John Gassner News

Kathy Evans, Founding Executive Director of Rhinebeck Writers Retreat, announced the 17 writers and 8 new musicals selected for the fifth summer of weeklong retreats. For eight consecutive weeks beginning July 5th, each writing team will have a residency in Rhinebeck, New York. Writers are provided a private home, transportation, food, and a $400 stipend. This year's writers include Obie winner Kirsten Childs, Tony nominee Elizabeth Davis, and 2015 Jonathan Larson award-winners Charlie Sohne, Tim Rosser, and Sam Willmott, who also just won the Kleban Prize. 

Outer Critics Circle, the organization of writers and commentators for media covering New York theatre, recognizes its award winners for the 2014-15 season in 24 categories today, May 21st at 4PM at the legendary Sardi's Restaurant. 

Zeitgeist Stage Company presents the New England premiere of Jeff Talbott's THE SUBMISSION and, once again, lives up to its name and mission. Victor Shopov and Aina Adler create two indelible characters, and Director David J. Miller sculpts the performances to eliminate any wasted moments from this hard-hitting comedy-drama.

The Ensemble Studio Theatre Marathon of One-Act Plays, the original festival of its kind, returns for its 35th incarnation, tonight, May 13, at 7:00pm at the Ensemble Studio Theatre, 549 West 52nd Street. 

Outer Critics Circle, the organization of writers and commentators for media covering New York theatre announced today its award winners for the 2014-15 season in 24 categories. Below, check out the full list of winners, lead by THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME, HAMILTON, THE KING AND I, and AN AMERICAN IN PARIS!

Encore Theatre Company has announced the world premiere of HOOKMAN, a new play by Lauren Yee whose playwriting credits includes The Hatmaker's Wife and Ching Chong Chinaman. Commissioned by Encore Theatre, Hookman dramatizes the story of Lexi, a student in her first year at college. After losing her high school best friend to a hook-handed serial killer, Lexi must learn what it means to grow up, young and female, in a world that's sometimes dangerous and lonely. Directed by Becca Wolff, Hookman opens in previews tonight, May 6 at Z Below in San Francisco, and runs for three weeks through Saturday, May 30.

Richard Greenberg's Pulitzer Prize-nominated play, Three Days of Rain, opens on Portland Center Stage's U.S. Bank Main Stage on May 22, with preview performances beginning May 17, 2015.

Carlisle Hart, LLC presents Sideshow Theatre Company, Chicago's preeminent theater company for presenting familiar stories in unorthodox ways, in a commercial remount of their wildly successful, sold-out smash hit production of STUPID f**kING BIRD. Aaron Posner's comic spin on Chekhov's The Seagull is directed by artistic director Jonathan L. Green, from July 23 through August 30, 2015 at Victory Gardens Za?ek McVay Theater, 2433. N Lincoln Ave. in Chicago.

The Ensemble Studio Theatre Marathon of One-Act Plays, the original festival of its kind, returns for its 35th incarnation Wednesday, May 13, at 7:00pm at the Ensemble Studio Theatre, 549 West 52nd Street. 

This week, New York University's Program in Educational Theatre will host The Forum on Site-Specific Performance, which includes a series of curated performances throughout Washington Square Park and adjacent neighborhoods. The forum will also feature a commissioned work, HALL PASS, from Blake McCarty (Creator and Co-Producer of last summer's Play/Date) which will premiere at Grace Church School in a production directed by Sabrina Jacob.

This week, New York University's Program in Educational Theatre will host The Forum on Site-Specific Performance, which includes a series of curated performances throughout Washington Square Park and adjacent neighborhoods. The forum will also feature a commissioned work, HALL PASS, from Blake McCarty (Creator and Co-Producer of last summer's Play/Date) which will premiere at Grace Church School in a production directed by Sabrina Jacob.

Five playwrights from across the country have been selected to develop and present their plays as part of the 15th Seven Devils Playwrights Conference. These writers, selected from over 450 open submissions are: Robert Caisley, who will also serve as the 2015 Conference's Featured Playwright with his play The Open Hand, Jennifer Blackmer with her play Unraveled, Bernadine Cockey with her play Relative Madness, J. Joseph Cox with his play Koalas and Sara Jean Accuardi with her play <3.

The Playwrights Realm has announced two productions as part of the 2015-2016 season. The first production will be the New York premiere of A Delicate Ship by Alumni Playwright Anna Ziegler, running August 18 - September 12, 2015 at The Peter Jay Sharp Theater.

The Outer Critics Circle, the organization of writers covering New York theatre for out-of-town newspapers, national publications and other media beyond Broadway announced the nominees this morning for the 2014-15 season. The first major Broadway/Off-Broadway award nominees of the New York theater season, the organization is celebrating its 64th season of bestowing awards of excellence in the field of theater. The Outer Critics Circle is an association with members affiliated with more than ninety newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations, Internet, and theatre publications in America and abroad.

Just released from prison, Arlene returns to a run-down apartment in Louisville, intent on starting her life over. But her efforts to maintain serenity and build a new life are threatened by memories and characters who assume she is who and what she used to be.

Lincoln Center Theater has announced that Jordan Dean, Lance Coadie Williams, and Zoe Winters will join Patti LuPone, Dale Soules, and Michael Urie in its upcoming production of SHOWS FOR DAYS, a new play by Douglas Carter Beane, to be directed by Jerry Zaks. The production will begin performances Saturday evening, June 6 and open on Monday, June 29 at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater (150 West 65 Street).

The NATIONAL NEW PLAY NETWORK (NNPN), the country's alliance of non-profit theaters that champions the development, production, and continued life of new plays, announces its 48th and 49th Rolling World Premieres: Chad Beckim's Lights Rise on Grace and Lauren Yee's in a word, as well as openings for its 43rd, 44th, and 47th plays, Uncanny Valley by Thomas Gibbons, Colossal by Andrew Hinderaker, and River City by Diana Grisanti.