Rajiv Joseph News

?OPERA America is pleased to announce it has awarded grants to 11 opera companies through its Opera Fund: Audience Development grant program, which promotes deep learning experiences about new or infrequently produced American operas and music-theater works. Each grant supports audience development activities associated with a specific work being produced by an OPERA America Professional Company Member.

The initial set-up for Pulitzer Prize finalist Rajiv Joseph's 'Animals Out of Paper' at first seems contrived: Ilana Andrews, a down-on-her-luck origami artist who has hit a wall both creatively and personally, finds her life shaken up when a nerdy, overly optimistic math teacher asks her to mentor his brilliant-yet-troubled student. As directed by Merri Milwe, however, the circumstances in YOLO! Productions and The Great Griffon's production of the play feel entirely genuine. This depth of feeling comes in part from Joseph's smart playwriting and also from the three talented actors who take the text from two-dimensional paper to three-dimensional staging. As the play unfolds (pun intended), we see the rawness and honesty underneath the initial scenario that sets the plot in motion.

The New Black Fest, a theater organization celebrating provocative storytelling, music and discussion from the African Diaspora, is proud to announce The New Black Fest at The Lark.

The Old Globe will celebrate its 80th Anniversary as part of the Balboa Park Centennial Celebration with a full roster of great plays in its regular season and a Summer Season featuring Shakespeare on stage and in film, along with our popular ongoing programs.

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: THE EVENTS and THE ICEMAN COMETH open off-Broadway, FIRST DATE heads to Chicago, THE BODYGUARD tour kicks off in the UK and more!

Yolo! Productions and The Great Griffon will present a rare revival of Animals Out of Paper, by Rajiv Joseph (2010 Pulitzer Prize Finalist - Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo), directed by Merri Milwe, at McAlphin Hall at West Park Presbyterian Church. Starring David Beck, Nairoby Otero, and Maneesh Sasikumar, this limited Off-Broadway engagement opens tonight, February 12. Performances continue through February 28th, 2015 only.

Yolo! Productions and The Great Griffon present a rare revival of Animals Out of Paper, by Rajiv Joseph (2010 Pulitzer Prize Finalist - Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo), directed by Merri Milwe, at McAlphin Hall at West Park Presbyterian Church. Starring David Beck, Nairoby Otero, and Maneesh Sasikumar, this limited Off-Broadway engagement, currently in previews, will open February 12th. Performances continue through February 28th only. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

As part of the Alley Theatre's inaugural season in its renovated downtown building, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Robert Schenkkan's All The Way, a co-production with Dallas Theatre Center, will be performed in the new Hubbard Theatre. Members of the Alley's Resident Company will join with members of the Dallas Theater Center to create this monumental play about Lyndon B. Johnson's early days in office, rehearsing and performing in Houston in January 2016 and travelling to Dallas for a second run in March 2016.

Following a sold-out and critically acclaimed start to their 18th season, Theatre Exile returns to present the Philadelphia premiere of The Whale by Samuel D. Hunter from tonight, February 5 to March 1, 2015 at Theatre Exile's Studio X, 1340 S. 13th Street (13th and Reed Street)

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: Encores! LADY, BE GOOD kicks off, TUCK EVERLASTING premieres in Atlanta, and off-Broadway has a busy night!

Yolo! Productions and The Great Griffon will present a rare revival of Animals Out of Paper, by Rajiv Joseph (2010 Pulitzer Prize Finalist - Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo), directed by Merri Milwe, at McAlphin Hall at West Park Presbyterian Church.

Columbia Stages is proud to present FESTEN, a dark comedy by British playwright David Eldridge. Adapted from the 1998 Danish film of the same name, FESTEN depicts the story of a family ravaged by secrets, twisted accusations, and unbearable wounds.

The Old Globe today announced it will open its 2015-2016 Season with In Your Arms, a World Premiere dance-theatre musical featuring direction and choreography by Tony Award winner Christopher Gattelli (Newsies, Godspell, Lincoln Center Theater's South Pacific) and original music by Tony Award winner Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime, Once on This Island; two-time Oscar nominee for Anastasia). Co-conceived by Gattelli and Jennifer Manocherian, In Your Arms features 10 dance vignettes written by an incredible and diverse lineup of theatre powerhouses, including Douglas Carter Beane, Nilo Cruz, Christopher Durang, Carrie Fisher, David Henry Hwang, Rajiv Joseph, Terrence McNally, Marsha Norman, Lynn Nottage, and Alfred Uhry. Among them, the creators have amassed 14 Tony Awards, five Pulitzer Prizes, six Pulitzer finalist designations, and one Academy Award.

Composer Stephen Flaherty just revealed in a recent interview with Aussietheatre.com, that his recent dance musical IN YOUR ARMS, which premiered last year as at part of the summer season at Vassar's Powerhouse Theatre, will soon get a regional run.

The Trustees of The Laurents / Hatcher Foundation, Inc. are pleased to announce that THE GUARDS AT THE TAJ by RAJIV JOSEPH has been selected for the 2015 LAURENTS / HATCHER FOUNDATION AWARD. The foundation will provide a $50,000 cash award to Mr. Joseph and a grant of $100,000 to go directly towards the production costs of the play's premiere at THE ATLANTIC THEATER COMPANY.

Columbia Stages is proud to present FESTEN, a dark comedy by British playwright David Eldridge. Adapted from the 1998 Danish film of the same name, FESTEN depicts the story of a family ravaged by secrets, twisted accusations, and unbearable wounds.

Following a sold-out and critically acclaimed start to their 18th season, Theatre Exile returns to present the Philadelphia premiere of The Whale by Samuel D. Hunter from February 5 to March 1, 2015 at Theatre Exile's Studio X, 1340 S. 13th Street (13th and Reed Street)

Yolo! Productions and The Great Griffon will present a rare revival of Animals Out of Paper, by Rajiv Joseph (2010 Pulitzer Prize Finalist - Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo), directed by Merri Milwe, at McAlphin Hall at West Park Presbyterian Church.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces the full company for August Wilson's classic drama King Hedley II. Set in the 1980s Hill District of Pittsburgh, the ninth installment of Pulitzer Prize winner Wilson's acclaimed play cycle examining Black America follows a scarred ex-convict who struggles to turn his life around and lock away his past. The drama is directed by Timothy Douglas, who worked with the late playwright on the world premiere of Radio Golf and has directed eight plays out of Wilson's 10-play cycle. King Hedley II runs February 6-March 8, 2015 in the Fichandler Stage.