Penny Brandt Jackson News

Longtime En Garde Arts Chairperson and board member Joan D. Firestone is being honored with the creation of a fund in her name. En Garde Arts has raised $100,000 through a group of generous donors. This is a five year endeavor and every year one theatre artist will receive an $18,000 award and will have full freedom with how to use the funds.

Red Bull Theater's Revelations Readings kicked off its new season with a gala benefit reading of WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S THE TEMPEST, featuring Michael Cerveris as Prospero. Directed by Jesse Berger the cast also included De'Adre Aziza, Gerry Bamman, Clifton Duncan,Angel Desai, Sean Patrick Doyle, Glenn Fleshler, Carman Lacivita, Drew Ledbetter, Matthew Rauch, Jay O. Sanders,Stephen Spinella, Raphael Nash Thompson, Auden Thornton,Michael Urie, Marc Vietor, and more. The Tempest featured original live music by Greg Pliska. It took place for one night only on October 20th at Playwrights Horizons, 416 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues. An exclusive party with the cast and special guests followed this benefit reading. Scroll down for photos from the festivities!

Dramatists Guild Fund Executive Director Rachel Routh and Board President Gretchen Cryer today announced the star-studded line up for their annual gala Great Writers Thank Their Lucky Stars, set for Monday, October 27 at The Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street). The cocktail reception will begin at 6:30pm, followed by the dinner and celebration at 7:30pm. The Gala is the most critical fundraising event for the Dramatists Guild Fund, the public charity arm of the Dramatists Guild of America. This very special evening pays tribute to legendary writers and recognizes their significant contributions to American theater.

The nominations have been announced for the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity's 2012 Awards Gala, taking place tonight, July 29 at 7:30pm at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (405 W. 55th Street). Among the nominees are three-time Tony Award-winner Hinton Battle (for directing & choreographing What We Do for Love or Other Desperate Measures) and recent Tony Award-nominee Patti Murin (for her performance in La Strega).

The nominations have been announced for the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity's 2012 Awards Gala, taking place on Sunday, July 29 at 7:30pm at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (405 W. 55th Street). Among the nominees are three-time Tony Award-winner Hinton Battle (for directing & choreographing What We Do for Love or Other Desperate Measures) and recent Tony Award-nominee Patti Murin (for her performance in La Strega).

Planet Connections and Ego Actus present SAFE by Penny Jackson, directed by Joan Kane in the 2012 Planet Connections Theatre Festivity. Nina Foster's mom is in rehab for alcoholism, her father goes on endless business trips, she hates high school and Liz, her anorexic best friend, wants to kidnap her baby niece. What else can she do but go to meet a dangerous man? SAFE is about trying to find your way in a scary world. In keeping with the social conscious values of Planet Connections this production is in support of the National Eating Disorders Association.

Planet Connections and Ego Actus present SAFE by Penny Jackson, directed by Joan Kane in the 2012 Planet Connections Theatre Festivity. Nina Foster's mom is in rehab for alcoholism, her father goes on endless business trips, she hates high school and Liz, her anorexic best friend, wants to kidnap her baby niece. What else can she do but go to meet a dangerous man? SAFE is about trying to find your way in a scary world. In keeping with the social conscious values of Planet Connections this production is in support of the National Eating Disorders Association.

Ego Actus is set to present The New York City Icon Plays, an evening of six short plays by six different authors that feature New York City as a background.