Josh Epstein News

Opera Saratoga's Artistic and General Director, Lawrence Edelson announced today updated casting and additional events to be featured as part of the company's 2019 Summer Festival, beginning May 25th, 2019 and running through July 14th, 2019.  In addition to the three previously announced productions of The Daughter of the Regiment, the world premiere of Ellen West, and Hansel and Gretel, Opera Saratoga will present a new series of master classes; a community symposium on

To close out its 55th season, Orange County's Tony Award-winning South Coast Repertory is mounting David Henry Hwang's intriguing and mysterious play M. BUTTERFLY, using the playwright's much more layered and riveting 2017 Broadway revival as its source material. Marked assuredly by powerful, gripping performances, this admirable OC staging---directed with clarifying precision by Desdemona Chiang that continues through June 8 in Costa Mesa---keeps you at the edge of your seat, as it unpacks a story filled with wobbly uncertainties and vague declarations. A beautifully complex production that echoes sentiments of gender conformity/fluidity crossed with geopolitical issues that still resonate in today's ever-changing world, M. BUTTERFLY---particularly with this strong new update instituted by the original playwright himself---is definitely worth seeing.

Today, JR JR have released their fantastic new single “Low” from the forthcoming double album Invocations / Conversations, due out May 31st on Love Is EZ records. “There are plenty of smarts on the band's new double album” writes Billboard of the upcoming release, and the breezy but danceable melodies that counter relatable lyrics about feeling driftless found on “Low” are no exception. “'Low' is a song written in Los Angeles,” explains JR JR's Josh Epstein, “and is about a fictional musician character. It describes a typical day in the life—going out and networking until it becomes almost robotic. The character is caught in the cycle of monotony and this is the appeal for some meaning. The quest that Neil Young wrote about so long ago, that still goes on today.” This June, the band will play a series of shows in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago and Ann Arbor. Upcoming dates are listed below.

Stephen Karam's 2016 Tony Award-winning play The Humans is now engaging audiences at Syracuse Stage. Presented in association with Geva Theatre Center and directed by Mark Cuddy, this production of the uncannily relatable play is moving, emotional, and humorous.

David Henry Hwang's M. Butterfly, a tale of obsession, perception and the allure of fantasy, will conclude South Coast Repertory's 2018-19 season. Hwang's break-out hit-a Tony Award-winner and Pulitzer Prize finalist-is about more than steamy seduction and fantasy; inspired by a true account, it's a compelling story of espionage, East-West relations and betrayal. Desdemona Chiang, in her SCR debut, directs the show on the Segerstrom Stage, May 11-June 8. Tickets are available online at www.scr.org.

JR JR are pleased to share the latest song from their forthcoming double album Invocations / Conversations, due out May 31st. “Dumb Myself Down” premieres via Billboard, who write that “there are plenty of smarts on the band's new double album” and discuss JR JR's newly formed label in partnership with Secretly Distribution, LOVE IS EZ records (read more HERE). “Dumb Myself Down” follows “Big Bear Mountain” which was featured on NPR Music's “New Music Friday” playlist. This June, the band will play a series of shows in New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Upcoming dates are listed below.

Geva Theatre Center presents The Humans, by Stephen Karam and directed by Mark Cuddy, in the Elaine P. Wilson Stage from February 19 through March 17.

Geva Theatre Center presents The Humans, by Stephen Karam and directed by Mark Cuddy, in the Elaine P. Wilson Stage from February 19 through March 17.

The time between albums for any band or artist usually comes with a few minor twists and turns at a minimum, or in the case of JR JR (f.k.a. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.), quite dramatic ones. Since the release of their last full-length in 2015, the band fronted by Josh Epstein and Daniel Zott fought their way out of a major label deal, assessed certain lifestyle choices affecting one's mental health, and in Zott's case, fostered to adopt two children only to be surprised with a biological one as well within the span of three months.

Geva Theatre Center presents The Humans, by Stephen Karam and directed by Mark Cuddy, in the Elaine P. Wilson Stage from February 19 through March 17.

It's the last week to vote for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Minneapolis Awards, brought to you by BroadwayHD! Readers are already setting records as they vote for their favorites. Regional productions, touring shows, and more are all included in the awards, honoring productions which opened between October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. Our local editors set the categories, our readers submitted their nominees, and now you get to vote for your favorites! Voting will continue through December 31st, 2018.

