Ars Nova News

The 2013-2014 season at Cleveland Play House (CPH) continues with the compelling world premiere production of Deborah Zoe Laufer's Informed Consent. Co-produced with Geva Theatre Center, this incredibly thought-provoking production is inspired by the real life court case between the Havasupai Indian tribe and Arizona State University, and sparks an intriguing debate on both ethicality and morality. Directed by Sean Daniels and Sponsored by Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic and MetroHealth, Informed Consent will serve as the centerpiece to CPH's 2014 New Ground Theatre Festival and will run from today, April 23 - May 18 in the Second Stage.

Soho Rep presents the world premiere of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins's An Octoroon, directed by Soho Rep. Artistic Director Sarah Benson. The production, tonight, April 23, through May 18, concludes a banner New York season for the celebrated playwright, whose Appropriate made its New York premiere February 25-April 6 at Signature Theatre.

San Jose Repertory Theatre presents the Bay Area premiere of the critically-acclaimed The Big Meal, by Dan LeFranc, the 2010 New York Times Outstanding Playwright Award Winner. This razor sharp portrait of a modern American family runs May 8 through June 1, and is directed by Kirsten Brandt, San Jose Rep's Associate Artistic Director.

Malcolm Gets will join Jennifer Bowles and Rob McClure in the New York City Center Encores! production of Irma La Douce, running for seven performances, May 7 - 11, 2014. Mr. Gets replaces Allan Corduner, who has had a scheduling conflict. The final production of the 2014 Encores! season will also feature Sam Bolen, Ben Crawford, Stephen DeRosa, Zachary James, Ken Krugman, and Chris Sullivan. Irma La Douce will be directed by John Doyle and choreographed by Chase Brock, with music direction by Rob Berman. Jack Viertel is Encores! Artistic Director.

On April 7, Ars Nova hosted their Diamond Ball, not just another f*@%ing benefit. The evening honored Elizabeth Meriwether, Ars Nova's inaugural Playwright-in-Residence and creator of Fox's New Girl, Stephen Siderow, member of Ars Nova's Board of Directors and Co-founder and President of BlueMountain Capital, and Beau Willimon, founding member of Ars Nova's Play Group and creator of Netflix's House of Cards. Scroll down to see some photos from the event!

4@15: Four New Fifteen-Minute Musicals, performed in conjunction with University of California, Irvine, will commence performances Friday, April 18 and Saturday, April 19, for three performances only at the Playroom Theater. Tammy Holder serves as Music Director; Brian Blythe directs.

Vineyard Theatre will present a reading of Matthew-Lee Erlbach's KEVIN LAMB, directed by Michael Berresse and starring Adriane Lenox, Margo Seibert, Chris Sarandon, Peter Francis James, and Sheldon Best. The reading is set for Monday, April 21, 2014 at 3 p.m. at the DR2 Theatre, 101 E. 15th Street (Union Square), New York, NY.

A diverse cast of thirteen join Noor Theatre Artistic Director Lameece Issaq, Executive Director Maha Chehlaoui, and Producing Artistic Director Nancy Vitale for the world premiere of The Myth Project. This director-driven workshop production in three parts from Director/Writers Kareem Fahmy, Noelle Ghoussaini, and Pirronne Yousefzadeh, runs in repertory from Thursday, May 1 through Sunday, May 4 at New York Theatre Workshop's 4th Street Theatre.

The fourth annual 'Night Of A Thousand Judys' - presented by The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - has announced that the initial talent lineup, which will include Jane Monheit (Grammy Award nominated jazz star), Sarah Dash (R&B/Disco legend of LaBelle), Rory O'Malley (Tony Award nominee, The Book of Mormon,) Julia Murney (Wicked, The Wild Party), Erin McKeown (folk-rock singer/songwriter) and Gabrielle Stravelli (Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra). Additional special guests will be announced soon. The Monday, June 16 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. This show will also help celebrate the landmark 75th Anniversary of The Wizard of Oz. There will be a pre-show VIP reception at 6:30 PM and the performance at 8:00 PM. The evening is written and hosted by Justin Sayre, and directed and choreographed by Jason Wise. For more information, visit www.aliforneycenter.org/judys.

