Jordan Harrison News

Previews begin tomorrow, today, March 20 for the Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) world premiere of IOWA, a new musical play written by Susan Smith Blackburn Prize finalist Jenny Schwartz (God's Ear, Somewhere Fun), music by Todd Almond (Stage Kiss at PH, Kansas City Choir Boy, The Tempest, On the Levee) and lyrics by Mr. Almond and Ms. Schwartz. Directed by two-time Obie Award winner Ken Rus Schmoll (Red Dog Howls, Middletown, What Once We Felt; next season's Antlia Pneumatica at PH), the musical play will be the fifth production of the theater company's 2014/2015 Season.

Writers Theatre Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma announce the Inaugural Season in the company's new theatre center, to include a season kick-off at Books on Vernon with Marjorie Prime by Jordan Harrison, directed by Kimberly Senior, followed by the Grand Opening of the state-of-the-art facility, designed by Jeanne Gang and Studio Gang Architects. Arcadia by Tom Stoppard, directed by Artistic Director Michael Halberstam will be the inaugural production in the Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre. A new collaboration with Chicago's The Second City entitled Death of a Streetcar Named Virginia Woolf-A Parody, by Tim Sniffen, with additional material by Tim Ryder, directed by Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Stuart Carden, will open the Gillian Theatre. Company, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth, directed by William Brown with musical direction by Tom Vendafreddo, will follow Arcadia in the Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre.

Olney Theatre Center, a mid-Atlantic destination for professional theater performance and education, proudly announces two world premieres, two legendary musicals, a classic thriller, and a rotating rep of Gilbert & Sullivan as part of its 10-play 78th season, the company's largest. Headlining the season is Carmen: An Afro-Cuban Jazz Musical, set in the waning days of Batista's regime in Cuba, written and directed by Tony® Award-nominee Moises Kaufman (The Laramie Project Cycle) with music from two-time Grammy Award-winner Arturo O'Farrill. Previously on an annual calendar, the 78thseason standardizes the schedule, running September 2015 through August 2016.

The Emerald Theatre Company at Theatre Works is currently showcasing not one, not two, not three - but nine pieces in its latest production, STANDING ON CEREMONY: THE GAY MARRIAGE PLAYS. This modest, meaningful series of vignettes - some, extremely funny; some, sad in the extreme; all, worth seeing - deserves a bit of attention. No matter where you stand on the issue of gay marriage, these enjoyable little playlets tug on your sensibilities and ultimately have a point and purpose. A number of writers have contributed to the piece - Paul Rudnick, Moises Kaufman, Neil LaBute, and others.

On the heels of its critically-acclaimed, sold-out production of The Rose Tattoo, Shattered Globe Theatre is pleased to conclude its 2014-15 season with the Chicago premiere of Jordan Harrison's hilarious kick in the heart, THE GROWN-UP, directed by Krissy Vanderwarker, playing April 9 - May 23, 2015 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Shattered Globe will stage the second ever production of Harrison's new play, which debuted last year at Actors Theatre of Louisville's Humana Festival. Tickets for THE GROWN-UP are available at www.theaterwit.org, in person at the Theater Wit Box Office or by calling (773) 975-8150. The press performance is Sunday, April 12 at 3 pm.

Playwrights Horizons is now accepting entries for its popular LIVEforFIVE online lottery for up to two $5 tickets each to the world premiere of IOWA, a new musical play written by Susan Smith Blackburn Prize finalist Jenny Schwartz (God's Ear, Somewhere Fun), music by Todd Almond (Stage Kiss at PH, Kansas City Choir Boy, The Tempest, On the Levee) and lyrics by Mr. Almond and Ms. Schwartz. Directed by two-time Obie Award winner Ken Rus Schmoll (Red Dog Howls, Middletown, What Once We Felt; next season's just-announced Antlia Pneumatica by Anne Washburn at PH), the musical play will be the fifth production of the theater company's 2014/2015 Season.

In October of 2012, when Cleveland Public Theatre first staged, STANDING ON CEREMONY THE GAY MARRIAGE PLAYS, 'same sex marriage was legal in nine states (Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and Washington and the District of Columbia).' At the same time, '30 states had added language to their constitutions banning same-sex marriage.'

City Theatre continues its 40th anniversary season with the comedy Oblivion, by Carly Mensch, directed by Stuart Carden, on-stage in the Hamburg Studio Theatre March 21 - April 26, 2015.

