Joseph Papp News

The Public Theater announced complete casting for the world premiere of Suzan-Lori Parks' THE BOOK OF GRACE, directed by James Macdonald. The complete cast will feature Amari Cheatom as Buddy, John Doman as Vet, and the previously announced Elizabeth Marvel as Grace. THE BOOK OF GRACE will begin previews on Tuesday, March 2 and run through Sunday, April 4 with an official press opening on Tuesday, March 16. All evening performances for THE BOOK OF GRACE will be at 7:30 PM, except for Saturdays at 8 PM.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) will present post-show discussions following select performances of NEIGHBORS, the second play of the 2009-2010 Public LAB season.

Author Branden Jacobs-Jenkins has taken a different approach to depicting race in his upcoming play, NEIGHBORS, reports the New York Times, set to open at the Public Theatre on February 16th. Jacobs-Jenkins has his black actors play the roles in black face, as was often done in minstrel performances during the Vaudeville era.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced complete casting for NEIGHBORS, written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and directed by Niegel Smith, the second show of the 2009-2010 Public LAB season. NEIGHBORS begins performances on Tuesday, February 16 and runs through Sunday, March 7. Tickets go on-sale on Wednesday, January 20.

Goodman Artistic Director Robert Falls, acclaimed Canadian director Jennifer Tarver and celebrated star Brian Dennehy team up again for a Broadway-bound double bill, Hughie/Krapp's Last Tape; January 16- February 21, 2010 in the Goodman's Albert Ivar Theatre. Tickets are $25 - $83 and go on sale Friday, November 13 at GoodmanTheatre.org.

After the critical success and sold out runs of its first two Off-Broadway productions, with Piece by Piece Productions-of Slipping at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater and Too Much Memory at the New York Theatre Workshop's Fourth Street Theatre-Caffe Cino Fellowship winning company Rising Phoenix Rep has returned to the backroom pub space at the Seventh Street Small Stage to present the world premiere of Afterclap, award-winning playwright and screenwriter Daniel Reitz's new site-specific play. Directed by RPR Artistic Director Daniel Talbott, the production features Haskell King.

Athena Theatre's production of Sam Shepard's True West will play its final performance on Sunday, February 14 at Theatre Row.

Andrea Marcovicci is set to bring her most-requested show, I'll Be Seeing You . . . Love Songs of WWII, to the Janet and Ray Scherr Forum Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza on March 13th. The performance will include music direction by Shelly Markham and feautured songs by Hoagy Carmichael, Johnny Mercer, and Jule Styne. For tickets, call 800-745-3000 (Ticketmaster) or 805-449-2787 (Box Office) or visit www.civicartsplaza.com.

Finally appearing together again after their Tony Award® winning performances in Evita, Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin bring their critically acclaimed theatre concert to The Royal Alexandra Theatre for 6 performances only, from February 9 through 14. Tickets are now on sale.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced that tickets will go on sale tomorrow, Tuesday, February 9, for BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, the critically acclaimed rock musical that played a sold-out run last spring as part of the Public's Public LAB season.

After the critical success and sold out runs of its first two Off-Broadway productions, with Piece by Piece Productions-of Slipping at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater and Too Much Memory at the New York Theatre Workshop's Fourth Street Theatre-Caffe Cino Fellowship winning company Rising Phoenix Rep returns to the backroom pub space at the Seventh Street Small Stage to present the world premiere of Afterclap, award-winning playwright and screenwriter Daniel Reitz's new site-specific play.

A CABLE FROM GIBRALTAR, the unusual new comedy by Daniel Meltzer about the intersecting lives of two couples over a lifetime, their good fortune and bad choices, literally from cradle to creeping decrepitude, opens Saturday evening, February 6, 2010, at 8 PM for 17 performances at the Medicine Show Theatre.

Crown City Theatre Company will stage Thomas Babe's play, 'A Prayer For My Daughter' starting February 6 at the Crown City Theatre in Hollywood. The show will run until February 28. First played at Joseph Papp's Public Theater in New York 1978, this plays bizarre, poetic quality and edgy dialogue make it a play to remember.  The characters display both their masculine and feminine sides as part of a master game of manipulation.  Someone is going down for murder and no one is leaving the precinct.  Not even Detective Kelly, who's daughter may be on the verge of suicide.

Rehearsals begin this week for Goodman Theatre's world premiere of A True History of the Johnstown Flood by Rebecca Gilman, whose work was most recently included in Time magazine's 'Best Theatre Productions of the Decade.' Commissioned by the Goodman and directed by Robert Falls, A True History of the Johnstown Flood runs March 13 - April 18, 2010 in the Goodman's Albert Theatre. Tickets start at $25 and go on sale this Friday, February 5 at GoodmanTheatre.org.

Athena Theatre Company has announced that Sally Burtenshaw will replace Ann Farthing in the role of Mom in the production of Sam Shepard's True West currently playing thru February 14 at Theatre Row.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company is pleased to announce Rebecca Rugg will join the Steppenwolf staff in the newly-created position of Associate Producer.

Burning Coal Theatre Company of Raleigh, NC will present Conor McPherson's The Seafarer February 4 - 21, 2010 at Meymandi Theatre at the Murphey School, 224 Polk Street, Raleigh.

A CABLE FROM GIBRALTAR, the unusual new comedy by Daniel Meltzer about the intersecting lives of two couples over a lifetime, their good fortune and bad choices, literally from cradle to creeping decrepitude, opens Saturday evening, February 6, 2010, at 8 PM for 17 performances at the Medicine Show Theatre.

Author Branden Jacobs-Jenkins has taken a different approach to depicting race in his upcoming play, NEIGHBORS, reports the New York Times, set to open at the Public Theatre on February 16th. Jacobs-Jenkins has his black actors play the roles in black face, as was often done in minstrel performances during the Vaudeville era.

The current cast of GOD OF CARNAGE includes Oscar, Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winner Christine Lahti Christine Lahti ('Chicago Hope') as 'Veronica,' Emmy and Golden Globe-nominee Annie Potts ('Designing Women') as 'Annette,' Emmy and Golden Globe-winner Jimmy Smits ('The West Wing') as 'Alan,' and Olivier Award-nominee Ken Stott as 'Michael' to the cast.