Playwrights Horizons News

A new work by Pulitzer Prize finalist Adam Rapp looks at loss, regret and the tenacity of hope. The play, The Purple Lights of Joppa Illinois, is featured in the next NewSCRipts reading at South Coast Repertory on Monday, Dec. 9, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 and available through the Box Office at (714) 708-5555 or online at www.scr.org.

A private industry reading of 26 Pebbles, a new play written and directed by Eric Ulloa, will be held December 13 at Playwrights Horizons Studios at 2pm. The reading will be held on the one year anniversary of the Sandy Hook Tragedy.

The Acting Company will present a benefit staged reading of Holiday by Philip Barry at 7 pm on Monday, December 16 at the Mainstage Theater (at Playwrights Horizons), 416 West 42nd Street (9th-10th Avenues). The performance-starring Acting Company Founding Member David Schramm (Finian's Rainbow, TV's Wings), Carson Elrod (Peter and the Starcatcher, Noises Off), Andrew Hovelson (Lucky Guy, Enemy of the People), Liv Rooth (Venus in Fur, Born Yesterday, Is He Dead?), Danielle Skraastad (All My Sons), Brendan Titley (Macbeth), Finn Wittrock (Death of a Salesman), Acting Company Alum Georgia Cohen, David Quay and Victoria Mack-will be followed by a reception with the cast and director,Janet Zarish, Head of Acting, Graduate Acting Program at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and an Acting Company Alumna. Tickets @ $35 and $60 (Patron) are available from 212-258-3111.

54 BELOW presents Ali Stroker in 'Finding Glee' on December 10, 2013 at 7pm. 'Finding Glee' tells the story of Ali Stroker's unexpected journey to the FOX hit show GLEE, with all of the road bumps and successes along the way. Ali belts out musical theatre classics and radio hits as she shares these hilarious and heartwarming stories.

Playwrights Horizons' critically-acclaimed score for their World Premiere production of the new musical FAR FROM HEAVEN has been preserved as an Original Cast Recording and was just released by PS Classics last month, the label dedicated to the heritage of Broadway and American popular song. Click below to watch Kelli O'Hara, Steven Pasquale, Isaiah Johnson, and the rest of the original cast recording the album at Avatar Studios in New York City!

Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara announces its 2013-14 Season in its new home, the New Vic, beginning with the hit Broadway musical A Little Night Music, inspired by the Ingmar Bergman film 'Smiles of a Summer Night. Directed by Ensemble Executive Artistic Director Jonathan Fox, A Little Night Music features one of Stephen Sondheim's best-known songs, 'Send in the Clowns.' A star-studded cast featuring Piper Laurie, Stephanie Zimbalist and Patrick Cassidy will christen the stage at the New Vic.

The critically-acclaimed ALLIANCE REPERTORY COMPANY is returning in conjunction with Witzel View Entertainment with its first production in over 3 years and the first show of their 2013-2014 season, with Tony Award-winning actress Daisy Eagan (The Secret Garden) featured in THE EIGHT: REINDEER MONOLOGUES written by Jeff Goode and directed by Alliance Repertory Artistic Director Royana Black and David Peryam. THE EIGHT: REINDEER MONOLOGUES will open tonight, December 5 at 8:00pm and run through Saturday, December 21 at the Complex Theatre, 6476 Santa Monica Blvd. in Hollywood.

The Incubator Arts Project presents Blue Wizard / Black Wizard, written by Eliza Bent and Dave Malloy, with Music by Dave Malloy and Eliza Bent. Directed by Dan Safer, the play will run tonight, Dec 5 - 22, Tuesdays, Thursdays - Sundays at 8pm.

Due to strong demand, The Public Theater announced a fourth extension for the critically acclaimed world premiere musical FUN HOME, directed by Sam Gold and featuring music by Jeanine Tesori, with book and lyrics by Lisa Kron. Based on Alison Bechdel's graphic novel, FUN HOME will now run through Sunday, January 12. It was originally scheduled to close on November 3 but has been extended four times due to rave reviews and audience demand. A new block of tickets is on sale now and can be purchased by calling (212) 967-7555, www.publictheater.org, or in person at the Taub Box Office at The Public Theater at Astor Place at 425 Lafayette Street.

Vineyard Theatre (108 E. 15 St.) has announced the dates, creative team and leading actress for its next production - the new musical ARLINGTON by Victor Lodato and Polly Pen - with previews set to begin Wednesday, February 12 prior to its official opening night on Sunday, March 2, according to Douglas Aibel, Artistic Director, and Sarah Stern, Co-Artistic Director.

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, stage and screen actorChristopher Evan Welch passed away on December 2, 2013 in Los Angeles. He was 48. Below, we tribute the actor with photos from some of his recent stage appearances.

Producers Jeffrey Richards, Stacey Mindich, and Jerry Frankel announced today that Tony Award nominee Hunter Foster (Little Shop of Horrors) will join the cast of The Bridges of Madison County, the new musical based on the best selling novel by Robert James Waller.

Those heavenly voices are back! And they're better than ever! Cabrillo Music Theatre celebrates its 20th Anniversary Season by blending one of the original Plaids with four of musical theatre's top talents to create the definitive FOREVER PLAID especially for the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza! The fresh and funny FOREVER PLAID opens on Friday, January 31st, 2014, playing until Sunday, February 9th, at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.

The Bushwick Starr will present an evening of two short works performed by award-winning and treasured actor, David Greenspan.

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Chip Zien on December 5 and 11. Broadway favorite Chip Zien is much beloved on the Great White Way for creating the roles of the Baker in Into the Woods and Mendel in Falsettos. Now, 54 Below proudly presents his swinging cabaret debut! Expect some wild jazz standards as well as tunes that trace his brilliant stage career, including special personal favorites from shows that include Grand Hotel, Merrily, Sweeney Todd, The Big Knife, In Trousers and The Dean Martin Show, among many others. Join Chip and his oversized band for two very special performances only - no more riddles, no more jests!

The League of Professional Theatre Women (LPTW) presents Quarterly Networking Mondays, The Lowdown On Uptown: Opportunities for Women On and Off Broadway tonight, December 2, 2013 at 6:00 pm at the TheaterLab, 357 West 36th Street, 3rd Floor. The event is an opportunity to learn from seasoned theatre professionals and network with like-minded colleagues. Tickets are FREE for members, $15 for non-members, and available at http://LPTWNetworkingLowdown.brownpapertickets.com. Or call: 1-800-838-3006 or visit www.brownpapertickets.com.

Ancient ideals and modern musings rub up against each other in Black Wizard / Blue Wizard, a philosophical musical fantasia.

The Public Theater announced today that Emily Skeggs has joined the company as Medium Alison in the hit musical FUN HOME. Alexandra Socha, who originated the role, has left the show for personal reasons. Directed by Sam Gold and featuring music by Jeanine Tesori, with book and lyrics by Lisa Kron, and based on Alison Bechdel's graphic novel, the critically acclaimed musical has been extended three times due to overwhelming demand. FUN HOME will run through Sunday, December 29 and tickets can be purchased by calling (212) 967-7555, www.publictheater.org, or in person at the Taub Box Office at The Public Theater at Astor Place at 425 Lafayette Street.

Cygnet Theatre has some great Black Friday sales offers for you this weekend!