There's just two weeks left to vote for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Minneapolis Awards, brought to you by BroadwayHD! Readers are already setting records as they vote for their favorites. Regional productions, touring shows, and more are all included in the awards, honoring productions which opened between October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. Our local editors set the categories, our readers submitted their nominees, and now you get to vote for your favorites! Voting will continue through December 31st, 2018.

There's just two weeks left to vote for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Minneapolis Awards, brought to you by BroadwayHD! Readers are already setting records as they vote for their favorites. Regional productions, touring shows, and more are all included in the awards, honoring productions which opened between October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. Our local editors set the categories, our readers submitted their nominees, and now you get to vote for your favorites! Voting will continue through December 31st, 2018.

There's just one month left to vote for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Minneapolis Awards, brought to you by BroadwayHD! Readers are already setting records as they vote for their favorites. Regional productions, touring shows, and more are all included in the awards, honoring productions which opened between October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. Our local editors set the categories, our readers submitted their nominees, and now you get to vote for your favorites! Voting will continue through December 31st, 2018.

There's just one month left to vote for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Minneapolis Awards, brought to you by BroadwayHD! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers are already setting records as they vote for their favorites. Regional productions, touring shows, and more are all included in the awards, honoring productions which opened between October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. Our local editors set the categories, our readers submitted their nominees, and now you get to vote for your favorites! Voting will continue through December 31st, 2018.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces the full company for Pulitzer Prize winner Paula Vogel's thought-provoking play Indecent. Inspired by the 1923 Broadway debut of Sholem Asch's Yiddish drama The God of Vengeance, and the controversy that surrounded its themes of censorship, immigration and anti-Semitism, Vogel explores the behind-the-scenes story of the courageous artists who risked their careers and lives to perform this piece of theater under the most challenging circumstances. Infused with music that combines standards from Yiddish theater with folk traditions of the early to mid-20th century, Indecent, a co-production with Baltimore Center Stage and Kansas City Repertory, is directed by Eric Rosen, with choreography by Erika Chong Shuch and music direction and original music by Alexander Sovronsky. The production runs November 23 - December 30, 2018 in the Kreeger Theater.

Kansas City Repertory Theatre continues its 2018/19 season with the emotionally-intimate Broadway sensation, INDECENT, by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel. Running January 18 through February 10, 2019 at Spencer Theatre, INDECENT is a co-production with Arena Stage and Baltimore Center Stage, and is directed by former KCRep artistic director, Eric Rosen, with choreography by Erika Chong Shuch, and music direction and original music by Alexander Sovronsky.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces the full company for Pulitzer Prize winner Paula Vogel's thought-provoking play Indecent. Inspired by the 1923 Broadway debut of Sholem Asch's Yiddish drama The God of Vengeance, and the controversy that surrounded its themes of censorship, immigration and anti-Semitism, Vogel explores the behind-the-scenes story of the courageous artists who risked their careers and lives to perform this piece of theater under the most challenging circumstances. Infused with music that combines standards from Yiddish theater with folk traditions of the early to mid-20th century, Indecent, a co-production with Baltimore Center Stage and Kansas City Repertory, is directed by Eric Rosen, with choreography by Erika Chong Shuch and music direction and original music by Alexander Sovronsky. The production runs November 23 - December 30, 2018 in the Kreeger Theater.

IAMA Theatre Company opens its 2018-19 season with a darkly comic celebration of the power of teamwork and unity to overcome adversity. James Eckhousedirects the Los Angeles premiere ofAmerican Hero, opening Sept. 21 in aPasadena Playhouse guest production at the Carrie Hamilton Theatre. Performances will continue through Oct. 21, with low-priced previews beginning Sept. 15.

Rancho Cucamonga, California - Do you remember how a bill becomes a law? Conjunction Junction, what's your function? Rediscover these classic tunes in MainStreet Theatre Company's production of Schoolhouse Rock Live! opening October 6th and running through October 27th. MainStreet Theatre Company's 21st Century spin to the iconic 1970's animated television series with the same name is sure to be a rockin' good time! Tickets are priced at $18.00 for General admission, and $16.00 for Seniors and Youth up to age 12.