David Bar Katz News

SPACE on Ryder Farm, the non-profit artist residency program located on Ryder Farm, an idyllic 200 year-old working organic farm in Brewster, New York announced its 2016 season for The Working Farm, Family Residency, Creative Solutions Symposium and Artistic Residency programs at The Players Club. In attendence were Josh Charles, David Bar Katz, Michael Urie, and Marsha Norman, as well as 2016 SPACE residents Cusi Cram, Daisy Foote, Adam Rapp, and recipients of the inaugural Relentless Award--Clare Barron and Sarah DeLappe.

Last night, the American Playwriting Foundation, established to make annual grants to new American plays, awarded its two female winners The Relentless Award, the largest annual cash prize in American theater. Scroll down for photos from the event!

The inaugural recipients of the 'Relentless Award' have been announced.

Barefoot Theatre Company celebrated the 2015 Vassallo Awards with a Spring Gala at the American Ballroom Theater in Manhattan. The ceremony, hosted by VH1's Ellie Lee, honored artistic achievement as well as mentorship and educational outreach to the younger generation of artists in memory of Ed Vassallo. Vassallo's career spanned 20 years and included work producing for the LAByrinth Theatre Company and volunteering with the 52nd Street Project.

American Theater Company (ATC) announces the second year of AracaWorks: Chicago, a new play development workshop in partnership with New York's The Araca Group, Broadway producers of Disgraced, Urinetown, Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune, The Wedding Singer, Lend Me a Tenor, and A View from the Bridge. AracaWorks: Chicago emerged from a collaboration that led to the development of Disgraced by Ayad Akhtar, which received the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and a 2015 Tony Award nomination for Best Play. The program gives three playwrights a weeklong development opportunity at ATC, culminating in a weekend of private readings-with one of the three plays selected to receive a year of development attention.

On April 13, 2015, arts-related organizations across the country will unite to honor victims of the Holocaust by joining in the first ever Remembrance Readings for Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah). This event was conceived and launched by the National Jewish Theater Foundation (NJTF) and draws on information from over 600 plays made accessible in their newly created Holocaust Theater Catalog (HTC).

The American Playwriting Foundation, established to make annual grants to new American plays, announced today The Relentless Award, the largest annual cash prize in American theater awarded to a playwright in recognition of a new play. Established in honor of Philip Seymour Hoffman and his pursuit of truth in the theater, The Relentless Award will honor an unproduced play with $45,000, laying the groundwork for the future of American Theater. The American Playwriting Foundation is now open for submissions, and the deadline is July 10, 2015. Three finalists and one winner will be announced on October 2, 2015.

Directed by Austin Pendleton, BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY begins previews tonight, January 16, 2015 and will officially open on Wednesday, February 11, 2015 at Second Stage Theatre's Tony Kiser Theatre (305 West 43rd street).

Casting is complete for Second Stage Theatre presentation of the Atlantic Theater Company's production of Stephen Adly Guirgis' acclaimed play, BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY. Ron Cephas Jones (Of Mice of Men and 2ST's Wildflower) and Michael Rispoli (Between Riverside and Crazy at ATC) join previously announced cast members Stephen McKinley Henderson (Fences, 2ST's Jitney), Victor Almanzar (Repertorio Espanol, LAByrinth Theater), Elizabeth Canavan (The Little Flower of East Orange), Rosal Colon (The Motherf*cker with the Hat) and Liza Colon-Zayas (2ST Water by the Spoonful and Living Out).

Scandinavian American Theater Company (SATC) will present the World Premiere of BASTARDS OF STRINDBERG. This evening of short works inspired by Strindberg's iconic Miss Julie is written by four exciting contemporary playwrights: Dominique Morisseau (Detroit '67), David Bar Katz (Tony nominee for Freak), Andreas Boonstra (winner of Sweden's Thaliapriset award) and Lina Ekdahl (winner of Sweden's Werner Aspenström Award). Directed by Henning Hegland and Alicia Dhyan House, previews begin tonight, September 2 at Off-Broadway's The Lion Theater at Theatre Row. Opening night is set for September 5.

