John Gassner News

Celebration Theatre and JohnMichael Beck present the second show in its 2016-2017 season, under the artistic direction of Michael Matthews & Michael A. Shepperd, Drew Droege starring in DIE, MOMMIE, DIE! by Charles Busch and directed by Ryan Bergmann.  DIE, MOMMIE, DIE! will begin previews on Friday, February 10 at 8pm; will open on Friday, February 17 at 8pm and perform throughSunday, March 26 at Celebration Theatre @ the Lex Theatre, 6760 Lexington Ave. in Los Angeles.

Ensemble Studio Theatre (EST), along with EST's YOUNGBLOOD, whose past plays include the Tony Award-nominated Hand to God, will present the premiere of MOPE.

The Culture Project presents a creative initiative about the Right to Privacy in our nation. A reading of The Source by Gabe McKinley, directed by Pippin Parker, followed by a public discussion led by journalist Leonard Jacobs.

Ensemble Studio Theatre (EST), along with EST's YOUNGBLOOD, whose past plays include the Tony Award-nominated Hand to God, will present the premiere of MOPE.

The Comrades have announced the cast for their 2017 Inauguration Day staged reading of THE TAMING by Lauren Gunderson.

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer; Brian Beirne, Managing Director) is thrilled to welcome the return of St. Louis Actors' Studio with their acclaimed LaBUTE NEW THEATER FESTIVAL, an evening of one-act plays featuring the NYC premieres of short plays by Neil LaBute, Gabe McKinley, Cary Pepper, andAdam Seidel. Directed by Kel Haney, Michael Hogan, and John Pierson, the LaBUTE NEW THEATER FESTIVAL begins performances on Friday, January 13 for a limited engagement through Sunday, February 5.  The performance schedule is Tuesday - Thursday at 7:30 PM; Friday at 8:30 PM; Saturday at 2:30 PM & 8:30 PM; and Sunday at3:30 PM & 7:30 PM. Performances are at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues). Tickets are $35 ($24.50 for 59E59 Members).  To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or go to www.59e59.org. 

Route 66 Theatre Company will launch its ninth season with the world premiere of Gabe McKinley's psychological drama THE SOURCE, directed by Jason Gerace, playing March 2 - April 2, 2017 at The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago.

59E59 Theaters will welcome the return of St. Louis Actors' Studio with their acclaimed LaBUTE NEW THEATER FESTIVAL, an evening of one-act plays featuring the NYC premieres of short plays by Neil LaBute, Gabe McKinley, Cary Pepper, and Adam Seidel.

Aaron Sorkin, the Emmy-winning creator of The West Wing and Academy Award-winning screenwriter of The Social Network, is set to receive the Writers Guild of America, West's 2017 Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television Writing Achievement

The Old Globe today announced it will present the fourth annual New Voices Festival-with a new moniker: the Powers New Voices Festival, a weekend of readings of new American plays by professional playwrights, playing January 13 - 15, 2017.

Midtown Direct Rep (MDR) continues its 2016-17 staged reading series, Theater at The Woodland, with a presentation of TORN ASUNDER, written by Obie Award-winner Nikkole Salter and directed by Janeece Freeman Clark

Annaleigh Ashford has recorded a new song by Will Van Dyke and Jeff Talbott entitled 'A New Year'. The song celebrates the New Year holiday, and will be included in her upcoming concert at Feinstein's/54 Below on New Year's Eve, December 31, 2015 at 11:00 p.m.

Marin Theatre Company decks the halls-and stage-this holiday season with Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley,by Playwright in Residence Lauren Gunderson, and  MTC's former Director of New Play Development Margot Melcon. This light-hearted continuance of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice picks up two years after the end of Austen's tale, with the focus this time on middle sister Mary Bennet, now a talented and confident young woman who comes into her own with curiosity and wit while visiting the Darcy household at Pemberley for the winter holiday. 

Midtown Direct Rep (MDR) continues its 2016-17 staged reading series, Theater at The Woodland, with a presentation of TORN ASUNDER, written by Obie Award-winner Nikkole Salter and directed by Janeece Freeman Clark. This staged reading will be performed for one night only on Sunday, December 11, 2016 at 7pm at The Woodland (60 Woodland Rd. Maplewood, NJ), where MDR is the resident theater company. The reading is $15 (advance purchase), $20 (if purchased at the door) and open to the public. Student/Senior discounts are also available. Tickets can be purchased online through Brown Paper Tickets (http://tornasunder.bpt.me) by clicking the direct link HERE OR by calling 1-800-838-3006.

The most popular show in Cleveland Play House history is back just in time for the holidays! A Christmas Story will once again delight Cleveland audiences with its nostalgic tale of little Ralphie Parker and his ultimate Christmas wish.

Ensemble Studio Theatre (EST), along with EST's Youngblood and EST's Sloan Project, have announced new EST/Sloan commissions and EST/Youngblood members & programming for the 2016-2017 season.

The Comrades are pleased to announce a 2017 Inauguration Day staged reading of THE TAMING by Lauren Gunderson.

The most popular show in Cleveland Play House history is back just in time for the holidays! A Christmas Story will once again delight Cleveland audiences with its nostalgic tale of little Ralphie Parker and his ultimate Christmas wish.

Broadwayworld.com interviewed Leslie Ayvazian who wrote Out of the City, now showing at Passage Theatre Company in Trenton. Directed by Murphy Davis, Ayvazian also plays Carol in the show.

Passage Theatre Company, Trenton's Barrymore Award-winning theatre company, under the leadership of Artistic Director June Ballinger and Managing Director Damion Parran,  opens  its 2016-2017 season with Leslie Ayvazian's comedy, Out of the City.