George Street News

Don't have any dinner plans this weekend? Come to the Old Opera House in Charles Town, WV, for an evening of theater featuring an unusual play by a well-known American playwright. The Dinner Party, written by Neil Simon and directed by Glenn Frail, opens this weekend at the Old Opera House. Though the theater company has previously produced Neil Simon productions, this show is a bit unique.

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.

San Jose Repertory Theatre presents the Bay Area premiere of the critically-acclaimed The Big Meal, by Dan LeFranc, the 2010 New York Times Outstanding Playwright Award Winner. This razor sharp portrait of a modern American family runs May 8 through June 1, and is directed by Kirsten Brandt, San Jose Rep's Associate Artistic Director.

In its seventh year, the Charleston International Film Festival (Charleston IFF) welcomed film industry professionals and enthusiasts to historic downtown Charleston to enjoy screenings, workshops, and parties during the five-day event, celebrating films from 11 different countries around the world.

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 on Wednesday, 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.

Contemporary Theatre of Dallas will make its New York debut in July 2014 with LONE STAR and LAUNDRY & BOURBON. The two one-acts by the widely-produced late playwright James McLure give a flavorful slice of life in rural Texas. Now in its 13th season, the celebrated regional theater company has been named 'Best Theatre Company' by the Dallas Observer. Their productions are regularly selected in the 'Top 10 Shows of the Year' from the Dallas Voice. LONE STAR and LAUNDRY & BOURBON, directed by Cynthia Hestand, will be performed at The Clurman Theatre (410 West 42nd Street) from July 5 to July 26.

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) will present its Songwriter Spotlight concert at 54 Below on April 28 at 9:30pm. Adam Halpin (Dogfight), Lisa Howard (South Pacific), Corey Mach (Hands on a Hardbody), Patti Murin (Lysistrata Jones), Mamie Parris (Wicked), Kate Rockwell (Rock of Ages), Andrew Samonsky (The Mystery of Edwin Drood) and Sarah Stiles (Vanities) have joined the line-up.

On Friday, May 2 at 7:00pm at Crossroads Theatre, American Repertory Ballet will present Philip Jerry's Our Town as part of the Hub City Our Town celebration of arts and community in New Brunswick. The Hub City Our Town festival is a collaboration between the New Brunswick Cultural Center, George Street Playhouse, and six other New Brunswick arts organizations, including ARB.

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) will present Legally Blonde the Musical onstage at the Harriet S. Jorgensen Theater April 24-May 4. The 2007 winner of London's Olivier Award for Best Musical, stars Courtney Hammond as the intelligent, self-assured and fashion conscious Elle Woods. For tickets and information, call 860-486-2113 and visit www.crt.uconn.edu.

Building on Slant Theatre Project's success with last season's The Steadfast, the company has announced the full cast for The Cloud, a world premiere mistaken-identity comedy written by playwright/comedian Matt Moses. Wes Grantom (Eager to Lose, The Steadfast) directs a cast of four including Teddy Bergman (B'way: Peter and the Starcatcher, Off-B'way: Sex Lives of Our Parents), Ryan King (Now Or Later at Huntington Theatre, The Intelligent Design Of Jenny Chow at the Atlantic Theater Company), Polly Lee (Marie Antoinette at Yale Rep, Wasps at Studio 42), and Emily Walton (Eager to Lose, August: Osage County). Performances for this first full production of Slant Theatre Project's 10th Season will be staged at HERE, 145 Sixth Avenue in NYC from May 16-June 1, 2014.

This April, May and June at 54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54thStreet. For a detailed schedule of upcoming performances at 54 Below and to purchase tickets, visit www.54Below.com.

NAMT returns to 54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, on April 28th for another installment of our Songwriter Spotlight.

Scenic designer, writer and professor, MARJORIE BRADLEY KELLOGG, and costume designer DEBORAH M. DRYDEN are among the 2014 TDF/Irene Sharaff Awards recipients. The awards will be presented at a ceremony on Friday, May 2, at 6:30pm, at the Hudson Theatre (145 West 44th Street). Ms. Kellogg will receive the Robert L.B. Tobin Award for Sustained Excellence in Theatrical Design and Ms. Dryden was selected to receive the 2014 TDF/Irene Sharaff Lifetime Achievement Award for costume design. Ms. Kellogg's award will be presented to her by director Kenny Leon and Ms. Dryden's award will be presented to her by designer David Woolard.

Lincoln Center Theater presents Act One, a play written and directed by James Lapine from the autobiography by Moss Hart. The production is scheduled to begin previews tomorrow night, March 20 and will open on Thursday, April 17 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater (150 West 65 Street). Scroll down to learn more about the full company, plus check out the latest TV spot for the production!

'I Lived, I Loved, I Made Spaghetti' is now at the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick through April 6th. Area audiences will enjoy every minute of this fantastic one-woman show starring Antoinette LaVecchia.

Berkshire Theatre Group has announced additional casting for A Little Night Music. Four-time Tony Award nominee and Drama Desk Award winner Gregg Edelman will play the role of Fredrik Egerman and Emmy Award winner and two-time Tony Award nominee Penny Fuller will play the role of Madame Armfeldt for BTG's 2014 summer musical. Ethan Heard, who directed BTG's 2013 hit murder mystery The Cat and the Canary, will direct Stephen Sondheim's award-winning musical which also features Tony Award and Drama Desk nominee Kate Baldwin, internationally-acclaimed vocalist and actress Maureen O'Flynn, and Broadway and television actor Graham Rowat.

Imagine the worst, most awkward family reunion you have ever attended......and then count yourself lucky, because the Verdeen family reunion in the upcoming comedy The Red Velvet Cake War at the Old Opera House, directed by Will Heyser, will make your worst family reunion look like a paradise, with plenty of laughs along the way.

I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti adapted by Jacques Lamarre from the memoir by Giulia Melucci and directed by Rob Ruggiero will starring Antoinette LaVecchia and runs tonight, March 14, 2014 at 8 pm at George Street Playhouse. Dessert reception by Catherine Lombardi Restaurant immediately following.

'I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti' is now onstage at George Street Playhouse (GSP) in New Brunswick through April 6th. This one-woman show stars Antoinette LaVecchia in the role of Giulia. As she cooks a three course meal, live on stage, she recounts stories about the men in her life and the meals that she made for them.