Lucille Lortel News

Yale Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of Sarah Ruhl's DEAR ELIZABETH, a play in letters from Elizabeth Bishop to Robert Lowell and back again, directed by Les Waters, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street), November 30-December 22. Opening Night is tonight, December 6. The cast of DEAR ELIZABETH is Mary Beth Fisher and Jefferson Mays. Click below to go backstage with the stars, plus watch highlights from the show!

Yale Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of Sarah Ruhl's DEAR ELIZABETH, a play in letters from Elizabeth Bishop to Robert Lowell and back again, directed by Les Waters, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street), November 30-December 22. Opening Night is tonight, December 6. The cast of DEAR ELIZABETH is Mary Beth Fisher and Jefferson Mays. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the pair onstage in the photos below!

The Old Globe will open its 2013-14 Season with the world premiere of The Honeymooners, a new musical based on the legendary CBS television series. 2012 Tony Award winner Michael McGrath (Nice Work If You Can Get It) will star as Ralph Kramden, the small-time bus driver with big-time dreams. Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde) will direct and choreograph the musical comedy, with book by Dusty Kay and Bill Nuss, music by Stephen Weiner and lyrics by Peter Mills.

La Jolla Playhouse announces a new play development initiative, the DNA New Work Series, entailing a six-week period of workshop productions and public readings of new plays and musicals, taking place January 24 through March 3, 2013. The focus of the DNA New Work Series is to allow playwrights and directors the opportunity to develop a script by providing rehearsal time, space and resources, culminating in a workshop production or public reading.

FREUD'S LAST SESSION, New York's long-running hit play by Mark St. Germain, is set to open in Los Angeles this winter starring Judd Hirsch as Sigmund Freud and Tom Cavanagh as C. S. Lewis under the direction of Tyler Marchant, who helmed the original New York production. Presented by The Broad Stage and CRC Productions, FREUD'S LAST SESSION will begin performances January 11th for a strictly limited engagement through February 10th at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica. Get a first look at the stars onstage in the photos below!

Gerard Alessandrini and the cast of the acclaimed FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: ALIVE AND KICKING will be signing and performing selections from the recently released cast recording, FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: ALIVE AND KICKING, The UN-Original Cast Album at the Drama Book Shop (250 W 40th Street) on Tuesday, December 11th from 4 p.m. - 6p.m. The show has just been named one of the "TOP 10 Plays and Musicals" of the year by Time Magazine. The new recording, from DRG Records, is now available in stores, on iTunes and at Amazon.com.

Prepare to experience The Nutcracker like never seen before as Flat Rock Playhouse, in partnership with Pardee Hospital and Pardee Hospital Foundation, presents the world premiere of The Nutcracker, adapted by Chase Brock from E. T. A. Hoffman's story The Nutcracker and The Mouse King onstage now through December 22 at Playhouse Mainstage. This new interpretation of the holiday all-dance classic is choreographed by Playhouse YouTheatre alum Chase Brock, choreographer of the Broadway hit, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production in the photos below!

Transport Group has announced that, Jenn Colella, Tyne Daly, Montego Glover, Ann Harada, Elizabeth Stanley, and Sally Wilfert will perform at its gala benefit GIMME A BREAK! honoring Christian Borle, Sue Frost, and Paul Huntley on Monday, December 10, 2011 at the Asia Society and Museum, 725 Park Avenue. The evening will be hosted by Julie Halston and will feature a special performance by the cast of the Tony-winning Peter and the Starcatch

Red Bull Theater's OBIE Award-Winning ongoing REVELATION READINGS series presents staged readings of new plays and rarely-performed classic texts. Next up for the series is Patrick Page's SWANSONG, described as a moving tale of a dramatic friendship based on true events between peers Ben Jonson and Shakespeare.

On Thursday, December 13, the upcoming musical stage adaptation of Richard Matheson's acclaimed novel and Universal Pictures film SOMEWHERE IN TIME will be presented at a private industry reading in midtown Manhattan.

