Berrilla Kerr News

South Coast Repertory has announced the lineup of actors and directors who will participate in the 12th annual Pacific Playwrights Festival (PPF). Since its creation in 1998, PPF has grown into one of the most important festivals of new scripts in the United States. This year?s Festival will take place during the May 1 through May 3 weekend and will feature five staged readings and two fully-produced World Premieres on South Coast Repertory?s Segerstrom and Julianne Argryos Stages. Tickets to PPF may be purchased online at www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or in person at the SCR box office.

Natacha Roi and Don Reilly take on the historical roles of Emilie Du Châtelet and Voltaire in the World Premiere of Lauren Gunderson's Emilie - La Marquise Du Châtelet Defends Her Life at the Petit Théâtre at Cirey Tonight at South Coast Repertory. Commissioned by SCR and directed by Producing Artistic Director David Emmes, Emilie will run from April 19 through May 10, 2009 on the Julianne Argyros Stage.

Drama of Works Celebrates 10th Anniversary with PUPPET KAFKA, Limited Engagement begins April 22 at HERE In celebration of its 10th Anniversary, Drama of Works will present the World Premiere of PUPPET KAFKA. Directed by Gretchen Van Lente, this new play by B. Walker Sampson is based on the life and work of Franz Kafka. Previews begin Wednesday, April 22nd at HERE Arts Center with opening slated for Sunday, April 26th.

First Light Theater Group, in association with The Pyramid Media Company and 9Squared Entertainment, present the World Premiere of THIRST: a spell for Christabel, a new play by Monika Bustamante, based on the unfinished gothic poem 'Christabel' by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834). Directed by Elena Araoz and produced by David Davoli on an Off-Broadway contract, previews begin March 10th at HERE Arts Center. Opening is slated for Tuesday, March 17th. THIRST: a spell for Christabel retells Coleridge's gothic story in an abandoned forest suffering from an apocalyptic drought. Christabel and her father, stubborn hold-outs in the dying woods, are visited by a mysterious and opportunistic woman who quickly transforms their quiet world. Soon they must choose between her frightening, seductive promises and the quickly diminishing safety of the life they've always known. THIRST: a spell for Christabel will feature Matthew Cowles (Veronika Decides to Die, Life on Mars, Oz), Lori Funk, and Elizabeth Gross as Christabel, with set by Susan Zeeman Rogers, costumes by Chloe Chapin, lighting by Justin Townsend, and sound design by Arielle Edwards. Stage management will be by Rosie Goldman.

Urban Stages' (Frances Hill, Founder/Artistic Director, Lauren Schmiedel, Managing Director) continues it 25th season celebrating diversity and new works with the March line-up of URBAN STAGES' NEW PLAY READING SERIES. The readings will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout March at 6PM and are FREE to the public. Each reading will be followed by a Q&A with the playwright and cast. For reservations please email urbanstages@gmail.com or call 212-695-5131, Urban Stages is located at 259 West 30th Street.

South Coast Repertory's 12th annual Pacific Playwrights Festival (PPF) will shine the spotlight on seven new plays written by America's finest writers. Since its creation in 1998, PPF has grown into one of the most important festivals of new scripts in the United States. This year's Festival will take place during the May 1 through May 3 weekend and will feature five staged readings and two fully-produced World Premieres on South Coast Repertory's Segerstrom and Julianne Argryos Stages. Tickets to PPF may be purchased online at www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or in person at the SCR box office.

Eric Schaeffer, Artistic Director of Signature Theatre, today announced casting for the world premiere production of the musical Giant by composer Michael John LaChiusa and playwright Sybille Pearson.

Ma-Yi Theater Company in association with Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company, will present the world premiere production of 'SOUL SAMURAI,' written by Qui Nguyen and directed by Robert Ross Parker, with fight choreography by Mr. Nguyen, when it begins performances on February 14 at HERE Arts Center(www.here.org), 145 Sixth Avenue (between Spring and Broome Streets, enter on Dominick Street). 'SOUL SAMURAI' will officially open on Thursday, February 19 at 8:30 p.m. This Off Broadway limited engagement will run through Sunday, March 15.

