Sam Pinkleton News

Theatreworks USA, the nation's leading not-for-profit professional theatre for young audiences, presents the Off-Broadway premiere of the new musical THE LIGHTNING THIEF as the featured production of its 26th annual Free Summer Theatre Program in New York City. THE LIGHTNING THIEF began performances on July 21, 2014 at Off-Broadway's Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street) and continues through Friday, August 22, 2014. Opening night is set for tonight, July 24 at 6:30 p.m.

Berkshire Theatre Group and Artistic Director/CEO, Kate Maguire have announced the Summer 2014 Theatre Season offering classic works coupled with contemporary plays.

Theatreworks USA, the nation's leading not-for-profit professional theatre for young audiences, is pleased to announce the Off-Broadway premiere of the new musical THE LIGHTNING THIEF as the featured production of its 26th annual Free Summer Theatre Program in New York City. THE LIGHTNING THIEF begins performances on Monday, July 21, 2014 at Off-Broadway's Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street) and continues through Friday, August 22, 2014. Opening night is set for Thursday, July 24 at 6:30 p.m. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast!

The Civilians' Annual R&D reading series kicks off with five readings from today, May 21 to May 30. The series features new work by R&D members Jeanine Oleson, Sean E. Cunningham, Riti Sachdeva, Mary Kathryn Nagle, Juliana Francis Kelly and Tony Torn. Melissa Crespo, Mia Rovegno, and Michael Leibenluft will direct these presentations, all at various stages in their development process. These readings are free and open to the public, and take place in the Great Room at 138 South Oxford Street in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.

Playwrights Horizons is now accepting entries for its popular LIVEforFIVE online lottery for up to two $5 tickets each to the New York premiere of FLY BY NIGHT: A NEW MUSICAL, conceived by Kim Rosenstock (Tigers Be Still); written by Will Connolly (performer, Once), Michael Mitnick (Sex Lives of Our Parents, the upcoming film The Giver) and Ms. Rosenstock; choreographed by Sam Pinkleton (Mr. Burns at PH; Natasha, Pierre…); and directed by Carolyn Cantor (The Great God Pan and After the Revolution at PH, Pumpgirl, Orange Flower Water).

The Civilians' Annual R&D reading series kicks off with five readings from May 21 to May 30. The series features new work by R&D members Jeanine Oleson, Sean E. Cunningham, Riti Sachdeva, Mary Kathryn Nagle, Juliana Francis Kelly and Tony Torn. Melissa Crespo, Mia Rovegno, and Michael Leibenluft will direct these presentations, all at various stages in their development process. These readings are free and open to the public, and take place in the Great Room at 138 South Oxford Street in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. To make a reservation please email rdgroup@thecivilians.org. Please visit The Civilians' website (www.thecivilians.org) for dates, times, and presentation descriptions.

Playwrights Horizons is now accepting entries for its popular LIVEforFIVE online lottery for up to two $5 tickets each to the New York premiere of FLY BY NIGHT: A NEW MUSICAL, conceived by Kim Rosenstock (Tigers Be Still); written by Will Connolly (performer, Once), Michael Mitnick (Sex Lives of Our Parents, the upcoming film The Giver) and Ms. Rosenstock; choreographed by Sam Pinkleton (Mr. Burns at PH; Natasha, Pierre…); and directed by Carolyn Cantor (The Great God Pan and After the Revolution at PH, Pumpgirl, Orange Flower Water).

Theatreworks USA, the nation's leading not-for-profit professional theatre for young audiences, presents the Off-Broadway premiere of the new musical THE LIGHTNING THIEF as the featured production of its 26th annual Free Summer Theatre Program in New York City.

Acclaimed Off-Broadway theater company Playwrights Horizons just held its annual Spring Gala on Monday evening, May 5 at the event space 583 Park Avenue. Titled 'IN THE BEGINNING', the evening honored the theater company's Founding Artistic Director Bob Moss. An artistic director, stage director and teacher for thirty-seven years, Bob founded Playwrights Horizons in 1971 and gave the theater its unique and enduring mission. Three years later, Bob moved the theater to then-derelict West 42nd Street. He founded the 42nd Street Gang, which, with the 42nd Street Development Corporation, envisioned and spearheaded the renovation and creation of 42nd Street's Theatre Row, and gave Playwrights a permanent home. He served as the company's Artistic Director for ten years through 1981. He was also the director of the Playwrights Horizons Theater School, an affiliate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. He continues to direct and teach at theaters and colleges across the country, and has mentored hundreds of young theater actors, writers and directors.

