New Group News

The American Playwriting Foundation, established to make annual grants to new American plays, announced today The Relentless Award, the largest annual cash prize in American theater awarded to a playwright in recognition of a new play. Established in honor of Philip Seymour Hoffman and his pursuit of truth in the theater, The Relentless Award will honor an unproduced play with $45,000, laying the groundwork for the future of American Theater. The American Playwriting Foundation is now open for submissions, and the deadline is July 10, 2015. Three finalists and one winner will be announced on October 2, 2015.

This February, FOX brings the heat with all-new episodes of fan-favorite dramas and comedies, as well as season finales and special guest stars.

Classic Stage Company welcomes Emmy Award-nominee and Golden Globe-winner Anthony Edwards ('ER'), Annabella Sciorra ('The Sopranos') and Tony Award-winner Elizabeth Franz (Death of A Salesman, Brighton Beach Memoirs), alongside Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister on HBO's Game of Thrones) and Taylor Schilling (Piper Chapman on Netflix's Orange Is The New Black) in Ivan Turgenev's A Month in the Country, opening at CSC (136 East 13th Street) tonight, January 29, for a limited engagement through Sunday, February 22.

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: Broadway's IF/THEN goes dark (as planned), just as Juno hits the city!

?Terry Martin, Producing Artistic Director, today announced that Katherine Christy and Sam Nicholson have been appointed Co-Chairs of WaterTower Theatre's Young Professionals for WaterTower Theatre. WaterTower Theatre's young professionals group brings together people interested in engaging with the Theatre through attending performances, social events and exclusive behind-the-scenes opportunities.

The New Group continues its 20th Anniversary Season with the New York Premiere of Rasheeda Speaking, by Joel Drake Johnson, helmed by Cynthia Nixon in her directorial debut. This production features Patricia Conolly, Darren Goldstein, and as previously announced, Tonya Pinkins and Dianne Wiest. A limited Off-Broadway engagement plays tonight, January 27 - March 22, 2015, with Official Opening Night set for Wednesday, February 11 at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street).

Z2 Entertainment is proud to present Steven Wilson at the Boulder Theater on Tuesday, June 9th, 2015.

Currently enjoying a recorded-breaking run on Broadway, Scott Ellis' acclaimed production of The Elephant Man will transfer to London with the US cast starring Bradley Cooper, Patricia Clarkson and Alessandro Nivola this spring. The production is now confirmed to play a strictly limited season at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from May 19th until August 8th. Tickets are now on sale.

Currently enjoying a recorded-breaking run on Broadway, Scott Ellis' acclaimed production of The Elephant Man will transfer to London with the US cast starring Bradley Cooper, Patricia Clarkson and Alessandro Nivola this spring. The production is now confirmed to play a strictly limited season at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from May 19th until August 8th. Tickets are now on sale.

Manhattan Theatre Club is pleased to announce the New York premiere of Of Good Stock, the new play by Melissa Ross (Thinner Than Water, Too Much Too Soon), directed by MTC's award-winning Artistic Director Lynne Meadow (The Assembled Parties, Wit, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife). The limited engagement of Of Good Stock will begin previews Tuesday, June 2 and open Tuesday, June 23 at MTC at New York City Center -- Stage I (131 West 55th Street).

Signal Ensemble Theatre presents the United States premiere of Red Bud by Brett Neveu and directed by Brant Russell at Signal Ensemble Theatre, 1802 W. Berenice Ave., tonight, January 22 - February 28.

The Off Broadway Alliance has announced that it will again sponsor 20at20, the bi-annual celebration of Off Broadway. The popular promotion, which begins January 20th and continues through February 8th, makes $20 tickets available for 41 Off Broadway plays and musicals twenty minutes prior to curtain. Now in its 9th year, 20at20 has become one of New York's most eagerly-anticipated promotions for people who want to see exciting shows at amazing prices.

The New Group continues its 20th Anniversary Season with the New York Premiere of Rasheeda Speaking, by Joel Drake Johnson, helmed by Cynthia Nixon in her directorial debut. This production features Patricia Conolly, Darren Goldstein, Tonya Pinkins and Dianne Wiest. A limited Off-Broadway engagement plays January 27 - March 22, 2015, with Official Opening Night set for Wednesday, February 11 at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street). Below, BroadwayWorld brings you photos of the cast in the BroadwayWorld.com series 'In The Spotlight' by acclaimed photographer Walter McBride!

On the stiletto heels of the “House of DVF” first season finale, E! today announced the original series will return for its second season with 8 new episodes, which will also premiere on E! in 100 countries. The second season of “House of DVF” starts production during New York Fashion Week and will give viewers an inside look at the challenges and triumphs Brittany Hampton experiences during her term as the DVF Global Brand Ambassador as she continues to be mentored by Diane and the rest of the DVF team. A long-time champion of women choosing their own destinies and achieving independence, Diane entrusts Brittany with the task of searching for a new group of eager, talented and intelligent young women, hoping to find a new Global Brand Ambassador among them, all while Brittany juggles traveling the globe and acclimating to her new, high-pressure position.

The New Group continues its 20th Anniversary Season with the New York Premiere of Rasheeda Speaking, by Joel Drake Johnson, helmed by Cynthia Nixon in her directorial debut. This production features Patricia Conolly, Darren Goldstein, Tonya Pinkins and Dianne Wiest. A limited Off-Broadway engagement plays January 27 - March 22, 2015, with Official Opening Night set for Wednesday, February 11 at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street). The cast just met the press and you can check out photos from the festivities below!

The award-winning CAP21 Theatre Company has announced casting for the first production of a new musical, THE ARTIST & THE SCIENTIST, with book and lyrics by Jenny Stafford, music by Brandon Anderson, and story by Jenny Stafford and Brandon Anderson. THE ARTIST & THE SCIENTIST is a love story that takes place in the moment between the Scientist's proposal and the Artist's answer. It explores the creative and scientific forces that make us who we are; and the people who challenge us to open ourselves to something more. THE ARTIST & THE SCIENTIST will play a limited run from February 4 -28, 2015 at the CAP21 Theatre, 18 West 18th Street, 5th Floor, New York. www.cap21.org

MTV announced today the return of “America's Best Dance Crew” (“ABDC”) and premiere dates for two returning series “Catfish: The TV Show” and “Finding Carter.” The announcements were among those made today by Susanne Daniels, President of MTV Programming, during the network's presentation at the Winter 2015 Television Critics Association Press Tour.

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week or you're just in the mood for a recap, BroadwayWorld's 'This Week in Pictures' is here to satisfy your end-of-the-week fix! Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to The West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more. Highlights this week include coverage of closing night of SIDE SHOW, new additions to the cast of WICKED, a first look at Vineyard Theatre's BROOKLYNITE, and more!

The first Broadway production to star an all teenage cast is being staged in Perth as part of the FRINGE WORLD Festival 2015, focusing on the life of 13-year-olds.

TACT/The Actors Company Theatre is pleased to announce the cast and creative team for Abundance, the 1990 play by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Beth Henley (Crimes of the Heart). An epic tale of friendship set against the backdrop of the sweeping American West, Abundance will be directed by TACT Co-Artistic Director Jenn Thompson, who directed last season's production of William Inge's Natural Affection. Performances begin at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre (410 West 42nd Street - between 9th & 10th Avenues) on Tuesday, February 17, 2015. Opening night is set forSunday, March 1 at 6:00pm. Performances will continue through March 28, 2015.