Blue Coyote Theater Group is proud to present the NY premiere of David Johnston's CONVERSATIONS ON RUSSIAN LITERATURE PLUS THREE MORE PLAYS, directed by Kyle Ancowitz, Gary Shrader and Stephen Speights. CONVERSATIONS ON RUSSIAN LITERATURE PLUS THREE MORE PLAYS begins previews on Wednesday, February 11 for a limited engagement through Saturday, March 7. Opening Night is Saturday, February 14 at 8 PM. The performance schedule is Wednesday - Saturday at 8:00 PM. Performances are at the Access Theater (380 Broadway, just north of White Street). Tickets are $18 ($10 during previews) and are available by calling SmartTix at 212-868-4444 or online at www.smarttix.com. Playwright David Johnston returns to Blue Coyote with the New York premieres of four short plays: CONVERSATIONS ON RUSSIAN LITERATURE, PLAY RUSSIA, FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE LIVED IN FRANCE and MOTHRA IS WAITING. Each play examines the romanticism, idealism and absurdism of journeys to other countries (and sometimes other planets) through the prism of David Johnston's 'fertile imagination' and his 'trademark off-kilter sensibility' (New York Times). In PLAY RUSSIA-a must-see for theater nerds-Mr. Johnston upends the most revered Russian playwright, Chekhov, with hilarious results. MOTHRA IS WAITING finds two middle-aged chanteuses waiting for the cult-horror-classic bug Mothra to rescue them from their meaningless lives in Bridgeport to become Goddesses on Infant Island. The Francophile desires of Henry Kissinger, Mary Queen of Scots and modern-day American Lunelle Snead converge in FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE LIVED IN FRANCE. In CONVERSATIONS ON RUSSIAN LITERATURE, we return to Russia where post-Cold War espionage and intrigue collides with Russia's literary masters.

INTAR (Eduardo Machado, Artistic Director/John McCormack, Executive Director/Alina Troyano, Associate Artistic Director), which was scheduled for two engagements, winter and spring, at the now suddenly shuttered Zipper Factory Theater, has found its new home for this season at the Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce Street). Performances will begin February 15th and run through March 7th. Opening Night is set for February 18th.

Blue Coyote Theater Group is proud to present the NY premiere of David Johnston's CONVERSATIONS ON RUSSIAN LITERATURE PLUS THREE MORE PLAYS, directed by Kyle Ancowitz, Gary Shrader and Stephen Speights. CONVERSATIONS ON RUSSIAN LITERATURE PLUS THREE MORE PLAYS begins previews on Wednesday, February 11 for a limited engagement through Saturday, March 7. Opening Night is Saturday, February 14 at 8 PM. The performance schedule is Wednesday - Saturday at 8:00 PM. Performances are at the Access Theater (380 Broadway, just north of White Street). Tickets are $18 ($10 during previews) and are available by calling SmartTix at 212-868-4444 or online at www.smarttix.com. Playwright David Johnston returns to Blue Coyote with the New York premieres of four short plays: CONVERSATIONS ON RUSSIAN LITERATURE, PLAY RUSSIA, FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE LIVED IN FRANCE and MOTHRA IS WAITING. Each play examines the romanticism, idealism and absurdism of journeys to other countries (and sometimes other planets) through the prism of David Johnston's 'fertile imagination' and his 'trademark off-kilter sensibility' (New York Times). In PLAY RUSSIA-a must-see for theater nerds-Mr. Johnston upends the most revered Russian playwright, Chekhov, with hilarious results. MOTHRA IS WAITING finds two middle-aged chanteuses waiting for the cult-horror-classic bug Mothra to rescue them from their meaningless lives in Bridgeport to become Goddesses on Infant Island. The Francophile desires of Henry Kissinger, Mary Queen of Scots and modern-day American Lunelle Snead converge in FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE LIVED IN FRANCE. In CONVERSATIONS ON RUSSIAN LITERATURE, we return to Russia where post-Cold War espionage and intrigue collides with Russia's literary masters.

INTAR (Eduardo Machado, Artistic Director/John McCormack, Executive Director/Alina Troyano, Associate Artistic Director) is scrambling today to salvage its season, which was scheduled for two engagements, winter and spring, at the now suddenly shuttered Zipper Factory Theater. The first engagement was to begin February 11th and run through March 7th. Rehearsals for the two one-acts have already begun. In a statement today, Artistic Director Eduardo Machado said, ' we are deeply saddened by these sudden developments. We had no idea this was even a possibility. Tickets were about to go on sale, the cast is in rehearsal, and we are suddenly out on the street. For a non-profit company like us, this is a devastating blow!' He went on to say 'INTAR continues to look for a permanent home since the demolition of it's City owned theatre of 35 years to make way for the long aborning Clinton Green Project. INTAR anticipated a new home in the complex, but after it became clear the small company was expected to raise $12 million for the new space, they had to withdraw. The search for a permanent new home continues.'

