Michael Weller News

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) will conclude its 30th Anniversary mainstage season with the New York premiere of VANITIES, a new musical written by Jack Heifner, featuring music and lyrics by David Kirshenbaum, directed by Judith Ivey. With musical staging by Dan Knechtges, VANITIES will feature Lauren Kennedy, Sarah Stiles, and Anneliese van der Pol and will begin preview performances on Thursday, July 2. Opening night is Thursday, July 16 at 6:30pm

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) will conclude its 30th Anniversary mainstage season with the New York premiere of VANITIES, a new musical written by Jack Heifner, featuring music and lyrics by David Kirshenbaum, directed by Judith Ivey.

Marc (Marco Formosa), an American scholar in Berlin, uncovers the dangerous equation behind his attraction to the great German dramatist Heinrich von Kleist, who died in 1811 in a notorious double suicide. Konrad (Nate Faust), from whom he is letting a room, offers Marc help in understanding his attraction to Kleist and opens up a disturbing confrontation with identity. Konrad's girlfriend Mina (Ji-Hye Kwon) is pulled into the vortex of their discovery. The life of Kleist (David Marshall) finds its eerie parallels in Marc's awakening.

The Contemporary American Theater Festival (CATF) is pleased to announce their 2009 lineup of new plays. 'The addition of a fifth play during our last season was very well received,' stated Ed Herendeen, CATF Founder and Producing Director.

Marc (Marco Formosa), an American scholar in Berlin, uncovers the dangerous equation behind his attraction to the great German dramatist Heinrich von Kleist, who died in 1811 in a notorious double suicide. Konrad (Nate Faust), from whom he is letting a room, offers Marc help in understanding his attraction to Kleist and opens up a disturbing confrontation with identity. Konrad's girlfriend Mina (Ji-Hye Kwon) is pulled into the vortex of their discovery. The life of Kleist (David Marshall) finds its eerie parallels in Marc's awakening.

John Montgomery Theatre Company announces the World Premiere of Benny, a bold new play about adoption and identity by Suzanne Bachner presented as part of the Midtown International Theater Festival to run from July 16th through August 1st at The June Havoc Theatre, 312 West 36th Street, 1st Floor, New York City.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) will conclude its 30th Anniversary mainstage season with the New York premiere of VANITIES, a new musical written by Jack Heifner, featuring music and lyrics by David Kirshenbaum, directed by Judith Ivey. With musical staging by Dan Knechtges, VANITIES will feature Lauren Kennedy, Sarah Stiles, and Anneliese van der Pol and will begin preview performances on Thursday, July 2. Opening night is Thursday, July 16 at 6:30pm

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) will present the world premiere of FATHER COMES HOME FROM THE WARS (PARTS 1, 8 & 9), the fifth and final play of the 2008-2009 Public LAB season. Written by Public Theater Master Writer Chair Suzan-Lori Parks and directed by Jo Bonney, FATHER COMES HOME FROM THE WARS (PARTS 1, 8, & 9) will begin performances on Friday, June 5 and run through Sunday, June 28.

Manhattan Theatre Source presents the world premiere of THE ROSES ON THE ROCKS by Ellen Boscov, directed by Richard Caliban, starring Scott Sowers, Rachel Jones, Fulvia Vergel and Elia Monte-Brown June 4 - 27, 2009

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced complete casting and creative team today for FATHER COMES HOME FROM THE WARS (PARTS 1, 8 & 9), the final play of the 2008-2009 Public LAB season. Written by Suzan-Lori Parks and directed by Jo Bonney, FATHER COMES HOME FROM THE WARS (PARTS 1, 8 & 9) will begin performances on Friday, June 5 and run through Sunday, June 28. Tickets are $10 for all performances and are on-sale now.

Writers' Theatre Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma announce the World Premiere of A Minister's Wife, a new musical adapted from George Bernard Shaw's Candida, conceived and directed by Michael Halberstam with musical direction by Richard Casey. A Minister's Wife was adapted by Austin Pendleton with music by Joshua Schmidt and lyrics by Jan Tranen.

InProximity Theatre Company is proud to present its inaugural production of ORANGE FLOWER WATER by Craig Wright, directed by Bryn Boice; starring: Jolie Curtsinger , Michael Poignand , Laurie Schaefer, and Brent Vimtrup. The show will run May 14 through May 31 at Theatre 54 at Shetler Studios, 244 West Broadway 12th Floor NYC 10019.

Manhattan Theatre Source presents the world premiere of THE ROSES ON THE ROCKS by Ellen Boscov, directed by Richard Caliban, starring Scott Sowers, Rachel Jones, Fulvia Vergel and Elia Monte-Brown June 4 - 27, 2009

Following a critically acclaimed season which included the Pulitzer Prize finalist Becky Shaw and the Broadway transfer of its musical hit Next to Normal, Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) has announced three of the four plays scheduled for its upcoming 31st Season.

Nominations for the 54th Annual Drama Desk Awards were announced this morning at the New York Friars Club by Faith Prince and Jim Dale, multi-award winning stage stars. They were joined for the announcement by William Wolf, Drama Desk President, Barbara Siegel, Chairperson of the Drama Desk Nominating Committee, Robert R. Blume, Executive Producer of the Drama Desk Awards ceremony, and Randie Levine-Miller, Director of Special Events for the Drama Desk.

The Cherry Pit (155 Bank Street), Cherry Lane Theatre's third and newest Off-Broadway venue presents the world-premiere production of Deirdre O'Connor's JAILBAIT--a new play about two teenaged girls and the men they meet when they pose as college students during a night out at a club in Boston. Suzanne Agins directs.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) will present the world premiere of FATHER COMES HOME FROM THE WARS (PARTS 1, 8 & 9), the fifth and final play of the 2008-2009 Public LAB season. Written by Public Theater Master Writer Chair Suzan-Lori Parks and directed by Jo Bonney, FATHER COMES HOME FROM THE WARS (PARTS 1, 8, & 9) will begin performances on Friday, June 5 and run through Sunday, June 28.

For this one-night-only event, Broadway performers will join the 2ST Board of Trustees to perform 'The Quest for Fame,' featuring the Great White Way's best show-stopping numbers in this spring gala benefit for the acclaimed off-Broadway theatre company.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced today that the first preview of Craig Lucas' THE SINGING FOREST has been moved to Friday, April 10 due to the need for additional technical rehearsals. Directed by Mark Wing-Davey, THE SINGING FOREST was scheduled to begin previews on Tuesday, April 7 and open on Monday, April 27. The show will now open on Tuesday, April 28 at 7 PM.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) will conclude its 30th Anniversary mainstage season with the New York premiere of VANITIES, a new musical written by Jack Heifner, featuring music and lyrics by David Kirshenbaum, directed by Judith Ivey.