Georganne Aldrich Heller will present Laoisa Sexton's raw, visceral and provocative new play, THE LAST DAYS OF CLEOPATRA, a pitch black comedy set in Dublin, tonight, August 20th through September 7th at Urban Stages, 259 West 30th Street in Manhattan. The official opening is on Saturday, August 23rd at 8PM. Tim Ruddy Directs.

Today, American Theater Company (ATC) launches its 30th Anniversary season with the inaugural year of AracaWorks: Chicago, in partnership with New York's The Araca Group, Broadway producers of Urinetown, Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune, The Wedding Singer, Lend Me a Tenor, A View from the Bridge, and this season's Disgraced.

Georganne Aldrich Heller will present Laoisa Sexton's raw, visceral and provocative new play, THE LAST DAYS OF CLEOPATRA, a pitch black comedy set in Dublin, August 20th through September 7th at Urban Stages, 259 West 30th Street in Manhattan. The official opening is on Saturday, August 23rd at 8PM. Tim Ruddy Directs. www.thelastdaysofcleopatra.com

This week, American Theater Company (ATC) launches its 30th Anniversary season with the inaugural year of AracaWorks: Chicago, in partnership with New York's The Araca Group, Broadway producers of Urinetown, Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune, The Wedding Singer, Lend Me a Tenor, A View from the Bridge, and this season's Disgraced.

Mermaid Sand Productions and Breezy Prodcutions present PORNOLOGUES- An evening of monologues benefitting the upcoming production of All's Well That Ends Happy by Sarah Shaefer. The event is set for tonight, August 4, 2014. Doors open at 6:45PM, performance begins at 7:30PM

Mermaid Sand Productions and Breezy Prodcutions present PORNOLOGUES- An evening of monologues benefitting the upcoming production of All's Well That Ends Happy by Sarah Shaefer.

Scandinavian American Theater Company (SATC) will present the World Premiere of BASTARDS OF STRINDBERG. This evening of short works inspired by Strindberg's iconic Miss Julie is written by four exciting contemporary playwrights: Dominique Morisseau (Detroit '67), David Bar Katz (Tony nominee for Freak), Andreas Boonstra (winner of Sweden's Thaliapriset award) and Lina Ekdahl (winner of Sweden's Werner Aspenstrom Award). Directed by Henning Hegland and Alicia Dhyan House, previews begin September 2 at Off-Broadway's The Lion Theater at Theatre Row. Opening night is set for September 5.

The Hollywood Reporter writes that Jason Bateman is joining forces again with Universal for an untitled FBI wedding comedy film, with a script from playwright David Bar Katz.

The Public Theater last night presented the one-night-only Public Theater annual gala ONE THRILLING COMBINATION at the Delacorte Theater. Directed by Ted Sperling, the gala event celebrated Marvin Hamlisch, The Public Theater and the 40th anniversary of the creation of A Chorus Line. Performers incuded: John Lithgow, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Zachary Quinto, Martha Plimpton, Billy Porter, Jonathan Groff, Sutton Foster, Joshua Bell, Lindsay Mendez, Claybourne Elder,Krysta Rodriguez, Marissa McGowan, Laura Shoop, Peter Dugan, Nikka Graff Lanzarone, Jessica Wu, Mylinda Hull,Brooke Sunny Moriber, Nicole Lewis and more! BroadwayWorld was there for the special night and you can check out photos from the star-studded arrivals below!

Williamstown Theatre Festival has announced additional casting on both the Main Stage and Nikos Stage as well as special events for the 2014 Season. On the Main Stage: Diana DiMarzio, Rick Holmes, and Timothy Shew join the WTF Resident Company, appearing in both June Moon and The Visit.