Gina Gionfriddo News

Playwrights Horizons just announced complete casting for the New York premiere of THE BIG MEAL, a new play by Dan LeFranc (Sixty Miles to Silver Lake at P73/Soho Rep, In the Labyrinth at Soho Rep). Directed by the Obie Award-winning "white-hot young director" (The New York Times) Sam Gold (Circle Mirror Transformation and Kin at PH, Seminar on Broadway, Tigers Be Still, The Aliens, The Coward), the production will begin previews Thursday, March 1 at 7:30 PM with an Opening Night set for Wednesday, March 21 at 7PM. The limited engagement will play through Sunday, April 8 at Playwrights Horizons' Peter Jay Sharp Theater (416 West 42nd Street).

Second Stage Theatre's current season will continue with a new production of Paula Vogel's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, How I Learned To Drive, directed by Kate Whoriskey and starring Norbert Leo Butz and Elizabeth Reaser. Currently in previews, the production will officially open on February 13. Check out production shots below!

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has announced 10 Finalists for its prestigious playwriting award, now celebrating its thirty-fourth year. The ten Finalists for the 2011-2012 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, chosen from over 100 submitted plays, are:

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) will conclude its 33rd season with the World Premiere of the new musical, DOGFIGHT, featuring music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, a book by Peter Duchan and directed by two-time Tony Award winner Joe Mantello. Winner of the prestigious 2011 Richards Rodgers Award for Musical Theatre, DOGFIGHT will be performed at Second Stage's Tony Kiser Theatre (305 West 43rd street) this summer. Exact dates, casting, and complete creative team will be announced shortly. For more information, please visit www.2ST.com.

Philadelphia Theatre Company will present PTC@Play, a two-week festival of new work on February 2-March 11 at PTC's home at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets).

Furious Theatre Company is back with a gritty and savagely humorous live-on-stage action adventure that is part theater and part graphic novel.

NOW.HERE.THIS. -- which last year received a Developmental Lab Production at The Vineyard - will be given a fully staged, world-premiere production with previews beginning March 7 prior to an official press opening of March 28 at the Vineyard Theatre (108 East 15th Street), it has been announced by Artistic Director Douglas Aibel, and Co-Artistic Director Sarah Stern.

Furious Theatre Company is back with a gritty and savagely humorous live-on-stage action adventure that is part theater and part graphic novel.

Playwrights Horizons just announced complete casting for the New York premiere of ASSISTANCE, a new play by Leslye Headland (Bachelorette). Directed by Trip Cullman (A Small Fire, The Drunken City and Manic Flight Reaction at Playwrights Horizons, Bachelorette), the production will begin previews Friday, February 3 at 8PM with an Opening Night set for Tuesday, February 28 at 7PM. The limited engagement will play through Sunday, March 11 at Playwrights Horizons' Mainstage Theater (416 West 42nd Street).

Philadelphia Theatre Company announces the creation of The Terrence McNally New Play Award, a $10,000 cash prize given annually to recognize a new play that celebrates the transformative power of art.

Furious Theatre Company is back with a gritty and savagely humorous live-on-stage action adventure that is part theater and part graphic novel.

Huntington Theatre Company completes its 30th Anniversary Season with the world premiere of Captors by Evan M. Wiener (Monogamy) and directed by Huntington Artistic Director Peter DuBois, and Noel Coward's stylish, savvy comedy Private Lives, directed by Tony Award nominee Maria Aitken (Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps).

The Evening Standard Theatre Awards winners were announced tonight - Sheridan Smith won Best Actress with awards presented by star names including Karen Gillan, Gemma Arterton and Olivia Williams.

LAByrinth Theater Company (Co-Artistic Directors Stephen Adly Guirgis, Mimi O'Donnell, Yul Vázquez, and Managing Director Danny Feldman) has announced the creative team for The Atmosphere of Memory by David Bar Katz.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) has announced the complete cast for its upcoming production of the new musical THE BLUE FLOWER: Sebastian Arcelus (Buddy in Elf, Wicked, Jersey Boys), Marc Kudisch (Three-time Tony Award nominee for 9 to 5, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Thoroughly Modern Millie), Meghan McGeary (The Blue Flower at A.R.T.), Joseph Medeiros (Irving Berlin's White Christmas), Julia Osborne (National Tour of South Pacific), Graham Rowat (Guys and Dolls), Aaron Serotsky (August: Osage County), and Teal Wicks (Elphaba in Wicked).

The Evening Standard Theatre Awards, established in 1955, are presented annually for outstanding achievements in London Theatre. Sponsored by the Evening Standard newspaper, this year's awards will be announced on November 20.