Second Stage Theatre kicks off the 2014 Uptown Series with the New York premiere of AMERICAN HERO, written by Bess Wohl and directed by Leigh Silverman. AMERICAN HERO will feature ARI GRAYNOR (2ST Trust), DAOUD HEIDAMI (Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo), JERRY O'CONNELL (Seminar) and ERIN WILHELMI (The Great God Pan). Previews begin Monday, May 12th and opening night is Thursday, May 22nd.

49TH Parallel in association the multi-award-winning NoHo Arts Center Ensemble (NoHo ACE), are thrilled to present the Los Angeles premiere of a new play, BE A GOOD LITTLE WIDOW, written by Bekah Brunstetter (OOHRAH!) and directed by Sara Botsford. BE A GOOD LITTLE WIDOW will preview tonight, April 17 at 8pm and will open on Friday, April 18 at 8pm and run for six weeks through Sunday, May 25, 2014 at the NoHo Arts Center, 11136 Magnolia Blvd. (at Lankershim) in North Hollywood.

Pivot, Participant Media's network targeting Millennials, age 18-34, today unveiled a robust development slate, and a greenlight for 'Fortitude,' a 12-episode Sky/Pivot original series starring Stanley Tucci, Michael Gambon, Sienna Guillory, and Luke Treadaway.

Pride Films and Plays' Gay Play Weekend is one of the most exciting events for LGBT theater lovers, as five great new scripts are brought to life in enhanced staged readings directed by Chicago's top directors. The first three years of the contest had produced finalists and award winners like At The Flash by Sean Chandler and David Leeper, Under A Rainbow Flag by Leo Schwartz, Learn to Be Latina by Enrique Urueta, and Directions for Restoring the Apparently Dead by Martin Casella.

'NCIS: Los Angeles' star and Broadway veteran Barrett Foa (Mamma Mia!, Avenue Q, ...Spelling Bee) will begin performances as Alex More in the smash hit comedy Buyer & Cellar on Tuesday, May 27, 2014 at the Barrow Street Theatre (27 Barrow Street). For the past five seasons, Barrett Foa has co-starred opposite LL Cool J and Chris O'Donnell as tech geek Eric Beale on CBS' top-rated hit series 'NCIS: Los Angeles' which is currently the #2 show on television.

LANCE HORNE - the Emmy Award winning composer, musician, vocalist and producer - will headline a special concert evening at Rockwood Table & Stage in Los Angeles tonight, April 15 at 8:00 PM with guest artists Ricki Lake, Julie Garnye and Lisa Ann Walter, with special surprise stars. They will perform songs from his acclaimed CD First Things Last in addition to a special preview of The Night Before My Wedding, Horne's upcoming collaboration with Neil Gaiman.

Award-winning composer and lyricist Joe Iconis will take the stage on Monday, May 5, 2014 at New World Stages as part of MURDER FOR TWO's newly launched concert series Murderous Musical Mondays. The unplugged concert, which will feature both new songs and fan favorites, will take place immediately following the 7pm performance of MURDER FOR TWO at New World Stages (Stage 5 - 340 West 50th Street) on Monday, May 5th, 2014. Admittance to the concert is free to all those with tickets to the May 5th performance of MURDER FOR TWO. Tickets are available now on Telecharge.com.

Upcoming Equity Auditions from Sunday, April 13, 2014.

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre, the acclaimed comedy/variety show, will continue its engagement at JOE'S PUB at The Public Theater on Sunday, April 20 at 7:00 PM with a celebration of the lauded actor, writer and director John Cameron Mitchell just in time for the Broadway debut of his celebrated musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch. After a highly-successful season at 54 Below, The Meeting* has returned to its downtown roots this year with shows through May. The Meeting* has been called 'delicious and delightfully droll' by The New York Post, and 'hilarious and sardonic' by The Village Voice. A recent story for Slate.com called the evening 'so deliciously icy that it left me shivering with fear and delight.' The April show will feature special guests Justin Vivian Bond (Tony Award nominated entertainer), Angela DiCarlo (Mad World of Miss Hathaway), Scott Matthew (Shortbus), Marty Thomas (Xanadu), Sven Ratzke (Hedwig in Berlin), Paul Dawson & PJ DeBoy (Shortbus), Shane Shane (La MaMa) and Derek Smith (Dixon Place). Tracy Stark serves as Music Director.

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre, the acclaimed comedy/variety show, will make its premiere performance at THE BOOTLEG THEATER tonight, April 11 at 8:00 PM in conjunction with the Tingel Tangel Club.