Leigh Silverman News

 The New York Musical Festival (NYMF), previously known as The New York Musical Theatre Festival, announced today the initial lineup for NYMF 2016. Among the shows announced in the lineup are the Next Link Project musical selections, as well as invited production selections, developmental reading selections, and concerts. Now in its thirteenth year, the 2016 Festival will take place in July at locations around midtown Manhattan in New York City. 

?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 21st season, SUMMERWORKS will run May 27 through July 9 at The Wild Project (195 E 3rd Street) in Manhattan, and will feature productions of three new plays: EVERY ANGEL IS BRUTAL by Julia Jarcho and directed by Knud Adams; THE TOMB OF KING TOT by Eric Dufault and directed by Portia Krieger; and TUMACHO by Ethan Lipton and directed by Leigh Silverman. Festival passes are now on sale at: https://www.artful.ly/clubbedthumb/store/passes.

Second Stage Theatre will present the world premiere of Sofia Alvarez's FRIEND ART, directed by Portia Krieger, and the New York premiere of Lucy Teitler's ENGAGEMENTS as part of the company's fourteenth annual SECOND STAGE THEATRE UPTOWN SERIES this summer.

Stacey Mindich '86, Tony Award-winning producer and a 1986 alumna of the Newhouse School at Syracuse University, will speak at the Newhouse Convocation Ceremony on Saturday, May 14, at noon in the Carrier Dome.

The critically acclaimed play THE WOODSMAN, a uniquely inventive retelling of the origins of Oz's Tin Woodsman, officially opened last night, February 8, 2016, at Off-Broadway's New World Stages - Stage 5 (340 West 50th Street). BroadwayWorld was there for the special night and you can check out photos from the red carpet below!

Theatre Rhinoceros presents THE CALL - by Tanya Barfield, Directed by Jon Wai-keung Lowe, Feb. 20 - March 12, 2016 (Limited Engagement - 17 Performances Only). Check out photos from the show below!

Theatre Rhinoceros presents THE CALL - by Tanya Barfield, Directed by Jon Wai-keung Lowe, Feb. 20 - March 12, 2016 (Limited Engagement - 17 Performances Only).

Next week Feinstein's/54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond, including Ben Vereen, Elizabeth A. Davis and more!

Broadway's 40 theatres aren't the only places to catch performances from your favorite stars! Well after Broadway orchestras begin their overtures, ensemble members take their dance breaks, and performers belt out their eleven o'clock numbers, the party continues at various cabaret venues throughout New York City. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you some cabaret highlights for this week as picked by our theatre editors, including: Brian Gallagher & Friends; Ben Vereen at 54 Below; New Musicals at 54: An Americain Boy by Amanda Green & Richard Thomas; Elizabeth A. Davis at 54 Below; and Linda Lavin in 'My First Farewell Concert.'

Signal Ensemble Theatre presents the Chicago premiere of The Consultant by Heidi Schreck and directed by Signal Ensemble Theater Co-Artistic Director Ronan Marra at Signal Ensemble Theatre, 1802 W. Berenice Ave., January 21 - February 20, 2016.  After 13 seasons of  presenting, The Consultant marks the final production for Signal Ensemble Theatre. There will be one preview Thursday, Jan. 21 at 8 p.m. Opening/Press night is Friday, Jan. 22 at 8 p.m. Regular performances are Thursday - Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. (No performance Sunday, Feb. 7) Ticket prices are $23 for single tickets, $15 for industry/students/seniors/groups and $12 for previews. Tickets may be purchased by calling 773.698.7389 or by visiting www.signalensemble.com.  NOTE: There is no Sunday, February 7 performance and there will be an industry Night performance Monday, Feb. 8 at 7:30pm.

New Musicals at 54 is a series presented by Feinstein's/ 54 Below Programming Director Jennifer Ashley Tepper. Some of the 10 new and diverse musicals by a selection of today's most talented writers have had out-of-town productions, some have had workshops... now's your chance to be first to see them in NYC! Join us at New Musicals at 54 for one-night-only concerts celebrating each new show with songs, behind-the-scenes stories, and all-star casts!

The New York International Fringe Festival (FringeNYC) will celebrate its 20th Anniversary August 12 - 28, 2016. Each year the festival presents programming by nearly 200 of the world's best emerging theatre troupes and dance companies. General FringeNYC applications for 2016 are currently being accepted for participants in all genres (theatre, dance, puppetry, performance art, multi-media, etc.).

Broadway newcomer Emerson Steele opens up about her transition from New York back down South, sharing the stage with the legendary Sutton Foster, and her dream of being the first female to play Jean Valjean on Broadway.

Labyrinth Theater Company has announced the line-up for the 17th Annual Barn Series, the award-winning company's free play reading series.

On November 16, 2015, at the Annual Membership Meeting in New York City, SDC announced the results of the 2015 Executive Board Elections.

The Lilly Awards Broadway Cabaret, an evening of musical showstoppers written by women and performed by Broadway's best, benefits The Lilly Awards Foundation (Marsha Norman, President) whose mission is to promote gender parity at all levels of theatrical production, and develop and celebrate the work of women in the theater. Directed by Leigh Silverman, and with musical direction by Georgia Stitt, it was held on Monday night at The Cutting Room.

Below, check out highlights from the special night, which included performances by Criss, Danny Burstein, Kristin Chenoweth, Ben Platt and more!

The Lilly Awards Broadway Cabaret, an evening of musical showstoppers written by women and performed by Broadway's best, benefits The Lilly Awards Foundation (Marsha Norman, President) whose mission is to promote gender parity at all levels of theatrical production, and develop and celebrate the work of women in the theater. Directed by Leigh Silverman, and with musical direction by Georgia Stitt, it was held last night at The Cutting Room.

The Lilly Awards Broadway Cabaret, an evening of musical showstoppers written by women and performed by Broadway's best, will benefit The Lilly Awards Foundation (Marsha Norman, President) whose mission is to promote gender parity at all levels of theatrical production, and develop and celebrate the work of women in the theater.

Women's Project Theater, under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Lisa McNulty and Managing Director Maureen Moynihan, in conjunction with Farrar, Straus and Giroux, has announced DEAR MISS BISHOP: Poets in Conversation with Sarah Ruhl's Dear Elizabeth, a series of conversations with important contemporary poets to accompany the current presentation of Sarah Ruhl's DEAR ELIZABETH, now playing at the WP's new artistic home, the McGinn/Cazale Theater.