F Brown News

Due to popular demand, Playhouse on the Green, Bridgeport's not-for-profit community theater, has extended the run of its production of the Tony Award® winning musical THE WIZ for three additional performances: Friday, May 15 at 8PM; Saturday, May 16 at 8PM; and Sunday, May 17 at 3PM.

'There's No Place Like Home' for homeless shelter dogs, according to Nigel, the former street-dog-turned-stage-star, who is making his New York professional debut in The Wiz at City Center in June. The need for a home is what inspired Nigel, along with co-star Ashanti (who plays Dorothy) to host 'There's No Place Like Home'Adoption Day on Saturday, May 30 at 11:00 am at City Center (55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues).

Nigel, a brindle-hair Cairn Terrier, will be making his professional stage debut as Toto in the Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz, starring Ashanti as Dorothy, June 12 - July 5 at New York City Center, 131 W. 55th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues).

The Playwrights Realm presents the U.S. premiere of DOV AND ALI - a new drama by playwright Anna Ziegler, author of the critically acclaimed play BFF. Previews begin June 5th prior to an official press opening of June 12th Off-Broadway at The Cherry Lane Studio Theatre (38 Commerce Street) in Manhattan. Playwrights Realm Co-Artistic Director Katherine Kovner directs.

The West Coast premiere of the international stage hit DIRTY DANCING - The Classic Story On Stage will play the Pantages Theatre for a limited engagement, opening Sunday May 10 and running seven weeks through June 28. There are three lower-priced previews on Friday, May 8 at 8p and Saturday, May 9 at 2PM& 8P. The official press opening is Sunday, May 10 at 6P.

Orlando Jones will play The Wiz, and Tony Award-winning actress LaChanze will play Glinda, the good witch, in the Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz, starring Ashanti, June 12 July 5 at New York City Center. Glinda's sister-witches will include Tichina Arnold as Evillene and Dawnn Lewis as Addaperle. Easing down the road with Ashanti's Dorothy will be Joshua Henry as the Tinman, James Monroe Iglehart as the Lion and Christian White as the Scarecrow.

Fern Kershon and Orange Thought Productions today announced that 2009 Academy Award nominee Melissa Leo would head the cast of their new production, Heart of the City, a new play by Eric Lane, directed by Martha Banta. Performances will begin June 11th at the Theatre at 30th Street, for a limited engagement. Additional casting will be announced shortly.

Burning Coal Theatre Company will present one additional performance of 1960 by Ian Finley and members of the Burning Coal Theatre Company next Thursday, May 7 at 8 pm at Meymandi Theatre at the Murphey School, 224 Polk Street, Raleigh. Tickets may be obtained by calling 919-834-4001. Tickets are $20 or $15 for students/seniors/active military.

Playhouse on the Green, Bridgeport's not-for-profit community theater, is pleased to announce that the author of the book to the Tony Award® winning musical The Wiz, William F. Brown of Fairfield, will participate in a post-show Q&A session about the show and his career on Broadway and off on Sunday, April 26, 2009, following the 3PM matinee performance.

Due to popular demand, Playhouse on the Green, Bridgeport's not-for-profit community theater, has extended the run of its production of the Tony Award® winning musical THE WIZ for three additional performances: Friday, May 15 at 8PM; Saturday, May 16 at 8PM; and Sunday, May 17 at 3PM.

Playhouse on the Green, Bridgeport's not-for-profit community theater, is pleased to announce that the author of the book to the Tony Award® winning musical The Wiz, William F. Brown of Fairfield, will participate in a post-show Q&A session about the show and his career on Broadway and off on Sunday, April 26, 2009, following the 3PM matinee performance.

Playhouse on the Green, Bridgeport's not-for-profit community theater, has added an extra performance of its production of one of the most popular and powerful stage dramas of our time, Twelve Angry Jurors, on Friday, February 27 at 8PM. The original teleplay of Twelve Angry Jurors is by Reginald Rose, adapted for the stage by Sherman L. Sergel.

The New York Times is reporting that THE WIZ will 'Ease on Down the Road' to the New York City Center as it has announced that it would stage a revival of 'The Wiz' as its Encores! Summer Stars production.

