Nell Benjamin News

The Blank Theatre in Hollywood is now accepting scripts for its 2016-2017 Living Room Series. Submissions will be accepted between March 1 and May 31, 2016.

Nikolai Foster, Artistic Director at Curve, today announces the full company for his new production of the award-winning West End and Broadway smash hit musical comedy, Legally Blonde, including Tupele Dorgu who joins the cast as Paulette. 

Producers Barbara Whitman and Patrick Catullo announced today additions to the creative team for the delicious hit comedy, FULLY COMMITTED, starring five-time Emmy Award nominee Jesse Tyler Ferguson as more than 40 outrageous characters. The complete creative team for Fully Committed by Becky Mode, directed by Tony Award nominee Jason Moore, includes scenic design by Tony and Emmy Award winner Derek McLane (Beautiful, 33 Variations), costume design by Sarah Laux (The Humans), lighting design by Tony Award nominee Ben Stanton (Fun Home), sound design by Tony Award winner Darron L West (Peter and the Starcatcher), and original music by Emmy Award winner Jeff Richmond ('Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,' '30 Rock').

Dallas Theater Center Artistic Director Kevin Moriarty announced today the theater's 2016-2017 season including two world-premiere musicals titled Bella: An American Tall Tale by Kirsten Childs, the co-lyricist of FLY; and the world-premiere musical Hood, a fresh take on Robin Hood by Douglas Carter Beane and Lewis Flinn. Also included in the 2016-2017 season are two of The New York Times Best Theater picks of 2015, Constellations and The Christians; the classic historical drama, Inherit The Wind; a reimagined Greek tragedy, Electra; the holiday classic, A Christmas Carol; and an exciting new work with a title to be announced. DTC's 2016-2017 season includes productions in the Potter Rose Performance Hall and the Studio Theatre at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre in the AT&T Performing Arts Center and the Kalita Humphreys Theater on Turtle Creek.

Following critical acclaim at the Savoy Theatre, the Chichester Festival Theatre revival of Guys and Dolls will be extending its run at the Phoenix Theatre from 19 March 2016. Casting for the West End extension includes multiple Olivier Award-winning actress Samantha Spiro (Hello Dolly) as Miss Adelaide, Richard Kind (Disney/Pixar's BAFTA award-wining Inside Out) as Nathan Detroit and Oliver Tompsett (Wicked) as Sky Masterson. Continuing in their roles from the Savoy to the Phoenix Theatre are Siubhan Harrison as Sarah Brown, and Gavin Spokes as Nicely Nicely Johnson.

Main Street Theatre Works is proud to announce their cast for the 2016 Summer Season. The first summer show is The Explorers Club, by Nell Benjamin, running June 24th through July 23rd. at the Kennedy Mine Amphitheatre in Jackson, CA.

Live from New York! SNL alum Tina Fey and husband Jeff Richmond have co-written and will co-direct a special tribute to SNL creator Lorne Michaels at Lincoln Center's American Songbook Gala. The event takes place at The Alice Tully Hall tonight, February 11th.

Dallas Theater Center announced today complete details for the Texas-sized production of the Tony Award-winning play, ALL THE WAY. A co-production with the Alley Theatre and directed by DTC Artistic Director Kevin Moriarty, the Houston Chronicle calls ALL THE WAY "a fascinating portrait of one of the most colorful and complex figures in U.S. history." ALL THE WAY features company members from both DTC and the Alley Theatre.

Broadway World award winner Marc Robin brings a bouncy, infectious bundle of pink cotton candy to the Fulton stage with LEGALLY BLONDE

Alley Theatre presents the Texas-sized, Tony Award-winning new play, ALL THE WAY, a unique co-production with Dallas Theater Center (DTC). Directed by DTC Artistic Director Kevin Moriarty, ALL THE WAY brings company members from two of the largest Texas resident theaters to collaborate and perform on stage, beginning with the Houston premiere in the Alley's newly renovated Hubbard Theatre now through February 21, 2016. The show opens tonight, February 3, 2016.

Delaware Theatre Company is pleased to announce the six finalist plays in the 2015-2016 Delaware Young Playwrights Festival:

Omigod you guys! Elle Woods is bringing pink and lots of it to the Fallon Stage in Legally Blonde directed by Tom Ossowski. Based on the novel by Amanda Brown and the hit Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture, sorority girl Elle Woods takes on Harvard Law School in an attempt to win back the love of her life. There, she must use her brains and beauty to defend famous fitness instructor Brooke Wyndham, who has been accused of murder. Along the way she discovers that true love only finds us when we learn to truly love ourselves. Featuring a book by Heather Hach with music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin, Legally Blonde is sure to "bend and snap" its way into the hearts of audiences!

Andy Truscott, Director of Marketing and Development for Delaware Theatre Company and 2009 WCU alum, has been awarded the Region II Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Gold Medallion. It is the organization's most prestigious award and considered one of the great honors in theater education.

SNL alum Tina Fey and husband Jeff Richmond will co-write and co-direct a special tribute to SNL creator Lorne Michaels at Lincoln Center's American Songbook Gala

Following critical acclaim at the Savoy Theatre, the Chichester Festival Theatre revival of Guys and Dolls will transfer to the Phoenix Theatre whilst simultaneously touring the UK from March 2016. T

Nikolai Foster, Artistic Director at Curve, today announces Lucie Jones as Elle Woods in the award-winning West End and Broadway smash hit musical comedy, Legally Blonde. Lucie rose to prominence on the X Factor in 2009 and has since starred as Victoria in American Psycho (Almeida Theatre) and as Molly in Ghost (Asia Tour).

Nikolai Foster, Artistic Director at Curve, today announces Lucie Jones as Elle Woods in the award-winning West End and Broadway smash hit musical comedy, Legally Blonde. Lucie rose to prominence on the X Factor in 2009 and has since starred as Victoria in American Psycho (Almeida Theatre) and as Molly in Ghost (Asia Tour).

The Hasty Pudding Institute of 1770 announces that acclaimed Broadway, Off-Broadway and film producer Daryl Roth will be the 2016 recipient of the Order of the Golden Sphinx award.  Ms. Roth will be honored and presented with the prestigious award at the annual Order of the Golden Sphinx Gala to be held at the Diamond Horseshoe at the Paramount Hotel in New York City on April 11, 2016.

Arkansas Repertory Theatre announced today the resignation of producing artistic director Robert Hupp. Hupp is currently in his seventeenth season as the leader of Arkansas' largest non-profit theatre company. Hupp's resignation is effective with the conclusion of his current contract which expires at the end of June 2016. At that time, Hupp will assume his new position as artistic director of Syracuse Stage in Syracuse, New York.