Murray Abraham News

THE LOWER EAST SIDE (LES) FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS celebrates its seventeenth year of bringing together under one roof, in just three days, over 100 performing arts organizations, local and international celebrities, independent artists, poets, playwrights, musicians, puppeteers, film makers and many others - all of whom reside, work or have their roots in the culturally diverse, willfully anarchistic Lower East Side - for New York City's most diverse FREE 3-day festival, from Friday, May 25 through Sunday, May 27, at Theater for the New City (155 1st Avenue, between E. 9th and 10th Sts.) in Manhattan. OBIE Award-winning actress Crystal Field is co-founder and Artistic Director of Theater for the New City.

Red Bull Theater today announced that Patrick Stewart will receive this year's Matador Award For Excellence In Classical Theater at their 4th Annual Running Of The Red Bulls Benefit on Monday June 4th at The Bowery Hotel (335 Bowery at East 3rd Street).

Acclaimed Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) Artistic Director Michael Boyd will receive the Samuel H. Scripps Award at Theatre for a New Audience's Spring Gala Celebrating Shakespeare's 448th Birthday. The celebration, Monday, May 7, is at the Powerhouse at the American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street.

The Old Globe's 2012-13 Season will feature the World Premieres of two new musicals: Allegiance - A New American Musical by Jay Kuo and Lorenzo Thione and A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder by Robert L. Freedman and Steven Lutvak. The season also includes George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion in celebration of the classic play's 100th anniversary and the World Premiere of a new adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House by Anne-Charlotte Hanes Harvey and Kirsten Brandt. Two recent Broadway hits will make their San Diego debuts at the Globe: David Lindsay-Abaire's Good People and Jon Robin Baitz's Other Desert Cities. Rounding out the season are the West Coast Premiere of Bekah Brunstetter's Be a Good Little Widow and the Southern California Premiere of Tarell Alvin McCraney's The Brothers Size.

OBAMA IN NAPLES, written by Italian Claudio Angelini, is scheduled to play its world premier at the June Havoc Theatre April 25 to May 6.

Since its first production, The Seven Deadly Elements, premiered at La MaMa E.T.C. in 1977, the Soho-based Creation Production Company has worked to generate innovative forms of theatre.

The Tony Award®-winning Hartford Stage, under the leadership of Darko Tresnjak, Artistic Director, and Michael Stotts, Managing Director, presents William Shakespeare's The Tempest, directed by Darko Tresnjak, playing May 18 through June 10, 2012 (press opening: Wednesday, May 16 at 7:30pm).

Tonight, April 23, 2012, Theatre Communications Group (TCG) will celebrate its 50th anniversary at a gala honoring Kenny Leon, Judith O. Rubin, and The Shubert Foundation, at Espace (635 West 42nd Street between 11th and 12th avenues).

La MaMa will continue its MONDAY NIGHTS AT LA MAMA series, a signature program of the company's 50th anniversary Homecoming season, tonight, April 23 at 8 p.m. at the Ellen Stewart Theater (66 E. 4 St.) with an evening featuring two of La MaMa's most celebrated artists in conversation -- director Andrei Serban and actor F. Murray Abraham.

WaterTower Theatre's August: Osage County, running March 30 - tonight, April 22, 2012 at the Addison Theatre Centre, features Pam Dougherty as Violet Weston; Cliff Stephens as Beverly Weston; Sherry Jo Ward as Barbara Fordham; James Crawford as Bill Fordham; Ruby Westfall as Jean Fordham; Kristin McCollum as Ivy Weston; Jessica Cavanagh as Karen Weston; Nancy A. Sherrard as Mattie Fae Aiken; Tom Lenaghen as Charlie Aiken; Clay Yocum as Little Charles Aiken; Sasha Truman-McGonnell as Johnna Monevata; Chris Hury as Steve Heidebrecht and Stan Graner as Sheriff Deon Gilbeau.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner announced today that acclaimed/awarding winning actresses Judy Kuhn and Melissa Errico will star as Fosca and Clara in the company's new production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Tony Award-winning musical PASSION, to be directed by John Doyle (the Tony Award-winning revivals of Sondheim's Sweeney Todd and Company). PASSION is slated to begin performances in February, 2013. Additional casting will be announced in the coming weeks and months, as well as full creative team. PASSION opened on Broadway in May of 1994 and received the Tony Award that year for Best Musical.

