James Lecesne News

Who doesn't love a party with music, dancing and sweet cake? You're cordially invited to enjoy Doll Face Has a Party!, a world premiere virtual puppet show now streaming for free on CCTv: Virtual Theatre and Learning from Chicago Children's Theatre, the company's new YouTube channel.

Tune into BOING! 2020, a free webcast debuting on Chicago Children's Theatre's new YouTube channel, CCTv, dropping Saturday, June 20 at 10 a.m. CST.

In honor of Pride Month, 92Y in association with Daryl Roth and Darren Bagert, will present a limited online release of the June 2016 performance of The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey, available from June 1 - June 30. The release is free to stream here.

Today's top stories: Beetlejuice may be headed to Broadway's Barrymore Theatre, and more!

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Trevor, the new musical will make its New York premiere beginning Tuesday, April 7 ahead of a Tuesday, April 21 opening night at Stage 42 (442 West 42nd Street). 

The new musical Trevor makes its New York premiere this April at Stage 42. The company headed into rehearsals this week. Get your first look at the full team!

Producers Roy Furman John Ambrosino / Josie Bray / Mark Woods have announced the 19-member company of Trevor, the new musical making its New York premiere beginning Tuesday, April 7 ahead of a Tuesday, April 21 opening night at Stage 42 (442 West 42nd Street). Rehearsals begin Tuesday, February 25.

Producers Roy Furman John Ambrosino / Josie Bray / Mark Woods announced today that the New York debut of Trevor, a new musical, will begin performances on Tuesday, April 7 ahead of a Tuesday, April 21 opening night at Stage 42 (442 West 42nd Street).

Producers Roy Furman and A.B. &W. Productions have just announced the New York debut of Trevor: The Musical to open in April 2020 at Stage 42 (442 West 42nd Street).

Literary cabaret House of Speakeasy is back at Joe's Pub with Nina Burleigh, James Geary, Maggie Paxson & Monique Truong, while This Alien Nation, a celebration of immigrant stories, returns with Julio Torres, Mohammad Ewaz, Seuketu Mehta and Fariha Róisín.

Project: Transform returns to Education @ Hartford Stage this fall, with acclaimed Pike St. playwright, actor and teaching artist Nilaja Sun serving as guest artist. Connecticut high school students with a talent for writing, acting, dancing, music, poetry or art are encouraged to apply for the free innovative performance program celebrating diversity and acceptance.

The wait is finally over for the 10th anniversary of United Solo. With its most ambitious lineup yet, United Solo will once again unite solo performers from six continents in the heart of New York's theatre district. Over 130 productions will be presented at this year's United Solo, the largest festival of its kind in the world, celebrating its first decade of taking solo theatre to new heights. With up to five performances each day until November 24 at Theatre Row, this year's robust selection of one-person shows will attract thousands of theatregoers. Over 20 performances have sold out in advance, with more expected to follow. The festival will grant additional performance dates to its most popular productions. In addition to performances, United Solo also offers Master Classes with world-famous theatre creators and recognized experts, including acclaimed director Austin Pendleton, who will give his Master Class on October 8, with more Master Classes to follow.

United Solo, the world's largest solo theatre festival, is proud to present the nominees of the 2019 United Solo Special Award. The Special Award recognizes and celebrates outstanding solo performers. These are artists who create captivating performances outside the United Solo Festival and have brought the art of solo theatre to new heights. It is United Solo's mission to provide a platform to solo artists who are committed to creating solo theatre that focuses on the uniqueness of the human being. These artists have pushed the boundaries of solo theatre in unique ways and the Special Award will honor an artist whose work in the last year deserves particular recognition. Previous recipients of the Special Award include Anna Deavere Smith (2010), Patti LuPone (2011), John Leguizamo (2012), Fiona Shaw (2013), Billy Crystal (2014), James Lecesne (2015), Staceyann Chin (2016), Michael Moore (2017), and Renée Taylor (2018).

After the immense success of her previous classes, United Solo is bringing back Oscar winner Olympia Dukakis to teach a series of 3 Master Classes on consecutive Fridays starting August 30, 2019 in New York City. This is a rare opportunity to work with Ms. Dukakis over the course of three weeks, developing one's acting skills and receiving her direct feedback. The class series, 'The Importance of Craft,' will teach students to identify and develop what is important to them as performers. Ms. Dukakis will explain how to approach the craft of acting as a personal connection to thoughts, actions, circumstances, and character, as expressed and defined by the text. 'My most important tools when I teach are my own sensibility, my personal perceptions, my knowledge of the craft, and the excitement and satisfaction I always feel with students,' said Ms. Dukakis.

On Friday, July 5, 2019, artists from across the United States will converge on the border in El Paso, Texas, to stand up for freedom, dignity, and the rights of immigrants and asylum seekers. The Artistic Uprising will call for an end to the diabolical inhumanity in detention centers and demand freedom, justice, humane treatment for all those seeking safety and a better way of life.

American Blues Theater continues its 2018-2019 Season with the Chicago Premiere of The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey, by James Lecesne and directed by Kurt Johns. The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey runs March 29 April 27, 2019 at Stage 773, 1225 W Belmont Ave in Chicago. The official press opening is Thursday, April 4, 2019 at 7:30 p.m.

Solo shows from all over the world are invited to submit for 2019 United Solo Theatre Festival. The world's largest solo theatre festival will celebrate its tenth anniversary season this year, taking place as usual at Theatre Row, located in the heart of New York's legendary theatre district. The Festival dates are September 19 - November 24.

Last night, Renee Taylor won the annual The United Solo Special Award, which recognizes artists who have made significant recent contributions to solo theatre during the year, for her critically acclaimed autobiographical comedy MY LIFE ON A DIET. Along with Ms. Taylor, this year's nominees included Derek DelGaudio (In & Of Itself), Alison S. M. Kobayashi (Say Something Bunny!), John Lithgow (Stories By Heart), Chita Rivera (An Evening with Chita Rivera) and Bruce Springsteen (Springsteen on Broadway).

United Solo will host a Master Class with Anne Bogart, internationally acclaimed director, author, and Head of the MFA in Directing Program at Columbia University. This Master Class is a unique opportunity to work with a legendary theatre artist. It will take place on November 5, 2018 from 6pm-8pm at Theatre Row in New York City.

Abingdon Theatre Company held their special one-night-only gala event on Monday, October 22 at The Edison Ballroom. The evening, honoring two-time Tony Award winner Donna Murphy (Hello, Dolly!; Passion; Wonderful Town), was hosted by Randy Rainbow.