Michele Volansky News

Azuka Theatre continues to foster new works by local Philadelphia playwrights with the world premiere of Ship by Douglas Williams.

PlayPenn, the nationally-recognized new play development organization based in Philadelphia, is excited to announce their Summer 2019 Education Program courses. Curated by Director of Education Julia Bumke, the semester features a variety of courses and workshops designed for writers of all skill levels.

It's a different time and a different war, but the protagonist in this coming of age story faces many of the same challenges as would a young person today. What do I want to do with my life? Where do I fit in the world? How can I make my mark? Meanwhile, set in the City of Lowell in 1941-2, as it is struggling to come to terms with a surfeit of immigrants, that city today remains a diverse community in a nation that is roiled by the debate over how to deal with a flood of immigrants and asylum seekers. Artistic Director Sean Daniels has adapted Lowell native Jack Kerouac's unfinished, long-lost novel THE HAUNTED LIFE into a play of the same name, now having its world premiere at Merrimack Repertory Theatre, with Daniels co-directing with christopher oscar peña.

Azuka Theatre ends the 2017-2018 season with the world premiere of Mrs. Harrison, by R. Eric Thomas, from May 2 to20, 2018. Mrs.Harrison is the third and final show of the season that celebrated Azuka's commitment to notable Philadelphia playwrights and unique Philadelphia voices. Producing Artistic Director Kevin Glaccum directs this suspenseful dark comedy and drama about two women, one story and their very different memories about their relationship in college. The show runs through May 20, 2018, for a total of 18 performances.  All performances will take place at the Louis Bluver Theatre at The Drake, 302 S. Hicks Street. Tickets for shows this season are Pay What You Decide, whereas audience members see a show first, and pay what they decide after the performance. For reservations, visit azukatheatre.org. This production is produced with support from Honorary Producers Robin and Patrick Tracy. 

Mile Square Theatre, Hudson County's leading professional theatre, presents its annual 10-minute play festival, 7th Inning Stretch: 7 10-minute plays about baseball.

In a production commissioned by the Finborough Theatre, the European premiere of American playwright Bruce Graham's White Guy on the Bus opens at the Finborough Theatre for a four-week limited season on Tuesday, 27 March 2018 (Press Nights: Thursday, 29 March and Friday, 30 March 2018 at 7.30pm).

During their John Guare Festival and the World Premiere of Guare's epic Lydie Breeze Trilogy, EgoPo Classic Theater is collaborating with Drexel University's Performing Arts Department for an evening symposium, Future of American Playwriting, Saturday, February 3 at 4 p.m. The panel will feature John Guare and local playwrights Jacqueline Goldfinger, Bruce Graham, and James Ijames. The panel is moderated by Broad Street Review Editor in Chief Wendy Rosenfield. The symposium will be held in the Stein Auditorium in Nesbitt Hall at Drexel University, 3215 Market Street. Tickets cost $10 and are available on www.egopo.org or by phone at 267-273-1414.

An array of award-winning teaching artists are lined up to share their craft and art with theater enthusiasts, theatre artists and writers in 2018. PlayPenn, the new play development organization based in Philadelphia, is proud to announce their Winter and Spring 2018 Education Series, led by award-winning playwright and University of Pennsylvania playwriting professor Jacqueline Goldfinger, which features both face-to-face courses in Philadelphia and online workshops that can be taken from anywhere in the world.

Azuka Theatre kicks off their 18th season with the world premiere of The Gap by Emma Goidel. Rebecca Wright directs this dark comedy and mystery that centers around family secrets, performing, and sisterhood.

Lantern Theater Company continues its 24th season with a world premiere production of The Craftsman by celebrated Philadelphia playwright Bruce Graham. Commissioned and developed through the Lantern's New Works Initiative, Graham's new play spins a darkly ironic tale of ambition, genius, and deception. M. Craig Getting will direct a cast that includes Mary Lee Bednarek, Dan Hodge, Anthony Lawton, Brian McCann, Paul L. Nolan, and Ian Merrill Peakes. Theater critics and members of the press are invited to attend opening night on Wednesday, November 15 at 7 p.m. A full schedule is included in the fact sheet below.

Hub Theatre Company of Boston will kick off its highly anticipated fifth season with the riveting drama Coyote on a Fence by Bruce Graham Friday, March 31- Saturday, April 15 at First Church Boston, 66 Marlborough Street in Boston's Back Bay. Performances are Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, and Sundays at 5 pm. All performances are Pay-What-You-Can.  Donations of new and gently loved children's books will be collected at each performance for local charities. For tickets and information visit www.hubtheatreboston.org

Hub Theatre Company of Boston will kick off its highly anticipated fifth season with the riveting drama Coyote on a Fence by Bruce Graham Friday, March 31 - Saturday, April 15 at First Church Boston, 66 Marlborough Street in Boston's Back Bay.

PlayPenn, the Philadelphia-based organization dedicated to the development and nurturing of new plays and playwrights, is partnering with Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and Contemporary American Theatre Festival to present workshops of two new works by acclaimed writers Mickey Fisher (creator of CBS's EXTANT with Halle Berry) and Kara Lee Corthron.

Following a record, at-capacity run of How We Got On, Azuka Theatre continues their 2016-2017 "pay what you decide" season with the world premiere of Sh_theads. Developed in partnership with PlayPenn, playwright Douglas Williams and director Kevin Glaccum examine a down-and-out bike shop in lower Manhattan and the lives of the people who love to work there.

PlayPenn, Philadelphia's artist-driven organization dedicated to improving the way in which new plays are developed, has announced their Spring 2017 education offerings.

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer; Brian Beirne, Managing Director) is thrilled to host the NYC premiere of WHITE GUY ON THE BUS, written by Bruce Graham and directed by Bud Martin.

THE ROAD THEATRE COMPANY and Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, are thrilled to present the second show of its 2016-2017 season, the Los Angeles premiere of WHITE GUY ON THE BUS, written by Bruce Graham and directed by Stewart J. Zully.  WHITE GUY ON THE BUS will begin previews on Monday, January 23 at 8pm; will open on Friday, January 27 at 8pm and run through Saturday, March 18 at the Road Theatre Company's second home, The Road on Magnolia, located in The NoHo Senior Arts Colony, 10747 Magnolia Blvd. in North Hollywood.

THE ROAD THEATRE COMPANY and Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, are thrilled to present the second show of its 2016-2017 season, the Los Angeles premiere of WHITE GUY ON THE BUS, written by Bruce Graham and directed by Stewart J. Zully.  WHITE GUY ON THE BUS will begin previews on Monday, January 23 at 8pm; will open on Friday, January 27 at 8pm and run through Saturday, March 18 at the Road Theatre Company's second home, The Road on Magnolia, located in The NoHo Senior Arts Colony, 10747 Magnolia Blvd. in North Hollywood.

Ideologies clash. Boundaries are crossed. Exactly how far will we go in the struggle for the upper hand? Theatre Exile begins their 19th season by searching for the moral center with the world premiere of Rizzo, by award-winning playwright and South Philadelphia resident Bruce Graham.