On Monday Evening, February 23 at 7:00 PM, six New York theater institutions will participate in a special panel discussion featuring five current and upcoming Off-Broadway shows. Harlem Stage (150 Convent Avenue at West 135th Street) will host producing companies Classical Theatre of Harlem, Manhattan Theatre Club, Playwrights Horizons, The Public Theater and Signature Theatre Company in an evening titled I'VE KNOWN RIVERS: A Conversation with Christina Anderson, Charles Fuller, Lynn Nottage & Liesl Tommy. The event marks a unique collaborative effort between six New York theater institutions: a panel discussion in which five gifted African-American theater artists - all of whom have projects happening almost simultaneously at five of New York's most respected non-profit theaters - will discuss their lives, work, and current projects. Moderated by actress Sabrina LeBeauf (Three Sisters, Classical Theatre of Harlem in partnership with Harlem Stage, February/March), the evening's four panelists will be Christina Anderson (author, Inked Baby, Playwrights Horizons, March/April), Charles Fuller (author, Zooman and the Sign, Signature Theatre Company, March/April), Lynn Nottage (author, Ruined, Manhattan Theater Club, January-March) and Liesl Tommy (director, The Good Negro, The Public Theater, March/April). The event title comes from a poem by Langston Hughes, 'The Negro Speaks of Rivers.'

On Monday Evening, February 23 at 7:00 PM, six New York theater institutions will participate in a special panel discussion featuring five current and upcoming Off-Broadway shows. Harlem Stage (150 Convent Avenue at West 135th Street) will host producing companies Classical Theatre of Harlem, Manhattan Theatre Club, Playwrights Horizons, The Public Theater and Signature Theatre Company in an evening titled I'VE KNOWN RIVERS: A Conversation with Christina Anderson, Charles Fuller, Lynn Nottage & Liesl Tommy.

Playhouse on the Green, Bridgeport's not-for-profit community theater, has added an extra performance of its production of one of the most popular and powerful stage dramas of our time, Twelve Angry Jurors, on Friday, February 27 at 8PM. The original teleplay of Twelve Angry Jurors is by Reginald Rose, adapted for the stage by Sherman L. Sergel.

Playhouse on the Green is holding open call auditions for the musical 'The Wiz.' All auditions take place at Playhouse on the Green, 177 State Street, Bridgeport, CT, 06604. Kids: Auditions for younger actors (elementary through high school ages) will take place on Saturday, February 21 from 10AM-1PM. Sign-in begins 9:30AM; all auditionees will take part in a short group movement call at 10AM, and following this auditionees will be asked to sing a song solo in the order of sign-in.

Playhouse on the Green, Bridgeport's not-for-profit community theater, presents one of the most popular and powerful stage dramas of our time, 'Twelve Angry Jurors,' for 10 performances only from February 6-22, 2009. The original teleplay of 'Twelve Angry Jurors' is by Reginald Rose, adapted for the stage by Sherman L. Sergel.

Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Founder & Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director) has announced its upcoming 25th anniversary season of new works offering a 3-play series celebrating female playwrights. The 2009-2010 Season will see the world premiere of A Lifetime Burning by Cusi Cram, and the New York premieres of Happy Now? by Lucinda Coxon, and Night Watcher by Charlayne Woodard at Primary Stages at59E59 Theaters (59 East 59 th Street). In a statement, Casey Childs, Founder & Executive producer, said, 'Primary Stages hasalways had a commitment to playwrights and we have been lucky to help nurture andenjoy the success of many extraordinary women writers. We are thrilled to premiere these new works by these three playwrights as a way to celebrate our 25th Anniversary.

On Monday Evening, February 23 at 7:00 PM, six New York theater institutions will participate in a special panel discussion featuring five current and upcoming Off-Broadway shows. Harlem Stage (150 Convent Avenue at West 135th Street) will host producing companies Classical Theatre of Harlem, Manhattan Theatre Club, Playwrights Horizons, The Public Theater and Signature Theatre Company in an evening titled I'VE KNOWN RIVERS: A Conversation with Christina Anderson, Charles Fuller, Lynn Nottage & Liesl Tommy. The event marks a unique collaborative effort between six New York theater institutions: a panel discussion in which five gifted African-American theater artists - all of whom have projects happening almost simultaneously at five of New York's most respected non-profit theaters - will discuss their lives, work, and current projects. Moderated by actress Sabrina LeBeauf (Three Sisters, Classical Theatre of Harlem in partnership with Harlem Stage, February/March), the evening's four panelists will be Christina Anderson (author, Inked Baby, Playwrights Horizons, March/April), Charles Fuller (author, Zooman and the Sign, Signature Theatre Company, March/April), Lynn Nottage (author, Ruined, Manhattan Theater Club, January-March) and Liesl Tommy (director, The Good Negro, The Public Theater, March/April). The event title comes from a poem by Langston Hughes, 'The Negro Speaks of Rivers.'