Mel Gussow News

The Broadway premiere of David Mamet's A Life in the Theatre, starring PATRICK STEWART and T.R. KNIGHT will begin previews on September 21st, 2010 and officially open on Tuesday, October 12th at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 W. 45th St.). Its limited engagement will play through January 2nd, 2011, making it the first show to announce its closing in 2011.

Two sisters separated by the Holocaust reunite in the aftermath of World War II in Barbara Lebow's powerful and profoundly moving A Shayna Maidel. ICT artistic director Shashin Desai directs Liza de Weerd, Larry Eisenberg, Laura Howard, Charles Pasternak, Julia Silverman and Erin Anne Williams in a four-week run June 11 through July 3 at International City Theatre in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. Low-priced previews begin June 8.

Two sisters separated by the Holocaust reunite in the aftermath of World War II in Barbara Lebow's powerful and profoundly moving A Shayna Maidel. ICT artistic director Shashin Desai directs Liza de Weerd, Larry Eisenberg, Laura Howard, Charles Pasternak, Julia Silverman and Erin Anne Williams in a four-week run June 11 through July 3 at International City Theatre in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. Low-priced previews begin June 8.

The upcoming Broadway premiere of David Mamet's A LIFE IN THE THEATRE, which will star award winning actor PATRICK STEWART, will play THE GERALD SCHOENFELD THEATRE (236 West 45th Street). Rehearsals start on August 23rd, 2010, with performances beginning on September 17th, 2010.

Two sisters separated by the Holocaust reunite in the aftermath of World War II in Barbara Lebow's powerful and profoundly moving A Shayna Maidel. ICT artistic director Shashin Desai directs Liza de Weerd, Larry Eisenberg, Laura Howard, Charles Pasternak, Julia Silverman and Erin Anne Williams in a four-week run June 11 through July 3 at International City Theatre in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. Low-priced previews begin June 8.

Rep Stage, the professional Equity theatre in residence at Howard Community College (HCC), will end its production of Eric Overmyer's 'On the Verge or The Geography of Yearning' on May 2nd. Mel Gussow, in his New York Times review of 'On the Verge...' wrote, 'Blending Tom Stoppard's limber linguistics with the historic overview of a Thornton Wilder, Mr. Overmyer takes his audience on a mirthful safari that leads from darkest Africa to Terra Incognita, spinning into time travel.'

Rosemary Harris, Peter O'Toole, and Martin Short will be among the many honorees at the upcoming 'Players Hall of Fame,' presented by The Players Foundation on April 18th. The event will take place at the Players Club.

Rep Stage, the professional Equity theatre in residence at Howard Community College (HCC), continues its 17th season with Eric Overmyer's 'On the Verge or The Geography of Yearning.' Mel Gussow, in his New York Times review of 'On the Verge...' wrote, 'Blending Tom Stoppard's limber linguistics with the historic overview of a Thornton Wilder, Mr. Overmyer takes his audience on a mirthful safari that leads from darkest Africa to Terra Incognita, spinning into time travel.'

Rosemary Harris, Peter O'Toole, and Martin Short will be among the many honorees at the upcoming 'Players Hall of Fame,' presented by The Players Foundation on April 18th. The event will take place at the Players Club.

Rep Stage, the professional Equity theatre in residence at Howard Community College (HCC), continues its 17th season with Eric Overmyer's 'On the Verge or The Geography of Yearning.' Mel Gussow, in his New York Times review of 'On the Verge...' wrote, 'Blending Tom Stoppard's limber linguistics with the historic overview of a Thornton Wilder, Mr. Overmyer takes his audience on a mirthful safari that leads from darkest Africa to Terra Incognita, spinning into time travel.'

The 2010 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, the most prestigious award given annually to women playwrights, has been awarded to American playwright Julia Cho for her play 'The Language Archive.' Ms. Cho received the honor at a private reception in New York City on Wednesday, March 3. The award of $20,000 and a signed and numbered print by artist Willem de Kooning were presented to Ms. Cho by Tony Award-winning director Doug Hughes, one of the distinguished judges for the 2010 Blackburn Prize.

'The Last Golden Bat - Hitohira 2010' will have its world premiere February 25-28, 2010 at La MaMa ETC in the First Floor Theatre. This piece is homage to the original production 'Golden Bat' created by The Tokyo Kid Brothers at La MaMa in 1970 to honor Artistic Director, Ellen Stewart.

'The Last Golden Bat - Hitohira 2010' will have its world premiere February 25-28, 2010 at La MaMa ETC in the First Floor Theatre. This piece is homage to the original production 'Golden Bat' created by The Tokyo Kid Brothers at La MaMa in 1970 to honor Artistic Director, Ellen Stewart.

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize - the prestigious international award given each year to a woman who has written an outstanding new work for the English-speaking theatre - has announced the 10 finalists for the 32nd annual award.

David Lee Strasberg, son of acclaimed theatrical acting coach Lee Strasberg, has an ability his father was often said to lack: the ability to combine his theatrical skill with business knowledge. By applying his vast administrative experience, Strasberg has expanded the Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute beyond its original intentions and design.

Theater Hall of Fame 2008 inductees have been announced as follows: Harvey Fierstein, John Cullum, Jack O'Brien, Dana Ivey, Joseph Stein, Lois Smith, Peter Shaffer, and Mel Gussow

In this second of a two part interview, The Times They Are A-Changin's musical supervisor talks about life in New York and Baltimore, working for Disney, and several new shows he is working on.

An Absurdist Slice of American Pie A Fairy Tale for Adults

Friday on Thirteen, THEATER TALK remembers its frequent contributor writer MEL GUSSOW of 'The New York Times.'