J. Hartley Manners News

Hailed as one of Noel Coward's comic masterpieces, Hay Fever - written in three days after Coward and his best pals Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne spent a weekend with the infamous stage legend Laurette Taylor and her husband, the equally infamous playwright J. Hartley Manners - was one of Coward's first successful plays and is still staged often around the world. Hay Fever is set in the English country house of the eccentric Bliss family: Judith, a retired stage actress; David, an egotistical novelist; and their two unequivocally unique children Simon and Sorel. Each family member, unbeknownst to the others, has invited a guest for the weekend. Chaos ensues as the guests arrive, take in the unconventional ways of their hosts, and plan their escape.

As a result of one man's interest and dedication to the proper telling of actress Laurette Taylor's magnificent story, New York is now fortunate enough to own a piece of the treasure that is Steven Carl MccCasland's What Was Lost. Written and directed by McCasland and hereby added to the list of successful and praise-worthy Beautiful Soup Theater productions, which include a recent production of Liliom and the critically acclaimed Little Wars, What Was Lost is a complete surprise to both those familiar with the story of stage actress Laurette Taylor, and to those who have yet to understand the fortitude one woman can possess in the depths of her nearly shattered heart. It is truly one of my best experiences at the Dorothy Strelsin Theater.

Opening the season is the hilarious dark comedy Arsenic and Old Lace by Joseph Kesselring, a play that the New York Times called 'so funny that none of us will ever forget it.' Everyone who likes a good laugh has heard about the sweet maiden aunts who poison people and the brother who thinks he's Teddy Roosevelt. Arsenic and Old Lace is a comedy that will be remembered for many years to come, and A. D. Players proudly presents it this fall.

Founder and Artistic Director Jeannette Clift George today announced A. D. Players' 2013-2014 MainStage season of 'Favorites' including a Pulitzer prize winning play, a famous comedy, and an iconic musical.

The World Premiere of Peg O' My Heart the Musical is being presented at the 12th annual Midtown International Theater Festival and produced by Gwen Arment, producer and artistic director of Hell's Kitchen Musicals.

The Midtown International Theatre Festival (MITF) announces the 2011 Season, running from July 11 - 31, 2011. 22 plays and 11 musicals have been chosen. Tickets are $18-15.