Philadelphia Theatre Company News

UCSB's LAUNCH PAD program was featured in the March 2013 issue of American Theatre magazine as an innovative model of new play development in the US. While professional theatres are not always able to take a risk on producing new work, the university offers a playwright the chance to see the play produced in a safe environment with students who are deeply engaged and hungry to learn how this process works. Since its inception in 2005, the department has developed and produced 9 plays with the playwright in residence.

Philadelphia Theatre Company announced today the fifth show of its 2014-2015 season will be the Tony-nominated drama Mothers and Sons byTerrence McNally. Mothers and Sons, which will run February 6-March 8, 2015, rounds out an exciting 40th Anniversary Season of superb contemporary theatre that also includes Lisa D'Amour's disturbing yet bracingly funny drama Detroit, the Tony Award nominated Outside Mullingar by Oscar-winning writer John Patrick Shanley, brownsville song (b-side for tray), the runaway hit of this year's Humana Festival of New American Plays, by rising playwrightKimber Lee, and Joe Kinosian and Kellen Blair's musical whodunit Murder for Two, nominated for this year's Drama League and Outer Critics Circle Awards.

Cape May's own and Philadelphia favorite, Jeff Coon, is co?creating and hosting three unique, cabaret?style variety shows for shore audiences at the Cape May Convention Hall this summer. These shows titled, An Evening at the Cape May Summer Club, are being co?created with Ree Carney Dunphy. Dunphy is known for assisting in creating and operating Carney's, the legendary pub on the University of Philadelphia's campus, and the famous Carney's Restaurant and Bar in Cape May, New Jersey. In addition, Dunphy plays a pivotal role with the American Cancer Society and is a co?creator of the black tie event, the BasketBall, one of Philadelphia's premiere social events.

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Whitney Bashor Live at 54 Below on Thursday, June 26, 2014. Bashor starred on Broadway this season as Marian/Chiara in The Bridges of Madison County, singing Jason Robert Brown's folk-inspired "Another Life". Bashor's solo concert debut will showcase wide-ranging vocals, as she explores influences of rock and roll, R&B, folk classics, country and contemporary Broadway standards.

Bay Street Theater is pleased to announce its new name, new mission, new design, and new programming. Through the vision of Bay Street Theater's new Artistic Director, Scott Schwartz, the new Bay Street will enhance the development and presentation of new productions, performances and events.

Huntington Theatre Company announces that Malcolm-Jamal Warner, best known for his breakout role as Theo Huxtable, Bill Cosby's son on "The Cosby Show," will play Dr. John Prentice in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner in the Huntington's season opener September 5 - October 5, 2014 at the BU Theatre / Avenue of the Arts. Complete casting will be announced at a later date. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Tuesday, June 24, 2014.

It's comedy time in the summer at Philadelphia Theatre Company with Unconstitutional, a new comedy written and performed by popular comedian and SNL veteran Colin Quinn, running June 13-July 6 at PTC's home at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets). This one-man show tackles 226 years of American constitutional calamities, offering Quinn's satiric take on our national character, from predator drones to the Kardashians.

The concert version of NERDS, a new Broadway-bound musical, tonight, Wednesday, June 11 at 54 Below, 254 W. 54th Street, is now sold out. The concert will feature a cast of Broadway favorites, including Theater World Award winner Wesley Taylor ("Smash," Rock of Ages), Helen Hayes Award winner Lauren Molina (Candide, Sweeney Todd), Charlie Pollock (Violet, Love's Labour's Lost), Laura Dreyfuss (Once, Hair).

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) has announced two productions for its upcoming 36th season: the first New York production in 23 years of Terrence McNally's acclaimed play, LIPS TOGETHER, TEETH APART, directed by Peter DuBois, and the world premiere of Neil LaBute's dark comedy, THE WAY WE GET BY.

It's comedy time in the summer at Philadelphia Theatre Company with Unconstitutional, a new comedy written and performed by popular comedian and SNL veteran Colin Quinn, running June 13-July 6 at PTC's home at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets). This one-man show tackles 226 years of American constitutional calamities, offering Quinn's satiric take on our national character, from predator drones to the Kardashians.

Bay Street Theatre presents the World Premiere of CONVICTION (Today, May 27-June 15) by Carey Crim and directed by Scott Schwartz, Bay Street's new Artistic Director. The production is co-produced by Bay Street Theatre, Rubicon Theatre in California, Dead Posh Productions, London and Canada's Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre.

Plays & Players continues its collaboration with Power Street Theater Company with follow-up readings of El Nogalar by Tanya Saracho, Dark Matters by Oliver Mayer and To Catch the Lightning by Carmen Rivera. These three plays, representing 30/30/2, 30/30/3 and 30/30/4, were selected from a group of finalists chosen during the 30/30/1 full day event held with local theater and Latino community leaders in March, as part of a nation-wide event. The readings hope to serve as a further contribution to the already-growing conversation about the Latina/o voice and identity in the Philadelphia theater community.

Glenn Close, John Lithgow, Lindsay Duncan, Bob Balaban, Clare Higgins, and Martha Plimpton will star in a new Broadway production of Edward Albee's A DELICATE BALANCE this fall at the Golden Theatre (252 West 45th Street). The production, which will be directed by Pam MacKinnon, begins previewsMonday, October 20 and plays an 18-week limited engagement through Sunday, February 22, 2015. Opening night is Thursday, November 20.

What happens when four people who firmly believe they are just trying to do good in the world crash into a wall of cultural differences? And what will they do when one of them appears to be in great danger? That's what they must figure out in Bruce Norris's searing dramatic comedy The Unmentionables, beginning a 5-week regional premiere run at Stage West tonight, May 15.

11th Hour Theatre Company presents its only mainstage production of the season, the hilarious, boy-band 'holy hit' musical Altar Boyz running today, May 15-June 1, 2014 at The Arts Bank at the University of the Arts.

Philadelphia Theatre Company is pleased to announce Martin Zimmerman as the recipient of the third Terrence McNally New Play Award for the development of his play Let Me Count The Ways. The Terrence McNally New Play Award is a cash prize given annually to recognize a new play that celebrates the transformative power of art. The Award will also include a year of development support at PTC, including readings as well as administrative support and networking to help manage the future of the play beyond its time at PTC.

Philadelphia Theatre Company announces four of its five plays for next year's 40th Anniversary season including Lisa D'Amour's disturbing yet bracingly funny drama Detroit, the Tony Award nominated Outside Mullingar by Pulitzer, Oscar and Tony Award-winning writer John Patrick Shanley, the runaway hit of this year's Humana Festival of New American Plays, brownsville song (b-side for tray) by rising playwright Kimber Lee, and Joe Kinosian and Kellen Blair's musical whodunit Murder for Two, nominated for this year's Drama League and Outer Critics Circle Awards. A final mainstage production will be announced shortly.

Long Wharf Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Gordon Edelstein and Managing Director Joshua Borenstein, announces its 2014-2015 Season, its 50th anniversary.

Philadelphia Theatre Company has just learned that actor, writer Colman Domingo has accepted a lead role playing Reverend Ralph Abernathy in a major motion picture about Martin Luther King which will begin filming in Atlanta this June. This shooting schedule precludes him from appearing in PTC's production of A Boy and His Soul, originally scheduled to run May 23 - June 22.

What happens when four people who firmly believe they are just trying to do good in the world crash into a wall of cultural differences? And what will they do when one of them appears to be in great danger? That's what they must figure out in Bruce Norris's searing dramatic comedy The Unmentionables, beginning a 5-week regional premiere run at Stage West on Thursday, May 15.