Second Stage Theatre News

Thirteen theatres (13) theatres and ten (10) individuals have been selected to participate in the ninth round of the New Generations Program, a grant initiative cooperatively designed by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Theatre Communications Group (TCG). In nine rounds of the program, over $12.5 million in grants have been awarded to over 200 theatres in support of three grant objectives.

Channeling a dramatic range of interview subjects, from artists and athletes to doctors and those they treat, LET ME DOWN EASY is a virtuosic and moving exploration of the power of the body and the resilience of the human spirit, featuring first person accounts from a wide variety of sources, including Lance Armstrong, and former Texas Governor Ann Richards.

Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) kicks off its 2009/2010 Season with the World Premiere of THE RETRIBUTIONISTS, a new play by Daniel Goldfarb (Modern Orthodox, Adam Baum and the Jew Movie). The production will begin previews on Friday, August 21 with an Opening Night set for Tuesday, September 15 at 7PM. The limited engagement will run through Sunday, September 27 at Playwrights Horizons' Mainstage Theater (416 West 42nd Street).

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) will launch its 31st season this fall with the New York premiere of Anna Deavere Smith's LET ME DOWN EASY. Conceived, written, and performed by Ms. Smith and directed by Leonard Foglia, LET ME DOWN EASY will begin preview performances on Tuesday, September 15 and will officially open on Wednesday, October 7 at 6:45pm.

Dael Orlandersmith takes Chicago audiences on an electrifying journey through the spirit and soul of Harlem in her explosive solo piece Stoop Stories at Goodman Theatre. Hailed a 'triumph' (Washington City Paper) in its world premiere at Washington, D.C.'s Studio Theatre this past spring, Stoop Stories comes to Chicago directed by Obie Award-winner Jo Bonney.

Partial Comfort Productions (nami, Battle of the Bards) presents the World Premiere of THE BEREAVED by Thomas Bradshaw, directed by May Adrales. Previews begin September 2nd at The Wild Project where Partial Comfort is in its 1st season as a resident company. Opening night is scheduled for Wednesday, September 9th.

Partial Comfort Productions (nami, Battle of the Bards) presents the World Premiere of THE BEREAVED by Thomas Bradshaw, directed by May Adrales. Previews begin September 2nd at The Wild Project where Partial Comfort is in its 1st season as a resident company. Opening night is scheduled for Wednesday, September 9th.

Yale Repertory Theatre (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) opens its 2009-2010 season with THE MASTER BUILDER by Henrik Ibsen, translated by Paul Walsh, directed by Evan Yionoulis at the University Theatre (222 York Street), September 18-October 10. Opening night is Thursday, September 24.

Original cast member AARON TVEIT will return to the Tony Award-winning musical Next to Normal on Monday, September 7 at 8:00pm. Tveit, who originated the role of Gabe in the off-Broadway and Broadway productions of the acclaimed musical, was on a leave of absence this summer to star in the World Premiere production of Catch Me If You Can.

Drama Desk Award-winner Everett Quinton (Charles Ludlam's Ridiculous Theatrical Company), Michael Winther (33 Variations, Damn Yankees, 1776, and Mamma Mia! on Broadway), and Marlon Sherman (Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast on Broadway) are set to star in Max Understood, running at the 45th Street Theatre in the 2009 New York Musical Theatre Festival. Marlon Sherman will be playing the title role of Max.

The fear that coming out in public spells box office poison for a marquee-desiring actor is at the center of Douglas Carter Beane's THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED, presented by Theatre Out, Orange County's gay and lesbian theatre. The play, which received a Tony® Award nomination for Best Play in 2007, is chock-full of witty, Hollywood-insider laughs and a continuous barrage of funny monologues (even touching and poignant at times) from each character. This particular production of the hilariously written play, which originated as a workshop presentation at the University of California at Irvine, gives its foursome of actors plenty of great lines to deliver.

Nicknamed the Black Venus, Josephine Baker, one of the United States?s most glamorous and legendary expats, is the dramatic subject of ?Looking for Josephine,? a wildly splashy musical revue, which after opening at Paris?s L?Opéra Comique in 2006 and playing to over 200 sold-out houses was seen in theaters throughout Europe before returning to Paris twice more, where it was once again greeted with standing-room-only crowds. Directed by Jérôme Savary and starring American musical artist Nicolle Rochelle, plus a cast of 22 Cuban, Chilean, French and American dancers, actors, tappers, singers and musicians, ?Looking for Josephine? makes its American debut at Peak Performances@Montclair, September 17-27.

Partial Comfort Productions (nami, Battle of the Bards) presents the World Premiere of THE BEREAVED by Thomas Bradshaw, directed by May Adrales. Previews begin September 2nd at The Wild Project where Partial Comfort is in its 1st season as a resident company. Opening night is scheduled for Wednesday, September 9th.

Yale Repertory Theatre (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) opens its 2009-2010 season with THE MASTER BUILDER by Henrik Ibsen, translated by Paul Walsh, directed by Evan Yionoulis at the University Theatre (222 York Street), September 18-October 10. Opening night is Thursday, September 24. Tickets go on sale today, August 31.

Original cast member AARON TVEIT will return to the Tony Award-winning musical Next to Normal on Monday, September 7 at 8:00pm. Tveit, who originated the role of Gabe in the off-Broadway and Broadway productions of the acclaimed musical, was on a leave of absence this summer to star in the World Premiere production of Catch Me If You Can.

The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park has finalized casting for its upcoming production of THREE SISTERS. This exciting new version, commissioned by the Playhouse, combines John Doyle, the Tony Award-winning director of Company, and Sarah Ruhl, one of America's most acclaimed young playwrights. THREE SISTERS, a poignant tale of love and dreams and the never-ending pursuit of happiness, begins previews in the Playhouse's Robert S. Marx Theatre October 24 and continues through November 21.

The producers of the critically acclaimed Off-Broadway production of' Thornton Wilder's Our Town, have announced that Obie Award-winner Jason Butler Harner will assume the central role of 'Stage Manager' in David Cromer's staging of Wilder's timeless play. Beginning Tuesday, August 25th, Mr. Harner will succeed Mr. Cromer who departs the company to begin rehearsals for his Broadway directorial debut this fall with Neil Simon's Brighton Beach Memoirs and Broadway Bound.

It was announced earlier this month that the new musical VANITIES will receive an original cast album. The three-woman cast of the show, which recently performed its New York premiere Off-Broadway at Second Stage Theatre, headed into studio yesterday to record the album for Sh-K-Boom Records.

The Off-Broadway League, the official trade organization for Off-Broadway theatres, producers and productions, is proud to highlight its member shows for the upcoming Fall 2009 season in the vibrant diverse landscape of Off-Broadway theatre.