Ed Thomas News

On Sunday, May 19, Jules Feiffer's Little Murders arrives at The New Group @ Theatre Row in a one-night-only benefit reading. Directed by Cynthia Nixon, this benefit reading features Eric Bogosian, Kevin Cahoon, John Doman, America Ferrera, Charles Grodin, Rory O'Malley, Caroline Rhea and Michael Stuhlbarg.

Today at PBS' Annual Meeting with its member stations, PBS KIDS announced that THOMAS & FRIENDS will move to its daily schedule starting on October 7, 2013 (check local listings).

A large-scale site-specific work of art by Imran Qureshi (b. 1972, Hyderabad, Pakistan)-an artist known for his unique style of combining the motifs, symbolism, and ornamental techniques of Islamic art with modern conceptual approaches-is the 2013 installation on The Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, opening today, May 14. The exhibition will be on view through November 3, 2013.

The West Side YMCA's Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater will present its 3rd annual benefit cabaret, Little Theater, Big Dreams tonight, May 13th at 7PM. The Off-Broadway hidden gem, located inside the historic West Side Y, will play host to powerful performances from Broadway's brightest up-and-coming stars alongside their own Kids Company, a group of young (6-14 year old) triple-threats-in-training. All proceeds will benefit the on-going youth theatre programs supported by the Y's Strong Kids Campaign.

A large-scale site-specific work of art by Imran Qureshi (b. 1972, Hyderabad, Pakistan)-an artist known for his unique style of combining the motifs, symbolism, and ornamental techniques of Islamic art with modern conceptual approaches-is the 2013 installation on The Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, opening May 14. The exhibition will be on view through November 3, 2013.

The West Side YMCA's Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater will present its 3rd annual benefit cabaret, Little Theater, Big Dreams on Monday May 13th at 7PM. The Off-Broadway hidden gem, located inside the historic West Side Y, will play host to powerful performances from Broadway's brightest up-and-coming stars alongside their own Kids Company, a group of young (6-14 year old) triple-threats-in-training. All proceeds will benefit the on-going youth theatre programs supported by the Y's Strong Kids Campaign.

'A Wandering Warrior', the eighth book by Louisiana author and award-winning poet Harry E. Gilleland, Jr., has now been published by the Edmond, Oklahoma traditional small publisher 4RV Publishing. The novel, which is of the action-adventure, historical fiction genre, uses the backdrop of twelfth century England to tell a story of a commoner and itinerant soldier, Thomas Beaumont, as he travels to avenge the cruel slaughter of his older brother while a captive after a battle lost. Along the way, he encounters a band of Travelers and falls in love with the dark beauty, Emalda, the leader's daughter. In his future wanderings, he finds many adventures involving battles, the rescue of two young ladies of nobility, the search for his lost love, trials of honor by combat, tragedy, new love, and encounters with knights and royalty. This story will enthrall readers from ages teenage to ninety.

The New Group announced today that Ayub Khan Din has stepped into the title role in the new musical Bunty Berman Presents..., replacing actor Erick Avari who withdrew from the production last week on doctor's orders following an injury. The world premiere of this musical comedy, with book & lyrics by Ayub Khan Din and music by Ayub Khan Din and Paul Bogaev, is directed by Scott Elliott. Previews began April 12. Performances resume Wednesday, April 24 in advance of Official Opening Night on Thursday, May 9 at 7:00pm. A limited Off-Broadway engagement is slated through June 1 at The New Group at Theatre Row (The Acorn Theatre / 410 West 42nd Street).

Mark Jaster and Sabrina Mandell have established Happenstance as one of the most inventive, genuinely spontaneous companies in town. Their sources of inspiration are diverse, likewise the shows that develop (literally) before our eyes. Based on the principle of physical improvisation, their brand of Devised Theater (quite distinct from that bane of critics, the "work in progress") can give you the delight of witnessing artists in the process of discovery, development and revision. The results are often confusing and challenge us to abandon our innate desire to make sense of things, inviting us simply to let the ensemble go about their wonderful work.

The spirit of independent cinema is soaring with the NewFilmmakers LA Film Festival March 23rd 2013 program. The event brings Groundlings alumni, award-winning filmmakers, Oscar nominated actors, first time filmmakers, and more all under one roof.

On Sunday, February 24 at 6:00pm, The New Group offers the next event in this season's continuing series Dark Nights at The New Group: "Stand-Up Center Stage" with Janeane Garofalo, Mario Cantone and Judy Gold in a discussion moderated by Susan Blackwell. Reservations required at seats@thenewgroup.org (space is limited). Suggested donation: $20. Free for New Group subscribers.

On April 24, American Theater Group, New Jersey's newest professional theater company, will present, direct from its success at the 2012 New York Musical Theatre Festival, Jonathan Brielle's new musical Himself and Nora at its new home, Hamilton Stage in Rahway, New Jersey.

It was double Downton this week on PBS. But for those of you who may have missed the two-hour episode, here is a brief recap of what happened!

The New Group has announced that Brooks Ashmanskas, Vincent D'Onofrio and Zoe Kazan have joined the cast of Clive, up next in the company's 2012-2013 season. Written by Jonathan Marc Sherman and directed by and featuring Ethan Hawke in the title role, Clive's official Opening Night is set for tonight, February 7 at 7:00pm. This production is slated through March 9 at The New Group at Theatre Row (The Acorn Theatre / 410 West 42nd Street).

Theatre Harrisburg stages an energetic, flamboyant DROWSY CHAPERONE at Whitaker Center

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Street Theatre Company opens its 2013 season with two special performances of Love Letters. Love Letters by A. R. Gurney was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The play is a unique and imaginative theatre piece that is comprised of letters exchanged over a lifetime between two people who grew up together, went their separate ways, but continued to share confidences. Evocative, touching, frequently funny, as the actors read the letters aloud, they chronicle over nearly 50 years of hopes and ambitions, dreams and disappointments, victories and defeats that have passed between them throughout their separated lives.

The New Group presents the world premiere of Clive, written by Jonathan Marc Sherman and directed by and featuring Ethan Hawke in the title role. This production features Brooks Ashmanskas, Vincent D'Onofrio, Stephanie Janssen, Mahira Kakkar, Zoe Kazan, Aaron Krohn, Dana Lyn and Jonathan Marc Sherman, with Music and Sound Sculptures by GAINES. Clive plays a limited Off-Broadway engagement January 17 through March 9 at The New Group at Theatre Row (The Acorn Theatre / 410 West 42nd Street). Official Opening Night is Thursday, February 7 at 7:00pm.

The New Group announced today the world premiere of Clive, written by Jonathan Marc Sherman and directed by and featuring Ethan Hawke in the title role.

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Street Theatre Company opens its 2013 season with two special performances of Love Letters. Love Letters by A. R. Gurney was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The play is a unique and imaginative theatre piece that is comprised of letters exchanged over a lifetime between two people who grew up together, went their separate ways, but continued to share confidences. Evocative, touching, frequently funny, as the actors read the letters aloud, they chronicle over nearly 50 years of hopes and ambitions, dreams and disappointments, victories and defeats that have passed between them throughout their separated lives.

The Film Society of Lincoln Center today announced And the Winner is: Foreign Award Hopefuls, celebrating films from around the world submitted for consideration in the Academy Awards' Best Foreign Language Film category, as well as the Golden Globes and other "awards season" Best-of lists by critics for film audiences. The film series will be held from January 3-6, 2013.