New Group News

Marin Ireland has decided to let her voice be heard. And many prominent actors are behind her all the way.

Pauline McLynn (Father Ted, Shameless, EastEnders) will play Ella Khan in Ayub Khan Din's critically-acclaimed play East is East, embarking on a 16 week national tour and making its Scottish debut at the Theatre Royal Glasgow from Monday 10 until Saturday 15 August 2015.

Daniel Beaty gives a tour-de-force performance, playing up to 40 characters in The Tallest Tree in the Forest, a solo play, which he also wrote. It tells the life story of Paul Robeson, a towering figure among our nation's prominent African-Americans. Renowned director Moises Kaufman returns to BAM (The Laramie Project, 2013 Winter/Spring) to direct this show which has delighted and enlightened audiences from Kansas City, to LA, La Jolla, and Washington, DC. The show runs Mar 22-29, 2015.

There is no shortage of quality theatre companies in Southeast Michigan, but unlike other metro areas the success of "arts collectives" - marrying the spontaneity of theatre, cabaret, and improv with the abstract joys of movement and dance as well as the crafts of design, fashion and visual arts - has been more hit-or-miss.

Pauline McLynn (Father Ted, Shameless, EastEnders) will play Ella Khan in Ayub Khan Din's critically-acclaimed play East is East, which was part of Jamie Lloyd's second Trafalgar Transformed season, directed by Sam Yates, on a 16 week National Tour from 11 June 2015, commencing at Theatre Royal, Brighton. East is East is designed by Tom Scutt, with lighting by Richard Howell and sound and music by Alex Baranowski.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater presents the World Premiere production of Five Presidents. Broadway and television veterans Mark Jacoby, Martin L'Herault, Steve Sheridan, Jeff Steitzer, and Brit Whittle, along with Rep Associate Artist Reese Madigan, make up the cast of Five Presidents from Emmy Award-winning writer Rick Cleveland (The West Wing, House of Cards, Mad Men, and Six Feet Under). Directed by Milwaukee Rep Artistic Director Mark Clements, the production opens tonight, March 13, 2015 and runs through April 5, 2015.

Wells Fargo Center for the Arts (50 Mark Spring Road in Santa Rosa) welcomes a one-night-only performance of The Sing-Off Live! Tour on Thursday April 9, 2015 at 8:00 pm. The Sing-Off, NBC's number one rated a cappella music competition is on a 55-city national tour. Tickets for The Sing-Off Live! Tour are $45 and $35, and are on sale now. They may be purchased online at wellsfargocenterarts.org, by phone at 707.546.3600, and in person at 50 Mark West Springs Road in Santa Rosa.

Just last night, he New Group just honored Founding Artistic Director Scott Elliott and celebrated its 20th Anniversary season. Scott Elliott is an award-winning stage director, filmmaker and the founding Artistic Director of The New Group, where he recently directed the critically acclaimed revival of David Rabe's Sticks and Bones. At The New Group, he has directed world premieres by Thomas Bradshaw, Ayub Khan Din, Francine Volpe, Erika Sheffer and Tommy Nohilly; and the world premiere of the 2010 musical The Kid (Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical; Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel Award nominations for Outstanding Musical). Other credits include The New Group's The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie starring Cynthia Nixon; David Rabe's Hurlyburly; and numerous collaborations with Ayub Khan Din, Wallace Shawn and Mike Leigh. Broadway credits include Present Laughter, Barefoot in the Park, The Threepenny Opera, The Women and Three Sisters. This spring at The New Group, he directs the world premiere of The Spoils, written by and featuring Jesse Eisenberg. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from inside the gala below!

From Broadway to television to film, Priscilla Lopez has conquered it all. This week she comes to Nashville with the touring production of Pippin, which she performed in both the recent revival on Broadway, as well as in the original Broadway production of the show.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater announced final casting for the upcoming World Premiere production of Five Presidents. Broadway and television veterans Mark Jacoby, Martin L'Herault, Steve Sheridan, Jeff Steitzer, and Brit Whittle, along with Rep Associate Artist Reese Madigan, make up the cast of Five Presidents from Emmy Award-winning writer Rick Cleveland (The West Wing, House of Cards, Mad Men, and Six Feet Under).

The New Group hosts its 20th Anniversary gala tonight, March 9, 2015, celebrating Scott Elliott and hosted by Bobby Cannavale and Natasha Lyonne.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: BC/EFA hosts BROADWAY BACKWARDS tonight!

Labyrinth Theater Company has announced the line-up for the second half of their 16th Annual Barn Series, the award-winning company's free play reading series. Running March 23-30, the Barn Series lets audiences encounter new plays written by or starring Labyrinth Company Members.

Lifetime's docuseries Little Women: LA is a bona fide hit, and now the network is expanding the popular franchise by introducing fans to a new group of little ladies with the all new series Little Women: NY (#LittleWomenNY) premiering Wednesday, March 25, at 10pm ET/PT.

Tectonic Theater Project to present dance/music excerpts of Carmen: A new Afro-Cuban musical in development today, March 6, 2015 in NYC. Directed by Moises Kaufman, Music Adaptation by Arturo O'Farrill (2015 Grammy Winner), Choreography by Sergio Trujillo.

Terry Martin, Producing Artistic Director, today announced details of the Young Professionals for WaterTower Theatre (YP4WTT) launch event today, March 6, 2015.

FISH IN THE DARK, the new comedy written by and starring Larry David, is running for an 18-week limited engagement through Sunday, June 7 at the Cort Theatre. Opening night is tonight, March 5. Scroll down to learn more about the company and watch highlights from the play!

FISH IN THE DARK, the new comedy written by and starring Larry David, is running for an 18-week limited engagement through Sunday, June 7 at the Cort Theatre. Opening night is tonight, March 5. The comedy, directed by Anna D. Shapiro, also stars Rita Wilson, Rosie Perez, Jayne Houdyshell,Ben Shenkman and Lewis J. Stadlen, heading a cast of 18.

On March 10, Jeff Biehl (Poor Behavior, Machinal) joins the company of the new Primary Stages production, Lives of the Saints, currently playingat Primary Stages at The Duke on 42nd Street - a NEW 42ND STREET project through March 27, 2015. Joining current cast members Arnie Burton (Peter and the Starcatcher, The 39 Steps), Carson Elrod (All in the Timing, The Explorers Club), Kelly Hutchinson (Desire Under the Elms, Don Peyote) and Liv Rooth (All in the Timing, Venus in Fur), Biehl will assume the roles played by Rick Holmes who departs the production to begin rehearsals for The Visit on Broadway.