Sam Shepard News

The Open Fist Theatre Company is thrilled to announce the second production of its 2011 Season, the Los Angeles premiere of a newly revised version of Sam Shepard's CURSE OF THE STARVING CLASS, directed by Scott Paulin (who played Wesley in Magic Theatre's production where Mr. Shepard was playwright-in-residence).

Theater for the New City proudly presents the world premiere of Birds on Fire, a historical musical drama written and directed by Barbara Kahn.

Andrew Upton's adaptation of Mikhail Bulgakov's 1926 novel turned play The White Guard, commissioned by London's National Theatre (where it played to five-star reviews last year), is presented in a new production directed by Upton at Sydney Theatre from 7 June to 10 July.

This year's 27 Master of Fine Arts (MFA) candidates of the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University includes

Asolo Rep is proud to present the fully staged World Premiere production of Steven Drukman's new play The Innocents. Chosen from five plays developed during Asolo Rep's 2010 Unplugged new play festival, The Innocents opens on April 15, 2011 as part of the repertory season and in conjunction with the 2011 Unplugged Festival of New Plays. As part of the process, Steven Drukman is working in residence with Asolo Rep to develop the play and bring it to the stage for its World Premiere.

Asolo Rep is proud to present the fully staged World Premiere production of Steven Drukman's new play The Innocents. Chosen from five plays developed during Asolo Rep's 2010 Unplugged new play festival, The Innocents opens on April 15, 2011 as part of the repertory season and in conjunction with the 2011 Unplugged Festival of New Plays.

The Contemporary American Theater Festival (CATF) at Shepherd University has announced the 2011 five-play repertory for its 21st season of producing and developing new American theater. SEASON21 will feature new plays from Kyle Bradstreet, David Mamet, Sam Shepard, Tracy Thorne, and Lucy Thurber. The four-week festival, consisting of 93 performances, will be held July 8 - 31.

San Francisco's Magic Theatre has just announced that they will return to a five play 2011 season, after several years of producing just four plays. Three of the five shows to be featured in the new season are: WHY WE HAVE A BODY, JESUS IN INDIA, and BRUJA.

New Village Arts has become known as one of the best ensemble theatres in Southern California. But what exactly does that mean? And how does an ensemble actually work? For its eleventh season, NVA has decided to delve fully into these questions to emerge with a strong, specific artistic vision.

Previews for Born Yesterday, starring Jim Belushi, Robert Sean Leonard and Nina Arianda, start tonight, March 31, at Broadway's Cort Theatre (138 West 48th Street) at 8 pm. Directed by Doug Hughes, this revival of Garson Kanin's award-winning comedy about sex and politics will open on Easter Sunday, April 24.

Theater for the New City presents 'Awake in a World that Encourages Sleep,' written and directed by Raymond J. Barry.

Signature Theatre Company (James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director) is pleased to announce casting for Tony Kushner's THE ILLUSION. The production will be directed by Michael Mayer.

After a successful run of Amiel Gladstone's Hippies and Bolsheviks in 2009, Girl Got Lost Productions and director Chelsea McIsaac are excited to present an exuberant interpretation of one of the earlier plays written by North America's most prolific playwright, Sam Shepard, with his girlfriend at the time, high priestess of poetry/punk/rock, Patti Smith.

Mad Horse Theatre Company is proud to present the Maine Premier of Sam Shepard's THE LATE HENRY MOSS. The play closes March 27. Performances will be at Lucid Stage in Portland

McCarter Theatre presents Beth Henley's modern American classic Crimes of the Heart. Directed by Liesl Tommy, the cast features Mary Bacon (Lenny MaGrath), Molly Camp (Babe Botrelle), Georgia Cohen (Meg MaGrath), Dustin Ingram (Barnette Lloyd), Lucas Van Engen (Doc Porter) and Brenda Withers (Chick Boyle). The production is sponsored by The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation. Crimes of the Heart will close Sunday, March 27.

New Village Arts, Carlsbad's award-winning, professional theatre is very proud to announce its Tenth Season. This will be NVA's biggest season ever, with eight full productions, NVA's first musical and two local premieres. Over the past nine seasons, NVA has established itself as one of the most important mid-sized theatres in San Diego, producing over 40 highly acclaimed productions, including a world-premiere holiday show, multiple regional and local premieres, unforgettable American and world classics, the intense work of Sam Shepard and the popular FREE Shakespeare in the Park. New Village Arts honors that history in Season 10 and introduces some exciting new traditions for North County, by selecting shows that honor the history of the company, recognize the amazing current growth and give an intriguing glimpse into the future. All of the plays take us on an adventure - into growing up, learning about love and loss and celebrating the power of the human soul.

Broadway playwright Lanford Wilson passed away this morning, March 24. He was 73 years old. Considered one of the founders of the Off-Off-Broadway theater movement, Wilson received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1980, was elected in 2001 to the Theater Hall of Fame, and in 2004 was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Theater for the New City (Crystal Field, Artistic Director) presents the world-premiere production of Squealer, part of Lesser America in residence at Theater For the New City.

The Firehouse Theatre Project announces the final show of its 2010-11 season, Bruce Graham's Something Intangible, running March 24 - April 16, 2011. The Firehouse production is directed by Bill Patton and stars Frank Creasy, Lauren Leinhass-Cook, Billy Christopher Maupin, Adrian Reider and Jay Welch.

The Firehouse Theatre Project announces the final show of its 2010-11 season, Bruce Graham's Something Intangible, running March 24 - April 16, 2011. The Firehouse production is directed by Bill Patton and stars Frank Creasy, Lauren Leinhass-Cook, Billy Christopher Maupin, Adrian Reider and Jay Welch.