Ars Nova News

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - will continue their Spring 2013 season on Thursday, April 18 at The Duplex in New York's West Village. After a sell-out year, The Meeting* has added a second performance each month due to popular demand; there are now shows at 7:000 PM and 9:30 PM.

A Collection of Shiny Objects will present the world premiere of queerSpawn. This new play by Mallery Avidon will be directed by Jesse Geiger, starring Obie Award winner David Greenspan. Previews begin May 10 at HERE with opening slated for May 14.

Horse Trade Theater Group (Artistic Director Heidi Grumelot, Executive Director Erez Ziv) will present a special two-night engagement of SHUT UP, EMILY DICKINSON, written by Tanya O'Debra (RadioStar; The O'Debra Twins) and directed by Stephen Brackett (American River with Lesser America). The production will star O'Debra along with Gregg Bellon and will feature Original Music by Andrew Mauriello and Costume Design by Michele Ritchie.

BEN RIMALOWER: "PATTI ISSUES" - the hit solo play hailed as "ecstatically vivid" by The New York Times and praised for its "wit, feeling and conviction" by Time Out New York - has announced a sixth extension after more rave reviews and a host of awards. The show will now run through June 29 at The Duplex in the West Village. Since "PATTI ISSUES" opened in August, it has become a must-see show on the downtown theater scene, garnering great word-of-mouth from attendees such as Alan Cumming, Michael Kors, Justin Vivian Bond, Tonya Pinkins, Perez Hilton and Ms. LuPone herself ("I was moved," she said. "He's a very talented man and I'm so proud of him.") Included as "Best New York Theater of 2012," The Advocate called the show "smart, poignant and dishy as hell," while it was dubbed "pithy and unforgettable" by The Huffington Post and "a very fierce comedy" by BroadwayWorld.com. "PATTI ISSUES" received a special Bistro Award for solo play in March and just won the MAC Award for "Male Debut." The show will be performed in Berkeley, San Francisco, San Diego and Los Angeles between March 26 and March 30. BEN RIMALOWER: "PATTI ISSUES" is directed by Aaron Mark (Another Medea with Tom Hewitt, Random Unrelated Projects).

The YALE INSTITUTE FOR MUSIC THEATRE (Mark Brokaw, Artistic Director) has selected two original book musicals, The Last Queen of Canaan, with music by Jacob Yandura and book and lyrics by Rebekah Greer Melocik, and Mrs. Hughes, with music and lyrics by Sharon Kenny and book by Janine Nabers, to be developed in an intensive lab setting in New Haven, June 4-16. The residency culminates with open rehearsal readings of each project, presented as part of the International Festival of Arts & Ideas, on June 15 and 16, 2013.

According to the New York Times, the show might aim for a bigger stage next season- Broadway. Producer Howard Kagan told the New York Times that he is looking into bringing the experience to a Broadway theatre by 'putting a giant platform of tables, banquettes and performing space over the orchestra seats.'

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director), Barry Grove (Executive Producer), and Mandy Greenfield (Artistic Producer) have just announced full casting for the upcoming world premiere of Tarell Alvin McCraney's CHOIR BOY, the new play featuring gospel music directed by Trip Cullman.

Ars Nova (Jason Eagan, Artistic Director; Jeremy Blocker, Managing Director) proudly presents the world premiere of Steven Levenson's new play Core Values, directed by Carolyn Cantor. A limited Off-Broadway engagement plays Tuesday, April 23 through Saturday, May 18 at Ars Nova (511 West 54th Street). Official Opening Night takes place Monday, May 6 at 7:00 PM.

The Brick Theater, Inc. will present the World Premiere of Robert Honeywell's (Ich Liebe Jesus!; Greed: a Musical Love $tory) all-female rock musical, Mass, April 13-30 at The Brick (579 Metropolitan Ave at Lorimer Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn). The production will be directed by Leah Bonvissuto (Ye Elizabeths at Planet Connections 2012) with Music Direction by Maria Dessena (2012 MAC nominated Jessye Normous Show) and will feature Esther Crow, Rebecca Gray Davis, Melissa DeLancey, Kaitlan Emery, Amanda LaPergola, Tracy Shar, Pheobe Silva*, and Moira Stone*.

Artistic Director Les Waters and Managing Director Jennifer Bielstein have announced O Guru Guru Guru, or why I don't want to go to yoga class with you by Mallery Avidon, directed by former Actors Theatre directing intern Lila Neugebauer. The play will run in the Victor Jory Theatre beginning tonight, March 20, opening March 22 and running through April 7th.

SUMMERWORKS 2013 - the annual season of new plays presented by the four-time Obie Award-winning theater company Clubbed Thumb -- is set for its 18th season May 24th to June 29th at The Wild Project (195 E. 3rd Street) in Manhattan, it has been announced by Maria Striar, Clubbed Thumb's Producing Artistic Director.

Tongue in Cheek Theater Productions has announced its spring 2013 production, a revival of Elizabeth Meriwether's dark comedy, The Mistakes Madeline Made.

Dorothy Berwin and Colt Coeur's Play Hotel reading series will present an industry reading of Nikole Beckwith's Everything is Ours tonight, March 18th at 7:15pm at 115 W. 45th Street (11th Floor) in Manhattan. Directed by Adrienne Campbell-Holt (Recall, Fish Eye, Seven Minutes in Heaven), the cast includes Katya Campbell (Recall, The Big Knife), W. Tre Davis, Adam Harrington (HIT-LIT), Rachel Resheff (The Big Meal), Kate Roberts (Breakfast at Tiffany's, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson), Philippa Soo (Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812), and Joe Tippett (Fish Eye, Seven Minutes in Heaven).

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize honors 10 Finalists for its prestigious playwriting award, now celebrating its thirty-fifth year.

Geva Theatre Center's 40th Anniversary Season continues with The Whipping Man by Matthew Lopez, directed by Tim Ocel. This new Civil War drama begins performances on April 2 and runs in the Elaine P. Wilson Mainstage through April 28.

Dallas Theater Center presents Neil Simon's classic American comedy, The Odd Couple, directed by DTC Artistic Director Kevin Moriarty. When two men with struggling relationships, neat and particular Felix Ungar and disheveled and rough-edged Oscar Madison, decide to live together, the results are funny and poignant. The Odd Couple opens with previews tonight, March 15 and runs through Sunday, April 14 at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre in the AT&T Performing Arts Center.

Erin Markey returns to Joe's Pub tonight, March 15. Known for her dark wit and absurdist transformations, Markey has been likened to Kristen Wiig, Kathy Acker and Eileen Brennan. Erin weaves together an exciting bill of R&B, 90's pop and grunge, standards and original music under the direction of Ben Rimalower (Leslie Kritzer is Patti LuPone at Les Mouches) with musical direction by Tony-nominated Kenny Mellman (Kiki and Herb).

After selling it its initial run, award-winning Pipeline Theatre Company will extend its acclaimed World Premiere of CLOWN BAR through April 12. Written by Adam Szymkowicz with music & additional lyrics by Adam Overett. This environmental production is directed by Andrew Neisler, staged at Parkside Lounge, a Lower East Side 'dive' bar.