John Gassner News

Profiles Theatre continues its 2012-2013 Season with the Midwest Premiere of The Dream of Burning Boy by West Read, directed by Artistic Director Joe Jahraus. The production, which was postponed due to a cast health matter, will continue performances on March 7, 2013. Press is welcome to attend the new opening night performance on Sunday, March 10, 2013 at 7:00pm. The production runs through April 14, 2013 at Profiles Theatre's Alley Stage, 4147 N. Broadway.

Trustus Theatre's Off-Off Lady Series is a collection of productions chosen to go out into the community and bring quality performances to unexpected venues around Columbia, and Trustus is continuing the series by partnering with The NiA Company and the Columbia Music Festival Association (CMFA). Matthew Lopez's stirring script The Whipping Man comes to life at CMFA on March 12th at 7:30pm, and runs through March 22nd, 2013. Get a first look at the cast in the photos below!

This Spring an elite team of improvisers from ImprovBoston will do in 75 minutes what it takes most playwrights years to do. In Playbook, running Friday nights at 10 p.m. from March 15-April 12, some of IBs top improvisers will complete an unfinished script from a known playwright. Tickets cost $18 and $14 for students. They are available online www.improvboston.com. ImprovBoston is located at 40 Prospect Street.

Signature Theatre has announced that their "The World of the Play" series continues with a discussion of the history and current conditions of Chinese laborers, inspired by David Henry Hwang's THE DANCE AND THE RAILROAD, now playing in The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center. The panel of experts will reflect on the history, impact, and discrimination faced by Chinese laborers in the United States, and the issues facing these laborers today, both in the United States and in China.

Bringing together an outstanding, large cast with a world-class artistic team, Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd directs Aaron Sorkin's A Few Good Men. This epic production brings this captivating military courtroom drama to life. A Few Good Men runs tonight, March 1 through March 24, 2013, on the Hubbard Stage.

Marin Theatre Company, in a co-production with Virginia Stage Company, will stage the regional premiere of Matthew Lopez's Civil War drama The Whipping Man in Mill Valley from March 28 to April 21, 2013. MTC's artistic director Jasson Minadakis directs the production. Featuring popular Bay Area actors L. Peter Callender, Nicholas Pelczar and Tobie Windham, as well as the design team from MTC's 2011 San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award nominated production of Tennessee Williams's The Glass Menagerie, this co-production will rehearse and run at VSC in Norfolk, Virginia, from February 26 to March 17, 2013, before moving to MTC. Opening night at MTC is on Tuesday, April 2.

Trustus Theatre's Off-Off Lady Series is a collection of productions chosen to go out into the community and bring quality performances to unexpected venues around Columbia, and Trustus is continuing the series by partnering with The NiA Company and the Columbia Music Festival Association (CMFA). Matthew Lopez's stirring script The Whipping Man comes to life at CMFA on March 12th at 7:30pm, and runs through March 22nd, 2013.

Rep Stage, the professional Equity theatre in residence at Howard Community College (HCC), continues its 20th anniversary season with 'Home,' Samm-Art Williams' brilliantly inventive, lyrically expressive play that tells the coming-of-age story of a young black man, Cephus Miles, from rural North Carolina. From beginning to end - and through tragedy and triumph - Cephus never loses his joyful goodwill, his indomitable spirit, and the conviction that one day his quest for fulfillment with be rewarded. 'Home' stars returning Rep Stage actors Felicia Curry and Fatima Quander, as well as Rep newcomer Robert Lee Hardy in the role of Cephus Miles.

As previously reported, Stephen Sondheim and David Ives have teamed up on a new musical, which is currently in early phases of composition. According to the Village Voice, the show, titled All Together Now, is based on 'a small moment' from Ives' All in the Timing and that it will go backwards in time, similar to Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Allong. There is no word yet on which part of All in the Timing (which is a series of one-act plays) the show will be based.

The Pulitzer Prize and OBIE Award-winning Theatre for the New City (TNC) held its 10th Annual LOVE 'N' COURAGE benefit gala last night, February 25, 2013 at the National Arts Club (15 Gramercy Park South in Manhattan), this year honoring award-winning actor and playwright Charles Busch. Hosts for LOVE 'N' COURAGE were composer and singer Phoebe Legere and playwright/filmmaker Matt Morillo ('Maid of Honor'). The performers at this year's show included Mr. Busch, The Love Show, dancer/choreographer Kitty Lunn and Infinity Dance, juggler supreme John Grimaldi, Carol Freeman, Luba Mason, KT Sullivan, Tammy Grimes, Drew Pulver, Mark Marcante and Crystal Field. BroadwayWorld was there for the celebration and you can check out full photo coverage below!

Award-winning playwright Jami Brandli, who now calls Southern California her home, makes her full-length debut this March with the Los Angeles premiere of S.O.E., directed by Darin Anthony, featuring Jessica Hanna, Michael Kass and Diana Wyenn.

Curious Theatre Company has announced its 2013/14 Season. Including a World Premiere and three Regional Premieres, Season 16 introduces Denver audiences to the work of award-winning playwrights Amy Herzog and Matthew Lopez, and continues our long-standing artistic relationship with Denver-born playwright Steven Dietz.

Taproot Theatre will present The Whipping Man, opening on March 29.

Bringing together an outstanding, large cast with a world-class artistic team, Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd directs Aaron Sorkin's A Few Good Men. This epic production brings this captivating military courtroom drama to life. A Few Good Men runs March 1 through March 24, 2013, on the Hubbard Stage.

Matthew Lopez' The Whipping Man opens at Virginia Stage Company this month. A co-production with Marin Theatre Company of Mill Valley, CA, The Whipping Man runs February 26 - March 17, 2013 at downtown Norfolk's Wells Theatre.

Rep Stage, the professional Equity theatre in residence at Howard Community College (HCC), continues its 20th anniversary season with 'Home,' Samm-Art Williams' brilliantly inventive, lyrically expressive play that tells the coming-of-age story of a young black man, Cephus Miles, from rural North Carolina. From beginning to end - and through tragedy and triumph - Cephus never loses his joyful goodwill, his indomitable spirit, and the conviction that one day his quest for fulfillment with be rewarded. 'Home' stars returning Rep Stage actors Felicia Curry and Fatima Quander, as well as Rep newcomer Robert Lee Hardy in the role of Cephus Miles.

Bucks County Playhouse has announced that Charles Busch's Tony Nominated play The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, directed by four-time Tony Award winner Boyd Gaines will be the final production of the 2013 Summer season. Performances run from Thursday, August 15th through Sunday, September 1st at the Bucks County Playhouse (70 South Main Street in New Hope, PA). The cast will be announced shortly.

Robert M. Doornick of International Robotics Incorporated brought famed robot Millennia to Theatre Row last night to take in Richard Manley's play The Truth Quotient (through Feb 2). After the show, he posed with director Eric Parness, with playwright Richard Manley and his wife, and finally the cast and crew of The Truth Quotient. Check out the photos below!

Luna Stage will present the world premiere of Nikkole Salter's Carnaval - a play that was inspired by the author's discovery of the underground world of sex tourism and man-cations in Brazil. The play was developed in part through Luna Stage's New Moon Play Reading Series. Luna Stage Associate Artistic Director/Director of Play Development, Cheryl Katz, will direct. Previews for Carnaval begin tonight, January 31st, 2013. The production runs Thursdays at 7:30pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 3pm through March 3rd, 2013, with the official press opening on Friday, February 8th. Watch an interview with the playwright below!