Neil LaBute News

Stop... or move forward? Kiss... or keep walking? When Sara and Callie meet, their friendship quickly turns to potential romance. After violence touches their relationship, they must choose: Speak up... or remain silent? Loaded with laughter and tears, Stop Kiss will make you consider the things in life that matter most. Directed by guest artist Jennifer E. Popple, Stop Kiss stars guest actors Kate Avallone, Michael Kane, Theresa Reid, Jim Walker and BETC Ensemble Member Rebecca Remaly.

Furious Theatre Company has announced that the critically-acclaimed Los Angeles Premiere of HUNTER GATHERERS, written by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb (boom, Colorado) and directed by D?maso Rodriguez (Canned Peaches In Syrup, Furious Theatre; Orson's Shadow, Pasadena Playhouse) IS EXTENDING THROUGH SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28 at the home of Furious Theatre Company, the Pasadena Playhouse Carrie Hamilton Theatre, 39 S. El Molino Ave. in Pasadena.

The winners in the ninth annual Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers' Choice Awards, the only major UK theatre prize-giving decided by the public, were announced today (Sunday 15 February) at a glittering, star-studded evening at the Prince of Wales Theatre.

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) is pleased to announce another all-star line-up for the company's annual gala, to be held Monday, March 9, 2009 at The Hammerstein Ballroom (311 West 34th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues).

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) have announced that, in order to accommodate ticket demand, they will extend the New York Premiere of Charles Busch's The Third Story. Directed by Carl Andress. the six-character play will now continue through Sunday, March 15 (two additional weeks) at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC). The production, which opened on February 2, features Mr. Busch, Scott Parkinson, Sarah Rafferty, Jennifer Van Dyck, Jonathan Walker and Kathleen Turner (and marks Ms. Turner's return to Off Broadway in more than 30 years).

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) have announced that, in order to accommodate ticket demand, they will extend the New York Premiere of Charles Busch's The Third Story. Directed by Carl Andress. the six-character play will now continue through Sunday, March 6th (an additional week) at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC).

CINEMONDE SOIREE Presents An Exclusive Film Screening and Gourmet Cocktail Reception, With Cast, Filmmakers and Special Guests THE UNDERSTUDY Dying for stardom...She found a role to kill for Marin Ireland Aasif Mandvi Tom Wopat Paul Sparks Richard Kind Gloria Reuben Scott Cohen Reiko Aylesworth Amy Redford Cast: Marin Ireland( Neil LaBute's 'reasons to be pretty'; Blasted) , Aasif Mandvi (The Daily Show), Tom Wopat (Chicago) , Paul Sparks (Hedda Gabler) , and Richard Kind Filmmakers: David Conolly, Hannah Davis (Mothers & Daughters) Evening's Host: Jerry Rudes Gourmet Cocktail Reception & Exclusive Screening of THE UNDERSTUDY, a film by Hannah Davis and David Conolly A Q&A with cast & crew will immediately following the screening. Saturday, February 7 5:30 pm Arrivals 6:00 pm Cocktail Reception 7:30 pm Screening 9:15 pm Q&A and Post-screening Dessert Reception

92 Street Y has added Reasons To Be Neil LaBute to their bill. Get a rare glimpse into the life, work and creative process of prolific playwright, director and screenwriter Neil LaBute in this intimate conversation at 92YTribeca. The acclaimed artist will read selections from his dramatic writing and discuss the upcoming Broadway production of his play Reasons to be Pretty LaBute's works for stage and screen include In The Company of Men, Bash: Latter-Day Plays, The Shape of Things, The Mercy Seat, Fat Pig, Some Girls and Lakeview Terrace.

ShoWest has named Chris Pine ShoWest Male Star of Tomorrow, it was announced today by Mitch Neuhauser, co-managing director of the event, which will be held March 30-April 2, 2009, in Las Vegas. Pine will be presented with the ShoWest Male Star of Tomorrow Award at ShoWest's Final Night Banquet and Award Ceremony on Thursday, April 2nd, at Bally's and Paris Las Vegas. 'ShoWest has a history of recognizing major talents at the very earliest points in their rising careers,' said Neuhauser. 'Pine's impressive skills on the screen and stage will be sure to be showcased, with his performance as Captain Kirk, in the much anticipated release of Star Trek in theatres May 8, 2009. We could not be more excited to honor Chris Pine as this year's Male Star of Tomorrow.'

