Molly Smith News

It's likely of little surprise to anyone that follows the workings of the highest court in our nation that any legal battle situation involving conservative Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and an opponent is ripe for theatricalization. Arena Stage's resident playwright John Strand has done just that with his world premiere play, THE ORIGINALIST. However, the play he wrote is not the one we all might expect.

Four-time Helen Hayes Award winner and acclaimed D.C. actor Edward Gero stars as one of America's most brilliant and polarizing figures-Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia-in the world-premiere political drama The Originalist, by Charles MacArthur Award winner and Arena Stage resident playwright John Strand. The Originalist runs now through April 26, 2015. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Olivier Award-winning playwright Katori Hall returns to Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater with the world premiere of her most personal project to date-the fierce comedy-drama The Blood Quilt. Hall is an inaugural resident playwright of Arena Stage's American Voices New Play Institute, and The Blood Quilt is one of three plays from Hall receiving world premieres around the country this season. Hall reunites with director and Howard University alumna Kamilah Forbes (artistic director of the Hip-Hop Theater Festival) following their Broadway collaboration on The Mountaintop. The Blood Quilt runs April 24-June 7, 2015 in the Kreeger Theater.

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director) and Barry Grove (Executive Producer) just announced two productions for Manhattan Theatre Club's upcoming 2015-2016 theatrical season. MTC's Off-Broadway season at New York City Center (131 West 55th Street) will feature the American premiere of Incognito by Nick Payne, directed by Tony Award winner Doug Hughes and Important Hats of the Twentieth Century, the world premiere comedy by Nick Jones, directed by Moritz Von Stuelpnagel.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad will join Event Chair and Arena Stage Board member Shawna Watley (Senior Policy Advisor with Holland & Knight) as the Honorary Chair for The Blood Quilt World Premiere Celebration on Thursday, May 7, 2015. The new play by Katori Hall (The Mountaintop, Our Lady of Kibeho) is directed by Kamilah Forbes and runs April 24-June 7, 2015 in the Kreeger Theater.

Four productions still remain in Geva Theatre Center's 42nd Season: A Body of Water, Lee Blessing's play of memory and identity; The Mountaintop, a reimagining of Martin Luther King's last night on earth; the world premiere of Cass Morgan's journey to discover her roots - The Road to Where; and the season's grand finale, the laugh-out-loud comedy Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. The 2014-2015 Season continued Geva's innovative efforts to connect patrons and artists and art with the community. The 2015-2016 Season will continue to build on that and also usher in a new era as Geva's historic home begins to undergo renovation and transformation.

'Come with an open mind and prepare to be surprised,' director Molly Smith offered about the premiere of THE ORIGINALIST. The new play by John Strand places one of our time's most polarizing figures center stage: Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Scalia's conservative views and strict interpretation of the Constitution will make for stirring theatre, according to Smith, artistic director of Washington DC;s Arena Stage. We interview Smith about the play.

Four-time Helen Hayes Award winner and acclaimed D.C. actor Edward Gero stars as one of America's most brilliant and polarizing figures-Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia-in the world-premiere political drama The Originalist, by Charles MacArthur Award winner and Arena Stage resident playwright John Strand. When a bright, liberal law school graduate embarks on a nerve-wracking clerkship with Justice Scalia, she discovers him to be both an infuriating sparring partner and unexpected mentor. How will their relationship affect one of the most incendiary cases ever to reach the nation's highest court? Artistic Director Molly Smith directs this daring new play, which offers a rare portrayal of a sitting Supreme Court justice, and for the first time the intimate Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle will be configured into a three-quarter thrust configuration. The Originalist runs March 6-April 26, 2015.

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

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces the full company for the Washington, D.C. premiere of Christopher Durang's Tony Award-winning comedy Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. Helen HayesAward-winning director and playwright Aaron Posner, known for his Chekhov-inspired plays Stupid f**king Bird and Life Sucks (Or the Present Ridiculous), lends his hand to this riotous sendup, which satirizes characters and themes from Anton Chekhov's classics. In this 'sunny new play about gloomy people' (New York Times), siblings Vanya and Sonia live out their days in an endless, bleak tableau in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. All seems numbingly mundane until in sweeps hurricane Masha, their fading movie star sister, with her shiny new boy toy and a big announcement. Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike runs April 3-May 3, 2015 in the Fichandler Stage. Check out a first look at the cast below!

