Sam Shepard News

Lesser America, in residence at Theater for the New City, presents the world premiere of American River, written by Micheline Auger and directed by Stephen Brackett, opening tonight, July 14th at 8pm at Theater for the New City, 155 First Avenue, between 9th and 10th Streets. American River marks the close of the inaugural season for Lesser America, a young theater company in residence at Theater for the New City.

As a special homage to Theodore Mann, Circle in the Square's co-founder, artistic director, and co-producer who passed away on February 24th of this year, Circle in the Square Theatre School is inviting the theater-going public, the theater community and those who worked with him to share their remembrances of Mann and the over 175 productions that he with Jose Quintero, and later with Paul Libin brought to the stage.

On Sunday July 29th, for the first time in NYC, Lincoln Center Out of Doors will present a day long, multifaceted festival of Irish culture. "Our Land" will celebrate the artistic, literary and musical heritage of Ireland, the mark it made on America and the continuing cross-cultural ties that bind the two countries.

Lesser America, in residence at Theater for the New City has announced that it will present the world premiere of American River, written by Micheline Auger and directed by Stephen Brackett, opening Saturday, July 14th at 8pm at Theater for the New City. American River marks the close of the inaugural season for Lesser America, a young theater company in residence at Theater for the New City. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!

The Glendale Centre Theatre continues its 2012 season with the heartwarming and poignant Tony Award-nominated On Golden Pond starring stage and screen veterans Andrew Prine and Salome Jens, tonight, July 12 through August 11, 2012 at the Glendale Centre Theatre in Glendale, Calif.

La MaMa concluded its 50th anniversary season with a successful benefit evening highlighted by entertainment and tributes-the La MaMa 50 Big Bash-on Sunday, June 24 at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at NYU in Manhattan. The evening was emceed by the inimitable Tony nominee and longtime La MaMa artist Andre DeShields, who joined other performers, including Gavin Creel, Bill Irwin, David Shiner, Adrian Bailey, Everett Quinton, Lady J and Culture Hub, in entertaining the audience of 600-plus with music and dance that celebrated La MaMa's first 50 years, including an excerpt from its recent hit production of Scott Wittman's JUKEBOX JACKIE featuring Cole Escola and Bridget Everett. The evening was directed by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer, who appeared as an actor at La MaMa during the early days of his career. Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, also La MaMa artists, served as the anniversary celebrations' co-chairs. See below for pictures of the BIG BASH's speakers and performers!

Signature Theatre has just announced that tickets are now on sale for the world premiere of HEARTLESS by Sam Shepard and directed by Daniel Aukin. All tickets for the initial run of the production are $25 as part of the Signature Ticket Initiative: A Generation of Access. The production runs August 7 through September 16, 2012 with an August 27 opening night in The Irene Diamond Stage at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues). Rehearsals began Monday, July 9.

The first installment in this series is the 2011 Twentieth Century Fox film Margaret, written and directed by Residency Five Playwright-in-Residence Kenneth Lonergan, tonight, July 10th at 7:00 p.m. in The Irene Diamond Stage at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues).

GRIFFITH PARK FREE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL 2012, the largest summer theater event in the City of Los Angeles, began its performances June 28 and runs Thursdays through Sundays at 7 p.m. through to September 2. All Performances are free. A Midsummer Night's Dream opens tonight, July 5.

The award-winning Dreamhouse Theater Company returns after a four-year hiatus with a new season of shows and a new home. The first production as the new resident company at Jet Studios in North Hollywood, will be an emotionally-charged new look at Arthur Miller's extraordinary play, ALL MY SONS, directed by Dreamhouse Theater Company's Artistic Director Alex Sol. ALL MY SONS will open on Friday, July 20 and continue through Sunday, September 2 at the Jet Theatre, 5126 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood.

PushPush's SmallTall Youth Program will offer its signature camps this summer, allowing students to try their hand at work behind and in front of the lights. This year's program will be a unique blend of original modern stories and classic text.

A celebration of the life of Tony Award-winning producer and noted director Burry Fredrik (1925-2012) will be hosted by Westport Country Playhouse on Sunday, July 1, 3 p.m. The tribute will be in the campus' Lucille Lortel White Barn Center's Sheffer Rehearsal Studio, 25 Powers Court, Westport, CT. A reception will follow. Fredrik died in her Weston, Connecticut home on May 22 caused by complications from a stroke she suffered over two years ago.

convergence-continuum continues its 2012 Season with the Ohio premiere of GRACE, a darkly comic, eerily tragic, sometimes hilarious, wholly timely play. It dives headfirst into questions of faith and religion (not necessarily the same thing at all).

Classic Stage Company has announced that Nick Gehlfuss, who appeared as Lysander in the company's recent production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, is this year's recipient of the Rosemarie Tichler Fund grant.

Trevor Nunn is to direct a cast including Rob Brydon, Nigel Harman and Ashley Jensen in Alan Ayckbourn's A CHORUS OF DISAPPROVAL opening at the Harold Pinter Theatre later this year.

Trevor Nunn is to direct a cast including Rob Brydon, Nigel Harman and Ashley Jensen in Alan Ayckbourn's A Chorus of Disapproval opening at the Harold Pinter Theatre later this year. Joining the trio on stage will be Teresa Banham, Daisy Beaumont, Georgia Brown, Rob Compton, Matthew Cottle and Steven Edis, who is also the show's Musical Director. The production runs September 17, 2012 - January 5, 2013, with an opening night scheduled for September 27, 2012.

GRIFFITH PARK FREE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL 2012, the largest summer theater event in the City of Los Angeles, begins its performances June 28 and runs Thursdays through Sundays at 7 p.m. through to September 2. All Performances are free.