Ensemble Studio Theatre News

Cori Thomas's warm-hearted and funny play about the many flavors of desire, When January Feels Like Summer, will receive its New York premiere in a co-production of Ensemble Studio Theatre and Page 73 Productions directed by Daniella Topol.

Two River Theater, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst, announces the lineup of productions for its 2014/15 Season. The year will include world-premiere plays and musicals that have been developed at the theater, including Your Blues Ain't Sweet Like Mine, a new play written and directed by Tony Award-winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson; and Be More Chill, a musical by Joe Iconis and Joe Tracz, adapted from the novel by Ned Vizzini and directed by Scott Ellis. The season will also include a range of world masterpieces and American classics, and work for audiences ages three and up

Lesser America will present the World Premiere of Lucas Kavner's (Fish Eye with Colt Coeur/HERE Arts Center; Love Money at Ars Nova) Carnival Kids, June 5-28 at TBG Theatre (312 West 36th Street between 8th and 9th Avenue). The production will be directed by Stephen Brackett (Buyer and Cellar at Barrow Street) with Assistant Director Drew Foster. The cast and creative team will be announced at a later date.

The Deer Players (Producers Julia Piker and Peter Staley) will present the World Premiere of THE BRINK OF US by Delaney Britt Brewer (Wolves at 59e59) today, April 25-May 17 at South Oxford Space (138 South Oxford Street between Atlantic Ave and Hanson Place, Brooklyn). The production will be directed by Kara-Lynn Vaeni (AliceGraceAnon with New Georges) and feature Daniel Cuff, Tom Kelsey, Starr Kirkland, Annelise Nielsen, Julia Piker, Peter Staley, Zachary J. Smith, and Linda Tardif. The creative team will include Set and Lighting Design by Nick Francone (Vampire Cowboys) with assistance from Rachel Schapira, and Costume Design by Ethan Berube. The production is presented with support from New Georges.

A diverse cast of thirteen join Noor Theatre Artistic Director Lameece Issaq, Executive Director Maha Chehlaoui, and Producing Artistic Director Nancy Vitale for the world premiere of The Myth Project. This director-driven workshop production in three parts from Director/Writers Kareem Fahmy, Noelle Ghoussaini, and Pirronne Yousefzadeh, runs in repertory from Thursday, May 1 through Sunday, May 4 at New York Theatre Workshop's 4th Street Theatre.

The Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) announced today that Artistic Director Tom Wojtunik will be stepping down from his position as Artistic Director on June 30th, 2014. During Wojtunik's six years as Artistic Director, he successfully raised the company's artistic profile and solidified APAC's place as a respected developer and producer of new works. For his final production, he will direct Rodgers & Hammerstein's rarely seen Allegro, opening May 1st, 2014. (Critics are invited to all performances.)

Berkeley Repertory Theatre welcomes back Pulitzer Prize winner Tony Kushner for the West Coast premiere of his latest play, The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures, an epic tale of love, family, sex, money, and politics. Kushner reunites with one of his favorite collaborators, Michael Leibert Artistic Director Tony Taccone, to bring this sweeping drama to the Roda Theatre. With his trademark mix of soaring intellect and searing emotion, the legendary writer unfurls a poignant story about an Italian family in Brooklyn. When retired longshoreman Gus Marcantonio decides to die, his kids come home with a raucous parade of lovers and spouses to find that even the house keeps secrets. A portrait of a dysfunctional family filled with weighty dialogue, humor, and passion, Kushner's four-act play previews Friday, May 16, opens on Wednesday, May 21, and runs through Sunday, June 29, 2014.

Family dynamics can be the source of endless comedic material, as is the case in the 2nd play of the CSC Women Playwrights Series, 'In the Car with Blossom and Len' by Joni Fritz, which will be presented tonight, Apr 23 at 7:30 PM in the Lackland Center in Hackettstown. In this funny and poignant new play, a basket full of unpaid bills for chemical engineer Lenny Gold's laboratory is discovered one of his adult daughters, unveiling a lifetime of secrets, a mysterious silent partner, and a few other challenges which must be met by this family. 'In the Car..' is a delightful family saga about growing up, growing older and where you put the keys.