First Light Theater Group, in association with The Pyramid Media Company and 9Squared Entertainment, present the World Premiere of THIRST: a spell for Christabel, a new play by Monika Bustamante, based on the unfinished gothic poem 'Christabel' by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834). Directed by Elena Araoz and produced by David Davoli on an Off-Broadway contract, previews begin March 10th at HERE Arts Center. Opening is slated for Tuesday, March 17th. THIRST: a spell for Christabel retells Coleridge's gothic story in an abandoned forest suffering from an apocalyptic drought. Christabel and her father, stubborn hold-outs in the dying woods, are visited by a mysterious and opportunistic woman who quickly transforms their quiet world. Soon they must choose between her frightening, seductive promises and the quickly diminishing safety of the life they've always known.

First Light Theater Group, in association with The Pyramid Media Company and 9Squared Entertainment, present the World Premiere of THIRST: a spell for Christabel, a new play by Monika Bustamante, based on the unfinished gothic poem 'Christabel' by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834). Directed by Elena Araoz and produced by David Davoli on an Off-Broadway contract, previews begin March 10th at HERE Arts Center. Opening is slated for Tuesday, March 17th. THIRST: a spell for Christabel retells Coleridge's gothic story in an abandoned forest suffering from an apocalyptic drought. Christabel and her father, stubborn hold-outs in the dying woods, are visited by a mysterious and opportunistic woman who quickly transforms their quiet world. Soon they must choose between her frightening, seductive promises and the quickly diminishing safety of the life they've always known. THIRST: a spell for Christabel will feature Matthew Cowles (Veronika Decides to Die, Life on Mars, Oz), Lori Funk, and Elizabeth Gross as Christabel, with set by Susan Zeeman Rogers, costumes by Chloe Chapin, lighting by Justin Townsend, and sound design by Arielle Edwards. Stage management will be by Rosie Goldman.

Ma-Yi Theater Company in association with Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company, will present the world premiere production of 'SOUL SAMURAI,' written by Qui Nguyen and directed by Robert Ross Parker, with fight choreography by Mr. Nguyen, when it begins performances on February 14 at HERE Arts Center(www.here.org), 145 Sixth Avenue (between Spring and Broome Streets, enter on Dominick Street). 'SOUL SAMURAI' will officially open on Thursday, February 19 at 8:30 p.m. This Off Broadway limited engagement will run through Sunday, March 15.

North American Cultural Laboratory (www.NACL.org), Brad Krumholz and Tannis Kowalchuk, Co-Artistic Directors, will present the Manhattan premiere of 'THE UNCANNY APPEARANCE OF SHERLOCK HOLMES,' based on a story written by Mr. Krumholz and created by NACL in collaboration with the ensemble. Krumholz also directs. Performances begin on December 2 at HERE Arts Center (www.here.org), 145 Sixth Avenue (between Spring and Broome Streets, enter on Dominick Street), and the show will officially open on Thursday, December 4 at 7:00 p.m. Performances will run through Sunday, December 21.

Since 1993, the OBIE-winning HERE Arts Center has been a premier arts organization in NYC and a leader in the field of new, hybrid performance work. October 2008 marks HERE's 15th Anniversary, and in celebration of that landmark date, HERE is throwing a Street Fair for its neighborhood, its audience, its friends, family and supporters.

Since 1993, the OBIE-winning HERE Arts Center has been a premier arts organization in NYC and a leader in the field of new, hybrid performance work. October 2008 marks HERE's 15th Anniversary, and in celebration of that landmark date, HERE is throwing a Street Fair for its neighborhood, its audience, its friends, family and supporters.

La MaMa will present Lillian Yuralia on the First Floor Theatre from November 13 - 30, 2008, Thursday - Saturday at 8:00pm, Sunday at 2:30pm & 8:00pm. Tickets are $18

A co-production from the OBIE-winning HERE Arts Center and The Juggernaut Theatre Company, OH WHAT WAR will play Wednesday, September 10 - Saturday, October 4 at HERE Arts Center. Conceived and directed by Mallory Catlett, OH WHAT WAR is presented as part of HERE's 2008-09 mainstage season of new multi-disciplinary productions spanning theatre, dance, puppetry and multimedia works. Official Opening is Saturday, September 13 @ 7:30 PM. A fantasy of flagrant disobedience to authority, OH WHAT WAR, is underground entertainment performed by a band of deserters stuck in No Man's Land.