Rebecca Taichman News

La Jolla Playhouse will present a reading of its commissioned musical Hands on a Hardbody, written by Pulitzer Prize-winner and 2011 Playhouse Gala Honoree Doug Wright (I Am My Own Wife), Amanda Green (High Fidelity) and Trey Anastasio of the popular band Phish. Directed by Neil Pepe (Speed-the-Plow) and choreographed by Benjamin Millipied (Black Swan), the Hands on a Hardbody reading will take place in New York on April 8th and 9th (by invitation).

La Jolla Playhouse will present a reading of its commissioned musical Hands on a Hardbody, written by Pulitzer Prize-winner and 2011 Playhouse Gala Honoree Doug Wright (I Am My Own Wife), Amanda Green (High Fidelity) and Trey Anastasio of the popular band Phish. Directed by Neil Pepe (Speed-the-Plow) and choreographed by Benjamin Millipied (Black Swan), the Hands on a Hardbody reading will take place in New York on April 8th and 9th (by invitation).

PURE Theatre in a Co-production with Nomad Theatre of NYC is proud to announce the World Premier of The Fool's Lear by Randy Neale.

La Jolla Playhouse announces the sixth and final production in its 2011/12 season: a new adaptation of Sleeping Beauty Wakes, book by Rachel Sheinkin (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), with a score by composer Brendan Milburn and lyricist Valerie Vigoda, both of the acclaimed trio GrooveLily (Striking 12, Long Story Short), directed by Rebecca Taichman, who will also direct the Playhouse's 2011/12 world premiere of Milk Like Sugar.

Playwrights Horizons, under the leadership of Artistic Director Tim Sanford and Managing Director Leslie Marcus, is proud to announce the first five productions of its 2011/2012 Season. The World Premiere and four New York premieres will be presented at the theater company's home at 416 West 42nd Street. The five plays will be (in Season order):

The BE Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Ethan Matthews and Director of Artistic Development Clare Drobot, is pleased to present the world premiere of SEX ON SUNDAY (OR HOW TO MAKE A MAN STAY, BEG AND ROLL OVER) by Chisa Hutchinson (She Like Girls, Dirt Rich).

PURE Theatre in a Co-production with Nomad Theatre of NYC is proud to announce the World Premier of The Fool's Lear by Randy Neale.

The BE Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Ethan Matthews and Director of Artistic Development Clare Drobot, is pleased to present the world premiere of SEX ON SUNDAY (OR HOW TO MAKE A MAN STAY, BEG AND ROLL OVER) by Chisa Hutchinson (She Like Girls, Dirt Rich).

Gotham Chamber Opera will celebrate its 10th anniversary by looking both to the future and to the past.

During the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 seasons, 33 U.S. opera companies both large and small and from coast to coast will perform works - including nine world premieres - by American composers, announced OPERA America, the national service organization for opera.

The Tony Award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival will celebrate its 75th anniversary this season, and while patrons will notice celebratory signs and banners as well as opportunities to sit in on historical lectures and talks throughout the season, the primary celebration is onstage. OSF has promised its audiences, to whom it has dedicated this milestone season that it will continue to focus energies on producing great plays this year.

Gotham Chamber Opera, Music-Theatre Group and the Opera Company of Philadelphia announced the commission of a new American opera, DARK SISTERS, composed by Nico Muhly with libretto by Stephen Karam, conducted by Neal Goren, and directed by Rebecca Taichman at The Chelsea Art Museum on Thursday, October 28. The three organizations have co-commissioned and will co-produce the opera, which will have its World Premiere in November 2011 at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College, 899 Tenth Avenue, NYC, one of the first works to be presented at the Theater following the creation of a new lobby at the space. The cast will be headed by Caitlin Lynch and Kevin Burdette, with Kristina Bachrach, Jennifer Check, Eve Gigliotti, Brenda Harris, and Jennifer Zetlan. Dark Sisters will also be presented in June 2012 as part of the Opera Company of Philadelphia's chamber opera series at the Perelman Theater.

Gotham Chamber Opera, Music-Theatre Group and the Opera Company of Philadelphia announce the commission of a new American opera, DARK SISTERS, composed by Nico Muhly with libretto by Stephen Karam, conducted by Neal Goren, and directed by Rebecca Taichman.

Gotham Chamber Opera, Music-Theatre Group and The Opera Company of Philadelphia will announce the commission of a new opera composed by Nico Muhly.

La Jolla Playhouse announces the first four plays of its 2011/12 Season, including the Playhouse co-commissioned Milk Like Sugar, by Kirsten Greenidge, directed by Rebecca Taichman; the world-premiere of A Dram of Drumchhicit, by Arthur Kopit and Anton Dudley, directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley; Peer Gynt, by Henrik Ibsen, adapted and directed by David Schweizer; and American Night: The Ballad of Juan José by Richard Montoya for Culture Clash, directed by Jo Bonney. The final two subscription shows of the 2011/12 season - both musicals - will be announced shortly.

Philadelphia Theatre Company kicks off its 35th Anniversary Season with PTC@PLAY, a new play festival running October 5-21 at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets). The Festival, with staged readings of works by established playwrights as well as new voices, features Casa Cushman, by Leigh Fondakowski in conjunction with the Tectonic Theater Project, Strongman's Ghost by Jeffrey Hatcher, What We're Up Against by Theresa Rebeck, How To Write A New Book For The Bible by Bill Cain and Milk Like Sugar by Kirsten Greenidge. All readings are free with curtain time at 7:00 PM.

Philadelphia Theatre Company kicks off its 35th Anniversary Season with PTC@PLAY, a new play festival running October 5-21 at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets). The Festival, with staged readings of works by established playwrights as well as new voices, features Casa Cushman, by Leigh Fondakowski in conjunction with the Tectonic Theater Project, Strongman's Ghost by Jeffrey Hatcher, What We're Up Against by Theresa Rebeck, How To Write A New Book For The Bible by Bill Cain and Milk Like Sugar by Kirsten Greenidge. All readings are free with curtain time at 7:00 PM.

While Sarah Ruhl and director Rebecca Taichman haven't exactly made children's theatre out of Virginia Woolf's transgendering 1928 novel, Orlando (unless you approve of full adult nudity in your kiddie matinees), there are generous doses of playful whimsy in this well-mounted CSC production; though the playwright's approach seems to dilute the material's effectiveness a bit.

Last night, September 23, Classic Stage Company (CSC), under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Jessica R. Jenen, began its 44th season with the New York premiere of ORLANDO, written by Pulitzer & Tony nominated playwright Sarah Ruhl (In the Next Room, Clean House), adapted from the work of Virginia Woolf, directed by Rebecca Taichman, with choreography by Annie-B Parson. ORLANDO will play a limited engagement at CSC (136 East 13th Street) through Sunday, October 17. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the opening and brings you photo coverage below.

Classic Stage Company presents the New York premiere of Sarah Ruhl's ORLANDO, adapted from the work of Virgina Woolf and directed by Rebecca Taichman. Performances begin September 8, 2010.