The 2013-2014 season at Cleveland Play House (CPH) continues with the compelling world premiere production of Deborah Zoe Laufer's Informed Consent. Co-produced with Geva Theatre Center, this incredibly thought-provoking production is inspired by the real life court case between the Havasupai Indian tribe and Arizona State University, and sparks an intriguing debate on both ethicality and morality. Directed by Sean Daniels and Sponsored by Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic and MetroHealth, Informed Consent will serve as the centerpiece to CPH's 2014 New Ground Theatre Festival and will run from today, April 23 - May 18 in the Second Stage.

Soho Rep presents the world premiere of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins's An Octoroon, directed by Soho Rep. Artistic Director Sarah Benson. The production, tonight, April 23, through May 18, concludes a banner New York season for the celebrated playwright, whose Appropriate made its New York premiere February 25-April 6 at Signature Theatre.

Bay Street Theatre has announced the full cast and creative team for the World Premiere of CONVICTION (May 27-June 15) by Carey Crim and directed by Scott Schwartz, Bay Street's new Artistic Director. The production is co-produced by Bay Street Theatre, Rubicon Theatre in California, Dead Posh Productions, London and Canada's Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre.

Ego Actus (Bruce A! Kraemer and Joan Kane producers) will present The Tragedy of Dandelion by Duncan Pflaster from May 22nd through June 8th at Urban Stages. Joan Kane directs a cast of 10 actresses who also double as men in 30 roles. The cast features Louise Flory, Kelly Zekas, Erin Nelson, Maria Peyramaure*, Kate Dickinson, Calaine Schafer, Shannon Stowe*, Mim Granahan*, Dianne Diep andSusan Wallack*. (*Member of Actors Equity)

PAN ASIAN REPERTORY THEATRE will present a special limited run of NO-NO BOY by Ken Narasaki, directed by Ron Nakahara and based on the novel by John Okada, set in the aftermath of WWII as Japanese Americans return to the West Coast. Called "eloquent…elegant and searing" by LA Weekly, NO-NO BOY will run from May 14-18, 2014 at the Studio Theatre at Theatre Row (410 W. 42nd Street), with official opening on May 15 at 7:30PM.

Yale Repertory Theatre, in a co-production with Berkeley Repertory Theatre, presents the world premiere of The House that will not Stand by Marcus Gardley, directed by Patricia McGregor. The House that will not Stand will be performed at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street) today, April 18-May 10. Opening Night is Thursday, April 24.

A diverse cast of thirteen join Noor Theatre Artistic Director Lameece Issaq, Executive Director Maha Chehlaoui, and Producing Artistic Director Nancy Vitale for the world premiere of The Myth Project. This director-driven workshop production in three parts from Director/Writers Kareem Fahmy, Noelle Ghoussaini, and Pirronne Yousefzadeh, runs in repertory from Thursday, May 1 through Sunday, May 4 at New York Theatre Workshop's 4th Street Theatre.

force/collision announces its current performance project, Jarman (all this maddening beauty) will be livestreamed on HowlRound TV on April 20th at 4:00pm. Inspired by queer avant-garde artist, activist and filmmaker, Jarman (all this maddening beauty) invades the mind and artistic aesthetic of Derek Jarman (The Last of England, Sebastiane, The Tempest) to create a poetic and visually dynamic mash-up of video and live performance. This project will premiere in 2014 to coincide with the 20th anniversary of Jarman's death.

Audiences have the opportunity to enjoy two more new plays and a take free writing workshop as the 2014 Women Playwrights Series comes to a close at the Centenary Stage Company in the final week of April.

New York based Burning Clown Productions are thrilled to present the West Coast Premiere of the Drama Desk nominated play, The Navigator, written by Eddie Antar and directed by Leslie Kincaid Burby (NYIT Award winner, Best Direction). THE NAVIGATOR will perform as part of the Hollywood Fringe Festival - and will open on Friday, June 13 at 7pm and run for ten performances through Sunday, June 29, 2014 at 2:30pm at The Actors Company Let Live Theater, 916A N. Formosa Ave. in Hollywood.