Molly Smith News

Katori Hall's Olivier Award-winning drama The Mountaintop comes to Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater following an acclaimed run at the Alley Theatre in Houston, where it was hailed by the Houston Chronicle as "fast and funny, profoundly poignant, remarkably real and shimmeringly surreal." Obie Award winner Robert O'Hara (Public Theater's Wild with Happy) makes his Arena Stage directorial debut with The Mountaintop, which is produced in association with the Alley Theatre and runs March 29-May 12, 2013 in the Kreeger Theater.

After successful shows at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, and the Triad, David Davila is taking his 52 Songs to college in a unique performance by talented students from colleges in the tri-state area including New York University, Wagner College, the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, Pace University and more.

Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith has announced 10 productions for the company's 2013/14 season, the fourth year in the Mead Center for American Theater. As a national center for the production, presentation, development and study of American theater, Arena Stage pursues a dynamic and diverse body of work with an upcoming season that showcases award-winning theater artists and projects.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater Announces its 2013/14 Schedule.

After successful shows at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, and the Triad, David Davila is taking his 52 Songs to college in a unique performance by talented students from colleges in the tri-state area including New York University, Wagner College, the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, Pace University and more.

According to the New York Times, Larry Kaye, the lead producer of both Miss Firecracker Contest and Velocity of Autumn has revealed that the Spring 2013 Broadway openings of both have been postponed. The Firecracker postponement had to do with, acccording to Kaye, a scheduling conflict that 'stood in the way of getting our particular dream cast.' In the case of Velocity of Autumn, the show couldn't find 'a suitable theater this season that would be a great fit for this two-person, very intimate play.'

Following its acclaimed 16-week run at the Lookingglass Theatre Company this fall, Metamorphoses brings the mythical tales of Ovid to life at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, 10 years after the Broadway premiere. Metamorphoses dives onto the Fichandler Stage now through March 17, 2013. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night celebrations below!

Following a critically acclaimed run at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater this past fall, One Night with Janis Joplin, returns for a summer run. Leading the production is Mary Bridget Davies.

Manhattan Theatre Club has announced the lineup for this spring's Ernst C. Stiefel "7@7" Reading Series.

Following its acclaimed 16-week run at the Lookingglass Theatre Company this fall, Metamorphoses brings the mythical tales of Ovid to life at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, 10 years after the Broadway premiere. Written and directed by Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman, Metamorphoses is based on David Slavitt's translation and marks the first time Zimmerman will direct the production since its Broadway run. This is also the first time Zimmerman will stage Metamorphoses in the round, and a custom set will be designed with the largest pool of water ever created for this production. Metamorphoses dives onto the Fichandler Stage tonight, February 8-March 17, 2013.

With the premiere of One Night With Janis Joplin at the Pasadena Playhouse on March 15, writer-director Randy Johnson brings yet another electrifying musical experience to Southern California audiences.

Ars Nova kicks off its 2013 season with The Netflix Plays, which begins performances January 30. This production, the newest installment from Ars Nova's Play Group, is set to play 10 performances from today, January 30 - February 9. The Netflix Plays, this year's incarnation of Ars Nova's annual Play Group production, features original short plays and live music inspired by the recommendation categories on the Netflix website.

Ars Nova kicks off its 2013 season with The Netflix Plays, which begins performances January 30. This production, the newest installment from Ars Nova's Play Group, is set to play 10 performances from today, January 30 - February 9. The Netflix Plays, this year's incarnation of Ars Nova's annual Play Group production, features original short plays and live music inspired by the recommendation categories on the Netflix website.

SPACE on Ryder Farm, a not-for-profit artist residency program housed on a working organic farm in Brewster, NY, announces it is now accepting applications for its 2013 season.

Ars Nova kicks off its 2013 season with The Netflix Plays, which begins performances January 30. This production, the newest installment from Ars Nova's Play Group, is set to play 10 performances from January 30 - February 9. The Netflix Plays, this year's incarnation of Ars Nova's annual Play Group production, features original short plays and live music inspired by the recommendation categories on the Netflix website.

Mary T. & Lizzy K. stars D.C.-area actress Kathryn Kelley (Round House Theatre's Next Fall) as Mary Todd Lincoln and Sameerah Luqmaan-Harris (Urban Stage's ReEntry) as Elizabeth Keckly. They are joined by noted local actors Thomas Adrian Simpson (last seen at Arena Stage as Col. Pickering in My Fair Lady) as Abraham Lincoln and Joy Jones (Studio Theatre's Invisible Man) as Ivy.

With panache and pedal-to-the-metal intensity, Molly Smith Metzler's culture clash comedy-of-bad-manners, ELEMENO PEA, squares off two sisters with a wealthy employer, unleashing a succession of secrets in a brutal dissection of significant moments and how they can launch or derail a life. Unfolding in real time, this hearty class system stew transitions fluidly from hilarity to poignancy and offers an amusing morality tale about the compromising consequences of money's seductive power. Mark Valdez (Learn to Be Latina) returns to Mixed Blood to direct the regional premiere, which opens February 22 and runs through March 17, 2013 at Mixed Blood's historic firehouse theatre on the West Bank, 1501 S. Fourth St. in Minneapolis.

As expected (thankfully) 2012 provided Southern California audiences--specifically here in Orange County and nearby Los Angeles and San Diego--a season full of outstanding, remarkable theater offerings from touring companies, impressive regional productions, and even some tiny black box theaters. And, of course, as is the common practice during the ushering of a new year, the enjoyable past-time of putting together a year-end 'best of' list is something contributor Michael Lawrence Quintos truly looks forward to doing, especially when there's a plethora of great work to choose from--many of which he had the pleasure of reviewing exclusively for BroadwayWorld.