Ars Nova News

The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) has announced that 33 not-for-profit theater companies have been awarded grants totaling $3,530,000 through The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation New York Theater Program. The recipients, which cover a range of small-to-mid-sized organizations-- from those which produce the classics to others exclusively devoted to the development of new work-- include The Chocolate Factory Theater in Queens, Pregones Theater in the Bronx, and St. Ann's Warehouse in Brooklyn (a complete list follows). These two-year grants, which range from $10,000 to $200,000, based on each recipient's operating budget, support the organizations' general operations.

After acclaimed runs in the UK and Australia, writer/performer Peter Michael Marino returns to NYC with his comic autopsy on his $6 million West End musical fiasco DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN in DESPERATELY SEEKING THE EXIT. Directed by Obie Award winner John Clancy, it will be performed Sunday, July 28 at The Triple Crown Underground.

Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation and Culture Project's Women Center Stage 2013 Festival present 'Generating Your Own Work', a panel with Rachel Alderman, Leigh Fondakowski, and Maija Garcia tonight, July 22, 6:30 - 8:00 PM at the Lynn Redgrave Theatre at Culture Project at 45 Bleecker Street. This event is free. RSVP REQUIRED to Conversations@SDCweb.org.

The Boy Sonata, written and performed by Justin Sayre recieves its New York debut at this Year's HOT! Festival hosted by Dixon Place tonight, July 22nd at 7:30.

Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation and Culture Project's Women Center Stage 2013 Festival present 'Generating Your Own Work', a panel with Rachel Alderman, Leigh Fondakowski, and Maija Garcia on Monday, July 22, 6:30 - 8:00 PM at the Lynn Redgrave Theatre at Culture Project at 45 Bleecker Street. This event is free.

Goodman Theatre presents four free staged readings of new plays developed in the Playwrights Unit, a season-long residency program for local writers who meet twice monthly with members of the theater's artistic staff to discuss their plays in progress. Out of this process emerges four brand new plays, which appear in FREE staged readings: Sleeping with the Prince of Darkness: The Imagined Pillow Talk of FBI Agent John O'Neill by Greg Allen (July 20 at 7:30pm); F(law)less by christopher oscar peña (July 21 at 2:30pm); Prowess by Ike Holter (July 21 at 7:30pm); and Ninth Man Out by Alice Austen (August 16 at 7:30pm).

Fresh from the success of Night of a Thousand Judys, The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre will move to 54 BELOW for a six-month run starting on Wednesday, July 24 at 9:30 PM. Known for its signature blend of outrageous comedy, politics, culture and everything in between, The Meeting* is moving 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.

Joshua William Gelb and David McGee present PARTY IN THE USA, directed by Joshua William Gelb and written by David McGee, at the Incubator Arts Project, running tonight, July 19 through the 28th. The cast features: Featuring: John Gasper, Eric Clem, Laura Moss, Wil Petre, and Caleb Hammond.

Following the sold-out reading and discussion at 92YTribeca, comes the fully staged, Off-Broadway production and world premiere of HANDBOOK FOR AN AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY.

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 begin tonight, July 19 prior to SHIDA's official opening night on July 31. The limited engagement runs through August 28.

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 begin July 19 prior to SHIDA's official opening night on July 31. The Off-Broadway limited engagement runs through August 28.

Form Theatricals (Anthony Francavilla and Zachary Laks) in association with Judson Arts presents the World-Premiere of HANDBOOK FOR AN AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY- an explosive and hilarious study of America's modern-day Davids and Goliaths- written and performed by Matthew-Lee Erlbach ('Eager to Lose') and directed by Drama Desk nominee Tony Speciale ('Unnatural Acts'), with preview performances beginning July 19 prior to an official opening on July 22 at The Gym at Judson (243 Thompson Street, @ Washington Square South) in Manhattan.

Beth Morrison Projects (BMP) and HERE have announced programming for the second annual PROTOTYPE: Opera/Theatre/Now festival, running January 8-18, 2014.

Arden Theatre Company announces the second production for The Writers' Room, an innovative playwright residency program, with At the Old Placeby Rachel Bonds. This new play, written during a four-month residency in Philadelphia receives a developmental production on the Arden's Arcadia Stage from today, July 18-28, 2013. The Writers' Room is made possible by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, the Independence Foundation through its New Theatre Works Initiative and an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support provided by The Harold & Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust.

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) has announced that two-time OBIE Award winner Rachel Chavkin (Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812) will direct THE FAIRYTALE LIVES OF RUSSIAN GIRLS by 2012 Whiting Writers' Award winner Meg Miroshnik, January 31-February 22, 2014.

The Kindling Theatre Company and Neighborhood Productions, in association with The Gym at Judson, are thrilled to present the world premiere of THE CAPABLES, written by Jay Stull and directed by Stefanie Abel Horowitz. THE CAPABLES begins performances tonight, July 17 for a limited engagement through Saturday, August 3. Press opening is Tuesday, July 23 at 7 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday - Today at 7 PM; Thursday - Saturday at 8 PM; Sunday at 7 PM. Performances are at The Gym at Judson (243 Thompson Street, at Washington Square South). Tickets are $18. To purchase tickets, call SmartTix on 212-868-4444 or visit www.smarttix.com.

NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 has announced its new rush ticketing policy, available for select performances, beginning immediately. Beginning this week, there will be $49 tickets available for Wednesday matinees, Saturday early evening performances, and Sunday matinees. Rush tickets can be purchased at the box office of Kazino (West 13th Street and Washington Street) beginning 2 hours prior to the posted curtain time, as well as online at www.thegreatcometof1812.com beginning the day of the performance at 10am by using the code RUSH at check-out. Food and drink is not included with the purchase of a rush ticket.

Juilliard's Drama Division announces the 2013-2014 season of fully-staged productions featuring Juilliard's 43rd group of acting students in their fourth and final year in the drama program at Juilliard. This season's plays include Jeffrey Hatcher's Smash, directed by Victor Pappas; Amy Herzog's The Great God Pan, directed by Maria Mileaf; and Sam Shepard's Buried Child, directed by Daniel Fish. All performances take place in the Stephanie P. McClelland Drama Theater at Juilliard.