James Lapine News

In the latest edition of Opera News, Michael Portantiere asks Stephen Schwartz, Adam Guettel, Jason Robert Brown, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Michael John LaChiusa, Stephen Flaherty and Stew for their opinions on the difference between opera and musical theatre.

South Ark Stage (Rhoda Herrick, Producing Artistic Director) has announced that it will present the world premiere of the new chamber musical The Black Monk, with book, lyrics and music by Wendy Kesselman. Under the direction of Kevin Newbury, the four-member cast features Austin Pendleton as the Monk, Scott Robertson as Igor, Elon Rutberg as Andrei, and Sarah Ziegler as Tanya.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director)kicks off its 30th Anniversary Season with a new production of Howard Korder's comedy, BOYS' LIFE, directed by Michael Greif.

For the first time, Pittsburgh CLO will present Broadway phenomenon Les Misérables as part of a spectacular 2009 Summer Season lineup that also includes the previously announced Pittsburgh premiere of Legally Blonde The Musical.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) will kick off its 30th Anniversary Season with a new production of Howard Korder's comedy, BOYS' LIFE, directed by Michael Greif starting tonight, October 2nd. The official opening will be Monday, October 20th. This 20th Anniversary production of BOYS' LIFE will feature Jason Biggs, Rhys Coiro, and Peter Scanavino as 'the boys' as well as Dan Colman, Michelle Federer, Betty Gilpin, Paloma Guzman, Laura-Leigh, and Stephanie March.

Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) has announced additional casting and details for the third production of its 2008/2009 Season, the New York premiere of PRAYER FOR MY ENEMY, a new play by two-time Tony Award nominee, two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and two-time Obie Award winner Craig Lucas (Small Tragedy at Playwrights Horizons, The Light in the Piazza, Prelude to a Kiss, Reckless, The Dying Gaul). PRAYER FOR MY ENEMY is the first of two plays by Mr. Lucas that will receive their New York premiere this season.

school with The Parent Teacher Conference Plays. Three of the brightest lights in American drama - Ann Marie Healy (Have You Seen Steve Steven), Clay McLeod Chapman (rest area, Hostage Song) and Zayd Dohrn (Haymarket)-will take audience members inside actual classrooms for a trip down memory lane... to a time when backpacks, hall passes, and spelling tests ruled the world.

SAN DIEGO REPERTORY THEATRE is proud to present, by special arrangement with producer CHRIS BENSINGER, the world premiere of THE PRINCESS AND THE BLACK-EYED PEA, a soulful musical comedy inspired by Hans Christians Andersen's cherished fairy tale.

Starting tomorrow, Wednesday, September 17 at 10:00 AM, Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) will be accepting entries for its popular LIVEforFIVE online lottery for $5 tickets to its next production, the World Premiere of KINDNESS, a new play written and directed by Adam Rapp (Essential Self-Defense at Playwrights Horizons, Red Light Winter). A total of 40 tickets will be available via the online lottery.

Golden Globe winner and Emmy Award nominee Dylan McDermott has joined the cast of Playwrights Horizon's first production of the new season, the World Premiere of THREE CHANGES, a new play by Nicky Silver. Directed by Tony Award nominee Wilson Milam (The Lieutenant of Inishmore), the production will begin previews on Friday, August 22, 2008 with an Opening Night set for Tuesday, September 16. The limited engagement will run through Sunday, September 28 at Playwrights Horizons Mainstage Theater (416 West 42nd Street).

Golden Globe winner and Emmy Award nominee Dylan McDermott has joined the cast of Playwrights Horizon's first production of the new season, the World Premiere of THREE CHANGES, a new play by Nicky Silver. Directed by Tony Award nominee Wilson Milam (The Lieutenant of Inishmore), the production will begin previews on Friday, August 22, 2008 with an Opening Night set for Tuesday, September 16. The limited engagement will run through Sunday, September 28 at Playwrights Horizons Mainstage Theater (416 West 42nd Street).

James Lapine will be creating a new revue of the songs of Stephen Sondehim titled 'iSondheim: aMusical Revue'. The revue will premiere at Atlanta's Alliance Theatre

Electric Pear Productions (Melanie Sylvan and Ashlin Halfnight, Co-Executive Producers) announces its 2008/2009 series and residency at The Wild Project (195 East Third Street, between Avenues A & B), New York City's first and only eco-consciously designed theater

Ars Nova will present a FREE reading of BOMBS IN YOUR MOUTH by Corey Patrick, directed by Evan Cabnet, as part of the Out Loud series. The cast will feature Dan Eric Gold, Jennifer Mudge, and Cara Greene.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) will kick off its 30th Anniversary Season with a new production of Howard Korder's comedy, BOYS' LIFE, directed by Michael Greif.

Ars Nova will present a FREE reading of BOMBS IN YOUR MOUTH by Corey Patrick, directed by Evan Cabnet, as part of the Out Loud series. The cast will feature Dan Eric Gold, Jennifer Mudge, and Cara Greene.

The Tony Award winning musical comedy, THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE - one of Broadway's most buzzed about hits - is in attendance at North Shore Music Theatre's (NSMT) intimate theater in the round from August 12 - 31, 2008

Wednesday, August 13 at 10AM, Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) will be accepting entries for its popular LIVEforFIVE online lottery for $5 tickets to its next production, the World Premiere of THREE CHANGES, a new play by Nicky Silver (Fit to Be Tied at Playwrights Horizons, The Food Chain, Pterodactyls, Raised in Captivity).

Get out your dictionaries! The Tony® Award winning musical comedy, THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE - one of Broadway's most buzzed about hits - is in attendance at North Shore Music Theatre's (NSMT) intimate theater in the round from August 12 - 31, 2008; Press Night is scheduled for August 14th at 7:30 pm. THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE is sponsored by The Boston Globe.