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) officially opened their production of Charles Busch's The Third Story on Monday, February 2nd and BWW was there to celebrate opening night!

Theatre for a New Audience and director, Arin Arbus, is set to present Othello. The show will feature John Douglas Thompson as Othello, Ned Eisenberg as Iago, and Juliet Rylance as Desdemona. Previews begin February 14 at 7 pm. The show opens February 22.

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) today announced that the second offering of their 2008-09 season will be Charles Busch's The Third Story, directed by Carl Andress.

Howard Panter, the dynamic UK co-founder of the Ambassador Theater Group, the producing company and owner of 23 London theatre venues, is setting his sights on Broadway in a VERY big way reports Variety. The trade paper reports that he has created an ambitious list of new projects targeting for Broadway -- including a handful of productions and in very exciting news, a possible new theater space.

Variety is reporting that Neil LaBute has signed a two-picture deal with Screen Gems. The first project will be to reunite with his 'Nurse Betty' star Chris Rock for a remake of 2007 British comedy 'Death at a Funeral.' LaBute, who most recently directed the Samuel L. Jackson film 'Lakeview Terrace' and will also head up the romantic comedy 'Here Comes the Sun' for Screen Gems.

CINEMONDE SOIREE Presents An Exclusive Film Screening and Gourmet Cocktail Reception, With Cast, Filmmakers and Special Guests THE UNDERSTUDY Dying for stardom...She found a role to kill for Marin Ireland Aasif Mandvi Tom Wopat Paul Sparks Richard Kind Gloria Reuben Scott Cohen Reiko Aylesworth Amy Redford Cast: Marin Ireland( Neil LaBute's 'reasons to be pretty'; Blasted) , Aasif Mandvi (The Daily Show), Tom Wopat (Chicago) , Paul Sparks (Hedda Gabler) , and Richard Kind Filmmakers: David Conolly, Hannah Davis (Mothers & Daughters) Evening's Host: Jerry Rudes Gourmet Cocktail Reception & Exclusive Screening of THE UNDERSTUDY, a film by Hannah Davis and David Conolly A Q&A with cast & crew will immediately following the screening. Saturday, February 7 5:30 pm Arrivals 6:00 pm Cocktail Reception 7:30 pm Screening 9:15 pm Q&A and Post-screening Dessert Reception

Furious Theatre Company continues its 2008-2009 season of shows with the Los Angeles Premiere of HUNTER GATHERERS, written by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb (boom, Colorado) and directed by D?maso Rodriguez (Canned Peaches In Syrup, Furious Theatre; Orson's Shadow, Pasadena Playhouse). HUNTER GATHERERS will preview on Wednesday, January 21; Thursday, January 22 and Friday, January 23 at 8 p.m. and will open on Saturday, January 24 at 8 p.m. and run through Saturday, February 21 at the home of Furious Theatre Company, the Pasadena Playhouse Carrie Hamilton Theatre, 39 S. El Molino Ave. in Pasadena.

The following statement has just been released to the media by Jeremy Piven's publicist. Stay tuned to BroadwayWorld.com for future updates as they become available.

It was announced today that Marin Ireland, Steven Pasquale, Piper Perabo and Thomas Sadoski will comprise the four-person cast of this season's production of Neil LaBute's new play, reasons to be pretty, under the direction of Terry Kinney. Perabo and Sadoski appeared in this summer's smash Off Broadway world premiere for MCC Theater, with Ireland and Pasquale slated to join the cast for the Broadway production. Preview performances begin Friday, March 13, 2009 at the Lyceum Theatre (149 West 45th Street) with an official opening night scheduled for Thursday, April 2, 2009. Tickets are on sale now through www.telecharge.com. reasons to be pretty confronts America's obsession with physical beauty headlong. In Neil LaBute's new play, Greg's (Sadoski) tight-knit social circle is thrown into turmoil when his off-handed remarks about a female co-worker's pretty face (and his girlfriend's lack thereof) get back to said girlfriend (Ireland). But that's just the beginning.

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) today announced that Jennifer Van Dyck, Scott Parkinson, Sarah Rafferty and Jonathan Walker will complete the cast for their production of Charles Busch's The Third Story, directed by Carl Andress. As previously announced Kathleen Turner and Mr. Busch will appear as dueling divas.

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) today announced that Kathleen Turner has been confirmed to star in their production of Charles Busch's The Third Story, directed by Carl Andress. Ms. Turner will appear opposite Mr. Busch, who was previously announced to play the other leading female role.