Five-time Obie Award-winning theater company Clubbed Thumb has announced the line-up for SUMMERWORKS, its annual series of new plays. Now in its 20th season, SUMMERWORKS will run May 20th through June 29th at The Wild Project (195 E 3rd Street) in Manhattan, and will feature productions of three new plays: D DEB DEBBIE DEBORAH by Jerry Lieblich, directed by Lee Sunday Evans; CARD AND GIFT by Kate E. Ryan, directed by Ken Rus Schmoll; and MEN ON BOATS by Jaclyn Backhaus, directed by Will Davis. Festival passes are now on sale at https://www.artful.ly/clubbedthumb/store/passes.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Artistic Director Sheldon Epps and Executive Director Elizabeth Doran) announces the cast of George Bernard Shaw's PYGMALION, the fifth production of its 2014-2015 Season. PYGMALION, which began rehearsals today, will perform March 17 - April 12, 2015 with the official press night on Sunday, March 22, 2015.

Playwrights Horizons has announced casting for IOWA, the world premiere of a new musical play written by Susan Smith Blackburn Prize finalist Jenny Schwartz (God's Ear, Somewhere Fun), music by Todd Almond (Stage Kiss at PH, Kansas City Choir Boy, The Tempest, On the Levee) and lyrics by Mr. Almond and Ms. Schwartz. Directed by two-time Obie Award winner Ken Rus Schmoll (Red Dog Howls, Middletown, What Once We Felt; next season's just-announced Antlia Pneumatica by Anne Washburn at PH), the musical play will be the fifth production of the theater company's 2014/2015 Season.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: APPLICATION PENDING, opening tonight, showcases Christina Bianco's versatility, JOHN & JEN and ROCKET TO THE MOON begin off-Broadway, BEAUTIFUL starts performances in the West End and more!

Playwrights Horizons, under the leadership of Artistic Director Tim Sanford and Managing Director Leslie Marcus, has announced the six productions of its 2015/2016 Season. The six new works will be presented at the theater company's home at 416 West 42nd Street. In season order, they will be:

The Los Altos Stage Company proudly presents the third play of our 2014/2015 Season, a dark comedy by playwright Jordan Harrison that explores our absurd adoration of yesteryear and the lengths we will go to escape our present-day realities. Maple & Vine opens tonight, January 29 and runs through February 22 at the Bus Barn Theater in Los Altos.

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, True Love Productions and The Theatre @ Boston Court have announced that the New York Premiere of Everything You Touch, written by Sheila Callaghan and directed by Jessica Kubzansky, will begin previews tonight, January 28 at 8pm at the Cherry Lane Theatre, 38 Commerce Street. The official opening night is set for Thursday, February 12 at 7pm. Everything You Touch is scheduled to run through Sunday, March 29, 2015.

Shattered Globe Theatre is pleased to announce the final production of its 2014-15 season: the Chicago premiere of Jordan Harrison's magical coming-of-age tale THE GROWN-UP, directed by Krissy Vanderwarker, playing April 9 - May 23, 2014 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago.

Playwrights Horizons announced today the promotion of the theater company's Director of New Play Development Adam Greenfield to Associate Artistic Director. This is the first major change to the Artistic leadership of the acclaimed organization since Mr. Sanford was promoted from the same associate position to become Artistic Director in 1996.

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, True Love Productions and The Theatre @ Boston Court have announced that the New York Premiere of Everything You Touch, written by Sheila Callaghan and directed by Jessica Kubzansky, will begin previews Wednesday, January 28 at 8pm at the Cherry Lane Theatre, 38 Commerce Street. The official opening night is set for Thursday, February 12 at 7pm. Everything You Touch is scheduled to run through Sunday, March 29, 2015.

Artistic Director Les Waters and Managing Director Jennifer Bielstein are pleased to announce the lineup of The Tens, an evening of world premiere ten-minute plays. The Tens runs tonight, January 13 - 17, 2015 in the Victor Jory Theatre.

The BLUEBARN Theatre will present the regional premiere of Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays written by an A-list lineup of writers including Mo Gaffney, Jordan Harrison, Moise?s Kaufman, Neil LaBute, Wendy MacLeod, Jose? Rivera, Paul Rudnick, and Doug Wright; Conceived by Brian Shnipper. The play runs January 8-17, 2015.