Michael John LaChiusa News

The Concerts for City Greens, the free outdoor series that brings the sounds of music to the heart of Midtown, hosts "A Giant, Wild Party," a musical tribute to the celebrated composer/lyricist/librettist Michael John LaChiusa, on Wednesday October 3 at 6:30pm at Tudor City Greens. (Rain date: Thursday October 4 at 6:30pm.) Feting the 2-time Emmy winner and 5-time Tony nominee, whose new musical "Giant," opens at the Public Theater this fall, will be the Broadway veterans D.C. Anderson ("Queen of the Mist," "Rebecca," "Phantom") and Leah Hocking ("Wild Party," "Billy Elliott," "Mama Mia," "Hairspray"); the cabaret legend and Broadway star KT Sullivan"; and the singer/songwriter and actress Katie Thompson (who is featured in LaChiusa's "Giant"). "A Giant, Wild Party" brings to a close The Concerts for City Greens' fifth annual season of free outdoor summer concerts.

Dallas Theater Center continues its exciting and conversation-provoking 2012-2013 season with the regional premiere of The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity. This unique experience will transport audience members into the thrilling and aggressive world of professional wrestling, complete with a wrestling ring, while weaving a story of power and class in America. The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity runs at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre Friday, October 19 - Sunday, November 11.

The Public Theater's $40 million revitalization of its downtown home at Astor Place will be unveiled October 4, 2012 and celebrated through a series of events designed to engage the entire New York community and marking a rededication to its founding principles. The eight weeks of community events will be anchored by a free block party and open house on Saturday, October 13, 12pm-5pm, during which Lafayette Street between Astor Place and East 4th Street will be partially closed to traffic and The Public's historic building will be open to all. A physical expression of the Company's core mission of sparking dialogues, fostering artistic development and experimentation, and increasing public accessibility, the revitalization project opens up the landmark building to the street and community, and transforms the lobby into a public piazza for artists, students, and audiences.

The Public Theater's $40 million revitalization of its downtown home at Astor Place will be unveiled October 4, 2012 and celebrated through a series of events designed to engage the entire New York community and marking a rededication to its founding principles. The eight weeks of community events will be anchored by a free block party and open house on Saturday, October 13, 12pm-5pm, during which Lafayette Street between Astor Place and East 4th Street will be partially closed to traffic and The Public's historic building will be open to all.

Dearly Departed by David Bottrell and Jessie Jones will play Circle Theatre in Oak Park, directed by Kevin Wiczer. In the tradition of Circle's mega-hit Escanaba in da Moonlight, Circle invites you to meet the Turpin family as they come together to plan a funeral with hilarious results in Dearly Departed, with opening night set for tonight, Sept 19 at 8 p.m., running through October 28, 2012.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Patrick Willingham) announced complete casting today for the New York premiere of GIANT, an epic love story with book by Sybille Pearson and music and lyrics by Michael John LaChiusa. Directed by Michael Greif, GIANT begins previews on Friday, October 26 in The Public's Newman Theater at its Astor Place home and will run through Sunday, December 2, with an official press opening on Tuesday, November 13. Single tickets, beginning at $75, are on sale now.

This month, a modest production of this powerful but modest show is running on the weekends at Stage 773 in Lakeview, brought to us by a new production company, Another Production Company. The company was founded by Raymond K. Cleveland and Toma Tavares Langston, two men who cut their theatrical teeth in Chicago companies like Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, and who serve as co-producers and co-directors for "The Last Five Years." And the show is in The Cab, the smallest of 773's performance spaces, running through October 5, 2012.

Judy Kuhn has been nominated for three Tony Awards and three Drama Desk Awards for her work on Broadway in She Loves Me, the American premieres of Chess and Les Misérables, and Rags. She joins the acclaimed lineup of the Broadway at The Art House series in Provincetown, today, Sept 8 and 9 for two shows only. Series host Seth Rudetsky joins her at piano. For tickets please visit www.ptownarthouse.com or call 508-487-9222.

ROCKIN' WITH THE AGES & THE PINK LADY present the World Premiere production of THE BEAT GOES ON! A Musical Celebration of the Young at Heart, featuring musical direction by David O, and written, choreographed and directed by Ovation Award-winner Cate Caplin.

The Lynne Show's next three interviewees have all won awards for their work in theater, film and TV-Mary Testa, Ed Asner and Austin Pendleton.

The Concerts for City Greens, the free outdoor concert series that brings the sounds of music to the heart of Midtown, dedicates the fourth concert of this year's summer series to the singer-songwriter and actress Ann Hampton Callaway, on Wednesday September 12 at 6:30pm at Tudor City Greens.

Transport Group, the Drama Desk and OBIE award-winning theatre company, will present the world premiere of House for Sale by Jonathan Franzen, adapted for the stage and directed by Daniel Fish, beginning previews October 13, 2012 at The Duke on 42nd Street, a New 42nd Street project. The opening night is scheduled for October 21, 2012. House for Sale is scheduled to run through November 18, 2012.

Judy Kuhn has been nominated for three Tony Awards and three Drama Desk Awards for her work on Broadway in She Loves Me, the American premieres of Chess and Les Misérables, and Rags. She joins the acclaimed lineup of the Broadway at The Art House series in Provincetown, on Sept 8 and 9 for two shows only. Series host Seth Rudetsky joins her at piano. For tickets please visit www.ptownarthouse.com or call 508-487-9222.

Dallas Theater Center kicks of its 2012-2013 season with the outrageous new comedy The Second City Does Dallas written specifically for Dallas by members of The Second City and directed by Matt Hovde. The worlds of Chicago and Dallas collide on DTC's stage in a satirical take on all that makes Dallas great (and not so great). It's a fully produced sketch comedy experience in a theatrical, no-holds-barred look at Big D. The Second City Does Dallas runs at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre tonight, August 29 - Sunday, September 30.