Laurence Holder News

Theater for the New City, Crystal Field, Executive Director, presents Grand Theft Musical, a world premiere musical based on Robert Sickinger's 1994 musical Platinum Taps, with music composed by John Taylor Thomas. 

Theater for the New City, Crystal Field, Executive Director, and The After Dinner Opera Company present two musical tales of Jewish humor and heartbreak. The evening of opera begins with a 20-minute curtain raiser, Seymour Barab's raucous, off-color opera vaudeville From Oy to Vey.

Today, November 16 at 4:30 PM, a Sidewalk Signing and Honors Ceremony will be held onstage at Theater 80 St. Marks, 80 St. Marks Place.

On Wednesday, November 16 at 4:30 PM, a Sidewalk Signing and Honors Ceremony will be held onstage at Theater 80 St. Marks, 80 St. Marks Place. 

Theater For the New City has announced that it will present the world premiere of THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT, a new play by Walter Corwin that spotlights the wrongdoings against women since the Garden of Eden through the present day and suggests the problems a woman president could face, running tonight, November 2nd, through 13th in the Cabaret at Theater for the New City, 155 First Avenue (between 9th and 10th Streets).

The Castillo Theatre and the non-profit All Stars Project (ASP), announce this week that the New Federal Theatre (NFT), founded by Woodie King, Jr., will now make its home at the All Stars performing arts and development center at 543 West 42nd Street.

Theater for the New City, Crystal Field, Executive Director, and The After Dinner Opera Company present two musical tales of Jewish humor and heartbreak. The evening of opera begins with a 20-minute curtain raiser, Seymour Barab's raucous, off-color opera vaudeville From Oy to Vey.

To celebrate Zora Neale Hurston's 125th birthday, Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre, in association with Castillo Theatre, will present 'Zora Neale Hurston: a Theatrical Biography' by Laurence Holder from tonight, October 20, to November 20 at Castillo Theatre, 543 West 42nd Street. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast and the historical figures they embody!

On Sunday, October 30, immediately after the 2:30 PM matinee performance of 'Zora Neale Hurston, a theatrical biography' by Laurence Holder, New Federal Theatre will have a scholars' panel on this 'queen of the Harlem Renaissance,' who was a prolific novelist, playwright and journalist of the 1920s and 30s.

Theater For the New City has announced that it will present the world premiere of THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT, a new play by Walter Corwin that spotlights the wrongdoings against women since the Garden of Eden through the present day and suggests the problems a woman president could face, running November 2nd - 13th in the Cabaret at Theater for the New City, 155 First Avenue (between 9th and 10th Streets).

The historic Theatre Training Workshops of Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre will move uptown next month to Dwyer Cultural Center at 258 St. Nicholas Ave. (at 123rd Street).  They were previously held in spaces adjoining the theater's offices at 292 Henry Street.  The workshops have been a fertile training ground for leading African-American playwrights and actors.

To celebrate Zora Neale Hurston's 125th birthday, Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre, in association with Castillo Theatre, will present 'Zora Neale Hurston: a Theatrical Biography' by Laurence Holder from October 20 to November 20 at Castillo Theatre, 543 West 42nd Street. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast and the historical figures they embody!

August in August' is a brand new annual live performance series teaming Joseph Grant Jr., ambassador of arts and culture for the councilman and theatrical producer Andrea J. Fulton of the Anderson & Bert Cade Fulton Foundation. Joint efforts result in the mounting of August Wilson's Tony nominated Two Trains Running directed by Sabura Rashid as its upcoming offering starting August 26th 2016. The production of 'Two Trains Running' will be featured at Fulton Park in Brooklyn on Aug. 26 from 6 to 9 p.m., and Aug. 27 at Herbert Von King Park from 4 to 7p.m. Both performances are FREE. August in August actually began Aug. 13 with the first installation of the series 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom performed at Fulton Park in Brooklyn, produced by the Bed-Stuy Theatre Group.

August in August' is a brand new annual live performance series teaming Joseph Grant Jr., ambassador of arts and culture for the councilman and theatrical producer Andrea J. Fulton of the Anderson & Bert Cade Fulton Foundation. Joint efforts result in the mounting of August Wilson's Tony nominated Two Trains Running directed by Sabura Rashid as its upcoming offering starting August 26th 2016. The production of 'Two Trains Running' will be featured at Fulton Park in Brooklyn on Aug. 26 from 6 to 9 p.m., and Aug. 27 at Herbert Von King Park from 4 to 7p.m. Both performances are FREE. August in August actually began Aug. 13 with the first installation of the series 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom performed at Fulton Park in Brooklyn, produced by the Bed-Stuy Theatre Group.

August in August' is a brand new annual live performance series teaming Joseph Grant Jr., ambassador of arts and culture for the councilman and theatrical producer Andrea J. Fulton of the Anderson & Bert Cade Fulton Foundation. Joint efforts result in the mounting of August Wilson's Tony nominated Two Trains Running directed by Sabura Rashid as its upcoming offering starting August 26th 2016. The production of 'Two Trains Running' will be featured at Fulton Park in Brooklyn on Aug. 26 from 6 to 9 p.m., and Aug. 27 at Herbert Von King Park from 4 to 7p.m. Both performances are FREE. August in August actually began Aug. 13 with the first installation of the series 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom performed at Fulton Park in Brooklyn, produced by the Bed-Stuy Theatre Group.

Woodie King Jr.'s New Federal Theatre (NFT) held a festive Gala Benefit on Sunday, June 26 from 2:00 to 5:30 PM at Trump Place, 220 Riverside Boulevard (enter West 70th Street) honoring Novella Nelson and Melvin Van Peebles, two of many actors and directors who have worked at NFT over the theatre's 46 year history. Mr. Van Peebles was introduced by Academy Award winner Estelle Parsons. Ms. Nelson was introduced by former Mayor David Dinkins. Scroll down for photos from the event!

One of the first and most time-honored FREE Summer Festivals in NYC each year, the LOWER EAST SIDE FESTIVAL, begins today, May 27 and continues through May 29 at Theater for the New City (155 First Ave. at 10th St.).

One of the first and most time-honored FREE Summer Festivals in NYC each year - the LOWER EAST SIDE FESTIVAL -- will take place this year, the FEST's 21st annual event  -- Memorial Day Weekend May 27 to 29 at Theater for the New City (155 First Ave. at 10th St.), it has been announced by Crystal Field, co-founder and Artistic Director of Theater for the New City. 

Theater for the New City presents Suddenly, A Knock at the Door, a new play based on stories by award winning Israeli author and filmmaker Etgar Keret written by Robin Goldfin with live music composed by Oren Neiman and performed by Oren Neiman & Gilad Ben-Zvi. David L. Carson* directs a cast of 6, including Jeffrey Swan Jones*,Antonio Minino, Alyssa Simon*, Kenneth Talberth*, Stephen Thornton, and Elanna White. Fourteen performances will be staged from June 2-19, 2016 at Theater for the New City, 155 First Avenue (between 9th and 10th Streets) in New York City's East Village.