Ars Nova News

The 2013 New York International Fringe Festival has its first break-out hit with Ted Cubbin's new comedy The Rufus Equation, a world premiere production directed by Tom Ridgely, the Drama Desk-nominated director and co-founder of Waterwell. The Rufus Equation played to a sold out house this past Tuesday evening at The Connelly Theater (220 East 4th Street, NYC), the Fringe Festival's largest venue. In addition, this Saturday's performance (August 17 at 6:15 p.m.) is also sold-out.

Lynne Meadow, Barry Grove, and Mandy Greenfield have announced that Manhattan Theatre Club will produce the American premiere of TAKING CARE OF BABY, by Tony Award winner Dennis Kelly, directed by Erica Schmidt (Humor Abuse at MTC, Invasion!). TAKING CARE OF BABY will begin previews on Tuesday, November 5 and open Tuesday, November 19 as part of MTC's 2013-2014 season of The Studio at Stage II - Harold and Mimi Steinberg New Play Series at New York City Center - Stage II (131 West 55th Street).

The O'Debra Twins are back! For the last year, they've been quietly constructing their most ambitious work to date. Tonight, August 15th at 7:30pm, you're invited to a free reading of The Secrets of Avondale Falls, the most absurd, over-the-top, outrageous soap opera ever conceived. It's like Dynasty meets The Power Rangers, but with a hundred times more quicksand. Do not miss this sneak peek of the first two episodes in the Dixon Place Lounge (161A Chrystie St.)! Doors at 7pm, show at 7:30.

The Bushwick Starr Propeller Project presents Plum de Force, written and directed by Kristine Haruna Lee, with performances September 5-8, Thursday-Sunday at 8pm.

The Obie and Drama Desk Award-winning Ma-Yi Theater Company -- one of the nation's leading theaters dedicated to developing and producing new and innovative plays by Asian American writers -- will celebrate its 25th anniversary season in 2013-14, beginning with the New York premiere of BIKE AMERICA by Mike Lew, with previews September 24 prior to an official opening night on October 1 Off-Broadway at The Theater at St. Clement's (423 W. 46 St.) in Manhattan.

BroadwayWorld has confirmed that Jenni Barber, who most recently starred in THE NANCE on Broadway will take on 'Grace Farrell' in ANNIE beginning August 20. Brynn O'Malley, who currently plays the role, will temporarily depart to star in HONEYMOON IN VEGAS at Paper Mill Playouse. She will return to the production on November 5.

This week at Joe's Pub at the Public, August 12-18, will feature TREVOR BACHMAN, ARIANA DEBOSE, RABBIT & THE HARE, INCOMING! THE PUBLIC THEATER'S UNDER THE RADAR FESTIVAL, FREEDY JOHNSTON, HEATHER CHRISTIAN & THE ARBORNAUTS, ALFIE BOE, CHAMPAGNE JERRY, DUSTBOWL REVIVAL, THE HOT SARDINES, THE MARIO OPERA, NICK GARRIE, BLAKE WHYTE, and RAISIN GIRL: BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION FOR TORI AMOS.

The NATIONAL NEW PLAY NETWORK (NNPN), the country's alliance of non-profit theaters that champions the development, production, and continued life of new plays, announces its 39th Rolling World Premiere: Peter Sinn Nachtrieb's The Totalitarians will receive three productions through the Network's Continued Life of New Plays Fund in 2014. The Totalitarians will begin its Rolling World Premiere at Southern Rep (New Orleans, LA, January 29 - February 23, 2014), followed by performances at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company (Washington, DC, June 2 - 29, 2014) and Z Space (San Francisco, CA, November 17 - December 14, 2014).

Casting is complete for CUBAMOR, a new musical romance by James D. Sasser and Charles Vincent Burwell which will receive staged readings August 10, 14, and 17 as part of TheatreWorks' 2013 New Works Festival. In this saucy new musical, diverse paths meet in modern-day Havana, where love erupts to an irresistible Latin beat.

