opens on Monday, April 21, 2014 for a limited engagement, following a sold-out, critically acclaimed run at Washington DC's Arena Stage (Edgar Dobie, Executive Producer) in the fall of 2013.

theatreWashington today kicks off its celebratory theatreWeek (April 14 - 20, 2014), offering countless opportunities for both lifelong patrons and reticent newbies to explore Washington's diverse professional theatres-from discounted performances to ticket giveaways and promotions to behind-the-scenes events. A joint endeavor with presenting sponsor The Washington Post, the Washington theatre community, Destination DC, and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the campaign spotlights Washington-area theatre through a regional ad campaign, to be seen by millions. The celebration culminates with the 30th Annual Helen Hayes Awards on April 21 at the National Building Museum.

STAGE17, Chairman David Stoller (Executive Chairman of Reach4Entertainment), and President and Executive Producer Ondine Landa Abramson are pleased to present the world premiere of the original reality series Fan Fare which offers backstage scoop, from auditions to closing nights, as casts and creative teams from iconic Broadway shows reunite at the legendary Sardi's with Julie James, host of On Broadway from SiriusXM. STAGE17, a new digital entertainment destination for episodic fiction and reality programming, launched the original series on Sunday, April 6, 2014 and part two airs today, April 11, 2014.

The Brown University/Trinity Rep MFA Programs present two raw and devastatingly humanistic plays running in repertory this May. Sam Shepard's poetic and psychedelic rock and roll drama The Tooth of Crime, opens May 1st and is directed by Dan Rogers (Brown/Trinity Rep MFA Programs '15). Alternating with this Shepard play starting May 2nd is Adam Rapp's surreal and dark new-age comedy, Stone Cold Dead Serious, directed by Flordelino Lagundino (Brown/Trinity Rep MFA Programs '15). Performances of both plays run May 1 through May 18 in the Pell Chafee Performance Center, 87 Empire Street, Providence. General admission is $10, with a $5 discounted ticket for students and seniors. Tickets are on sale now at the Trinity Rep box office, by phone (401) 351-4242, and online at www.trinityrep.com. Audiences should note that both of these productions contain mature subject matter and adult language.

The Wallis Center for the Performing Arts presents Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life for 19 performances only from May 9 - 24, 2014 in the Bram Goldsmith Theater. Maurice Hines, a Tony Award nominee, is a celebrated dancer, choreographer, director, and singer, whose impressive career spans over 40 years. Directed by Tony Award nominee Jeff Calhoun (Broadway's Newsies and Grey Gardens), Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life features D.C.'s dynamic tap-dancing duo, the Manzari Brothers, as well as the all-female, nine-piece big band, The Diva Jazz Orchestra.

Perseverance Theatre opens Pulitzer Prize winning Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tenessee Williams. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is showing in the Sydney Laurence Theatre at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts today, April 11 - 27, 2014. Tickets are now available through Centertix online at centertix.net or by calling 263-ARTS. There is a Pay-As-You-Can Previews on Thursday, April 10th at 7:30p.m.

BroadwayWorld.com, the largest theatre web site on the net, is very excited today to announce the launch of its newest, exclusive TV series - BROADWAY QUICK CHANGE. The new series will feature Broadway performer Robert Hartwell using his passion for interior design to take viewers into the dressing rooms of Broadway's hottest stars, as he transforms them with truly fabulous make overs.

Screen Actors Guild Foundation and Broadway World have partnered for an filmed Conversations Q&A series to recognize and celebrate the vibrant theatre community in New York City and the union actors who aspire to have a career on the stage and screen. The most recent conversation featured stage legend Kathleen Chalfant, moderated by BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge. Check out the full interview below!