Melis Aker News

National Alliance for Musical Theatre has announced the line-up of new musicals for their 33rd Annual FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS on Thursday October 20 and Friday, October 21, 2021. This year, NAMT ‘s Festival of New Musicals will be presented as a unique digital and in-person hybrid, allowing wider accessibility for attendees.

The 24 Hour Plays: Viral Monologues will premiere on Tuesday, June 29th, with an all new series of unforgettable performances.

Oregon Shakespeare Festival has announced the month-long, five-play O! Reading Series. For this new initiative, five directors who are part of OSF’s artistic staff have each chosen a play to be performed as a live digital staged reading by some of OSF’s favorite actors.

Following its debut on May 6, 2020, The Homebound Project has announced the lineup for a surprise sixth edition airing January 13–17, 2021. Co-creators Catya McMullen and Jenna Worsham, along with their all-volunteer team, have also announced that this online theater initiative brought together 137 artists, and premiered 56 new theater works.

Magic Theatre (Sonia Fernandez, Interim Artistic Director and Kevin Nelson, Managing Director) has announced dates for our 2020 Martha Heasley Cox Virgin Play Festival. The public virtual play readings kick off on Thursday, December 17, 2020 at 8:00 p.m. PST with When My Mama was a Hittite, a new play by Melis Aker.

 Long-running theater podcast and public radio program Playing on Air announces its new fall season of short audio plays, launching this Sunday, October 18. Its slated lineup introduces eight short audio plays and interviews from dynamic playwrights including Lucas Hnath, Dominique Morisseau, Rachel Bonds, and Melis Aker.

Ars Nova has announced details for its upcoming 2020-2021 season. Ars Nova is committed to artistic and operational activities that build an anti-racist foundation and create a platform for diverse, adventurous artists.

The Homebound Project recently announced the lineup for its fifth and final edition of new online theater benefiting hungry children affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Laurie Metcalf, who will be performing a work by Stephen Karam, gave a preview on Twitter...

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, performer, producer, and actor Janelle Monáe has joined the final edition of The Homebound Project as a special guest.

The Homebound Project has announced the lineup for its fifth and final edition of new online theater benefiting hungry children affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Co-creators Catya McMullen and Jenna Worsham, along with their all-volunteer team, have also announced that over $100,000 has been raised to date for No Kid Hungry.

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center announced today the 2020 summer season which will be held entirely online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A fourth evening of The 24 Hour Plays: Viral Monologues streamed last night and is available now on IGTV @24hourplays and at https://24hourplays.com/viral-monologues/. 22 actors were paired with an unrivaled group of theatre writers, who worked through Monday night to create unique pieces especially for their actors.

A fourth unforgettable evening of The 24 Hour Plays: Viral Monologues will stream tonight on IGTV @24hourplays and at https://24hourplays.com/viral-monologues/. 22 actors have been paired with an unrivaled group of theatre writers, who worked through the night to create unique pieces especially for their actors.

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center presents its annual PRELUDE FESTIVAL on October 3, 4, and 5 at The Graduate Center, CUNY, The City University of New York, curated by David Bruin & Sanaz Ghajar in collaboration with Frank Hentschker, produced by Sami Pyne.

The Playwrights Realm today announces recipients of two career-propelling development programs the organizationa?"led by Founding Artistic Director Katherine Kovner and Producing Director Roberta Pereiraa?"offers to gifted, incisive, and diverse playwrights. Now entering its thirteenth season, The Realm has continually produced work by brave new voices and expanded its commitment to providing holistic support to playwrights striving to make a life in the arts.

Roundabout Theatre Company and Columbia University School of the Arts have announced the winners of Columbia@Roundabout's 2019 New Play Reading Series. As part of the collaborative partnership between Roundabout Theatre Company and Columbia University, the reading series awards three playwrights from the current MFA program and recent alumni with a cash prize as well as a reading in Roundabout's Rehearsal Hall, followed by a post-reading reception. Five finalists have also received cash prizes in recognition of their exceptional work. No other collaborative partnership in the New York area brings together an esteemed Ivy League MFA program with a Tony Award-winning, not-for-profit theatre. The reading series is made possible by a grant from The Tow Foundation.   

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center presents its annual PRELUDE FESTIVAL on October 3, 4, and 5 at The Graduate Center, CUNY, The City University of New York, curated by David Bruin & Sanaz Ghajar in collaboration with Frank Hentschker, produced by Sami Pyne.

Dramatists Guild Foundation would like to formally announce a new 2019-2020 class of DGF Fellows, as well as new Chairs to the program. 

The New York Musical Festival (NYMF) and Flying Elephant Productions present TILL, the emotional and moving true story of Emmett and Mamie Till, with music and lyrics by Leo Schwartz and book by Leo Schwartz and DC Cathro. NJ Agwuna directs a cast of six, including Taylor A. Blackman (Regional: Fun Home, Mamma Mia, Hello Dolly, Ragtime), Tyla Collier (Off-Broadway: Sistas the Musical), Dwelvan David (1st national tours: Finding Neverland; The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess), Judith Franklin (Broadway: Summer: The Donna Summer Musical), Denielle Marie Gray (NationalIntl. Touring: background singer for Patti Labelle & others) and Devin L. Roberts (Broadway: The Lion King, Cabin In The Sky). Five performances will be staged at The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center in New York City from July 23-28, 2019.

The Orchard Project is thrilled to launch its second annual EPISODIC LAB. More than 430 artists applied to the lab, which will help writers develop television and episodic content, working with accomplished showrunners and producers as mentors for artists in a setting where they can hone their skills, have the time and space to accelerate their work, and participate in intimate discussions about how to best bring their content to life within the episodic form.