Josephine Abady News

New Dramatist playwright Melisa Tien and San Francisco-based Megan Cohen joined The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in residence this month to develop innovative stage works with the Academy's third year NY Company.

The Classical Theatre of Harlem presents the world premiere of Fit for a Queen, a comedy inspired by the life of Hatshepsut, a woman who ruled as a pharaoh in ancient Egypt. Hatshepsut's female lover helps her usurp the throne, only to finds herself at odds with an unexpectedly ruthless rival for power - her daughter.

MyCarl Productions, in association with Kampfire Films, is pleased to announce Broadway veteran Stanley Wayne Mathis has joined the cast of NIGHT OF THE LIVING N-WORD!!, a new play by Kevin R. Free, directed by Nicole A. Watson as part of the 20th annual New York International Fringe Festival - FringeNYC.

Working Theater, the Off-Broadway company that in 2013 staged a production (about undocumented workers crossing the border to find work in this country) in the confines of an actual 48' trailer truck, will once again shed a unique light on a group of individuals rarely portrayed on stage. Under the direction of Artistic Producing Director Mark Plesent, the company will present THE BLOCK - a new play about community in the Bronx - which is no longer burning, but where life on the streets is as brutal as ever.

Written by Dan Hoyle, directed by Tamilla Woodard and developed with Maureen Towey & Tamilla Woodard, the production begins previews today, May 28th with an official opening on Tuesday, June 7th at 7:00PM. Performances will continue on through June 23rd at Urban Stages in Manhattan and venues in the other four boroughs. For more information, visit www.workingtheatre.org.

The Apollo Theater today announced the appointment of Kamilah Forbes as the Theater's new Executive Producer. A director, producer, and co­founder of Hi­ARTS/Hip Hop Theater Festival, Forbes will join the Apollo in September 2016.

Working Theater, the Off-Broadway company that in 2013 staged a production (about undocumented workers crossing the border to find work in this country) in the confines of an actual 48' trailer truck, will once again shed a unique light on a group of individuals rarely portrayed on stage. Under the direction of Artistic Producing Director Mark Plesent, the company will present THE BLOCK - a new play about community in the Bronx - which is no longer burning, but where life on the streets is as brutal as ever.

The FUN HOME author's join Micki Grant, Jane Cox, Ari Laura Kreith, Lear deBessonet, and Elsa Rael as honorees.

Women's Project Theater, under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Lisa McNulty and Managing Director Maureen Moynihan, is thrilled to announce the complete lineup for the inaugural Pipeline Festival, showcasing the work of the celebrated WP Lab residency for playwrights, directors and producers from March 24 - April 23 at the McGinn/ Cazale Theater at Broadway & 76th Street.

En Garde Arts presents BOSSS, its new site-specific outdoor performance festival featuring new works by some of the New York City's most promising emerging theatre artists, this weekend, October 23-25 throughout Hudson River Park. The opening night party at The Frying Pan will now take place on October 23 at 7pm. (Tickets for the opening night party, on board the Frying Pan at Pier 66, are $250 or $75 for artists.)

Due to tropical storm Joachim, En Garde Arts has postponed BOSSS, its new site-specific outdoor performance festival featuring new works by some of the New York City's most promising emerging theatre artists, to October 23-25 throughout Hudson River Park. The opening night party at The Frying Pan will now take place on October 23 at 7pm.

En Garde Founder Anne Hamburger, a Pioneering Producer of Site-Specific Theater in New York, Returns with New Festival Challenging 26 Emerging Artists to Think Big

Masterworks Theater Company presents A Midsummer Night's Dream, starring Nick Cearley (The Skivvies) as Puck, Becca Ballenger (Steel Magnolias) as Helena, Em Grosland (The Erlkings) as Flute, Sheria Irving (Broadway's Romeo And Juliet) as Hermia and Jenny Strassburg (Echoes of War) as Titania.

?Masterworks Theater Company is proud to announce the complete cast of A Midsummer Night's Dream joining the previously announced cast of Nick Cearley (The Skivvies) as Puck, Becca Ballenger (Steel Magnolias) as Helena, Em Grosland (The Erlkings) as Flute, Sheria Irving (Broadway's Romeo And Juliet) as Hermia, Jenny Strassburg (Echoes of War) as Titania are Kevin Cristaldi (Next Fall), Andrew Ramcharan Guilarte (Fifth Planet From The Sun, Awake And Sing), Jan Leslie Harding (TV: 'The Boys That Brunch,' Broadway: The Green Bird), Emilio Paul Tirado (Web Series 'Black Arrow Fly!'), Jack Herholdt (National Tours: Peter Pan and A Christmas Carol), Lou Liberatore (Broadway: As Is, Burn This), Reynaldo Piniella (Honky), and Warren Jackson (National Tour: Macbeth).

?Masterworks Theater Company is proud to announce the complete cast of A Midsummer Night's Dream joining the previously announced cast of Nick Cearley (The Skivvies) as Puck, Becca Ballenger (Steel Magnolias) as Helena, Em Grosland (The Erlkings) as Flute, Sheria Irving (Broadway's Romeo And Juliet) as Hermia, Jenny Strassburg (Echoes of War) as Titania are Kevin Cristaldi (Next Fall), Andrew Ramcharan Guilarte (Fifth Planet From The Sun, Awake And Sing), Jan Leslie Harding (TV: 'The Boys That Brunch,' Broadway: The Green Bird), Emilio Paul Tirado (Web Series 'Black Arrow Fly!'), Jack Herholdt (National Tours: Peter Pan and A Christmas Carol), Lou Liberatore (Broadway: As Is, Burn This), Reynaldo Piniella (Honky), and Warren Jackson (National Tour: Macbeth).

The League of Professional Theatre Women will present a special event, 'The Independent Producer' focusing on women producers in today's theater, on Monday May 4 from 6pm to 8pm at Theater Lab at 357 W. 36th St. on the 3rd floor.

Park Avenue Armory announced today that it has appointed Meiyin Wang as Curator of its expanding Artist-in-Residence program-an initiative that supports the development of new, collaborative, and explorative works by artists creating at the intersection of different disciplines. Wang, renowned for her on-going work as Co-Director of The Public Theater's Under The Radar Festival and Director of the Devised Theater Initiative, has deep experience working with emerging and established artists. In this newly created position, Wang is responsible for the development of the Artist-in-Residence program in coordination with Armory President and Executive Producer, Rebecca Robertson, and oversees the Under Construction series, which showcases works developed during the residencies.

The League of Professional Theatre Women honored actor Kathleen Chalfant and four other female artists at its annual awards ceremony.

On Monday, March 16, 2015, the League of Professional Theatre Women (LPTW), a not-for-profit organization committed to promoting visibility and increasing opportunities for women in the professional theatre, is pleased to recognize the talents of five outstanding women: Mary-Mitchell Campbell, Kathleen Chalfant, Sandra A. Daley-Sharif, Rachel Dickstein, and Donyale Werle.

The Public Theater presents the 11th annual UNDER THE RADAR FESTIVAL, running today, January 7-18, 2015.