John Gassner News

Lincoln Center Theater has announced two new upcoming productions: SHOWS FOR DAYS, a new play by Douglas Carter Beane, to be directed by Jerry Zaks; and the LCT3 production of PRELUDES, a new musical by Dave Malloy, to be directed by Rachel Chavkin. SHOWS FOR DAYS, marks the return of both playwright Douglas Carter Beane (The Nance) and director Jerry Zaks (The House of Blue Leaves, Anything Goes, Six Degrees of Separation) to Lincoln Center Theater, will begin previews Thursday, June 4 and open on Monday, June 29 at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater. PRELUDES, the first musical to be produced by LCT3 in the Claire Tow Theater, will run from Saturday, May 23 through Sunday, July 19. Opening night is Monday, June 15.

Tony Award nominee Tony Sheldon (Priscilla Queen of the Desert) has joined the cast of the Encores! Special Event The Band Wagon in the role of Jeffrey Cordova, an egotistical British director. (Roger Rees, previously announced in the role, is no longer available.) The Band Wagon cast stars Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell, seven-time Emmy Award winner Tracey Ullman, Academy Award nominee Michael McKean, Tony Award nominee Laura Osnes, Tony Award nominee Michael Berresse and Don Stephenson. The Band Wagon will open on Sunday, November 8.

Following a sold-out Jeff Award-winning initial run at Chicago Dramatists, a Broadway production starring Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman, Keith Huff's 'A Steady Rain' comes to Glen Ellyn's McAninch Arts Center's, 425 Fawell Blvd. in the intimate Playhouse Theatre for a limited run, Oct. 24-26.

Confirming previously reported rumors, the new project will be a collaboration between Sondheim and contemporary American playwright David Ives. The project, whose title was not announced, will be based on two classic films by Spanish filmmaker Luis Buñuel. The two separate films will be the basis for one complete story which the characters will exist in seamlessly. The first half will be based on The 1972 film 'The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie' and the second half will be based on the 1962 film 'The Exterminating Angel.'

The Players' Ring ushers in the Halloween season with the return of the award-winning play 'Ghosts of Ocean House,' by York writer Michael Kimball, recipient of the 2014 John Gassner Memorial Playwriting Award (New England Theatre Conference) for his most recent play, Duck and Cover.

From October 24 through November 29, 2014, SpeakEasy Stage Company will present the New England premiere of BAD JEWS, a seriously smart comedy about family, faith, and legacy, written by Joshua Harmon.

Bad Jews is a new comedy about Daphna who reunites with her cousins on the day of their grandfather's funeral in the Upper West Side of New York City. When her cousin brings home his non-Jewish girlfriend, a hilarious brawl ensues over a family heirloom. Bad Jews is a thoughtful comedy that tackles love, death, betrayal, the definition of family, and the evolution of contemporary American Judaism. It's about what you choose to believe, when you're chosen.

Theater LaB Houston has announced its 22nd season of Houston Premieres for the 2014/2015 season. Following a successful transition from its Alamo Street venue to Obsidian Art Space this past season, TLH will expand its performance calendar by adding two full productions with four week runs. This year's exciting season includes premieres of major Off Broadway productions and an award winning performer from recent Fringe Festivals.

This just in! Previously announced Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell will be joined by Tony Award winner Roger Rees, seven-time Emmy Award winner Tracey Ullman, Academy Award nominee Michael McKean, Tony Award nominee Laura Osnes, Tony Award nominee Michael Berresse, and Don Stephenson in The Band Wagon, an Encores! Special Event from November 6 - 16, 2014 at City Center. The Band Wagon will open on Sunday, November 8.

Ex-Coronation Street star Charlie Condou is to star in the UK premiere of the Tony nominated Broadway comedy drama Next Fall. Next Fall, by award-winning writer Geoffrey Nauffts, will play at Southwark Playhouse, now through Saturday 25 October. Next Fall is directed by Luke Sheppard, whose critically acclaimed production of In The Heights was a sold-out smash hit at Southwark Playhouse earlier this year. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast below!

The issue of suicide has always been complicated and controversial. Celebrating the 6th Anniversary of Whitmore Eclectic, Aliah Whitmore directs Sylva Kelegian and Lisa Richards in a revival of Marsha Norman's eloquent, darkly humorous, Pulitzer Prize-winning drama 'night, Mother. The opening is set for Nov. 1 at The Lost Studio on La Brea Ave.

The Players' Ring ushers in the Halloween season with the return of the award-winning play 'Ghosts of Ocean House,' by York writer Michael Kimball, recipient of the 2014 John Gassner Memorial Playwriting Award (New England Theatre Conference) for his most recent play, Duck and Cover.

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts has announced the appointment of Matthew Lopez as Denver Center Playwriting Fellow for the 2014/15 Theatre Company season.

Arden Theatre Company begins its 27th season of great stories with La Bete by David Hirson, under the direction of Emmanuelle Delpech. The production appears on the Arden's F. Otto Haas Stage from tonight, September 11 through October 12, 2014.

The Factory has announced that CLICKBAIT, David M deLeon and Esther Ko's co-written and co-directed new low-tech high-tech love story about sex, suicide and cellphones will begin performances tonight, September 4th at the Gallery Space at the Access Theater, 380 Broadway, TriBeCa.

Pride Films and Plays will follow up its sold-out Jeff Recommended run of Terrence McNally's Some Men with the Chicago premiere of The Submission by Jeff Talbott, winner of the 2011 Laurent's/Hatcher Award and the Outer Circle's John Gassner Award for Best New Play in 2012. The dynamic new work runs October 12 through November 25 at the Apollo Studio Theatre, 2540 N. Lincoln.

The Lark Play Development Center named five New York City-based playwrights as Playwrights' Workshop Fellows for the 2014-15 season. The group spans a wide range of backgrounds and professional experiences and will meet regularly throughout the year to develop new plays.

Arden Theatre Company begins its 27th season of great stories with La Bete by David Hirson, under the direction of Emmanuelle Delpech. The production appears on the Arden's F. Otto Haas Stage from September 11 through October 12, 2014.