New Group News

NBC has given a 13-episode series commitment order to an untitled comedy from “Parks and Recreation” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” executive producer Michael Schur, one of the most respected and talented writer-showrunners in television today.

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, will present the premiere of You're Standing in My Way: A New Song Cycle by William Finn and Deborah Abramson, from August 14-17 at Mr. Finn's Cabaret, located on the lower level of the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center, 36 Linden Street, Pittsfield.

Broadway actors Lucas Caleb Rooney, fresh off of a run in Classic Stage Company's production of Doctor Faustus, and Bryce Pinkham, after a run of The Heidi Chronicles and before returning to his Tony-nominated role in the Tony award-winning musical A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, have recently returned from Madagascar, where they worked to secure a permanent home for their non-profit organization, Zara Aina.  Also joining them in Madagascar was puppeteer, Annie Worden.

Fasten your seat belts for Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati's 30th anniversary lineup! The 2015-2016 season opens with the regional premiere of Luna Gale, an intense and heartbreakingly honest drama by award-winning playwright Rebecca Gilman. This forceful and sobering story examines our foster care system and how an innocent baby girl becomes the object of a family's life-altering game of tug-of-war. Luna Gale plays September 8-27, 2015 and is directed by D. Lynn Meyers.

Community Matters is a series of free events presented in partnership between People's Light and numerous local organizations to spark dialogue about vital issues in our community. Performed readings of new plays are the centerpiece of each evening. They are followed by a discussion with the artists, community partners, and special guests.

Community Matters is a series of free events presented in partnership between People's Light and numerous local organizations to spark dialogue about vital issues in our community. Performed readings of new plays are the centerpiece of each evening. They are followed by a discussion with the artists, community partners, and special guests.

Profiles Theatre opens its 27th Season with the Midwest premiere of the acclaimed new play The Jacksonian by Beth Henley, directed by Artistic Director Joe Jahraus. The production runs August 21 - October 11, 2015 at Profiles Theatre's The Main Stage, 4139 N. Broadway.  The press opening is Thursday, August 27 at 8pm.

Do you remember classic pop/rock songs of the 1970s such as 'Do It Again,' 'My Old School,' and 'Reeling In the Years?' If those tunes are swirling around in your head it's because they were big hits of the period by the iconic rock group Steely Dan. The founding member of that great band, guitarist extraordinaire Denny Dias, will take the stage at New York's popular jazz club IRIDIUM this week, August 6 and 7 for Denny Dias & Friends, a show that will celebrate the music of Steely Dan and showcase a few of his Denny's original songs. Joining Denny will be two special guests: Celebrated pianist/composer/music director Yaron Gershovsky and popular singer Lisa Jason as the show's lead vocalist. Performances of Denny Dias & Friends will be at 8 pm and 10 pm each night. Tickets are $30 per show (with a $15 food and drink minimum) and can be purchased at http://theiridium.com/reservations/ or by calling 212-582-2121.

the side project's World Premiere production of Robert Tenges'  Whatever has been extended two weeks, and will now close Sunday, August 23, 2015. The company's Artistic Director Adam Webster made the announcement Monday. The Chicago Tribune gave the production 3-1/2 stars, saying 'Small word choices reveal universes.' New City said "Webster and his crackerjack cast execute with deft attention to detail."

This August and September, 54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street. For a detailed schedule of upcoming performances at 54 Below and to purchase tickets, visitwww.54Below.com. 

Today in 2003 Avenue Q opened at the John Golden Theatre, where it ran for 2534 performances. Avenue Q was conceived by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, who wrote the music and lyrics. The book was written by Jeff Whitty and the show was directed by Jason Moore. Avenue Q is an 'autobiographical and biographical' coming-of-age parable, addressing and satirizing the issues and anxieties associated with entering adulthood. It opened Off-Broadway in March 2003, co-produced by The New Group and the Vineyard Theatre, and later won three Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and spawned Las Vegas and West End productions, two national tours, and a variety of international productions.

MTV today announced the second season pick-up of its hit series “Scream” with Dimension Television.

New York Festival of Song returns to the peace and natural beauty of the North Fork of Long Island to launch the 2015-16 NYFOS Emerging Artists series with a residency and pair of performances: Sunday, August 23, 2015, 5:00 p.m. at Poquatuck Hall in Orient, NY and Saturday, August 22, 2015, 5:00 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church in Bellport, NY.

Theater in Tennessee has never been busier nor has it been more diverse than what you'll find onstage this weekend throughout the Volunteer State. From frothy and fun summer musicals that are sure to make you think - like All Shook Up at Chaffin's Barn and A Chorus Line at Cumberland County Playhouse - to new plays from Shawn Whitsell (his latest, Songs For Our Sons, premieres at Darkhorse Theatre on Friday night) and emerging playwright Che Pieper (his new script based on the book The Man With the Light in His Window debuts at The Theater Bug this weekend)…the magic of live theater is all around you…even in this heat and humidity! So pull your seersucker suits and sundresses out of the closet, get all gussied up and make your way to the relative cool of a darkened theater for some midsummer magic!

59E59 Theaters will welcome The Acting Company to the 2015/2016 5A Season with the US premiere of DESIRE An Evening of Plays Based on Six Stories by Tennessee Williams. Directed by Michael Wilson, DESIRE features new plays written by John Guare, Beth Henley, Marcus Gardley, Rebecca Gilman, David Grimm and Elizabeth Egloff. DESIRE begins performances on Wednesday, September 2 for a limited engagement through Sunday, October 11. Opening Night is Thursday, September 10 at 7 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday - Thursday at 7 PM; Friday at 8 PM; Saturday at 2 PM & 8 PM; Sunday at 3 PM. Single tickets are $70 ($49 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or visit www.59e59.org.

The 18th annual New York International Fringe Festival - FringeNYC presents The Screenwriter Dies Of His Own Free Will, a new metafictional comedy on the art of the deal by FringeNYC veteran Jim Shankman.

And Sondra Morton, Jayme Smith and co. (that would be Act Too) stages their company's latest work at the historic Franklin Theatre - The Sound of Music - starring Kimberly Rye as Maria, Cameron Bortz as Rolf and the inimitable Matt Baugher as Georg Von Trapp. Check it out!

Birdland Jazz Club's August 2015 schedule to feature Ben Allison Group, Steve Kuhn Trio, The Birdland Big Band, Ken Peplowski Quartet, Joe Lovano, Charlie Parker Birthday Celebration, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more!

Drama Desk Award-winner Josh Hecht (Christine Jorgensen Reveals, former Director of Playwright Development at MCC Theater) is set to direct the premiere of playwright Katie Atcheson's dark comedy VERANO PLACE as a part of FringeNYC with performances August 16-25 at the Kraine Theater (85 E 4th St.).

Truth be told, one of my favorite movies is Bring It On, the story of competitive cheerleading starring Kirsten Dunst, Eliza Dushku, Jesse Bradford and Gabrielle Union - and if I had a dollar for every time I've uttered the phrase 'Brrr…it's cold in here, there must be some Toros in the atmosphere' to my dog following a particularly frigid winter stroll at nighttime...well, I'd be rich. That should give you some indication of how much I love the movie, which has gone on to inspire several sequels and one Broadway musical.