Casting is complete for the world premiere of Amandine, the new musical from writer Winter Miller, 13P founding member who penned In Darfur (The Public Theater), among other acclaimed plays; Emmy Award-winning composer Lance Horne, who is known for his own work and collaborations with Alan Cumming, Amanda Palmer, Meow Meow, Sandra Bernhard and Justin Vivian Bond; and Drama Desk Award-winning director Josh Hecht (Christine Jorgensen Reveals). The production will run January 9-26, 2013 at the Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce Street) main stage. Critics are welcome as of January 13 for an official opening on January 16.

Vineyard Theatre continues its series of one-night-only readings of notable plays from its acclaimed history in celebration of the company's 30th Anniversary with Nicky Silver's award winning 1993 hit PTERODACTYLS, directed by Trip Cullman. An absurdist black comedy about the demise of the Duncan family, and, by extension, the species, PTERODACTYLS will feature Emmy Award-winner Penny Fuller (THE DINNER PARTY, APPLAUSE) as Duncan family matriarch, Grace; Tony-nominee Bobby Steggert (RAGTIME) as son, Todd; Virginia Kull (THE HEIRESS) as daughter, Emma; and Claybourne Elder (BONNIE & CLYDE) as Emma's fiance Tommy (the role of family patriarch, Arthur, is TBD).

The Guthrie today announced that BEHOLD, its 50th-anniversary one-time gala performance, will be directed by New York-based Peter Flynn, whose extensive credits include directorial work on Broadway, Off-Broadway and in regional theaters. BEHOLD, part of the Guthrie's anniversary weekend celebration, will combine classical text, music, original work, video and dance performed by artists to be announced in the months to come. The event will take place on Saturday, June 22, 2013.

Vineyard Theatre continues its series of one-night-only readings of notable plays from its acclaimed history in celebration of the company's 30th Anniversary with Nicky Silver's award winning 1993 hit PTERODACTYLS. An absurdist black comedy about the demise of the Duncan family, and, by extension, the species, PTERODACTYLS will feature Emmy Award-winner Penny Fuller (THE DINNER PARTY, APPLAUSE) as Duncan family matriarch, Grace; Tony-nominee Bobby Steggert (RAGTIME) as son, Todd; Virginia Kull (THE HEIRESS) as daughter, Emma; and Claybourne Elder (BONNIE & CLYDE) as Emma's fiance Tommy (the role of family patriarch, Arthur, is TBD). PTERODACTYLS will be performed on Monday, December 10, 2012 at 7 PM at The Vineyard (108 E. 15 St., between Irving Place and Union Square East). Tickets are priced at $75 (which includes a pre-show toast in The Vineyard lobby) and are available by calling The Vineyard box office at 212-353-0303, or online at www.vineyardtheatre.org. Proceeds from the reading will benefit The Vineyard's 2012-2013 productions and programs.

Off-Broadway's Page 73 Productions - a company dedicated to producing and developing works by early-career playwrights -- has announced 8 finalists for their 2013 P73 Playwriting Fellowship serving early-career playwrights.

Known for his thrilling live performances and irreverent style, award-winning musical troublemaker David Yazbek takes the stage with his band at 92YTribeca in a new series, presented the first Monday of each month. Yazbek - whose influences range from Captain Beefheart to Frank Loesser - plans to deliver musical pyrotechnics, new songs debuted at every show, and unexpected, thrilling guests from the worlds of theater, music, comedy and beyond. For his first show tonight, December 3, Yazbek welcomes Tony award-winning lyricist and composer, longtime friend and former bandmate Adam Guettel (The Light in the Piazza). Tickets $25 in advance / $30 day of show.

Australian Made Entertainment presents Andrew Bovell's Speaking in Tongues, winner of the Australian Writer's Guild award for Best Play, directed by Bryn Boice. The two-week limited engagement at Theatre 54 (at Shelter Studios, 254 West 54th St. 12th Floor) began Friday, November 30 and continues through Sunday, December 16. Opening Night is tonight, December 2 at 2PM.

On Saturday, December 8th the Hangar's CabarETC series continues with a special one-day-only cabaret performance of Back Home for the Holidays featuring Jeremy Webb (The Glorious Ones and Hangar's The 39 Steps) and Nat Chandler (Spamalot, Kiss Me Kate, and Phantom of the Opera) with special guest Joseph Thalken.