Coleavens Industries will present Lies We Tell Ourselves (when flamethrowers aren't enough) as part of the 17th annual New York International Fringe Festival - FringeNYC. Premiering at FringeNYC, Lies We Tell Ourselves will be presented at The Players Theatre (115 Macdougal Street, Fringe venue #17).

The Flea Theater is proud to announce the New York Premiere of Jonathan Caren's THE RECOMMENDATION. This play about friendship, class and where loyalty has its limits will be directed by Flea Resident Director Kel Haney and feature members of The Bats. Previews begin August 23 with opening slated for September 6. Says Producing Director Carol Ostrow, "we are thrilled to open our fall season with a play that speaks to our times and shows off the talents and diversity of our company."

Fresh from the success of Night of a Thousand Judys, The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - the acclaimed comedy/variety show hailed as 'rambunctious, uproarious and unpredictable' by The Wall Street Journal, 'delicious and delightfully droll' by The New York Post, and 'hilarious and sardonic' by The Village Voice - has moved to 54 BELOW for a six month run. The next show will be on Wednesday, August 28 at 9:30 PM. Known for its signature blend of outrageous comedy, politics, culture and everything in between, The Meeting* moves uptown after four seasons of packed houses in the West Village. Justin Sayre and The Meeting* were named one of the Top 10 nightclub shows of 2011 by Time Out New York, received the 2012 Bistro Award for 'Comedy Artistry' and a 2011 MAC Award nomination for Best Male Comedy Performance.

Ars Nova presents the world premiere of the burlesque farce Eager to Lose in a limited Off-Broadway engagement, Wednesday, October 9 through Saturday, November 2 at Ars Nova (511 West 54th Street). Official Opening Night takes place Tuesday, October 22 at 7:00 PM.

Women's Project Theater, the 36-year-old non-profit company dedicated to producing plays written and directed by women, will present its 2013-2014 season of new plays at New York City Center Stage II, 131 West 55th Street, January 15 to May 4, Julie Crosby, Producing Artistic Director announced.

BRENDA, a supernatural road-trip play written by EST Youngblood member and Yale graduate Cory Finley, will receive its world premiere in the 2013 New York International Fringe Festival. Performances begin August 13 at the Robert Moss Theater at 440 Studios.

Three New Playwrights announced casting for killers by Kevin Armento, Shoot the Freak by Jaclyn Backhaus, and Eudaemonia by Jerry Lieblich, as part of (not just) 3 New Plays, a month-long pop-up event hosted by Tom Noonan's Paradise Factory (64 East 4th Street, between Bowery & Second Avenue) September 8 - 29, 2013.

The new musical SHIDA, written and performed by Jeannette Bayardelle -- whose Broadway appearances include leading roles in THE COLOR PURPLE and HAIR -- will receive its world-premiere this summer Off-Broadway as an Ars Nova Summer Fling (511 W. 54 St. in Manhattan). Previews began July 19 and SHIDA's official opening night was this Wednesday, July 31. Check out highlights below!

Don't let this summer end without seeing 'America's Favorite Original Boy Band'! Olney Theatre Institute presents a limited return engagement of Forever Plaid August 24 through September 15 on Olney Theatre Center's Historic Stage.

Carner and Gregor have announced the winners of the BARELY LEGAL SHOWTUNE EXTRAVAGANZA V casting contest. Eight winners were selected from over 100 submissions received from college students around the country. Winners were selected by a four-person judging panel comprised of Casting Directors Michael Cassara and Jason Najjoum, Concert Director Marlo Hunter, and Concert Producer Alina Gutierrez. Carner and Gregor were not involved in the judging process. After four sold-out editions, Carner & Gregor's BARELY LEGAL SHOWTUNE EXTRAVAGANZA is back for its fifth year. The concert will take place Today, August 5th at (le) Poisson Rouge. Showtime is 8PM. Doors open at 7PM.