Philadelphia Theatre Company News

Lincoln Center Theater presents an LCT3 Special Event of Mr. Joy, a 90-minute one-man show written and performed by Daniel Beaty and directed by Sheryl Kaller. The workshop production will be performed April 8, April 9, April 12-15, and April 17-21 at 7:00 pm at the Claire Tow Theater (150 West 65 Street).

SUMMERWORKS 2013 - the annual season of new plays presented by the four-time Obie Award-winning theater company Clubbed Thumb -- is set for its 18th season May 24th to June 29th at The Wild Project (195 E. 3rd Street) in Manhattan, it has been announced by Maria Striar, Clubbed Thumb's Producing Artistic Director.

Ni****/Fa****: a new play premiering as part of the Downtown Urban Theater Festival is a two-hander that takes on race and sexuality; a topic that, as the play's title suggests, can often be a provocative discussion. The play, written by Keelay Gipson is being co-produced by BASiC Theatre Project and directed by BASiC's artistic director and co-founder, Zi Alikhan. The show features Sean Bell and Stephen Conrad Moore in the titular roles. The show premieres in the festival tonight, March 15th.

Competitive backstabbing alternates with supportive camaraderie amongst emerging writers and their famous professor in Theresa Rebeck's award-winning drama Seminar, receiving its Philadelphia premiere at Philadelphia Theatre Company tonight, March 15-April 14 at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets). Directed by Scott Schwartz, the ensemble cast features Rufus Collins, Matt Harrington, Teresa Avia Lim, Genevieve Perrier, and Luigi Sottile.

Yale Repertory Theatre presents Paul Giamatti in HAMLET by William Shakespeare, directed by James Bundy, at the University Theatre (222 York Street), tonight, March 15-April 13. Opening Night is Thursday, March 21, at 7:30PM.

Off-Broadway's Theater Breaking Through Barriers (TBTB) continues its 33rd Season with the Off-Broadway premiere of ACCORDING TO GOLDMAN by Bruce Graham (THE OUTGOING TIDE, ANY GIVEN MONDAY), with previews set to begin April 6, prior to its official press opening April 14, at Theatre Row's Clurman Theatre (410 West 42nd Street). TBTB artistic director and founder Ike Schambelan directs.

Katori Hall's Olivier Award-winning drama The Mountaintop comes to Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater following an acclaimed run at the Alley Theatre in Houston, where it was hailed by the Houston Chronicle as "fast and funny, profoundly poignant, remarkably real and shimmeringly surreal." Obie Award winner Robert O'Hara (Public Theater's Wild with Happy) makes his Arena Stage directorial debut with The Mountaintop, which is produced in association with the Alley Theatre and runs March 29-May 12, 2013 in the Kreeger Theater.

Bringing together an outstanding, large cast with a world-class artistic team, Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd directs Aaron Sorkin's A Few Good Men. This epic production brings this captivating military courtroom drama to life. A Few Good Men runs tonight, March 1 through March 24, 2013, on the Hubbard Stage.

Ni****/Fa****: a new play premiering as part of the Downtown Urban Theater Festival is a two-hander that takes on race and sexuality; a topic that, as the play's title suggests, can often be a provocative discussion. The play, written by Keelay Gipson is being co-produced by BASiC Theatre Project and directed by BASiC's artistic director and co-founder, Zi Alikhan. The show features Sean Bell and Stephen Conrad Moore in the titular roles. The show premieres in the festival on March 15th.

New City Stage Company presents the Philadelphia professional premiere of HURLYBURLY by David Rabe tonight. The show is staged by Barrymore Award winning director James J. Christy and features Russ Widdall of HBO's 'The Wire.' This award-winning play is the third professional production of New City Stage's 7th season, entitled 'The New American Dysfunctional Family'. This is the first time the show is receiving a professional production in the greater Philadelphia area. Performances begin tonight, February 28, and run throught through March 24, 2013 at the Adrienne Theater Main Stage at 2030 Sansom Street in downtown Philadelphia.

New City Stage Company presents the Philadelphia professional premiere of HURLYBURLY by David Rabe this week. The show is staged by Barrymore Award winning director James J. Christy and features Russ Widdall of HBO's 'The Wire.' This award-winning play is the third professional production of New City Stage's 7th season, entitled 'The New American Dysfunctional Family'. This is the first time the show is receiving a professional production in the greater Philadelphia area. Performances begin this Thursday, February 28, and run throught through March 24, 2013 at the Adrienne Theater Main Stage at 2030 Sansom Street in downtown Philadelphia. Opening night is Saturday, March 2 at 8 PM. Tickets range from $10 to 35 and available on line here and by calling the box office at 215-563-7500.

Philadelphia Theatre Company has announced A. ZELL WILLIAMS as the recipient of the Terrence McNally New Play Award for the research and development of his play The Urban Retreat about a teacher whose writing career has taken a detour at the request of a former student-turned-Hip-Hop superstar. The Terrence McNally New Play Award is a $10,000 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.

Bringing together an outstanding, large cast with a world-class artistic team, Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd directs Aaron Sorkin's A Few Good Men. This epic production brings this captivating military courtroom drama to life. A Few Good Men runs March 1 through March 24, 2013, on the Hubbard Stage.

Philadelphia Theatre Company presents PTC@Play, a two-week festival of new work today, February 18-March 3 at PTC's home at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets). The festival will feature staged readings of four new plays by both established and emerging playwrights, a new play with music in development starring Tony and Barrymore Award winner Forrest McClendon as African American vaudeville legend Bert Williams, and an evening of short plays, FuturePhilly@Play, by seven emerging playwrights. Each playwright will be in-residence at PTC for their reading, and every reading will conclude with a reception where audiences and artists can meet. All events are free with curtain time at 7:30 PM. A highlight of PTC@Play will be the February 18th announcement of the winner of the Terrence McNally New Play Award, a $10,000 cash prize given annually to recognize a new play that celebrates the transformative power of art.

On April 24, American Theater Group, New Jersey's newest professional theater company, will present, direct from its success at the 2012 New York Musical Theatre Festival, Jonathan Brielle's new musical Himself and Nora at its new home, Hamilton Stage in Rahway, New Jersey.

The hit off-Broadway show OLD JEWS TELLING JOKES takes up residence on the Main Stage of Chicago's Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted Street, beginning performances Tuesday, September 24, and officially opening Wednesday, October 2, at 7:30p.m.