Erik Jensen News

The Midlands get busy this weekend, and Broadway rolls through Columbia!

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) (Artistic Director James C. Nicola and Managing Director Jeremy Blocker) announced today the dates for the final two productions of the 2017/18 season, LIGHT SHINING IN BUCKINGHAMSHIRE and THE HOUSE THAT WILL NOT STAND.

Be careful about expressing your admiration for certain artists during Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen's hard-edged solo play, HOW TO BE A ROCK CRITIC. Though the audience is encouraged to engage in some give and take with Jensen as he impersonates the legendary writer Lester Bangs, fans of Jethro Tull, Herb Alpert, Styx and others may find their tastes abruptly dismissed as the gonzo journalist flings the LPs of musicians he can't abide by across the room.

The Public Theater just celebrated opening night of its 14th annual UNDER THE RADAR FESTIVAL, running through January 15, 2018.

The Public Theater announced the exciting national and international line-up today for the 14th annual UNDER THE RADAR FESTIVAL, running January 4-15, 2018.

New York Theatre Workshop has announced the full cast and creative team for the World Premiere of AN ORDINARY MUSLIM, by NYTW Usual Suspect and 2017-18 Tow Foundation Playwright-in-Residence Hammaad Chaudry (Salaam, Mr. Bush), directed by NYTW Usual Suspect and Obie Award winner Jo Bonney (The Body of An American).

The Public Theater announced the exciting national and international line-up today for the 14th annual UNDER THE RADAR FESTIVAL, running January 4-15, 2018.

New York Theatre Workshop's production of MARY JANE, written by NYTW Usual Suspect and Pulitzer Prize Finalist Amy Herzog (4000 Miles, Belleville) and directed by two-time Obie Award winner Anne Kauffman (Sundown, Yellow Moon; A Life), will conclude its run later this week.

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) has just announced the full cast and creative team for HUNDRED DAYS, with a book by The Bengsons (Iphigenia in Aulis) and Sarah Gancher (The Place We Built), music and lyrics by The Bengsons, direction by Obie Award winner Anne Kauffman, and movement direction by Obie Award winner Sonya Tayeh (you'll still call me by name).

Geva Theatre Center unveils its line-up for the Festival of New Theatre 2017 to be held in the Fielding Stage from October 25 November 5. FONT 2017 is a vibrant and innovative mix of new works by some of the most exciting playwrights from across the country and around the corner and is part of Geva's ongoing commitment to developing and producing new work for the American theatre.

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) announced today an extension for MARY JANE, written by NYTW Usual Suspect and Pulitzer Prize Finalist Amy Herzog (4000 Miles, Belleville) and directed by two-time Obie Award winner Anne Kauffman (Sundown, Yellow Moon; A Life).

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) presents the first show of the 2017/18 NYTW season, Mary Jane, written by NYTW Usual Suspect and Pulitzer Prize Finalist Amy Herzog (4000 Miles, Belleville) and directed by two-time Obie Award winner Anne Kauffman (Sundown, Yellow Moon; A Life).

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) has announced the inaugural season of Next Door at NYTW in the Fourth Street Theatre, NYTW's newly renovated 65-seat black box space.

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) has announced casting for the first show of the 2017/18 NYTW season, MARY JANE, written by NYTW Usual Suspect and Pulitzer Prize Finalist Amy Herzog (4000 Miles, Belleville) and directed by two-time Obie Award winner Anne Kauffman (Sundown, Yellow Moon; A Life).

Dirt Dogs Theatre Co. announced the lineup for its 207-2018 season, featuring a contemporary comedy, a tale of redemption, and the staged adaptation of a cinematic classic.

By popular demand Steppenwolf's LookOut Series extends its rock 'n' roll production of the solo play, How To Be A Rock Critic (Based on the Writings of Lester Bangs) by award-winning theatre artists Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen, starring Erik Jensen (The Walking Dead, Mr. Robot) as Lester Bangs and directed by Jessica Blank (Made in Jersey, The Namesake). Described as "a fascinating window into one of the last century's most compelling and fearless critics," (Chicago Tribune), the 80-minute production continues for three additional performances through July 29, 2017 in the 1700 Theatre, situated behind Front Bar: Coffee & Drinks (drinks permitted in the theater).

"This music is magical. My writing is stilted." So proclaims Erik Jensen as famed rock critic Lester Bangs in HOW TO BE A ROCK CRITIC, now playing as part of Steppenwolf's Lookout Series. This thought has likely crossed the mind of all art critics out there (certainly it has crossed mine), and it embodies the spirit of this 80-minute solo play as it charts Bangs's career. Jensen and co-playwright Jessica Blank (the pair are also married) give us a portrait of Bangs-who died of a drug overdose at age 33-that demonstrates the passion, creativity, and self-destructive nature that defined him. This solo play provides an overview of Bangs's trajectory and allows audiences to learn about the rock music he loved, aided by David Robbins's sound design.

New York Theatre Workshop announced today a one week extension for NYTW Usual Suspect Mfoniso Udofia's SOJOURNERS and HER PORTMANTEAU, presented in repertory and directed by NYTW Usual Suspect and former NYTW 2050 Fellow Ed Sylvanus Iskandar.

Steppenwolf's LookOut Series has announced their summer lineup, which will feature a three week run of the acclaimed solo play, How To Be A Rock Critic (Based on the Writings of Lester Bangs) by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen, the award-winning writers of The Exonerated and Aftermath. The show will run July 6 - July 22 in Steppenwolf's 1700 Theatre (1700 N Halsted St); the press performance is Friday, July 7 at 8pm.

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) has announced five productions as part of its complete 2017/18 Season.