The 2014 Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway were handed out last night at NYU Skirball Center, hosted by acclaimed husband and wife actors and comedians, Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman. This year's event once again benefited The Actors Fund.

Playwrights Horizons presents the New York premiere of Fly By Night: A New Musical, conceived byKim Rosenstock (Tigers Be Still), written by Will Connolly (performer, Once), Michael Mitnick (Sex Lives of Our Parents, the upcoming film The Giver) and Ms. Rosenstock, and directed by Carolyn Cantor (The Great God Pan and After the Revolution at PH, Pumpgirl, Orange Flower Water). The cast met the press earlier today and you can check out full photo coverage from the big event below!

Tony Award nominee and Drama Desk Award winner Kathleen Chalfant (Angels in America, Wit, 'House of Cards'), Teal Wicks (Jekyll and Hyde, Wicked), Stephen DeRosa (HBO's 'Boardwalk Empire'), Josh Grisetti (Enter Laughing) and Matthew Schechter (Act One) have joined the roster of performers set to appear in the one-night-only benefit concert of the new musical THE LIGHTNING THIEF on Monday, April 21, 2014 at 7 p.m. at Off-Broadway's Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street).

Abingdon Theatre Company continues its 21st Season with HELLMAN v. McCARTHY by Brian Richard Mori (author of Adult Fiction and Bedtime Stories), with previews set to begin Friday, March 14, prior to an official press opening Wednesday, March 26 in Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex's June Havoc Theatre (312 West 36th Street). Off-Broadway performances run through Sunday, April 13. Jan Buttram, Artistic Director of Abingdon Theatre Company, is set to direct this world-premiere production, starring Dick Cavett, Roberta Maxwell and Marcia Rodd.

Due to critical acclaim and popular demand, Playwrights Horizons has announced an extension of its New York premiere production of STAGE KISS, a new play by two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and Tony Award nominee Sarah Ruhl (Dead Man's Cell Phone at PH; The Clean House, In the Next Room..., Eurydice), directed by Rebecca Taichman (Milk Like Sugar at PH; Marie Antoinette, Ms. Ruhl's Orlando, The Scene, Luck of the Irish).

As BroadwayWorld reported yesterday, NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812, named one of the Best Musicals of 2013 by The New York Times and one of Time Magazine's Top 10 Musicals of 2013, just closed at Kazino (45th Street between Times Square and 8th Avenue). Additionally, yesterday was the deadline to give to the Kickstarter that was set up to help fund the filming of the show, and unfortunately the project fell short of its $250,000 goal with $37,889 raised in total. The producers of the show just released the following statement: 'We are so appreciative of the fans who supported the film of The Great Comet. While we remain excited at the prospect of capturing The Great Comet on film, the coordination of shooting schedules at this time proved extremely difficult. Therefore, we have decided to postpone the film plans until a later date. Any pledges by our backers on our Kickstarter campaign will not be used.'

NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812, named one of the Best Musicals of 2013 by The New York Times and one of Time Magazine's Top 10 Musicals of 2013, will close today at Kazino (45th Street between Times Square and 8th Avenue). In addition, today is the final day to give to the Kickstarter that was set up to help fund the filming of the show. The current tally, as of 8:30am, is 235 backers, who have pledged $36,899 of the $250,000 goal, with 15 hours to go.

On Monday, April 21, 2014 at 7 p.m., stage and screen stars Chuck Cooper, Charlotte d'Amboise, Kate Flannery, Judy Kuhn, Terrence Mann, John Tartaglia and many more will join together at Off-Broadway's Lucille Lortel Theatre for a one-night-only benefit concert production of the new musical THE LIGHTNING THIEF.

Berkshire Theatre Group and Artistic Director/CEO, Kate Maguire have announced the Summer 2014 Theatre Season offering classic works coupled with contemporary plays.

Playwrights Horizons' New York premiere production of Stage Kiss, a new play marking the eagerly-anticipated return to PH of two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and Tony Award nominee Sarah Ruhl (Dead Man's Cell Phone at PH; The Clean House, In the Next Room..., Eurydice), is currently in previews off-Broadway. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Entertainment Weekly writes that the producers of off-Broadway's NATASHA, PIERRE AND THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 are planning a film adaptation of the interactive, operatic stage spectacle and will launch a Kickstarter campaign this coming Tuesday, February 11, to help fund the venture. The goal is currently set for $500,000.