Lucille Lortel News

The Irish Repertory Theatre, which 'encourages the development of works focusing on the Irish and Irish American experience, as well as a range of other cultures,' continues the 9th season of its Reading Series with Joseph Dougherty's play Chester Bailey, directed by Ron Lagomarsino. The reading will be held on Friday, January 30 at 3pm (EST) at the DR2 Theater, 103 East 15th Street, the Irish Repertory Theatre's temporary home during its current renovations. The reading is FREE and open to the public. An RSVP to the Irish Repertory Theatre Box Office at (212) 727-2737 is strongly suggested.

The Whipping Man by Matthew Lopez opens tonight, January 23, 2015 at George Street Playhouse. The production runs through February 15, 2015 Directed by Seret Scott, the cast features Ron Canada, Luke Forbes and Adam Gerber.

Manhattan Theatre Club is pleased to announce the New York premiere of Of Good Stock, the new play by Melissa Ross (Thinner Than Water, Too Much Too Soon), directed by MTC's award-winning Artistic Director Lynne Meadow (The Assembled Parties, Wit, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife). The limited engagement of Of Good Stock will begin previews Tuesday, June 2 and open Tuesday, June 23 at MTC at New York City Center -- Stage I (131 West 55th Street).

Theatre Development Fund (TDF) believes that future audiences are built by engaging students first-hand in the vital and exciting activity of the creative process as well as by providing opportunities to attend live performances of great art. TDF enacts this philosophy through its various arts education programs that annually bring over 10,000 students to the theatre and is continually seeking to find ways to continue the dialogue with these novice theatregoers for these program participants and for young theatregoers everywhere.

Producer Larry G. Spangler and The Spangler Group announced today the creative team for HAPPY TRAILS, a new musical based on the life and career of American icons Roy Rogers and his wife Dale Evans. The musical will feature original music by Tony and multiAcademy Award-winner Alan Menken (Little Shop of Horrors, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Sister Act), lyrics by Tony nominee Glenn Slater (Sister Act, Tangled, ABC-TV's Galavant, upcoming School of Rock), a book by Academy Award-winner Marshall Brickman (Annie Hall, Manhattan, Jersey Boys, The Addams Family), and direction by two-time Tony Award-winner Des McAnuff (Jersey Boys, Big River, Tommy).

Coming up next off-Broadway - Calderon's Life Is A Dream, directed by Matthew Rauch and starring Steven Boyer, Clifton Duncan, Zoe Kazan, Ismenia Mendes, Patrick Page, Jay O. Sanders, Thom Sesma, Nick Westrate, and more on Monday, February 2nd at SoHo Playhouse. Plus, it's your last chance to see Red Bull Theater's finale of its three-part series in collaboration with the Shakespeare Society: Shakespeare and the Jacobeans on Film. See John Ford's 'TIS PITY SHE'S A WHORE, a film by Roland Joffe, on Sunday, January 25th at the SVA Theatre.

Atlantic Theater Company is proud to announce that the world premiere production of Halley Feiffer's play I'm Gonna Pray For You So Hard, directed by Trip Cullman, has been extended an additional two weeks due to high ticket demand following opening last night to critical acclaim.

Mirage Theatre Company is making its La MaMa debut with 'Cedars,' a theatrical adaptation of Native American poetry and prose performed by Native American actors, directed by June Prager.

Westport Country Playhouse's Family Festivities Series will present "The Lightning Thief," a new musical about mythological monsters based on the popular book series by Rick Riordan, on Sunday, February 8, at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Produced by Theatreworks USA , the show is recommended for ages 7 to 12. Running time is approximately one hour. Tickets are $20.

Old Library Theatre (OLT) will present the NJ premier of Dogfight. The hauntingly beautiful musical Dogfight by Pasek and Paul (Edges, James And The Giant Peach, A Christmas Story) and Peter Duchan, was praised by countless critics and nominated for numerous awards and won the Lucille Lortel Award for Best Musical. Based on the 1991 Warner Brothers film, Dogfight takes audiences on a romantic and heartbreaking theatrical journey that stays with you long after the performance.

MCC THEATER has announced the all-star lineup of performers set for their annual Miscast gala, including: Uzo Aduba, recent Emmy Award winner for "Orange is the New Black"; Tony Award winners Laura Benanti, Linda Lavin and Jessie Mueller; Tony Award nominees Annaleigh Ashford, Christopher Fitzgerald, Joshua Henry, Jeremy Jordan and Ramin Karimloo; and stage and screen stars Ana Gasteyer and Cheyenne Jackson.

Artistic director Charles Busch -- in his Lyrics & Lyricists debut -- serves up a cavalcade of stories and songs about the legendary women of Hollywood's movie musical Golden Age in 'Here's to the Girls!' on February 7, 8 and 9, 2015 at 92Y.

Orange Kellin's A Night In Old New Orleans featuring Vernel Bagneris brings talent fresh from Broadway and sounds straight from New Orleans. These seasoned performers will thrill listeners in the Acopian Ballroom of the State Theatre on Friday, February 13th.

After the critical success of its recent Lucille Lortel Award winning Off-Broadway production of Martin Moran's All the Rage (produced with piece by piece productions), acclaimed new play company Rising Phoenix Repertory presents the world premiere of RPR Company Member Sarah Shaefer's new play F**king Immaculate. Building on the company's successful downtown site-specific play series Cino Nights, Rising Phoenix Rep is attempting to grow and expand on its innovative development/production process for new plays, building in a longer rehearsal period and focusing on an even more intimate and immersive experience for artists and audiences alike. The plays will be staged in an Upper West Side apartment to be disclosed to patrons who make reservations in advance. Seating is strictly limited to ten people per night.

South Florida's acclaimed Slow Burn Theatre Company has announced its upcoming 2015-16 season, featuring four contemporary musicals that will be presented exclusively at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.

In what has become an annual ritual, a total of 46 established and emerging writers, composers and lyricists will converge on the Goodspeed campus later this month to participate in the Johnny Mercer Foundation Writers Colony at Goodspeed Musicals. The writing teams, representing 25 new musicals, will populate the campus, creating a truly exciting environment for discovery and inspiration.

Golden Globe winners and Academy Award nominees (Birdman Or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) Alexander Dinelaris, Jr. and Nicolas Giacobone join Oberon Theatre Ensemble's (Brad Fryman, Artistic Director) 24/7 Benefit to support its 18th season. 24/7 will feature seven short plays created in 24 hours and presented January 25th at the June Havoc Theater (312 West 36th Street) at 7pm.

Cygnet Theatre has announced a Season 13 lineup featuring seven productions sure to take audiences on a rollicking theatrical journey. Adding a new creative influence to the season will be Cygnet's most recent addition, Rob Lutfy, who has been appointed as Cygnet's Associate Artistic Director and will start in the summer.

Broadwayworld.com interviewed Charlotte Moore, the Artistic Director and co-Founder of New York City's highly acclaimed Irish Repertory Theatre.