Second Stage News

Matrix Theatre Company's 2014-2015 Mainstage season features a Grand Cyclops of the KKK, an African-American civil rights activist, 20th-century feminism, and a gorilla in a zoo, and we're just getting started! The feminist comedy by Gina Gionfriddo, Rapture, Blister, Burn, opens the season beginning in November, followed by Mark St. Germain's Best of Enemies, the true story of a southern town in the middle of the desegregation of their public school system. The season ends with the unique story of a woman confronting choices surrounding complications with her pregnancy and the part that a gorilla in the zoo and an elderly woman play in offering her comfort in Precious Little by Madeleine George. Individual tickets go on sale on Monday, August 18, 2014. Prices range from $15 to $20. A Season Ticket Pass may be purchased at a 20% discount. Reverse Rush Ticketing price discounts are available if tickets are purchased online. Group rates are available for most shows. For further information on the 2014-2015 season, or to order tickets, go to www.matrixtheatre.org or call 313-967-0599.

Pittsburgh CLO has announced the Pittsburgh Premiere of the Off-Broadway sensation Murder For Two, October 22-January 18 at the CLO Cabaret. Everyone is a suspect in this exciting production where classic musical comedy meets Agatha Christie. In this witty and winking musical homage to old-fashioned murder mysteries, TWO performers play THIRTEEN ROLES -- not to mention the piano.

In taking on Wallace Shawn's blistering one-man play, The Fever, well-known Valley actor Mike Lawler battles personal guilt for his good intentions toward the dispossessed without the courage to join the struggle. Actors Theatre presents The Fever tonight, July 16 at Black Theatre Troupe, 1333 E. Washington St. in Phoenix as part of the No Sweat (For You)' summer season.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: Capathia Jenkins returns to NEWSIES as 'Medda', we can add two new Original Cast Recordings to our collection -- LADY DAY and HEDWIG -- and Idina Menzel performs at tonight's MBL All-Star Game!

'Rise 'n Shine with Bette & Juliette' is a brand-new-stage 'morning' talk/variety show hosted by Bette Midler (Craig Taggart) and Juliette Lewis (Chris Pudlo). The second stage-episode will hit the stage tonight, July 15!

NiCori Studios and Productions in association with the Oakeside Bloomfield Cultural Center announces a new installment of the monthly concert series, Music at the Mansion, on Sunday, July 27, at 3pm. Performers include Liz McKendry, Adam Shapiro and Deborah Tranelli. The featured performer in the 'Young Musician Moment' will be members of Gas Lamp of Performing Arts cast of Drowsy Chaperone.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) just announced the U.S. premiere of the new musical, AMERICAN PSYCHO, featuring a book by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (2ST's Good Boys and True, 'Glee,' Broadway's Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark), music and lyrics by Grammy and Tony-Award Winner Duncan Sheik (Spring Awakening), directed by Rupert Goold (Broadway's Macbeth with Patrick Stewart, ENRON). AMERICAN PSYCHO is based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis.

Second Stage Theatre continues the 2014 Uptown Series with the New York premiere of MALA HIERBA, written by Tanya Saracho (HBO's 'Looking' and 'Girls') and directed by Jerry Ruiz. MALA HIERBA will feature ROBERTA COLINDREZ, SANDRA MARQUEZ, MARTA MILANS, and ANA NOGUEIRA. Previews begin tonight, July 14th and opening night is Thursday, July 24th.

Tail! Spin!, the breakout hit of the 2012 New York International Fringe Festival, earning unanimous rave reviews, with its entire run selling out in record time, is the outrageously entertaining verbatim reenactment of the preposterous sex scandals that brought down former Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-NY), former Governor / current Congressman Mark Sanford (R-SC), former Congressman Mark Foley (R-FL), and former Senator Larry Craig (R-ID).

Victory Gardens Theater announces the complete lineup for the 2014 IGNITION Festival of New Plays, including Where Did We Sit on the Bus? by Brian Quijada; Lack and Lack by April Fools (Kristiana Colon & Damon Williams); Sender by Ike Holter; Slingshot by Kia Corthron; Hillary and Clinton by Lucas Hnath; For Tomorrow, Please Prepare by Paul Downs Colaizzo; and Cocked by Sarah Gubbins. The festival will take place July 24-27, 2014.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: PAGEANT returns to the stage, Rob McClure and Jenny Powers star in THE ADDAMS FAMILY in St. Louis, and Tony-winner Lena Hall and more gather at 54 Below to belt out songs by Justin Timberlake!

MOTHER JONES AND THE CHILDREN'S CRUSADE - presented by The New York Musical Theatre Festival, Crystal Theatre and Benjamin Simpson - has extended its run with an additional performance on Saturday, July 26 at 2:00 PM.

In taking on Wallace Shawn's blistering one-man play, The Fever, well-known Valley actor Mike Lawler battles personal guilt for his good intentions toward the dispossessed without the courage to join the struggle. Actors Theatre presents The Fever July 11 and 16 at Black Theatre Troupe, 1333 E. Washington St. in Phoenix as part of the No Sweat (For You)" summer season.

On Monday, July 28, Cape May Stage is ecstatic to welcome back the supremely talented, dynamic sister act of Liz Callaway and Ann Hampton Callaway in "Here Come the Callaways!" Witness their spectacular performance at either 7 p.m. or 9 p.m. at the Robert Shackleton Playhouse in downtown Cape May.

Professional Arts Executive Patrick Riviere has just launched On PAR Productions, LLC in Provincetown, Massachusetts with plans to create and support a great deal of performance and visual art both in Provincetown and regionally. Already scheduled is an AEA 29-Hour Staged Reading in New York City of Riviere's own play, THE HOUSE OF NUNZIO, directed by award-winning director Stephen Nachamie and starring Broadway veteran Mary Ellen Ashley. The project is being produced by Barbara Bemelmans in association with On PAR.

The Lyric Stage Company of Boston's 2014-15 Season begins September 5 with Stephen Sondheim's masterpiece SWEENEY TODD, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. The musical thriller runs September 5 through October 11, 2014. The opening is set for September 7 at 3 p.m.

Chester Theatre Company will continue its 25th Anniversary Season with Sharr White's ANNAPURNA. The production, which runs from today, July 10th through July 20th at the Chester Town Hall in Chester, MA, will feature CTC newcomers: Westfield-native Michelle Joyner, Daniel Riordan and director Robert Egan.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: PIPPIN celebrates its 500th performance on the Great White Way, LET IT BE lands back in the West End and more!

A Woman on Top , the new musical for both sides of the aisle inspired by Hillary Clinton, previously announced the complete cast for a special industry reading next week. Reathel Bean (Caroline, Or Change) joins star Karen Mason, Drama Desk-nominated Broadway star of Wonderland, Mamma Mia and Sunset Boulevard, as well as Frank Vlastnik (Broadway: Big, The Sweet Smell of Success, A Year with Frog & Toad), Marni Nixon (Broadway: Nine, Follies; Film: The King and I, West Side Story, My Fair Lady) and Sarah Cetrulo (The Black Suits by Joe Iconis).

Broadway favorite Celia Keenan-Bolger had a great year, earning a Tony nomination for her beautiful portrayal of 'Laura' in John Tiffany's revival of The Glass Menagerie. You can check out photos of Celia in the BroadwayWorld.com series 'In The Spotlight' by acclaimed photographer Walter McBride below!