After raising L.A.'s cultural pulse with new productions attracting critical acclaim, The Eli & Edythe Broad Stage at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center had unveiled its vision for the future and announced its 5th Anniversary Season beginning on September 1, 2012 with the Brazilian jazz singer Luciana Souza. Highlights of the expanded season include world premieres from today's most relevant companies and artists in dance, theater, and music from around the world; artistic partnerships with London's Menier Chocolate Factory, the Los Angeles Opera, and Shakespeare's Globe Theatre; the 4th Annual Westside Jazz Experience featuring stars such as Pat Metheny, Rickie Lee Jones, and the Fabulous Thunderbirds; a return of family programs including a hit from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival; and artists direct from Brazil, Cuba, Europe, and across the U.S.

On Monday, April 23, 2012, Theatre Communications Group (TCG) will elebrate its 50th c anniversary at a gala honoring Kenny Leon, Judith O. Rubin, and The Shubert Foundation, at Espace (635 West 42nd Street between 11th and 12th avenues).

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, will present its sold-out Open Rehearsal Series with Monday Night ANTONY & CLEOPATRA, featuring a company of seasoned actors and directors as they explore the text over three consecutive Monday nights beginning April 16 with Stephanie Roth Haberle and Sam Tsoutsouvas, directed by Brian Kulick; followed by Laila Robbins as Cleopatra on April 23, directed by Craig Baldwin; and finally on April 30, Kim Cattrall as Cleopatra and Anthony Heald as Antony, directed by Brian Kulick. While all three evenings are sold-out, a waiting list will form each evening at 7 pm in the lobby.

On Sunday, April 15, at 4 pm, The New Group presents this season's final presentation in Dark Nights at The New Group - Reflecting Rabe: Readings from David Rabe's Work. This event features readings of excerpts from David Rabe's acclaimed writing, from plays to fiction. Special guests, including Bobby Cannavale, Judith Ivey and Matthew Modine, will read selections and reflect on Rabe's singular career. Discussion with David Rabe and guests will follow.

La MaMa will continue its MONDAY NIGHTS AT LA MAMA series, a signature program of the company's 50th anniversary Homecoming season, on Monday, April 23 at 8 p.m. at the Ellen Stewart Theater (66 E. 4 St.) with an evening featuring two of La MaMa's most celebrated artists in conversation -- director Andrei Serban and actor F. Murray Abraham.

On Monday, April 23, 2012, Theatre Communications Group (TCG) will celebrate its 50th anniversary at a gala honoring Kenny Leon, Judith O. Rubin, and The Shubert Foundation, at Espace (635 West 42nd Street between 11th and 12th avenues).

On Sunday, April 15 at 4:00pm, The New Group will present this season's final presentation in Dark Nights at The New Group - Reflecting Rabe: Readings from David Rabe's Work. This event features readings of excerpts from David Rabe's acclaimed writing, from plays to fiction.

Gore Vidal's THE BEST MAN opened last night, Sunday, April 1st, 2012 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre for a strictly limited 18 week engagement is directed by Drama Desk Award winner Michael Wilson (The Orphans Home Cycle Part I, II and III, Dividing The Estate). Gore Vidal's THE BEST MAN comes to Broadway in an all-star theatrical event with two time Tony Award winner James Earl Jones, Tony and Emmy Award winner John Larroquette, Emmy and Golden Globe winner Candice Bergen, Emmy Award winner Eric McCormack, Tony Award nominee Kerry Butler, Tony Award winner Jefferson Mays, Drama Desk Award winner Michael McKean and five time Tony Award winner Angela Lansbury. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the arrivals and brings you photo coverage below!