Ars Nova News

Two Rooms offers theatregoers a uniquely immersive experience: it is a play that takes place primarily in a room in a home, and it's being performed in an actual home. To be precise, it's taking place in director Patrick Vassel's home tonight, June 6th.

krav (Pr. 'crave') follows a dinner host and her guests through an underground supper club, featuring delicious four-course tasting menu with beverage pairings prepared by Executive Chef, Rick Martinez (Bon Appetit, Food Network).

59E59 Theaters will host the return of SUMMER SHORTS 2015, the annual festival of six short plays tailor-made for summer viewing, now in its 9th year.

Michael Feinstein, Melissa Errico, Liz Callaway, The Skivvies, Michael McElroy, Lauren Worsham, Cyrille Aimee, Rachel York, Adam Kantor, Randy Graff, Kim David Smith, Danielle Grabianowski, Jonah Verdon, Julie Hill, Molly Pope, Josh Sharp, Aaron Jackson and Brendan Maclean headline the fifth annual 'Night Of A Thousand Judys' - presented by The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - tonight, June 1.

Brendan Maclean - the acclaimed Australian singer/songwriter - will join Michael Feinstein, Melissa Errico, Liz Callaway, The Skivvies, Michael McElroy, Lauren Worsham, Cyrille Aimee, Rachel York, Adam Kantor, Randy Graff, Kim David Smith, Danielle Grabianowski, Jonah Verdon, Julie Hill, Molly Pope, Josh Sharp and Aaron Jackson to headline the fifth annual 'Night Of A Thousand Judys' - presented by The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - on Monday, June 1.

Two Rooms offers theatregoers a uniquely immersive experience: it is a play that takes place primarily in a room in a home, and it's being performed in an actual home. To be precise, it's taking place in director Patrick Vassel's home on Friday June 5th, and Saturday, June 6th.

The second company completing their residency is Rady&Bloom Collective Playmaking, presenting the World Premiere of The Upper Room, co-written and co-directed by Jeremy Bloom and Brian Rady, with music composed and performed by Catherine Brookman (Broadway revival of Hair), running now through June 12, 2015. The show opens tonight, May 28.

Theater Wit Artistic Director Jeremy Wechsler announced today a two-week extension of its smash hit Bad Jews, now running through June 21 at the company's home in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood. Immediately after, Wit will transfer Bad Jews to the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie's 318-seat space for a summer remount, June 26-July 19.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company is proud to announce the lineup for the 10th annual First Look, a program dedicated to new play development, August 11 - 16, 2015 in the Upstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St). Providing an early look at works-in-progress from some of the most dynamic playwrights in the field, First Look develops new plays for future production at Steppenwolf and other theaters across the country. Since its inception in 2005, First Look has developed 14 plays that have received subsequent world premiere productions at other theatres, as well as Sex with Strangers by Laura Eason, which premiered on the Steppenwolf stage.

Michael Feinstein, Molly Pope, John Early and Jonah Verdon will join the previously announced headliners Melissa Errico, Liz Callaway, The Skivvies, Michael McElroy, Lauren Worsham, Cyrille Aimee, Rachel  York, Adam Kantor, Randy Graff, Kim David Smith, Danielle Grabianowski, Julie Hill, Josh Sharp and Aaron Jackson to headline the fifth annual "Night Of A Thousand Judys" - presented by The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - on Monday, June 1. The Pride concert to benefit The Ali Forney Center will take place at Merkin Concert Hall at the Kaufman Center (129 West 67th Street in Manhattan). Called "a rambunctious, uproarious, unpredictable all-star concert" by The Wall Street Journal, "Night Of A Thousand Judys" will honor the iconic Judy Garland with special skits, tributes and songs from her legendary career as movie star, recording artist and stage performer. There will be a pre-show VIP reception at 6:30 PM and the performance at 8:00 PM.

In Episode 314, award-winning musical theatre writer Joel B. New sat down with performer and songwriter Kate Steinberg.

We are yet another day closer to the biggest night on every theatre-lover's calendar- the 69th Annual Tony Awards, which will be co-hosted by Kristin Chenoweth and Alan Cumming on Sunday, June 7 (8PM on CBS). Earlier this month, the 2015 Tony nominees gathered to meet the press and BroadwayWorld was on hand for the big day. Below, we bring you an exclusive interview with Robert Askins and Moritz von Stuelpnagel, Best Play and Best Direction of a Play nominee for Hand to God.

SPACE on Ryder Farm, a nonprofit artist residency program announces its 5th season. Housed on Ryder Farm in picturesque Brewster, NY, SPACE will host over 150 artists as they develop 75 projects.

Original ensemble members, Michael Winther, Kimberly Grigsby, Shane Shanahan are joined by cellist, Peter Sachon as they reunite with Pulitzer prize-winning lyricist, Mark Campbell and many of the composers for a special one-night-only concert event, celebrating the ten year anniversary of Songs from an Unmade Bed, the critically acclaimed, theatrical song cycle originally produced off-Broadway by New York Theatre Workshop in 2005.

The Old Globe today announced the complete cast and creative team for the West Coast premiere of an exciting new American play, Rich Girl, by acclaimed playwright Victoria Stewart, continuing the Globe's 80th Anniversary festivities as part of the Balboa Park Centennial Celebration. Rich Girl will be directed by James Vasquez (Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show), and will play May 23 - June 21, 2015, in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.

City Theatre announces the lineup for this year's two-day Momentum festival, featuring new works by returning favorites Jessica Dickey and Keith Reddin.

Artistic Director Hal Brooks has announced that the 21st Season of the Cape Cod Theatre Project will feature staged readings of new work by Lucas Hnath, Laura Jacqmin, Kevin Armento, and actor-turned-playwright Ryan King. The 2015 Season, the fourth under Mr. Brooks' leadership, runs weekends from July 2 through July 25, 2015 in Falmouth, MA.

Rady&Bloom Collective Playmaking, presenting the World Premiere of The Upper Room, co-written and co-directed by Jeremy Bloom and Brian Rady, with music composed and performed by Catherine Brookman (Broadway revival of Hair), running May 22 - June 12, 2015. Previews begin May 22 for a May 28 opening.

Kathy Evans, Founding Executive Director of Rhinebeck Writers Retreat, announced the 17 writers and 8 new musicals selected for the fifth summer of weeklong retreats. For eight consecutive weeks beginning July 5th, each writing team will have a residency in Rhinebeck, New York. Writers are provided a private home, transportation, food, and a $400 stipend. This year's writers include Obie winner Kirsten Childs, Tony nominee Elizabeth Davis, and 2015 Jonathan Larson award-winners Charlie Sohne, Tim Rosser, and Sam Willmott, who also just won the Kleban Prize. 

THE OTHER THING, written by Emily Schwend and directed by Lucie Tiberghien, makes its world premiere at Second Stage tonight, May 21, following previews from May 12. The production runs through June 7, 2015.