Lynn Nottage News

Acclaimed Off-Broadway theater company Playwrights Horizons will hold its annual Spring Gala on Monday evening, May 8, at the event space 583 Park Avenue. Titled A CELEBRATION OF SONG, the evening will honor three of the company's exceptional alumni writers: Tony Award nominee Scott Frankel (Grey Gardens and Far From Heaven at Playwrights), Tony Award nominee Michael Korie (Grey Gardens and Far From Heaven at Playwrights) and Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Doug Wright (I Am My Own Wife and Grey Gardens at Playwrights). The Grey Gardens writing team has returned to Broadway with their new musical, War Paint, now playing at The Nederlander Theatre.

The Public Theater announced additional casting today for the 2017 Free Shakespeare in the Park season, beginning Tuesday, May 23 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, continuing a 55-year tradition of free theater in Central Park.

Every night at Studio 54. Tony nominee Johanna Day digs a little bit deeper as Tracey, a factory worker in Reading, Pennsylvania. How does she give such a poignant performance and deal with the exhaustion of the season? She explains below!

The R&B calendar heats up at Joe's Pub! Highlights include Labelle founding member Sarah Dash on May 12; the soulfully-voiced and hard-rocking singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Celisse Henderson on May 31; Australian singer Cloves (Kaity Dunstan) on June 1; the Peterson Brothers, a modern blend of blues rock from 20-year-old Glenn and 17-year-old Alex Peterson, on June 2; a fundraiser for The Restorative Center with Stephanie McKay on June 15; soul powerhouse gina Breedlove on June 20; Alfa Anderson's album release party for her solo debut, From My Heart, on July 7; and, the relentlessly energetic JJ Thames & The Violet ReVOLT on August 8.

The Jerome Robbins Foundation introduces the The Springboard Project:  Fostering Collaboration in Dance-Driven Musical Theater.

Bay Street Theater has announced the cast and creative team of INTIMATE APPAREL by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage and directed by Bay Street Theater Artistic Director Scott Schwartz. Kelly McCreary, currently one of the stars of Grey's Anatomy on ABC, will star as Esther Mills.

RestorationArt, the 21st century creative complex in Central Brooklyn, reopens the AUDELCO and Obie Award-winning Billie Holiday Theatre that was founded in 1972 by Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, after completing its first major renovation in 45 years.

True Colors Theatre Company (Kenny Leon, Co-Founding Artistic Director) and Jujamcyn Theaters (Jordan Roth, President) are proud to announce the winners of the 9th Annual August Wilson Monologue Competition that was held last night, on Monday, May 1st at 7:00 p.m. at the August Wilson Theatre (245 West 52nd Street). 

Due to popular demand, Shattered Globe Theatre's hit Chicago premiere of Sarah Ruhl's FOR PETER PAN ON HER 70th BIRTHDAY will add one additional week of performances, extending through May 27, 2017 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago.  Directed by Jessica Thebus, the imaginative and moving drama was written for Ruhl's mother, Kathleen Ruhl, who stars in the Shattered Globe production. Tickets for all performances are currently available at www.theaterwit.org, in person at the Theater Wit Box Office or by calling (773) 975-8150.

The American Theatre Wing nominated two plays commissioned by the Oregon Shakespeare Festival for 2017 Tony Awards today, including Best Play. Commissioned through OSF's American Revolutions: The United States History Cycle, Sweat by Lynn Nottage and Indecent by Paula Vogel each received three nominations.

Kansas City Repertory Theatre elevates its profile in the national theatre community with the second annual OriginKC: NEW WORKS FESTIVAL. In addition to a striking lineup of playwrights and directors for this year's festival, an impressive list of arts leaders from preeminent regional theaters across the country will be attending the Festival Weekend, May 12-13. 

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) has announced five productions as part of its complete 2017/18 Season.

New Dramatists, Tony Honor recipient and the nation's premier playwright development laboratory, will honor 10-time Tony Award-winning producer Daryl Roth and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel with their 2017 Outstanding Career Achievement Awards at its 68th Annual Spring Luncheon tribute.

New York's Public Theater and London's National Theatre announced initial casting today for the special one-night-only public staged reading of ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN? Scenes from the Senate Confirmation Hearings of President Trump's Cabinet on Thursday, May 11 at 8:00 p.m. at Town Hall (123 West 43rd Street).

Playwrights Horizons (Artistic Director, Tim Sanford; Managing Director, Leslie Marcus) has announced that the score for their World Premiere production of the musical IOWA has been preserved as an Original Cast Recording, produced by Michael Croiter (Matilda, The Visit, Big Fish) and Todd Almond. IOWA is written by Jenny Schwartz (God's Ear, Somewhere Fun) with music by Todd Almond (Girlfriend) and lyrics by Ms. Schwartz and Mr. Almond.

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director) and Barry Grove (Executive Producer) have announced two-time Olivier Award nominee Michael Xavier will join Manhattan Theatre Club's upcoming Broadway premiere of Prince of Broadway, a musical celebration that highlights the extraordinary six-decade career of director and producer Harold Prince.

The 2017 Tony nominations were announced this morning. If you haven't checked them out yet, what are you waiting for?! CLICK HERE to check out a full list of this year's nominees, and HERE for reactions from the lucky few!

This year's Tony Awards nominations have just been announced by Jane Krakowski and Christopher Jackson and here they are, celebrating the best of the 2016-17 theatre season (and what a season it's been!) The 2017 Tony Awards will be broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall in New York City, on Sunday, June 11th on CBS. Our official Tony coverage kicks off - NOW!

We've caught Tony fever here at BroadwayWorld, and it's spreading! Follow us on BWW throughout the day, as we'll bring you Tony nominee reactions, exclusive reports, surprises, behind the scenes coverage and oh, so much more!

Come celebrate the long Memorial Day Weekend (May 26-29) at Joe's Pub! Highlights include the latest chapter from Joe's Pub favorite Justin Vivian Bond on May 26, 27, 28 and 29; Elisa Monte Dance's After Dark with live mixing by Twelve45 on May 26 and 27; Hello Taiwan, an annual showcase introducing some of Taiwan's up-and-coming stars to American audiences, featuring Sean Huang, Gina Can, Biung and Treya on May 27; contemporary Yiddish band Nikitov, fronted by Niki Jacobs, on May 28; and, Portuguese collaborators Renato Diz and Maria Quintanilla on May 29.