Ensemble Studio Theatre News

Steppenwolf Theatre Company's eighth annual First Look Repertory of New Work features three developmental productions of new plays presented in rotating repertory now through August 25, 2013 in the Garage Theatre (1624 N Halsted St). Check out photos from the productions below!

Second Thought Theatre presents the final production in its ninth season, In a Forest, Dark and Deep by Neil LaBute. Director Regan Adair returns to STT for the first time since 2011's critical hit, Red Light Winter. In a Forest, Dark and Deep will run in previews today, August 9 - 10, 2013. Opening and Press Night is Thursday, August 15 at 7:30pm. The show closes August 31.

The Delaware Theatre Company announces the celebrity casting of their first production of the 2013-2014 Season, ANY GIVEN MONDAY by Bruce Graham. Following a momentous 2013/2014 Season in which 47% of the audience was brand new to the Theatre, DTC anticipates strong turnouts at each performance for the chance to see these four cast members.

ALBERT PODELL and THE YORK SHAKESPEARE COMPANY are pleased to announce the world premiere production of Alexander Harrington's The Great Society, directed by Seth Duerr. The Great Society will play a four-week limited engagement at the Clurman Theatre (Theatre Row: 410 West 42nd Street, NYC). Performances began Saturday, August 3 and continue through Saturday, August 24. Opening Night is tonight, August 8 (8 p.m.).

Berkshire Playwrights Lab will present a staged reading of Richard Dresser's The Handyman, directed by Joe Cacaci, today, August 7 at 7:30pm at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center (14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, Mass.).

Celebrating 45 Years as New York City's longest continually running black theatre, Dr. Barbara Ann Teer's National Black Theatre Inc. [NBT] is proud to announce our appointment of Jonathan McCrory as the Director of Theatre Arts Program. McCrory follows in the footsteps of the late Theatre Arts Director, Tunde Samuels, who held the position for 25 years. McCrory with take the helm of the Theatre Arts Program as the Director in November when the launch National Black Theatre's 45h Season with the New York Premiere of "Last Saint On Sugar Hill" by Keith Josef Adkins directed by Seret Scott.

McCarter Theatre Center has announced the appointment of Adam Immerwahr as Associate Artistic Director. Immerwahr, a longtime McCarter staff member with a thriving directorial career, will support McCarter's Artistic Director, Emily Mann, in the planning and execution of the theater's artistic programming. His duties will also include directing for McCarter Theater's main stage, cultivating new works and identifying emerging artists, having primary responsibility for the day-to-day artistic oversight of McCarter's dramatic productions, and coordinating the selection and hiring of freelance artistic personnel.

EdibleBrains is pleased to announce that Molly Rydzel's Certifiable, directed by Mark Karafin, will be making its world premiere at the Connelly Theatre at 7pm on Sunday, August 11, 2013 as part of the New York International Fringe Festival (FringeNYC). Check out a sneak peek below!

Now that the world premier of 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' has opened and is enjoying ever-growing and receptive audiences of all ages, the adaptor of this famous Washington Irving tale, James Rana, sat down with Gayle Stahlhuth, artistic director of the Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company, to talk. Like last year's 'The Poe Mysteries,' Stahlhuth is also the director.

The NATIONAL NEW PLAY NETWORK (NNPN), the country's alliance of non-profit theatres that champions the development, production, and continued life of new plays, proudly announces that Gwydion Suilebhan has been hired as the Project Director for NNPN's New Play Exchange, the national database of plays and playwrights that NNPN is currently developing. Suilebhan, a DC-based playwright, theater blogger, and arts and technology consultant, replaces Jason Loewith, who conceived the project during his tenure as Executive Director of NNPN and served as the Project Director during its initial phase.

Performances begin today for Steppenwolf Theatre Company's eighth annual First Look Repertory of New Work, featuring three developmental productions of new plays presented in rotating repertory today, July 29 - August 25, 2013 in the Garage Theatre (1624 N Halsted St).

Second Thought Theatre announced today cast and creative team of the final production in its ninth season, In a Forest, Dark and Deep by Neil LaBute. Director Regan Adair returns to STT for the first time since 2011's critical hit, Red Light Winter. In a Forest, Dark and Deep will run in previews August 9 - 10, 2013. Opening and Press Night is Thursday, August 15 at 7:30pm. The show closes August 31.

The OBIE Award-winning NAATCO, National Asian American Theater Company, will kick off their 24th season with Clifford Odets's Awake & Sing! Stephen Fried directs an all-Asian American cast that includes Sanjit de Silva, Mel Duane Gionson, Andrew Ramcharan Guilarte, Mia Katigbak, Teresa Avia Lim, Jon Norman Schneider, David Shih, Alok Tewari, and Henry Yuk. This Off-Broadway limited engagement will begin August 16th at Walker Space (46 Walker Street) and continue through September 8th only. Opening Night is set for August 21st (8pm).

EdibleBrains is pleased to announce that Molly Rydzel's Certifiable, directed by Mark Karafin, will be making its world premiere at the Connelly Theatre at 7pm on Sunday, August 11, 2013 as part of the New York International Fringe Festival (FringeNYC).

Mia Shen in association with Pocket Theatre is proud to present I AM A MOON, Zhu Yi's lyrical play partially inspired by the life of legendary Japanese porn star Ai Iijima, as part of the 17th annual New York International Fringe Festival - FringeNYC. The show will play the Lynn Redgrave Theater (# Venue 14) Aug. 9-16.

Berkshire Playwrights Lab will present a staged reading of Richard Dresser's The Handyman, directed by Joe Cacaci, on Wednesday, August 7 at 7:30pm at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center (14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, Mass.). The cast will include Wendie Malick, currently co-starring in TV Land's Hot in Cleveland, Berkshire Playwrights Lab Co-Artistic Director Jim Frangione, and two other actors TBA. There is no charge for admission, however, Berkshire Playwrights Lab suggests a $10.00 donation to help offset its programming costs. For reservations, call 413.528.0100 or visit the Mahaiwe box office in person.

Portland Center Stage has selected four exciting new plays drawn from a national search for the 2013 JAW: A Playwrights Festival.

Performances begin in three weeks for Steppenwolf Theatre Company's upcoming eighth annual First Look Repertory of New Work, featuring three developmental productions of new plays presented in rotating repertory July 29 - August 25, 2013 in the Garage Theatre (1624 N Halsted St). First Look 2013 includes: Annie Bosh is Missing by Janine Nabers, directed by Shade Murray; Buena Vista by Edith Freni, directed byensemble member Tim Hopper; and The Gospel of Franklin by Aaron Carter, directed by Robert O'Hara. Scroll down for a sneak peek at Annie Bosh, Buena Vista and The Gospel of Franklin in rehearsal!