City Theatre Artistic Director Tracy Brigden has announced the first three plays of the 2015-2016 season, scheduled to kick off October 10, 2015. City's 41st season will feature six exciting new works as well as one special event.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces the full company for the Washington, D.C. premiere of Christopher Durang's Tony Award-winning comedy Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.

Women's Project Theater, under the leadership of newly-appointed Producing Artistic Director Lisa McNulty, is pleased to present the World Premiere of BRIGHT HALF LIFE - a new play by Pulitzer Prize finalist Tanya Barfield and directed by Tony Award nominee Leigh Silverman - in a five-week limited engagement at New York City Center Stage II (131 W. 55th Street) through March 22, 2015. Opening night is set for tonight, February 25.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces the full company for August Wilson's classic drama King Hedley II. Set in the 1980s Hill District of Pittsburgh, the ninth installment of Pulitzer Prize winner Wilson's acclaimed play cycle examining Black America follows a scarred ex-convict who struggles to turn his life around and lock away his past. The drama is directed by Timothy Douglas, who worked with the late playwright on the world premiere of Radio Golf and has directed eight plays out of Wilson's 10-play cycle. King Hedley II runs February 6-March 8, 2015 in the Fichandler Stage. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the opening night photos below!

The Theatre School at DePaul University is pleased to present Elemeno Pea by Molly Smith Metzler in the Sondra and Denis Healy Theatre, located in The Theatre School building at Racine and Fullerton. The production is directed by Brian Balcom, MFA Directing candidate, Class of 2016. Opening Night is tonight, February 13, and the production will run through Sunday February 22, 2015. Performances are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2 PM. Previews are on February 11 and 12, at 7:30 PM.

Artistic Director Molly Smith has announced the 2015/16 season lineup for the 66th season at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater.

Today we are talking to one of Broadway's best baritones all about his accomplished career in musical theatre that began nearly 20 years ago with a memorable turn in MISS SAIGON, the thoughtful and debonair Matt Bogart. In addition to looking back at his arrival on Broadway during the mega-musical era, Bogart also comments on subsequent starring roles in Broadway productions ranging from Elton John and Tim Rice's Tony Award-winning AIDA to Frank Wildhorn and Jack Murphy's THE CIVIL WAR and far beyond. Additionally, Bogart sheds considerable light on projects he has participated in over the years in regional productions and workshops, including THE BAKER'S WIFE, CAMELOT, ACE and more. Most importantly, Bogart offers the full 411 on this weekend's hotly anticipated evening of music from famous rock concept musical CHESS and clues us in on what we can expect from the starry evening, directed by Scott Coulter. Furthermore, Bogart shares stories from the set of SMASH, outlines some of his favorite musical theatre songs to date and details the process in bringing his previous solo albums to fruition along with JAY Records executive producer John Yap, looking ahead to the release of a brand new release set for later this year. All of that, a thorough analysis of participating in 2500 performances of long-running Tony Award-winning Broadway super smash JERSEY BOYS, appearing in the international broadcast and DVD edition of SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE, memories of the legendary 2002 Kennedy Center Sondheim Celebration and much, much more!

BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the meet and greet after the world-premiere on February 3 below!

Four-time Helen Hayes Award winner and acclaimed D.C. actor Edward Gero stars as one of America's most brilliant and polarizing figures-Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia-in the world-premiere political drama The Originalist, by Charles MacArthur Award winner and Arena Stage resident playwright John Strand. When a bright, liberal law school graduate embarks on a nerve-wracking clerkship with Justice Scalia, she discovers him to be both an infuriating sparring partner and unexpected mentor. How will their relationship affect one of the most incendiary cases ever to reach the nation's highest court? Artistic Director Molly Smith directs this daring new play, which offers a rare portrayal of a sitting Supreme Court justice, and for the first time the intimate Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle will be configured into a three-quarter thrust configuration. The Originalist runs March 6-April 26, 2015.

City Theatre continues its 40th anniversary season with a witty "have and have-nots" comedy. Elemeno Pea, by Molly Smith Metzler, directed by City Theatre Artistic Director Tracy Brigden, will run on the Mainstage February 28 - March 22, 2015.