Nell Benjamin News

Winsome Brown, the actress and writer who enjoyed considerable success with her solo play THIS IS MARY BROWN at La MaMa last year, returns to the stage with her newest work, HIT THE BODY ALARM, presented by The Performing Garage (33 Wooster St.), with previews set to begin September 20 prior to the solo play's official opening night September 22. Directed by Brad Rouse and Winsome Brown, HIT THE BODY ALARM is scheduled to run through October 2, 2016.

Know Theatre kicks off season 19 with GIRLFRIEND, featuring Book by Todd Almond and Music & Lyrics by Matthew Sweet. Directed by Lindsey Augusta Mercer, with choreography by Kim Popa and musical direction by Erin McCamley, the show runs July 29 - August 27, 2016.

?Producers Dori Berinstein and Bill Damaschke announced today that the new musical comedy formerly known as Gotta Dance, which recently played a triumphant World Premiere at Broadway in Chicago's Bank of America Theater, will open on Broadway in the Spring of 2017 as HALF TIME.

Eight outstanding educators from schools and performing arts centers around the country will work one-on-one with Broadway greats at the 7th Annual FREDDIE G FELLOWSHIP July 13th - 16th.  The event has once again been underwritten by Myrna and Freddie ("G") Gershon, Chairman and CEO of leading theatrical licensor Music Theatre International (MTI).  The four days of classes and activities honor instructors and teachers who are working to make a difference for their students and communities through the process of staging musical theatre productions in their schools and educational theatre groups.  In addition to the New York experience, each of the teachers' schools receives $5,000 from Freddie and Myrna to enhance their arts program.

Main Street Theatre Works (MSTW) kicks off its 2016 Summer Season at the Kennedy Mine Amphitheatre in Jackson, with The Explorers Club, by Nell Benjamin. The Explorers Club is a comedic look at Victorian adventurers who ponder the mysteries of science and nature, while genteelly getting blotto. What better opportunity for you to pack a picnic dinner, your favorite beverage and take in all the crazy adventures of these infamous explorers. The Explorers Club runs every Today and Saturday, June 24th - July 23rd. Doors open at 6:30 for picnics; show starts at 8:00. Patrons are encouraged to come early with their dinners, chairs and jackets. The Kennedy Mine Amphitheatre is located at 1127 North Main Street in Jackson.

Main Street Theatre Works (MSTW) kicks off its 2016 Summer Season at the Kennedy Mine Amphitheatre in Jackson, with The Explorers Club, by Nell Benjamin. The Explorers Club is a comedic look at Victorian adventurers who ponder the mysteries of science and nature, while genteelly getting blotto. What better opportunity for you to pack a picnic dinner, your favorite beverage and take in all the crazy adventures of these infamous explorers. The Explorers Club runs every Friday and Saturday, June 24th - July 23rd. Doors open at 6:30 for picnics; show starts at 8:00. Patrons are encouraged to come early with their dinners, chairs and jackets. The Kennedy Mine Amphitheatre is located at 1127 North Main Street in Jackson. BroadwayWorld has an inside look at the production - check out the photos below!

John Rando (Tony and Outer Critics Award winner for Urinetown) directs production starring Arnie Burton (Flesh and Bone) as Jonathan, Emily Robinson (Transparent) as Tessa, Jon Tenney (The Closer, Major Crimes, Scandal) as Jack, and Jennifer Westfeldt (Kissing Jessica Stein, Ira & Abby, Friends With Kids) as Jen.

BWW Review: LEGALLY BLONDE, THE MUSICAL - Missing The Fun Would Be Criminal

The award-winning Company Theatre presents the Broadway hit Legally Blonde the Musical from July 29 through August 20 at The Company Theatre Center for Performing Arts, 30 Accord Park Drive, Norwell. Legally Blonde the Musical is by Heather Hach, with music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin, based on the novel by Amanda Brown and the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture.

Williamstown Theatre Festival has announced additional programming and casting for the 2016 summer season. Additions to this season's slate of events include the legendary Late-Night Cabaret, the always popular Fridays@3 Reading Series, and this year's Boris Sagal and Bill Foeller Fellowship Projects.

Theatre Aspen today announced that single tickets for its summer season are now on sale. Full season passes with exclusive access to booking seats, no fees and other benefits, are among an array of available options, including specially priced preview passes and the popular Local's Pass for valley residents, offered through June 1. Tickets and passes are available through the organization's website at theatreaspen.org, where complete schedules and pricing are found.

Manhattan Theatre Club, in partnership with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, announces the upcoming Sloan Panel Discussion on INCOGNITO, which will be held following tonight's May 17 performance of the play at MTC at New York City Center-Stage I (131 West 55th Street), and is open to anyone attending the evening's performance.

Main Street Theatre Works (MSTW) kicks off its 2016 Summer Season at the Kennedy Mine Amphitheatre in Jackson, with The Explorers Club, by Nell Benjamin. The Explorers Club is a comedic look at Victorian adventurers who ponder the mysteries of science and nature, while genteelly getting blotto. What better opportunity for you to pack a picnic dinner, your favorite beverage and take in all the crazy adventures of these infamous explorers. The Explorers Club runs every Friday and Saturday, June 24th - July 23rd. Doors open at 6:30 for picnics; show starts at 8:00. Patrons are encouraged to come early with their dinners, chairs and jackets. The Kennedy Mine Amphitheatre is located at 1127 North Main Street in Jackson.

Manhattan Theatre Club, in partnership with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, announces the upcoming Sloan Panel Discussion on INCOGNITO, which will be held following the Tuesday, May 17 performance of the play at MTC at New York City Center-Stage I (131 West 55th Street), and is open to anyone attending the evening's performance.

SoLuna Studio will produce the musical LEGALLY BLONDE, THE MUSICAL as a part their professional mainstage season, with performances running May 21st 25-June 5th.

THE EXPLORERS CLUB: The place to discover eternal lettuce, the East pole and belly laughs.

No Strings Theatre Company, located at the Black Box Theatre in downtown Las Cruces, presents a madcap comedy by New York playwright Nell Benjamin, The Explorers Club, as part of its 2015-6 season. The play opens on Friday, May 6 and runs through Sunday, May 22.

Dallas Theater Center announced today complete details for the world-premiere of DEFERRED ACTION. A co-production with Cara Mia Theatre Co. and directed by Cara Mia's Artistic Director David Lozano, DEFERRED ACTION features company members from both DTC and Cara Mia. DEFERRED ACTION will begin previews with a Pay-What-You-Can performance on Wednesday, April 20 and will run through Saturday, May 14. Press Opening will be Today, April 29 at 8 p.m.

At last night's Tribeca Film Festival, Tina Fey finally addressed the question on everyone's mind - will there be a musical stage adaptation of the hit 2004 film MEAN GIRLS?