Ars Nova News

With direction by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie and choreography by Josh Rhodes, BRIGHT STAR began performances on February 25th and opens officially tonight, March 24th, 2016 at at the Cort Theatre (138 West 48th Street). Scroll down to learn more about the cast and watch interviews with the company!

Philadelphia Theatre Company has just announced its 2016/17 season, with four plays and one musical that showcase work by some of the most exciting and provocative playwrights in America.

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) has announced the cast for HADESTOWN, written by celebrated singer-songwriter Anais Mitchell and developed with and directed by the inventive two-time OBIE award-winning director Rachel Chavkin (Three Pianos; Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812).

The sixth annual "Night Of A Thousand Judys" - the Pride concert to benefit The Ali Forney Center presented by The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - will take place at Merkin Concert Hall at the Kaufman Center (129 West 67th Street in Manhattan) on Monday, June 6.

Manhattan cabaret institution Don't Tell Mama will host the premiere staging of the new musical MIDNIGHT AT THE NEVER GET by Mark Sonnenblick, starring Sam Bolen, and directed by Associate Director of Programming Max Friedman.

In Episode 406 of 'Something New' -- a musical theatre podcast that interviews artists and premieres original songs -- award-winning songwriter Joel B. New sat down with Garth Kravits, co-creator and co-host of 'Playball Podcast.'

The American Theatre Wing celebrates its 2016 Jonathan Larson Grants recipients: Cesar Alvarez (book, music and lyrics), Nikko Benson (music and lyrics), Carson Kreitzer (book and lyrics), and Sam Salmond (book, music, and lyrics).

The workshop of award-winning composer/lyricist/playwright/performer Max Vernon's new musical THE VIEW UPSTAIRS, directed by Scott Ebersold and with choreography by Spencer Liff and music direction by Matt Aument, began rehearsals last week in New York City and will culminate in three industry presentations on March 31st and April 1st. THE VIEW UPSTAIRS is produced by Invisible Wall Productions, and they are proud to announce the cast and creative team.

George Street Playhouse today announced the cast of Aaron Posner's MY NAME IS ASHER LEV, which runs April 12 through May 1 at the New Brunswick theatre. Miles G. Jackson (4000 Miles) will portray the titular Jewish artist Asher Lev, who must be a painter despite his faith and the will of his family. Bob Ari (Frost/Nixon, GSP's Red) and Lena Kaminsky (Law & Order, GSP's The Pillowman) both return to George Street to round out the cast.  MY NAME IS ASHER LEV will be directed by George Street Playhouse Director of Education and Outreach, Jim Jack.

THE MEETING* hosted by Justin Sayre, the acclaimed comedy/variety show, will return to JOE'S PUB at The Public Theater to continue the Winter/Spring 2016 season on Sunday, March 20 at 9:30 PM.

 Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts is pleased to announce the 3rd ANNUAL NEW WORKS FESTIVAL, April 29 - May 1. THE READINGS ARE FREE. Reserve seats online at www.baystreet.org or by calling the Bay Street Theater Box Office at 631-725-9500, open Tuesday through Saturday 11 am to 5 pm.

Due to popular demand Abrons Arts Center and New York City Players are adding three additional performances of Really, a new play written by Jackie Sibblies Drury, directed by Richard Maxwell and designed by photographer Michael Schmelling. Performed by Elaine Davis, Tavish Miller and Kaneza Schaal, Really is a play about grief, intimacy and the difference between goodness and greatness seen through the lens of photography. A black woman takes pictures of her artist boyfriend's mom. As they jockey for a claim to him, they try to redefine themselves in the wake of his legacy.

New Ohio Theatre presents the world premiere of Glass Bandits Theater Company's AN INTIMATE EVENING WITH TYPHOID MARY, written by Carl Holder and directed by Knud Adams, which begins performances tonight, March 18, and continues through Saturday, March 26 at the New Ohio Theatre (154 Christopher Street between Greenwich and Washington Streets).

The New Group proudly presents The Sensuality Party as part of its 2015-2016 season. This New York premiere of a new play by Justin Kuritzkes was developed through The New Group's New Group/New Works play development program. Directed by Danya Taymor, this production will play 18 performances only at college campuses across all five boroughs of New York City, with venues including Brooklyn College, LaGuardia Community College, Gallatin School (New York University), Baruch College, Lehman College, Pace University NYC Campus, Pace University Westchester Campus and the College of Staten Island. Full schedule of venues & dates follows. Casting to be announced.

The Sheen Center, New York's new downtown cultural venue at 18 Bleecker Street, presents beloved, rising Broadway star and Tony Award nominee Kate Baldwin (Finian's Rainbow, Songbird) in KATE BALDWIN & FRIENDS: The Girl Who Stayed - The Songs of Will Van Dyke.

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre, the acclaimed comedy/variety show, will return to JOE'S PUB at The Public Theater to continue the Winter/Spring 2016 season on Sunday, March 20 at 9:30 PM. The Meeting* has been called "delicious and delightfully droll" by The New York Post and "hilarious and sardonic" by The Village Voice. A story for Slate.com called the evening "so deliciously icy that it left me shivering with fear and delight." The 2014-2015 season sold out after a profile in The New York Times "Arts & Leisure" section. The March show will honor the celebrated singer and songwriter Elton John with special guests Natalie Joy Johnson, Lance Horne and The Quinns (Nadia Quinn and Ameara Wahhab) with others to be announced. Tracy Stark serves as the show's Music Director.

The Old Globe just announced the complete cast and creative team of its production of Nick Payne's Broadway hit play CONSTELLATIONS, arriving April 9, directed by the Globe's own Richard Seer. BroadwayWorld is excited to report that Christian Coulson and Victoria Frings will star in the two-person play.

Beyond the Usual and Bootleg Theater proudly present the World Premiere of Tell Me I'm Pretty, a hilarious and riveting new solo show - written and performed by Joshua Silverstein and directed by Diana Wyenn. Tackling race, gender, and poverty in America through storytelling, spoken word, vocal percussion, and hip hop, Tell Me I'm Pretty opens its five-week run at Bootleg Theater on Friday, April 8, 2016.

Marin Theatre Company is proud to announce Rachel Bonds as the 2015 Sky Cooper New American Play Prize winner for her play Swimmers-which is currently running on the MTC mainstage-and Nick Gandiello as the 2015 David Calicchio Emerging American Playwright Prize winner for his play Sunrise Highway. Now in its ninth year, MTC's two new play prizes continue to celebrate the work of the American playwright and encourage the creation of bold, powerful new voices and plays for the American stage.